Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 12 R 0001
Apply for W911NF 12 R 0001
- The Dept of the Army Materiel Command in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Department of Defense Forensic Research and Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630 Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 26, 2011 and posted on Oct 3, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 19, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Defense Forensic Research and Development Program (Funding Opportunity Number W911NF 12 R 0001) is a competitive research solicitation released by the Department of the Army, Materiel Command, focused on advancing forensic science and related technologies through research and development. The opportunity sits in the science and technology research domain (CFDA 12.630: Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering) and supports projects intended to strengthen forensic capabilities across a wide range of disciplines. The program anticipates making about seven awards and lists an estimated total funding level of $3,000,000. It is structured to support different award mechanisms, including cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, and other arrangements, with no cost sharing or matching requirement stated.
The scope of research is broad and centered on practical forensic needs. Applicants are expected to clearly identify which forensic discipline or disciplines their project will benefit. While the BAA highlights priority areas beginning early in the announcement (referenced as starting on page 2), the government makes it clear that it may still consider strong projects that address a real forensic science need even if the work does not fit neatly into only the named priority categories. The disciplines explicitly referenced include DNA and forensic biology, forensic crime scene analysis, controlled substances, digital evidence, firearms and toolmark identification, forensic pathology, latent prints and other pattern/impression evidence, questioned documents, and trace evidence. In other words, the program is not limited to a single niche; it is designed to support innovations that could improve collection, analysis, interpretation, validation, or operational deployment of forensic methods used in investigations and national security contexts.
The posted questions and answers provide useful boundaries about what the program office will and will not do during the competition. One recurring theme is the emphasis on impartiality and fair, open competition. The government states it will not provide individualized feedback on proposal ideas, will not privately evaluate whether a specific product fits the program, and will not hold phone calls to discuss concepts in advance. Similarly, it will not provide reviews or comments earlier than the dates established in the BAA. For prospective applicants, this means the solicitation and its written instructions are the primary guidance, and teams should plan to build their case for relevance and impact directly into the submitted materials rather than relying on pre-submission coaching from program staff.
The Q&A also clarifies what kinds of topic ideas may be considered appropriate. For example, a question about enhanced chemical extraction from latent fingerprints for improved biometric capability is answered by pointing back to the need to name the benefiting forensic discipline and to the priority areas, while also reiterating that projects outside the listed disciplines may still be eligible. A similar response is given regarding rapid authentication of questioned documents, indicating that questioned documents is a recognized forensic discipline within the program’s stated areas of interest. The takeaway is that the program expects applicants to map their technical approach to a specific forensic application area, but it is not trying to exclude creative approaches that serve legitimate forensic gaps.
Partnership rules are also addressed, particularly regarding national laboratories. Universities may submit proposals that include national laboratories as subcontractors, but there is a very specific funding flow requirement if the proposal is selected. In that case, the subcontractor funding for a national laboratory would be issued directly from the acquisition office (the Army Contracting Command) to the national laboratory. The prime awardee is not permitted to pass funds through directly to a national laboratory acting as a subcontractor. This is a practical compliance point that affects budgeting, teaming agreements, and how the project’s financial administration must be set up if a national lab is involved.
From an applicant strategy perspective, the solicitation explicitly allows multiple submissions from the same Principal Investigator or co-Principal Investigator, and it also allows a PI or institution to receive multiple awards. However, the government adds an important capacity expectation: if multiple awards are made to the same PI, the PI must still have the resources and bandwidth to complete the projects within the proposed performance periods. That means organizations should be prepared to justify staffing, facilities, management approach, and realistic schedules if they are pursuing more than one effort under the same program.
Key administrative details include a posted date of October 3, 2011, and a closing date of December 19, 2011 (with the same date listed as both original and current closing date). The archive date is January 18, 2012. The eligible applicant pool is wide and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits including 501(c)(3) organizations (other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, though small businesses are also explicitly listed as eligible), and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments). Finally, the announcement provides a point of contact for access issues: the USACIL RDTE Team, which is presented as the support contact if an applicant has trouble obtaining the full announcement electronically.
FAQs: Department of Defense Forensic Research and Development Program (W911NF 12 R 0001)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Department of Defense Forensic Research and Development Program, a competitive research solicitation released by the Department of the Army, Materiel Command. It supports research and development intended to advance forensic science and related technologies.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is W911NF 12 R 0001.
What is the program's main purpose?
The program aims to strengthen forensic capabilities across a wide range of disciplines by supporting research and development that improves the collection, analysis, interpretation, validation, or operational deployment of forensic methods used in investigations and national security contexts.
What domain or CFDA does this opportunity fall under?
This opportunity sits in the science and technology research domain under CFDA 12.630: Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program anticipates making about seven awards.
What is the estimated total funding level?
The estimated total funding level listed is $3,000,000.
What award mechanisms may be used?
The program is structured to support different award mechanisms, including cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, and other arrangements.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated for this opportunity.
Which forensic disciplines are explicitly referenced as areas of interest?
The solicitation explicitly references the following disciplines: DNA and forensic biology; forensic crime scene analysis; controlled substances; digital evidence; firearms and toolmark identification; forensic pathology; latent prints and other pattern/impression evidence; questioned documents; and trace evidence.
Is the scope limited only to the listed forensic disciplines?
No. The government indicates it may still consider strong projects that address a real forensic science need even if the work does not fit neatly into only the named priority categories or listed disciplines.
Do applicants need to identify which forensic discipline(s) their project benefits?
Yes. Applicants are expected to clearly identify which forensic discipline or disciplines their project will benefit.
Are there priority research areas?
Yes. The BAA highlights priority areas early in the announcement (referenced as starting on page 2). At the same time, the government notes it may still consider strong projects that address legitimate forensic needs even if they are outside those named priorities.
Will the government provide individualized feedback on proposal ideas before submission?
No. The posted questions and answers emphasize impartiality and fair, open competition, stating that the government will not provide individualized feedback on proposal ideas.
Will the program office privately evaluate whether a specific product fits the program?
No. The government states it will not privately evaluate whether a specific product fits the program.
Can applicants schedule phone calls to discuss concepts in advance?
No. The government states it will not hold phone calls to discuss concepts in advance.
Will the government provide reviews or comments earlier than the dates in the BAA?
No. The government indicates it will not provide reviews or comments earlier than the dates established in the BAA.
How should applicants handle relevance and fit if they cannot get pre-submission coaching?
Applicants should rely on the solicitation and its written instructions as the primary guidance and should build their case for relevance and impact directly into the submitted materials.
Would a project on enhanced chemical extraction from latent fingerprints be considered relevant?
The posted Q&A indicates that applicants should name the benefiting forensic discipline and consider the priority areas, while also reiterating that projects outside the listed disciplines may still be eligible. Latent prints and pattern/impression evidence are explicitly referenced as disciplines in the program's areas of interest.
Would a project on rapid authentication of questioned documents be considered relevant?
The posted Q&A indicates that questioned documents is a recognized forensic discipline within the program's stated areas of interest, and applicants should map the work to the benefiting forensic discipline and practical forensic need.
Can universities include national laboratories as subcontractors?
Yes. Universities may submit proposals that include national laboratories as subcontractors.
If a national laboratory is a subcontractor, can the prime awardee pass funds through to that lab?
No. If the proposal is selected, subcontractor funding for a national laboratory would be issued directly from the acquisition office (the Army Contracting Command) to the national laboratory. The prime awardee is not permitted to pass funds through directly to a national laboratory acting as a subcontractor.
What practical impact does the national laboratory funding rule have on proposals?
This affects budgeting, teaming arrangements, and financial administration. If a national laboratory is involved, the proposal team must account for the requirement that the national lab funding flows directly from the Army Contracting Command rather than through the prime awardee.
Can the same Principal Investigator (PI) submit more than one proposal?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly allows multiple submissions from the same PI or co-PI.
Can a PI or institution receive more than one award under this program?
Yes. The solicitation allows a PI or institution to receive multiple awards.
Are there expectations if a PI receives multiple awards?
Yes. The government notes that if multiple awards are made to the same PI, the PI must still have the resources and bandwidth to complete the projects within the proposed performance periods.
What kinds of capacity might an applicant need to demonstrate when pursuing multiple efforts?
The opportunity highlights a practical capacity expectation, meaning organizations should be prepared to support staffing, facilities, management approach, and realistic schedules if they pursue more than one effort.
What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The posted date is October 3, 2011. The closing date is December 19, 2011 (listed as both the original and current closing date). The archive date is January 18, 2012.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes: public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits including 501(c)(3) organizations (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, though small businesses are also explicitly listed as eligible); small businesses; and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).
Who should be contacted if there are access issues obtaining the full announcement electronically?
The announcement provides the USACIL RDTE Team as the support contact for applicants who have trouble obtaining the full announcement electronically.
Which organization released the solicitation?
The solicitation is released by the Department of the Army, Materiel Command, under the Department of Defense Forensic Research and Development Program.
What is the general expectation for how proposals should be framed?
Proposals should be framed around practical forensic needs, clearly tied to one or more forensic disciplines, and written to demonstrate relevance and impact based on the solicitation instructions, since individualized pre-submission guidance from the government will not be provided.
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