Guide to DoD Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) · The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) serves to support Air Force goals of control and maximum utilization of air,

McAllister & Quinn – Guide to DoD Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) 7/15/2020

University of Memphis, July 2020 1

Presenter Name, Title

Presenter Name, Title

Date

www.jm-aq.com/research

Guide to DoD Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs)

University of Memphis

Cam Clemence, Strategic Consultant

July 14 2020


1CONFIDENTIAL, DO NOT DISSEMINATE.

Created for exclusive use by University of Memphis.




Who we are

Washington, DC-based consulting firm

• Founded in 2004.

• Specialize in securing funding for a wide range of organizations.

Team of grants experts

• 40+ staff from Congressional and Executive branches, Academia, non-profits, & industry.

• 250+ grant writers, grant consultants & SMEs.

INTRODUCTION

| 2CONFIDENTIAL, DO NOT DISSEMINATE.




Recap…Introduction to the U.S. Department of Defense R&D Funding Landscape






Overview of the “Getting to Know DoD” series

Purpose:Educate UM faculty on where to find DoD funding mechanisms, and how to secure funding from those mechanisms.

Goals:Prepare a competitive DoD research concept

Submit a DoD application in the next 12-18 months.

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RECAP

CONFIDENTIAL, DO NOT DISSEMINATE.





Primary DoD

Basic and Applied

Research Offices

and Sub-

Agencies

RECAP

| 5

The Army Research Office (ARO) funds extramural basic research

in the engineering, physical, information and life sciences, supporting

supports scientific and far reaching technological discoveries.

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) serves to

support Air Force goals of control and maximum utilization of air,

space, and cyberspace.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) makes broad investments in

basic and applied research that will increase fundamental knowledge

that will lead to new future naval capabilities and systems.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

explicitly reaches for transformational change instead of incremental

advances.

The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs

(CDMRP) biomedical research in response to the expressed needs

of its stakeholders-the American public, the military, and Congress.






Objectives of Webinar #1

RECAP

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• Overview of the DoD funding landscape for faculty new(er) to the DoD.

• Provide an insight into the various military branches and sub-agencies that fund basic and applied research.

• Overview of the research and development interests of each military branch and sub-agency.

• Understand how the DoD differs from other federal funding agencies.

• Concept development process for the DoD.






Key takeaways from Webinar #1

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RECAP

• The DoD has broad research interests in almost every field of science

and technology. The tough part is finding your niche.

• DoD is not like other funding agencies. You must adapt your research

concepts and proposal development style to meet DoD’s unique

requirements.

• Don’t be afraid of applying to the DoD. The DoD is competitive and

mission-driven, but it also funds more research at academic institutions

than NSF.





Broad Agency Announcements…Overview of the Primary Mechanism for Basic and Applied Research Funding






Objectives of today’s session

INTRODUCTION

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• Review the DoD’s funding mechanisms.

• Overview of the DoD’s BAA and the relevant sub-agencies.

• Anatomy of DoD’s BAAs and the important sections to note.

• Insight into using a DoD BAA to adapt your research concept.






DoD funding vehicles

INTRODUCTION

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Broad Agency Announcements Special Program Announcements University Research Initiatives

Young Investigator Research

Program

Defense Established

Program to Stimulate

Competitive Research

(DEPSCoR)

Defense University Research

Instrumentation (DURIP)

Program

ARO Broad Agency

Announcement (BAA) for

Fundamental Research,

1 April 2017 - 31 March 2022

ONR Long Range Broad

Agency Announcement

(BAA) for Navy and Marine

Corps Science and

Technology, FY2020

Multidisciplinary University

Research Initiatives (MURI)

Program






DoD funding vehicles: BAAs

INTRODUCTION

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Broad Agency Announcements

ARO Broad Agency

Announcement (BAA) for

Fundamental Research,

1 April 2017 - 31 March 2022

ONR Long Range Broad

Agency Announcement

(BAA) for Navy and Marine

Corps Science and

Technology, FY2020

• BAAs are the most common mechanism

through which DoD funds university research.

• BAAs are released regularly by each of the

service branch research offices and DARPA

program offices.

• BAAs provide a(n intentionally) broad outline

of each entities’ research priorities for the

current fiscal year.

• BAAs are updated throughout the year, as

needed.CONFIDENTIAL, DO NOT DISSEMINATE.





Search for funding opportunities

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INTRODUCTION

Government Sponsored Agency Sponsored 3rd Party Aggregators





Notable Broad Agency Announcements…Basic and Applied Research






Primary DoD

Basic and Applied

Research Offices

and Sub-

Agencies

DoD BRANCHES AND SUB-AGENCIES

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The Army Research Office (ARO) funds extramural basic research

in the engineering, physical, information and life sciences, supporting

supports scientific and far reaching technological discoveries.

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) serves to

support Air Force goals of control and maximum utilization of air,

space, and cyberspace.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) makes broad investments in

basic and applied research that will increase fundamental knowledge

that will lead to new future naval capabilities and systems.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

explicitly reaches for transformational change instead of incremental

advances.

The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs

(CDMRP) biomedical research in response to the expressed needs

of its stakeholders-the American public, the military, and Congress.






Department of

the Army

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NOTABLE BAAs

Research Thrusts: Engineering, Physical, Life, and Information Sciences.

Open Period: 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2022 (5 years)

Army Research Office Broad Agency Announcement for Fundamental Research

Research Thrusts: Computational Sciences, Materials Research, Sciences for Maneuver, Information Sciences, Sciences for Lethality and Protection, Human Sciences, and Assessment and Analysis.

Open Period: 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2022 (5 years)

Army Research Laboratory Broad Agency Announcement for Basic and Applied Scientific Research

Research Thrusts: Research advances and applications of the behavioral and social sciences that address personnel, organization, and Soldier and leader development issues.

Open Period: 30 April 2018 – 29 April 2023 (5 years)

Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences Broad Agency Announcement for Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research






Department of

the Air Force

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NOTABLE BAAs

Research Thrusts: Engineering & Complex Systems; Information & Networks;

Physical Sciences; and, Chemistry & Biological Sciences.

Open Period: 10 April 2019 - … (No end date)

Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Research Thrusts: Modeling, Simulation & Analysis; Innovative Aircraft Integration Technologies; Engagement Management System Technologies; High Velocity Fuzing; Missile Electronics; Control Actuation Systems; etc.

Open Period: 1 November 2019 – 31 October 2024 (5 years)

Air Superiority Technology Broad Agency Announcement

Research Thrusts: Bioprincipic Sensors, Information Processing & Control; Autonomous Target Recognition; Advanced Scene Generation; Navigation & Control Technology; Damage Mechanisms Research; Fuze Research; STEM Education; etc.

Open Period: 13 March 2017 – 12 March 2022 (5 years)

Armament Technology Broad Agency Announcement






Department of

the Navy

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NOTABLE BAAs

Research Thrusts: Information, Cyber & Spectrum Superiority; Ocean Battlespace & Expeditionary Access; Mission Capable, Persistent & Survivable Naval Platforms; Warfighter Performance; and, Aviation, Force Projection & Integrated Defense.

Open Period: 26 September 2019 – 30 September 2020 (1 year)

ONR Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Navy and Marine Corps Science & Technology

Research Thrusts: Systems Research; Materials Science & Component Technology Sciences; Ocean & Atmospheric Science & Technology Sciences; and, Naval Center for Space Technology Sciences.

Open Period: 6 September 2019 – 5 September 2020 (1 year)

NRL Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Basic and Applied Research

Research Thrusts: Systems Engineering, Cost Analysis, Air Vehicle, Power and Propulsion (P&P), Avionics, Human Systems, Support Equipment, Warfare Analysis, Logistics, Data Analysis, and Cyber.

Open Period: 4 June 2020 – 3 June 2021 (1 year)

NAWCAD Office-Wide Broad Agency Announcement






Defense Advanced

Research Projects

Agency (DARPA)

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NOTABLE BAAs

Research Thrusts: Frontiers in Math, Computation & Design; Limits of Sensing

& Sensors; Complex Social Systems; and, Anticipating Surprise.

Open Period: 12 June 2020 – 11 June 2021 (1 year)

Defense Science Office Office-wide Broad Agency Announcement

Research Thrusts: Enable rapid, scalable protection & countermeasures;

Revolutionize warfighter readiness, resilience, & recovery; Enhance training

effectiveness & overmatch; etc.

Open Period: 23 April 2020 – 22 April 2021 (1 year)

Broad Agency Announcement for Biological Technologies

Research Thrusts: Symbiosis Research & Development; Cyber Research &

Development; Analytics Research & Development.

Open Period: 14 September 2018 – 28 August 2020 (2 years)

Information Innovation Office Office-wide Broad Agency Announcement






U.S. Army Medical

Research BAAs

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NOTABLE BAAs

Research Thrusts: Military Infectious Diseases; Combat Casualty Care Research; Military Operational Medicine Research; Clinical & Rehabilitative Medicine Research; Medical Biological Defense Research; Medical Chemical Defense Research; etc.

Open Period: 1 October 2017 – 30 September 2022 (5 years)

USAMRMC Broad Agency Announcement for Extramural Medical Research

Research Thrusts: Damage Control Resuscitation; Prolonged Field Care; Portable Lab Assays & Diagnostics; Force Health Protection & Environmental Medicine; Medical Simulation & Training Technologies; Human Performance Optimization; etc.

Open Period: 1 August 2018 – 31 July 2023 (5 years)

USSOCOM Broad Agency Announcement for Extramural Biomedical Research and Development

Research Thrusts: Medical Simulation & Training; Embedded Training; Biomechanics; Chemical/ Biological Protection for Individuals; Human Factors; Biotechnology; Physical Performance Technologies; etc.

Open Period: 29 February 2020 – 28 February 2025 (5 years)

Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Broad Agency Announcement**






Additional BAAs of

Potential Interest

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NOTABLE BAAs

Research Thrusts: Aeromedical Evacuation; Optimization of Human Capital; Airman Exposure Health; Expeditionary Medicine; Cognitive & Physiologic Performance; Medical Countermeasures of Directed Energy; etc.

Open Period: 26 May 2020 – 30 April 2026 (6 years)

Airman Readiness Medical Research Hybrid Broad Agency Announcement

Research Thrusts: Autonomous Platforms; Sensing; Computation; Space; Protection; Human Performance; Signature Reduction; Communications & Network; Quantum Technologies; Internet of Things; Underpinning Methodologies; etc.

Open Period: 2 May 2019 – 1 May 2024 (5 years)

Army Applications Lab Broad Agency Announcement For Disruptive Applications

Research Thrusts: Hydraulics, Dredging, Coastal Engineering, Oceanography,, Earthquake Engineering, Soil Effects, Vehicle Mobility, Self-contained Munitions, Military Engineering, Geophysics, Pavements, Aquatic Plants, Water Quality, etc.

Open Period: 16 March 2020 – 5 February 2021 (1 year)

Army Corps of Engineers Broad Agency Announcement





Anatomy of Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs)…Insights into the structure of BAAs






Anatomy of a BAAARO Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Fundamental

Research

BAA ANATOMY

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Who should I contact?

Will the award be enough?

Can I apply?

Does this grant fit my timeline?

What are the proposal

requirements?

Will my proposal be competitive?

How do I outline my proposal?

Military relevanceMilitary relevance






Research Interests

• Provides a brief and broadoverview of the research topic.

• Often includes the relevant Program Manager’s contact information.

• Can include research areas the DoD isn’t interested in funding.

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BAA ANATOMY






Award Information

• BAAs tend not to disclose award ceiling or period of performance.

• Typical DoD award instrument for academic institutions is a grant.

• Recommended request, if unsure, is $500,000 - $3 million over 3 - 5 years.

• Be prepared to negotiate the scope and award amount of the project.

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BAA ANATOMY






Eligibility Restrictions

• All responsible sources both

domestic and international.

• Partnering with multiple

stakeholders on a project

increases competitiveness.

• Cost sharing or matching is

often mechanism

dependent.

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BAA ANATOMY






White Paper Guidelines

• White paper guidelines are

usually included under the

Application Submission

section.

• White papers are typically 5

pages with 1 cover page.

• White paper submission

varies depending on the

BAA.

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BAA ANATOMY






Full Proposal Guidelines

• Submitted through Grants.gov

• Use SF-424 forms

• Length of the Technical Proposal is often not limited.

• Technical Proposal can include: current and pending support, biographical sketches, and facilities and equipment sections.

• Required reports: Technical and Financial Progress Reports, and a Final Report.

• Recommend submission dates will be provided by the program manager.

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BAA ANATOMY






Review Process

• Review Criteria

• Scientific and Technical Merit

• Military Relevance

• Strength of the Team and PI

• Availability of Funds

• Realism and Reasonableness of Costs

• Program Manager reviews the white paper.

• Panel Review for the full proposal.

• Proposals are not evaluated against other proposals – just the evaluation criteria.

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BAA ANATOMY

Army Research Office (ARO)

Office of Naval Research (ONR)






Miscellaneous Points

• Agency Contacts vs. Program Manager Contacts.

• Importance of Appendices.

• Table of Acronyms.

• Schedule of Amendments.

• Read and review the BAA in its entirety before starting.

• Keyword searching.

• RDTE range.

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BAA ANATOMY





Adapting your concept paper to align with DoD’s priorities…Best Practices






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CRAFTING A DoD CONCEPT

You can position yourself for competitiveness well

in advance of a solicitation response.

SOLICITATIONS

Determine fit

Build relationships

Engage in the process






Common weaknesses of DoD proposals

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• Proposers do not read and analyze the BAA.

• Propose incremental science.

• Proposers do not use language that catches the interest of Program

Managers.

• The unique value proposition is unclear.

• Researchers do not follow the proposal development requirements.

Military relevanceMilitary relevance






33


“My epiphany came when I realized that

grant programs do not exist to make me

successful, but rather my job is to make

those programs successful.”

Source: Porter, R. (2007). Why academics have a hard time writing good grant proposals. The Journal of Research Administration, 38, 161-167.






Determining FitWhere to find your research area


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Who should I contact?

Would DOD be interested

in my idea?

Will my proposal be

competitive?

Military relevance






Identify the appropriate DoD research

program

• Find the DoD office’s

broad agency

announcement

• Review the index to find

relevant research areas

• Review relevant

research areas to

decide on “fit”

| 35






Conclusion






Summary – Webinar #2

CONCLUSION

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• Review the DoD’s funding mechanisms.

• Overview of the DoD’s BAA and the relevant sub-agencies.

• Anatomy of DoD’s BAAs and the important sections to note.

• Insight into using a DoD BAA to adapt your research concept.






Next Steps

• Review the list of DoD BAAs, as well as the Webinar #1 and #2 slides.

• Use language from the BAAs to align your concept with the DoD’s research interests.

• REMEMBER: You’ll need to tailor yourresearch interests to fit the scope and goals of the DoD research program.

• Please send updated concept papers and the research programs you’re interested in by July 28th.

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CONCLUSION





Questions





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Documents

Guide to DoD Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) · The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) serves to support Air Force goals of control and maximum utilization of air,