Funder: Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command
Due Dates: April 30, 2028 (BAA close) | September 26, 2024 (Creative Performance Behaviors with Technology) | July 3, 2025 (Information Management Assessment for Personnel, Technological Fluency Model Expansion) | July 19, 2024 (ASVAB Composites Review) | July 3, 2026 (Open-Ended Verbal Ability Test)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards range from $200,000–$1,800,000 total; most projects are 12–48 months; BAA supports up to 1000 awards; see specific topic for details.
Summary: Supports basic, applied, and advanced research in behavioral and social sciences to improve Army readiness, personnel, and leader development.
Key Information: White papers are generally required before full proposals; multiple research topics and deadlines under a single BAA.
Description
This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) solicits proposals for basic, applied, and advanced research to address Army personnel, organizational, and leader development challenges. The BAA encompasses a wide range of behavioral and social science topics relevant to Army readiness, including personnel selection, training, leadership, team effectiveness, technological fluency, and more. Projects may range from foundational theory development to the creation and validation of practical tools, assessments, or training interventions.
The BAA is open for multiple years, with specific white paper deadlines for different research topics. Funding is available for a broad spectrum of research efforts, from small pilot studies to larger, multi-year projects. Researchers are strongly encouraged to submit a white paper for feedback prior to preparing a full proposal.
Due Dates
Key deadlines (see BAA for full list and topic details):
- April 30, 2028: BAA closes to all submissions.
- September 26, 2024: White paper deadline for Creative Performance Behaviors with Technology.
- July 19, 2024: White paper deadline for Review of Army Aptitude Area Composites of the ASVAB.
- July 3, 2025: White paper deadlines for Information Management Assessment for Personnel (IMAP) and Impacts of Organizational and Contextual Factors on Technological Fluency.
- July 3, 2026: White paper deadline for Enhancing Army Officer Selection: Development and Validation of an Open-Ended Verbal Ability Test.
Past topic deadlines (for reference or potential future cycles):
- October 4, 2023: Army Resume Profiling and Matching System
- October 7, 2023: Organizational and Profession Identity on Career Pathing and Retention
- August 31, 2023: Enhancing Metacognition, Accelerating Innovative Thinking Proficiency
- August 30, 2023: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems KSBs
- July 15, 2023: Transportable Multiteam System Competencies
- September 13, 2023: Influences on Officer Career Progression
- August 2, 2023: NCO Promotion Situational Judgment Test
- January 5, 2024: Theories of Self-Regulated Learning
- December 8, 2023: Self-Development Decision-Making in Army Officers
- November 4, 2023: Influences on Enlisted Soldier Career Progression (repost)
All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.
Funding Amount
- Award Amounts: Vary by topic, typically from $200,000 up to $1,800,000 total per project.
- Example: Most 24–48 month projects range from $400,000–$1,200,000; some larger efforts may reach $1.8M.
- Many applied projects are capped at $300,000–$400,000/year.
- Basic research awards average $750,000 total.
- Award Duration: 12–48 months, depending on topic and project scope.
- Number of Awards: Up to 1000 awards anticipated across the BAA period.
- Funding Instrument: Contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions; instrument is determined by the nature of the project and applicant eligibility.
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants:
- Institutions of higher education (domestic and foreign)
- Non-profit organizations
- For-profit organizations
- Foreign organizations (with potential security restrictions)
- Not eligible: Government laboratories, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and U.S. Service Academies as prime recipients.
- Other notes: Applicants must meet standards for financial resources, technical capability, and compliance with federal statutes and DoD/Army policies. Proposals from organizations in countries on the U.S. State Department List of Countries that Support Terrorism are not eligible.
Application Process
- Step 1: Initial Contact
- Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant ARI Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) for their topic of interest (see BAA or topic-specific notices).
- Step 2: White Paper Submission
- White papers are generally required and must follow the format specified in the BAA (max 6 pages plus bios).
- Submission is by email to the designated Contracting Officer and TPOC for the topic.
- White papers should address technical approach, innovation, Army relevance, and estimated cost.
- Step 3: Full Proposal (by invitation)
- If encouraged, submit a full proposal per BAA instructions.
- Proposals must include technical and cost volumes, and comply with detailed formatting and content requirements.
- Submission Portals:
- Contracts/OTs: Email or Grants.gov
- Grants/Cooperative Agreements: Must use Grants.gov
- Deadlines: Strict; proposals/white papers must be received by the stated deadline for each topic.
Additional Information
- Cost Sharing/Matching: Not required except for certain types of Other Transactions (OTs).
- Evaluation: Based on scientific merit, Army relevance, qualifications, and cost realism.
- Feedback: Written or telephonic feedback is provided on white papers; full proposals may be requested based on merit.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The Army prohibits discrimination based on race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability.
External Links
Contact Information
For contractual questions, contact the listed Contracting Officer. For technical or topic-specific questions, refer to the BAA or topic notice for the appropriate TPOC.