Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA RQKS 2013 02
Apply for FOA RQKS 2013 02
- The Air Force Research Lab in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Center of Excellence (CoE) in Guided Wave Infrared Sources" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800 Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 7, 2012 and posted on Nov 7, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 7, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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 Sensors Directorate (AFRL/RY), together with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), is soliciting proposals to stand up a Center of Excellence (CoE) focused on guided wave infrared (IR) sources. The intent is to fund a small number of teams that can build a sustained research program spanning both basic science and applied development, with the end goal of advancing the materials, device concepts, and system-enabling components needed to generate, manipulate, and transmit infrared light through guided-wave structures. This opportunity is issued as FOA RQKS 2013 02 and it replaces an earlier referenced announcement (BAA RQKSE 2013 02) that had been published previously.
Technically, the government is looking for work across several connected categories that together form a pipeline from fundamental understanding to usable components. Key topic areas include infrared waveguides and/or optical fibers that can deliver low-loss transmission, guided-wave lasers, nonlinear optical conversion devices (for example, frequency mixing or wavelength translation approaches that help reach hard-to-access IR bands), and beam control devices that shape or steer IR output. The wavelength coverage of interest is broad and practical: roughly 2 to 12 microns, emphasizing regions that align with atmospheric transmission windows as well as wavelength bands relevant to organic and inorganic absorption. In other words, proposals should not only explore novel physics and materials, but should also stay anchored to wavelength regimes that matter for sensing and related defense-relevant uses where the atmosphere and molecular absorption features strongly influence performance.
Because this is framed as a Center of Excellence rather than a single narrow research task, the Air Force is also signaling that it values a strong education and workforce-development component. Applicants are expected to demonstrate substantial experience training students in the technical areas tied to guided-wave IR technologies, implying that universities or university-led consortia are natural fits, though eligibility is listed as unrestricted. In addition to producing research results, the selected teams are expected to actively disseminate outcomes to the wider technical community through regular seminars, peer-reviewed publications, and conference presentations, indicating a preference for programs that are visible, collaborative, and capable of shaping the broader field rather than operating in isolation.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies more substantial government involvement and coordination than a standard grant, often including closer technical interaction, shared planning, or coordinated milestones. The program falls under CFDA 12.800 (Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program) within the Science and Technology / Research and Development activity category. The announcement anticipated up to three awards and listed an estimated total funding level of $4,200,000, with no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity) subject to any clarifications that may appear in the full solicitation text. The posting date was November 7, 2012, with an original and current closing date of December 7, 2012, and an archive date of January 6, 2013.
The announcement also emphasizes operational security (OPSEC). Awardees should expect OPSEC procedures and awareness requirements to apply throughout the life of the agreement to reduce vulnerability to adversary collection and exploitation of sensitive information. A Critical Information List is available upon request from the RYOY Security Office, and OPSEC support is provided for work conducted on government installations. Practically, this means teams should plan for controlled handling of certain technical details, careful communications practices, and compliance with security guidance when coordinating with the government or presenting results, even while the program encourages broad scientific dissemination.
For technical questions, the point of contact identified is Program Engineer William Mitchell at AFRL/RYMWA (phone 937-528-8660, email william.mitchell@wpafb.af.mil). For assistance accessing the full announcement, the contracting contact listed is Jodi Alvarez, Contract Negotiator (phone 937-255-0470).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is a solicitation by the Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors Directorate (AFRL/RY), together with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), to stand up a Center of Excellence (CoE) focused on guided wave infrared (IR) sources.
What is the goal of the Center of Excellence (CoE)?
The goal is to fund a small number of teams that can build a sustained research program spanning basic science through applied development, with the end goal of advancing materials, device concepts, and system-enabling components needed to generate, manipulate, and transmit infrared light through guided-wave structures.
What is the FOA number for this announcement?
The opportunity is issued as FOA RQKS 2013 02.
Does this FOA replace any prior announcement?
Yes. FOA RQKS 2013 02 replaces an earlier referenced announcement, BAA RQKSE 2013 02, that had been published previously.
What technical areas is the government interested in funding?
The government is looking for work across connected categories that form a pipeline from fundamental understanding to usable components, including:
- Infrared waveguides and/or optical fibers enabling low-loss transmission
- Guided-wave lasers
- Nonlinear optical conversion devices (for example, frequency mixing or wavelength translation to reach hard-to-access IR bands)
- Beam control devices that shape or steer IR output
What infrared wavelength range is of interest?
The wavelength coverage of interest is broadly 2 to 12 microns. The emphasis is on practical regions that align with atmospheric transmission windows and wavelength bands relevant to organic and inorganic absorption.
Why does the announcement emphasize atmospheric windows and molecular absorption bands?
The solicitation indicates that proposals should remain anchored to wavelength regimes that matter for sensing and related defense-relevant uses, where atmospheric transmission and molecular absorption features strongly influence performance.
Is the program focused only on basic research, or also on applied development?
It is intended to span both basic science and applied development as part of a sustained Center of Excellence program.
What does it mean that this is a "Center of Excellence" rather than a single project?
The CoE framing signals interest in an integrated, sustained program (not a narrow, one-off task), covering multiple connected technical topics and producing system-enabling components over time.
Is there an education and workforce development expectation?
Yes. The Air Force signals that it values a strong education and workforce-development component. Applicants are expected to demonstrate substantial experience training students in technical areas tied to guided-wave IR technologies.
Are universities required to apply?
No. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity). However, the announcement notes that universities or university-led consortia are natural fits given the student training expectation.
What dissemination and community engagement activities are expected?
Selected teams are expected to actively disseminate outcomes to the wider technical community through regular seminars, peer-reviewed publications, and conference presentations.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for this program?
A cooperative agreement typically implies more substantial government involvement and coordination than a standard grant, often including closer technical interaction, shared planning, or coordinated milestones.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
This program falls under CFDA 12.800, the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The announcement is within the Science and Technology / Research and Development activity category.
How many awards are anticipated?
The announcement anticipated up to three awards.
What is the estimated total funding level?
The estimated total funding level listed is $4,200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications that may appear in the full solicitation text.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
- Posting date: November 7, 2012
- Closing date (original and current): December 7, 2012
- Archive date: January 6, 2013
What is OPSEC and how does it affect this program?
The announcement emphasizes operational security (OPSEC). Awardees should expect OPSEC procedures and awareness requirements to apply throughout the life of the agreement to reduce vulnerability to adversary collection and exploitation of sensitive information.
Will awardees be able to publish and present results if OPSEC applies?
The solicitation encourages broad scientific dissemination (seminars, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations) while also emphasizing OPSEC. Practically, teams should plan for controlled handling of certain technical details, careful communications practices, and compliance with security guidance when coordinating with the government or presenting results.
How can an applicant obtain the Critical Information List mentioned under OPSEC?
A Critical Information List is available upon request from the RYOY Security Office.
Is OPSEC support available if work is performed on government installations?
Yes. The announcement states that OPSEC support is provided for work conducted on government installations.
Who is the technical point of contact for questions about the program?
The technical point of contact is Program Engineer William Mitchell at AFRL/RYMWA, phone 937-528-8660, email william.mitchell@wpafb.af.mil.
Who should be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?
For assistance accessing the full announcement, the contracting contact listed is Jodi Alvarez, Contract Negotiator, phone 937-255-0470.
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