Opportunity Information: Apply for BAA AFRL RQKMA 2016 0007
Apply for BAA AFRL RQKMA 2016 0007
- The DOD-AFRL in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, Functional Materials and Applications (AFRL/RXA) Two-Step Open BAA" 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 Apr 19, 2016 and posted on Apr 19, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 19, 2021. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Functional Materials and Applications branch (AFRL/RXA) is running a two-step, open Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) focused on functional materials research and development that supports Air Force missions. The announcement invites initial White Papers and, for efforts that appear promising and aligned to AFRL needs, may later request full technical and cost proposals. The intent is to capture ideas across the full maturity range of functional materials work, from early-stage scientific discovery and fundamental materials research through applied technology development, transition planning, and activities that help move successful concepts into real Air Force capabilities.
This opportunity is structured as a long-running, open solicitation over a five-year period, which is typical for BAAs used to continuously gather innovative R&D concepts rather than fund a single, narrowly defined project. The work scope is framed around the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate’s technology interests as they relate to functional materials core competencies and their applications. In practice, that means the government is looking for proposals that clearly connect materials behavior and performance to operationally relevant outcomes, and that can be mapped to AFRL’s mission needs in areas where functional materials enable new or improved Air Force systems, components, or manufacturing approaches.
Funding can be awarded through multiple instrument types depending on the nature of the proposed work and the government’s preferred relationship with the performer. The solicitation lists cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts as possible award mechanisms. That mix signals flexibility: some projects may be best suited to an assistance approach (grants/cooperative agreements), while others may be acquired as contracts when the government is buying specific R&D deliverables. The program is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and it is associated with CFDA number 12.800, which corresponds to Air Force defense research sciences.
Eligibility is broadly open. The listing indicates “unrestricted†eligibility, meaning essentially any type of entity may submit, subject to any additional clarifications that may appear in the full announcement. This typically includes universities, nonprofit research organizations, small businesses, large businesses, and other qualified institutions that can perform the proposed R&D. The applicable NAICS codes are 541711 and 541712, which cover research and development in biotechnology and in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except biotechnology). Those codes help applicants understand how the government is classifying the work for reporting and procurement purposes.
From a funding perspective, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $5,000,000 and an expectation of about five awards. While those figures provide a rough planning boundary, BAAs often vary widely in actual award size and number of awards depending on available funding, the quality and relevance of submissions, and shifting government priorities during the open period. The two-step process also serves as an efficiency measure for both sides: a short White Paper allows AFRL to quickly determine mission fit and technical promise before asking applicants to invest time in a full proposal with detailed technical plans and cost buildup.
Key administrative details from the posting include the funding opportunity number BAA AFRL RQKMA 2016 0007, the sponsoring agency DOD-AFRL, and the original posting date of April 19, 2016. The open period described is five years, with a listed closing date of April 19, 2021 for this specific posting record. Overall, the solicitation is designed to continuously source and mature functional materials innovations that can progress from lab concepts to transition-ready technologies aligned with Air Force needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) run by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Functional Materials and Applications branch (AFRL/RXA). It supports research and development in functional materials that align with Air Force mission needs.
2) Who is sponsoring and managing the BAA?
The sponsoring agency is DOD-AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratory). The work is managed within AFRL's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, specifically the Functional Materials and Applications branch (AFRL/RXA).
3) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is BAA AFRL RQKMA 2016 0007.
4) What type of solicitation is this (and what does "open BAA" mean)?
This is a two-step, open BAA. "Open" in this context means it is designed to remain available over a long period (here, described as five years) so AFRL can continuously receive and evaluate new R&D concepts rather than only funding a single, narrowly scoped project.
5) What is the application process?
The process is two-step. Applicants submit an initial White Paper first. If the White Paper appears promising and aligned with AFRL needs, AFRL may later request a full technical proposal and a cost proposal.
6) Is a White Paper required?
Yes. The announcement invites initial White Papers, and full proposals may be requested only for White Papers that AFRL considers promising and aligned to its needs.
7) Does submitting a White Paper guarantee an invitation to submit a full proposal?
No. AFRL may request a full technical and cost proposal only for efforts that appear promising and aligned with AFRL needs. A White Paper is used as an initial screening step.
8) What kinds of research topics are in scope?
The scope covers functional materials research and development that supports Air Force missions. It is framed around the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate's technology interests tied to functional materials core competencies and their applications.
9) What does AFRL mean by "functional materials" in this BAA?
Based on the posting, "functional materials" work includes ideas that connect materials behavior and performance to operationally relevant outcomes for the Air Force, enabling new or improved systems, components, or manufacturing approaches.
10) What technology maturity levels are eligible?
The BAA is intended to capture ideas across the full maturity range, from early-stage scientific discovery and fundamental materials research through applied technology development, transition planning, and activities that support moving successful concepts into Air Force capabilities.
11) What does "transition planning" mean in this context?
In this BAA, transition planning refers to activities that help move successful functional materials concepts from research results toward real, deployable Air Force capabilities.
12) What award mechanisms might be used?
The solicitation lists cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts as possible award mechanisms.
13) How does AFRL decide between a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract?
The posting indicates flexibility depending on the nature of the proposed work and the government's preferred relationship with the performer. In general terms, assistance instruments (grants/cooperative agreements) may be used for certain R&D efforts, while contracts may be used when the government is acquiring specific R&D deliverables.
14) What program category is this opportunity associated with?
The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
15) What is the CFDA number and what does it indicate?
The CFDA number listed is 12.800, which corresponds to Air Force defense research sciences.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "unrestricted," meaning essentially any type of entity may submit, subject to any additional clarifications that may appear in the full announcement.
17) What types of organizations does "unrestricted" typically include?
Based on the posting description, this typically includes universities, nonprofit research organizations, small businesses, large businesses, and other qualified institutions capable of performing the proposed R&D.
18) What NAICS codes apply to this opportunity?
The applicable NAICS codes are 541711 and 541712.
19) What do NAICS 541711 and 541712 represent?
NAICS 541711 covers research and development in biotechnology. NAICS 541712 covers research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except biotechnology). These codes reflect how the government classifies the work for reporting and procurement purposes.
20) What is the maximum award size (award ceiling)?
The posting lists an award ceiling of $5,000,000.
21) How many awards are expected?
The posting indicates an expectation of about five awards.
22) Are the number and size of awards fixed?
No. The posting notes these figures are a rough planning boundary. Actual award size and the number of awards can vary based on available funding, the quality and relevance of submissions, and shifting government priorities during the open period.
23) Why does the BAA use a two-step process?
The two-step approach is described as an efficiency measure. A short White Paper allows AFRL to quickly evaluate mission fit and technical promise before asking for a full proposal with detailed technical plans and cost information.
24) What is the overall goal of the solicitation?
The overall goal is to continuously source and mature functional materials innovations that can progress from lab concepts to transition-ready technologies aligned with Air Force needs.
25) When was this opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date listed is April 19, 2016.
26) What is the listed open period and closing date?
The open period is described as five years. The posting record lists a closing date of April 19, 2021.
27) If the posting has a closing date, how should applicants interpret the "long-running open solicitation" description?
Based on the information provided, the BAA is described as a five-year open solicitation and the specific posting record includes a closing date of April 19, 2021. Applicants should treat the listed dates as the boundary for that posting record while recognizing the intent of the BAA format is continuous concept intake during its open period.
28) What kinds of outcomes is AFRL looking for in proposed work?
The posting emphasizes proposals that clearly connect materials behavior and performance to operationally relevant outcomes and that can be mapped to AFRL mission needs where functional materials enable improvements in Air Force systems, components, or manufacturing approaches.
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