DEVCOM ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FOUNDATIONAL RESEARCH

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Description

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) solicits proposals for foundational research supporting the Army’s future operational capabilities. This BAA covers a broad spectrum of basic and applied research topics in science, engineering, and technology, including targeted opportunities for early career researchers, instrumentation, conferences, and STEM outreach. Research should aim to enable new knowledge, concepts, or technologies that can provide transformational overmatch for the Army in future conflicts. Proposals are accepted from a wide range of organizations and are expected to be innovative, high-risk/high-reward, and aligned with ARL’s mission and research priorities.

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Due Dates

• August 31, 2026: AEOP High School and Undergraduate Internships proposal deadline (annually, next occurrence after today)
• November 20, 2027: Final closing date for all other proposals under this BAA

All dates shown are validated and current; proposals are accepted on a rolling basis until the final closing date.

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Funding Amount

• Total Awards: Up to 2,000 awards anticipated across all mechanisms.
• Award Size/Duration:
  • Single Investigator: Typically 3 years, budget supports PI plus 1–2 graduate students or postdoc.
  • Short-Term Innovative Research (STIR): Up to $60,000 for 9 months.
  • Early Career Program (ECP): Up to $120,000/year for 3 years.
  • PECASE: Up to $200,000/year for 5 years (by invitation only).
  • Research Instrumentation: Varies, consult with topic POC.
  • AEOP Internships: Stipends for high school ($15/hr) and undergraduate ($20/hr) interns, up to 300 hours each.
• No cost-sharing required for most awards (except some OT agreements).

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Eligibility

• Who Can Apply:

  • Institutions of higher education (U.S. and foreign)
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • State and local governments
  • For-profit organizations (large and small businesses)
  • Foreign organizations and public entities

• Special eligibility for some programs:

  • AEOP internships: Only available as modifications to existing ARL-funded awards at higher education institutions.
  • Early Career Program: U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents in tenure-track faculty positions <5 years.
  • Research Instrumentation: U.S. higher education institutions and qualifying nonprofits.
  • PECASE: By Army invitation only.

• FFRDCs/UARCs: Must provide sponsor concurrence and meet additional requirements.

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Application Process

• Contact a Technical Point of Contact (TPOC): Strongly encouraged to discuss ideas and ensure alignment with ARL priorities before submitting.

• Whitepaper Submission: Strongly encouraged to minimize effort on proposals unlikely to be selected; submit via email to the relevant TPOC.

• Full Proposal Submission:

  • Grants/cooperative agreements: Submit via Grants.gov (Workspace system).
  • Contracts/OTs: Submit via Grants.gov or email (usarmy.rtp.devcom-arl.mbx.baa@army.mil).
  • AEOP Internships: Submit as a modification to an existing award, using the process described in the BAA and AEOP website.

• Required Forms: SF 424 (R&R), ARO Form 99, project abstract, technical proposal, budget, biographical sketches, data management plan, and other supporting documents as detailed in the BAA.

• Evaluation Criteria: Scientific/technical merit, relevance to Army mission, qualifications of PI/team, and (for some programs) institutional commitment.

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Additional Information

• Research Topics: See the ARL BAA topics website for current research areas and TPOC contacts.
• Award Types: Contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions (OTs) available; instrument type determined by proposed work.
• No cost-sharing required (except for certain OT proposals).
• Classified proposals not accepted; CUI may be discussed with TPOC.
• Proposals may be submitted at any time until the BAA closing date; specific targeted opportunities may have additional requirements or annual cycles.

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External Links

• Official Grants.gov Listing
• ARL BAA Topics & Guidance
• BAA Full Announcement PDF
• Current Research Topics (PDF)
• AEOP Program Information
• ARL Contact Us

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Contact Information

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