Opportunity Information: Apply for BAA AFRL AFOSR 2016 0003
Apply for BAA AFRL AFOSR 2016 0003
- The DOD-AFOSR in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Center of Excellence: Astrodynamics" 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 Feb 22, 2016 and posted on Feb 22, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 25, 2016. (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 $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Defense, through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), announced a discretionary grant opportunity to establish a single Center of Excellence (CoE) in Astrodynamics. The effort is described as a joint project between AFOSR (within AFRL) and the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, with the purpose of strengthening AFRL research capability in astrodynamics while also building a pipeline of new U.S. scientists and engineers focused on Air Force basic research needs. Proposals are required to be unclassified and must not include proprietary information, signaling an emphasis on fundamental, openly shareable research rather than sensitive or restricted work.
The opportunity is identified as "Center of Excellence: Astrodynamics" under Funding Opportunity Number BAA AFRL AFOSR 2016 0003, with CFDA 12.800, which is commonly associated with Air Force research and development assistance. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is science and technology and other research and development. AFOSR anticipated making one award, indicating a competitive selection intended to create a single flagship university-based or academically led research center rather than multiple smaller projects.
Eligible applicants include both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. In practice, that means colleges and universities are the target applicants, consistent with the Center of Excellence model, which typically combines sustained research programs, collaboration with government laboratories, and workforce development components such as graduate student training, postdoctoral research, and faculty engagement. The stated intent to provide opportunities for a new generation of U.S. scientists and engineers suggests the center would likely be expected to support students and early-career researchers as a core part of its mission.
From a funding perspective, the award ceiling is listed at $6,000,000, framing the upper bound of federal support anticipated for the single selected center under this announcement. The posting date and creation date were both February 22, 2016, and the closing date was April 25, 2016. Overall, the solicitation centers on establishing an academically anchored, unclassified astrodynamics research hub that directly extends AFRL capability and addresses Air Force-oriented basic research challenges in space trajectory, orbit dynamics, navigation, and related foundational topics implied by the astrodynamics focus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Center of Excellence: Astrodynamics (AFOSR)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of Defense discretionary grant opportunity, announced through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), to establish a single Center of Excellence (CoE) in Astrodynamics. The opportunity is titled "Center of Excellence: Astrodynamics" under Funding Opportunity Number BAA AFRL AFOSR 2016 0003.
Which organizations are sponsoring or involved in the effort?
The effort is described as a joint project between AFOSR (within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL) and the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate.
What is the purpose of establishing this Center of Excellence?
The stated purpose is to strengthen AFRL research capability in astrodynamics while also building a pipeline of new U.S. scientists and engineers focused on Air Force basic research needs.
How many awards does AFOSR expect to make?
AFOSR anticipated making one award, meaning this solicitation is intended to select a single Center of Excellence rather than funding multiple centers or many separate projects.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument for this opportunity is a grant.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Based on those categories, colleges and universities are the target applicants.
Is this opportunity intended for universities specifically?
Yes. The eligible applicant types are institutions of higher education, and the opportunity is structured as a Center of Excellence, which is typically an academically anchored research center.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is listed at $6,000,000. This represents the upper bound of anticipated federal support for the single selected center under this announcement.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BAA AFRL AFOSR 2016 0003.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity lists CFDA 12.800, which is commonly associated with Air Force research and development assistance.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date was February 22, 2016, and the creation date was also February 22, 2016.
What is the proposal deadline?
The closing date (deadline) was April 25, 2016.
Does the proposal need to be unclassified?
Yes. Proposals are required to be unclassified.
Can the proposal include proprietary information?
No. Proposals must not include proprietary information, indicating an emphasis on fundamental, openly shareable research rather than sensitive or restricted work.
What research area does the Center of Excellence focus on?
The focus is astrodynamics. The description implies foundational topics such as space trajectory, orbit dynamics, navigation, and related basic research areas aligned with Air Force-oriented needs.
Is the Center expected to support workforce development?
The opportunity explicitly mentions building a pipeline of new U.S. scientists and engineers focused on Air Force basic research needs. This suggests workforce development is an intended component of the center.
What kinds of participants are implied to benefit from the pipeline aspect?
Based on the Center of Excellence model described, the center would likely be expected to provide opportunities for students and early-career researchers (such as graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty engagement), consistent with sustained research and training goals.
Is this solicitation aimed at basic research or applied/operational work?
The emphasis on unclassified, non-proprietary proposals and the stated focus on Air Force basic research needs indicates a fundamental research orientation rather than sensitive, restricted, or operationally classified work.
What makes this opportunity different from typical research project grants?
This opportunity is framed as establishing a single flagship Center of Excellence, rather than funding multiple smaller projects. The center concept implies a sustained, academically led research hub that strengthens AFRL capability while developing future researchers in the field.
Is collaboration with Air Force laboratories part of the intent?
The effort is explicitly described as a joint project involving AFOSR and the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, and the purpose is to strengthen AFRL capability. That framing indicates a close connection to AFRL research needs as part of the center's mission.
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