Special Program Announcement for Office of Naval Research Opportunity: Fundamental Research Towards Expeditionary Air Warfare & Weapons | N0001424SBC02

Opportunity Information: Apply for N0001424SBC02

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is seeking proposals for a special program announcement titled "Fundamental Research Towards Expeditionary Air Warfare and Weapons" under its larger Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps science and technology (N0001424SB001). In practical terms, this special notice is meant to steer the research community toward a specific set of fundamental research needs tied to expeditionary air warfare and weapons, while keeping the contracting and proposal rules aligned with the overarching long range BAA posted on the Navy research enterprise website. Proposal submission, evaluation, and eventual award decisions (grants and potentially contracts under the parent BAA process) will follow the procedures and requirements laid out in that main long range announcement.

The announcement is designed to do three things: highlight three topic areas that ONR wants the community to study, encourage participation in informational workshops where researchers and stakeholders can talk through the problems and expectations, and lay out a schedule for when white papers and full proposals are expected. While the excerpt does not spell out the three technical topics themselves, it makes clear that ONR wants focused, foundational work that can underpin future expeditionary aviation and weapons capabilities, and it is using workshops and staged submissions (white paper then full proposal) to shape and coordinate the community response.

Eligibility is broad for most of the research ecosystem. ONR welcomes proposals from responsible sources worldwide, including academia, industry, and other research organizations. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are explicitly encouraged to apply or to team with others, but there is no set-aside funding reserved for them (and similarly no set-asides for small businesses or other socioeconomic categories). Both small and large businesses are encouraged to compete. University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) may apply unless restricted by the terms of their specific Department of Defense UARC contract.

At the same time, the announcement draws firm lines around certain government-associated entities. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy national laboratories, are not eligible to receive awards directly under this BAA. However, they can participate as team members or partners when paired with an eligible prime offeror, as long as that arrangement is consistent with the FFRDCs sponsoring agreement. Navy laboratories, military universities, warfare centers, and other Department of Defense or civilian government laboratories are also not eligible to submit white papers or full proposals directly. If those organizations want to get involved, they are instructed to contact the relevant ONR technical point of contact to discuss their interest instead of applying as direct offerors.

ONR also signals that it expects collaboration and integration across performers. Teams are welcome, and offerors should be prepared to cooperate with other contractors and with ONR-selected system integrators, including exchanging software, data, and other information needed to run an integrated research program. This is an important practical condition because it implies that awardees may not be operating in isolation; they may be asked to align interfaces, share interim results, and support broader transition planning beyond their own individual work packages.

A notable compliance point concerns disclosure of support. The announcement warns that disclosures of current and pending support included in the application can affect eligibility, and that the Department of Defense may request updated current and pending support information before award and throughout performance. Those updates will be reviewed and can lead to discontinuation of funding. In other words, applicants should treat current and pending support reporting as a continuing obligation, not a one-time administrative formality.

From the published opportunity metadata, the issuing agency is the Office of Naval Research and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding with a grant instrument type, within science and technology and other research and development. The opportunity number is N0001424SBC02, the CFDA number listed is 12.300, and the original closing date shown is March 8, 2024. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, which typically means applicants need to consult the parent long range BAA and any associated topic-specific instructions, workshop materials, or technical contacts for details on anticipated funding levels, performance periods, and submission requirements.

• The Office of Naval Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Special Program Announcement for Office of Naval Research Opportunity: Fundamental Research Towards Expeditionary Air Warfare & Weapons" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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