Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research | BAA AFRL AFOSR 2016 0007

Opportunity Information: Apply for BAA AFRL AFOSR 2016 0007

This opportunity is a broad agency announcement from the Department of Defense, specifically the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), focused on supporting basic research that can eventually strengthen U.S. Air Force capabilities. AFOSR sits within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) ecosystem and serves as the organization that plans, coordinates, and executes AFRL's basic research program. The program is guided by AFRL technical direction and by Air Force requirements, with an emphasis on research that can produce meaningful advantages for national warfighting and peacekeeping missions. In addition to funding work, AFOSR also emphasizes nurturing and conducting research across Air Force labs, universities, and industry labs, with a recurring goal of transitioning strong research results toward Air Force needs when they mature.

The research scope is intentionally wide and is organized into two major scientific departments. The first is Engineering and Information Science (often referenced as RTA), which typically covers core engineering disciplines and information-centric fields that can influence future systems, platforms, autonomy, communications, sensing, computation, and related technologies. The second is Physical and Biological Sciences (RTB), which generally includes the foundational physical sciences and life-science domains that can underpin next-generation materials, energy concepts, human performance and protection, and other fundamental discoveries relevant to Air Force operations. The announcement frames these as the main umbrellas under which AFOSR-managed research topics are organized and managed, and it indicates that the specific activities within each department are summarized in the full opportunity materials.

From a funding mechanics standpoint, the announcement is categorized as discretionary and supports both grants and cooperative agreements. That structure signals that some awards may be more traditional assistance instruments (grants), while others may involve closer collaboration or government involvement in the technical direction (cooperative agreements), depending on the nature of the project and AFOSR needs. The funding activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA number is 12.800, which is commonly associated with Air Force research and development assistance.

Eligibility is expansive and includes a wide range of applicant types: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The listing also includes an "Others" category with a note to consult the full announcement text for additional eligibility clarifications, which is typical for a broad research BAA that may allow consortia, certain government-affiliated entities, or other specialized performers depending on circumstances.

The opportunity is designed as a standing or continuously available research solicitation rather than a single, time-limited call. It was created on November 7, 2017, and the closing date is described as "Posted until superseded," meaning it remains open and active until replaced or updated by a newer version. The award ceiling is shown as $80,000,000, which should be read as an upper bound that may apply to certain large efforts rather than a typical award size, and the "ExpectedAwards" field is listed as 99999, a common placeholder used in databases to indicate an indefinite or variable number of awards rather than a literal count.

Overall, the announcement is best understood as AFOSR's umbrella vehicle for soliciting and supporting high-impact basic research aligned to Air Force science and technology priorities, spanning engineering and information science as well as physical and biological sciences. It is structured to accommodate many kinds of research performers and multiple award types, and it remains available on an ongoing basis to capture new ideas and projects that fit AFOSR's research interests and transition goals.

• The Department of Defense, Air Force Office of Scientific Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 07, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Posted until superseded. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $80,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 99,999 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for BAA AFRL AFOSR 2016 0007

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: