Communications and Networking Discovery Invention | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) grant opportunity titled "Communications and Networking Discovery - Invention" (Funding Opportunity Number ONRBAA09-016) seeks research ideas that advance Navy and Marine Corps communications and networking in support of the Sea Power 21 and FORCEnet vision. The central aim is to improve end-to-end connectivity and quality of service for mission-critical information exchange so that commanders and tactical units can access the right information at the right place and time. ONR emphasizes that modern naval operations are shifting from platform-centric to network-centric warfare, which makes resilient, interoperable, secure, and timely communications essential for command and control, decision-making, and the delivery of high-capacity multimedia data (voice, imagery, and other data streams) across widely dispersed forces.

A key driver in the announcement is the operational reality that many Navy and Marine Corps users operate in difficult or "disadvantaged" communications conditions. This includes small deck combatants, submarines, unmanned air vehicles, and dispersed ground units operating in urban areas or radio-frequency-challenged environments. These users often face intermittent connectivity, disrupted links, or periods of disconnection, so the program is looking for technologies that deliver robust throughput, survivability, and more autonomous networking behavior under real-world constraints. The desired outcome is measurable technological progress that directly enables stronger networking performance and more dependable communications across joint and coalition forces, from operational command centers down to the tactical edge.

For FY10 exploratory development/applied research projects (Budget Activity 6.2), ONR requests white papers in several specific focus areas. The first focus area targets next-generation tactical data links and waveforms that must balance competing requirements: low probability of intercept, resistance to jamming, and high bandwidth, while still scaling to large networks (hundreds of nodes) within a few hops and maintaining low latency. The second focus area centers on electronic protection for high-frequency (HF) communications, including concepts like electrically small antennas, low-observable or "featureless" waveforms, fast synchronization and detection methods, blind beamforming, and dynamic interference cancellation. The third focus area seeks approaches for efficient, robust multi-hop networking when links are asymmetric, meaning transmit and receive performance differ substantially between certain nodes, such as when disruption produces uneven error rates. The fourth focus area looks for ways to use a platform's superstructure as an antenna and to couple signals efficiently into and out of communications systems, expanding demonstrated HF receive concepts into other frequency bands and improving both receive and transmit performance. The fifth focus area addresses optical communications challenges, specifically mitigation techniques for poor propagation through aerosols and obscurants such as fog and clouds, with an example problem being scattering and attenuation at the 1.5 micron wavelength often used in optical communications.

In addition to these listed topics, ONR indicates it is open to highly innovative communications and networking ideas that fall outside the stated focus areas as long as they are strongly relevant to Navy and Marine Corps needs and align with the broader goal of improving operational connectivity and networking resilience. The work scope under this Broad Agency Announcement can include basic research, applied research, and in some cases advanced technology development (ATD). The announcement also explains how ONR handles publication and research restrictions: unclassified fundamental research is generally not restricted in conduct or reporting, consistent with Department of Defense guidance and NSDD-189, unless required by law or executive policy. More sensitive ATD efforts (typically Budget Activity 3) may involve limits during performance and may require Department of Defense pre-publication review due to subject matter sensitivity.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and allows awards through grants and procurement contracts. It is listed under CFDA 12.300 (Basic and Applied Scientific Research), does not require cost sharing, and is open to a broad range of applicants (eligibility described as unrestricted, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement). The opportunity was posted March 5, 2009, with an original and current closing date of June 30, 2009, and an archive date of July 30, 2009. The sponsoring agency is ONR, and the announcement directs applicants to ONR BAA resources for full details, with a contact listed for access issues and questions regarding BAA 09-016.

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