Basic Research Challenge (BRC) Program | Apply Online

Basic Research Challenge (BRC) Program (ONRBAA09-017) FAQs

1) What is the Basic Research Challenge (BRC) Program?

The Basic Research Challenge (BRC) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to support basic science and engineering research in academia and industry. It is intended to stimulate genuinely new, high-risk research rather than incremental development, with the goal of producing foundational advances that may open new directions relevant to future naval and defense needs.

2) What kind of research is ONR looking for under this program?

ONR is looking for high-impact basic research, especially research that is creative, unconventional, and high-risk, where the payoff could be substantial. The emphasis is on foundational scientific and engineering advances, not incremental improvements or routine development work.

3) Is this opportunity limited to certain research areas for FY 2009?

Yes. For FY 2009, ONR limited the BRC to three specific topic areas. However, the topic descriptions are meant to guide proposers rather than tightly constrain them, and creative approaches are encouraged as long as they clearly connect to the intent of a topic and fit the overall goal of high-impact basic research.

4) What are the three BRC topic areas for FY 2009?

The three topics are: (1) Irreducible Uncertainty and the Limits of Predictability; (2) Elastomeric Polymer by Design to Protect the Warfighter against Traumatic Brain Injury by Diverting the Blast Induced Shock Waves from the Head; and (3) DNA based Molecular scale Nanoelectronics Fabrication.

5) Are white papers allowed, or are only full proposals accepted?

The announcement solicits both white papers and full proposals aligned to any of the three topics.

6) What does ONR mean by "high-risk" in this context?

In this program, "high-risk" refers to research that aims at genuinely new directions and may involve significant uncertainty in outcomes, rather than predictable, incremental progress. The intent is to spark new basic research efforts that could have major long-term impact.

7) Does the program focus on basic research or applied development?

The BRC is described as a basic science and engineering funding opportunity. While the motivation includes relevance to future naval and defense needs, the focus is on foundational advances rather than near-term product development.

8) How strictly do proposals need to match the topic descriptions?

ONR indicates that the topic descriptions are intended to guide proposers and are not meant to be tightly constraining. Proposals can take creative or unconventional approaches, as long as they clearly connect to the intent of one of the topics and align with the program goal of high-impact basic research.

9) What is Topic 1 about: "Irreducible Uncertainty and the Limits of Predictability"?

This topic focuses on fundamental limits of forecasting and modeling in complex systems. The emphasis is on understanding when and why prediction fails even with better data, improved models, or greater computing power. It seeks work that clarifies what uncertainty cannot be reduced and how to reason and make decisions when uncertainty cannot be eliminated.

10) What types of approaches could be relevant to Topic 1?

The description points to mathematical, statistical, physical, computational, and information-theoretic ideas that help explain theoretical limits of predictability and support new ways to reason about irreducible uncertainty.

11) What is Topic 2 about: elastomeric polymers and traumatic brain injury protection?

This topic targets basic research in materials and mechanics aimed at reducing blast-related brain injuries. The emphasis is on elastomeric polymers that can be designed at the material level to redirect or manage shock waves so less damaging energy reaches the head, building a deeper scientific basis for how engineered elastomers affect blast wave propagation in protective configurations.

12) Is Topic 2 seeking an immediate improved helmet component?

No. The topic is framed as a basic research challenge. The stated goal is not simply a better helmet component, but foundational research such as new polymer architectures, structure-property relationships, and wave-matter interaction mechanisms that could eventually enable improved protective systems.

13) What is Topic 3 about: DNA based molecular-scale nanoelectronics fabrication?

This topic seeks fundamental advances in using DNA and related biomolecular methods as tools or templates to build electronic structures at molecular or nanometer scales. The core idea is that DNA can enable highly precise self-assembly or patterning that conventional top-down fabrication may struggle to achieve at similar scales.

14) What kinds of research directions are implied for Topic 3?

The topic description suggests exploring new fabrication concepts, molecular assembly strategies, and ways to integrate DNA-directed structures with electronic materials and device-relevant architectures, with the longer-term aim of improving controllability, scalability, or functional usefulness of molecular-scale nanoelectronics fabrication.

15) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is ONRBAA09-017.

16) What type of funding mechanism is used?

The opportunity is categorized as a grant.

17) What is the activity area associated with this opportunity?

The activity area is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

18) What CFDA program is associated with this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 12.300, Basic and Applied Scientific Research.

19) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The program does not require cost sharing or matching.

20) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is generally open to a wide range of applicant types, subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement.

21) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on February 19, 2009.

22) What is the closing date for submissions?

The original and current closing date is June 9, 2009.

23) When is the archive date?

The archive date is July 9, 2009.

24) Who should be contacted for issues accessing the full announcement?

For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed business contact is Kenesha Hargrave, Contract Specialist.

25) What contact information is provided for the business contact?

The phone number provided is 703-696-5345, and it is specified for business questions only.