Funder: Air Force -- Research Lab
Due Dates: May 10, 2043 (White Papers) | Rolling (Proposals by invitation)
Funding Amounts: Up to $500M per award or per Call; typical project duration 12–36 months; multiple awards anticipated.
Summary: Supports innovative research and development in aerospace engineering, systems, and technologies for transformative Air Force capabilities.
Key Information: Open to all research organizations; white papers accepted any time until 2043; classified and export-controlled work possible.
Description
This opportunity, issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), seeks proposals for pioneering research and development in aerospace capabilities, engineering, and systems. The program is designed to advance transformative technologies for the U.S. Air Force, spanning fundamental science, technology maturation, and demonstration of aerospace vehicles and subsystems. The Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is open for a wide range of topics, including but not limited to high-speed systems, propulsion, vehicle integration, autonomous control, power and thermal management, modeling and simulation, and multidisciplinary design.
The BAA is structured as an open, two-step process: researchers first submit a white paper, and if selected, are invited to submit a full proposal. Additionally, specific Calls may be issued for targeted research areas, which may follow a one- or two-step process.
Due Dates
- White Papers: Accepted on a rolling basis until May 10, 2043 (15:00 EST).
- Proposals: By invitation only, following white paper review; deadlines specified in individual Requests for Proposal (RFPs) or Calls.
- Calls: May be issued periodically for specific topics, with their own deadlines.
Funding Amount
- Award Size: Up to $500 million per individual award or per Call.
- Project Duration: Typically 12–36 months, with an additional 3 months for final reporting.
- Number of Awards: Multiple awards anticipated; the Air Force reserves the right to make zero, one, or more awards per topic or Call.
- Cost Sharing: Not required, but may be proposed.
Eligibility
- Who Can Apply: Unrestricted. Open to universities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, small businesses, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and government agencies (with restrictions).
- International Participation: Foreign nationals may participate but are limited to public domain information unless proper export control authorizations are obtained.
- FFRDCs: Must provide documentation from their sponsoring agency confirming the proposed work is within their mission and does not compete with private industry.
- SAM Registration: All applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).
Application Process
Step 1: White Paper Submission
- How to Submit: Email to the PACER central inbox: AFRL.RQ.PACERBAA@us.af.mil
- Format: 5 pages max, double-spaced, 10-pt Arial, 1-inch margins.
- Content: Project summary, objectives, technical approach, deliverables, and rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimate.
- Review: White papers are reviewed for technical merit, innovation, relevance, and affordability. Selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal.
Step 2: Full Proposal (by invitation)
- Format: 25 pages max for technical/management volume; separate cost/business volume.
- Content: Detailed technical approach, prior work, team qualifications, facilities, statement of work, and detailed budget.
- Additional Requirements: May include security program plan, SF 424 forms for key personnel, and certifications/representations.
- Submission: Instructions provided in the RFP or Call.
For Calls
- Process: Calls may be issued for specific research topics, with their own instructions and deadlines. Calls may require either a white paper or a full proposal as the first step.
Grants.gov
- Note: White papers cannot be submitted via Grants.gov. Proposals may be submitted via Grants.gov if specified, but applicants must also notify the Contracting POC.
Additional Information
- Security: Some projects may require work at up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level. Facility and personnel clearances may be required.
- Export Control: Projects may involve ITAR/EAR-controlled information. A certified DD Form 2345 may be required.
- Reporting: Deliverables may include technical reports, financial reports, software, hardware, and data packages as specified in the contract.
- Intellectual Property: The government typically seeks unlimited or government purpose rights in data and software developed with government funds. Restrictions must be clearly justified.
- S&T Protection: Applicants must submit a security program questionnaire and key personnel information to support S&T protection reviews.
- Subcontracting: Large businesses may be required to submit a small business subcontracting plan for awards exceeding $750,000.
External Links
Contact Information
Key Documents