Opportunity Information: Apply for BAA 09 11 PKM CALL3
Apply for BAA 09 11 PKM CALL3
- The Air Force Research Lab in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Directed Energy Materials Program CALL 3 Mid Infrared Laser Source and Laser Development" 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 Feb 3, 2009 and posted on Feb 3, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 13, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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.
- Foreign participation is not allowed. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Directed Energy Materials Program, CALL 3 (Mid Infrared Laser Source and Laser Development), is a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) effort focused on advancing materials technologies that can enable next-generation directed energy capabilities. The program is managed by AFRL, Materials and Manufacturing Technology Directorate, Survivability and Sensor Materials Division (AFRL/RXPS) at Wright-Patterson AFB. The overall BAA (BAA 09 11 PKM) is designed as an open-ended solicitation framework that can issue multiple focused "calls" over an anticipated two-year window, with the government expecting to make multiple awards of varying sizes depending on the call topic, technical merit, and available funding.
Within the broader Directed Energy Materials umbrella, the Air Force is pursuing materials breakthroughs that support three major capability areas: high energy laser (HEL) systems, high power microwave (HPM) systems, and mid-infrared laser source development. For HELs, AFRL is interested in materials for kilowatt-class lasers, including new and improved fiber laser materials and materials for high-power optical isolation. For HPM systems, the emphasis is on improving window materials (including interest in optical diamond for better toughness and lower-cost production) and improving durability and transmission performance for extremely high microwave power levels (on the order of 300 MW), specifically by reducing absorption and reflection losses.
CALL 3 narrows the focus to the mid-infrared atmospheric transmission band, specifically 2 to 5 microns, where improved sources are valuable because the atmosphere can be relatively transparent, enabling longer-range propagation for sensing and directed energy applications. The core need described in the call is the development of materials that make it possible to produce laser sources with either high average power (tens of watts) and/or high pulse energy (at least hundreds of millijoules per pulse for pulse durations of 100 nanoseconds or less) in this 2 to 5 micron region. AFRL notes that proposals can address any credible approach to generating high-power or high-energy laser light in this band, but it highlights three priority technical thrusts.
The first priority area is new non-oxide, orientation-patterned nonlinear optical crystals aimed at quasi-phase-matching (QPM) frequency conversion, capable of generating light across the full 2 to 5 micron band. A key discriminator here is scalability: AFRL expresses particular interest in approaches that can be scaled to several-millimeter apertures, since larger apertures typically support higher power handling and better beam quality management in practical systems. The second priority area targets infrared fiber technology for 2 to 5 microns, including both transmission fibers and fibers that can act as laser gain hosts. The performance goal stated is very low optical loss, around 0.1 dB/m across a broad part of the 2 to 5 micron spectrum, which is a demanding requirement for many mid-IR fiber material platforms. In addition, AFRL explicitly calls out connectorization as a major practical barrier and seeks methods to reduce fiber connector/coupling losses to 0.1 dB per coupling event or better, reflecting the need for deployable, maintainable systems rather than lab-only demonstrations. The third priority area is the development of new bulk nonlinear optical crystals that can produce high power and/or high energy output between 2 and 5 microns, with special emphasis on 4.5 to 5 microns, using frequency conversion pumped by common laser sources around 1 micron, 1.55 microns, or 2 microns. This emphasis suggests AFRL wants practical mid-IR generation pathways that leverage mature pump laser ecosystems while pushing conversion materials to higher performance and broader applicability.
From an award and administration standpoint, the BAA indicates that awards may be made as cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or other instruments depending on the specific call and government intent. Periods of performance are expected to be about 36 months, plus an additional 3 months for final reporting. The solicitation is listed under CFDA 12.800 (Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program) and does not require cost sharing or matching. Eligibility is broadly described as unrestricted by entity type, but with an important constraint: foreign participation is not allowed. Small businesses are explicitly encouraged to propose, either on the entire effort or on portions aligned to their capabilities.
Operationally, AFRL issues individual BAA Calls (like CALL 3) through the Federal Business Opportunities portal (FedBizOpps, which has since been integrated into SAM.gov in later years), and each call establishes its own proposal window. Offerors typically have 30 to 45 calendar days from the call announcement date to submit technical and cost proposals, with the exact due date defined in that call. The BAA is clear that proposals submitted outside an active call window (either after a due date or before a call is issued) will not be reviewed and will be returned, and late proposal handling follows FAR 52.215-1(c)(3). AFRL also notes it may release multiple calls sequentially or concurrently and reserves the right to make no award under any call.
Points of contact provided include William Mitchell for technical questions at Wright-Patterson AFB (phone 937-255-9583; email William.Mitchell@wpafb.af.mil). Contracting contacts listed include Scott Savory (Contracting Officer, 937-255-5478) and Gail Nyikon (Contract Negotiator, 937-255-5402), intended to support access and submission questions related to the announcement. The posted date for the opportunity is February 3, 2009, and the CALL 3 timeline shown indicates a March 13, 2009 current closing date (with broader BAA dates also referenced in the record), reinforcing that offerors needed to track the specific call announcement for the authoritative submission deadline.
Directed Energy Materials Program, CALL 3 (Mid Infrared Laser Source and Laser Development) - FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is part of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Directed Energy Materials Program. CALL 3 specifically focuses on mid-infrared (mid-IR) laser source and laser development enabled by new materials technologies.
Who is running and managing the program?
The program is managed by AFRL, Materials and Manufacturing Technology Directorate, Survivability and Sensor Materials Division (AFRL/RXPS) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Wright-Patterson AFB).
What is the BAA number for the overall solicitation framework?
The overall BAA is identified as BAA 09 11 PKM and is described as an open-ended solicitation framework that can release multiple focused calls over an anticipated two-year period.
Is CALL 3 a standalone solicitation or part of a larger BAA?
CALL 3 is one focused call issued under the broader Directed Energy Materials BAA framework. The government can issue multiple calls sequentially or concurrently under the same overall BAA.
What major capability areas does the broader Directed Energy Materials program cover?
The broader program targets materials breakthroughs supporting: (1) high energy laser (HEL) systems, (2) high power microwave (HPM) systems, and (3) mid-infrared laser source development.
What is the technical focus of CALL 3?
CALL 3 narrows the focus to laser source development in the mid-infrared atmospheric transmission band, specifically 2 to 5 microns, where atmospheric transparency can enable longer-range propagation for sensing and directed energy applications.
Why is the 2 to 5 micron band important in this call?
AFRL highlights that the atmosphere can be relatively transparent in the 2 to 5 micron region, making improved laser sources in this band valuable for longer-range propagation in sensing and directed energy uses.
What kinds of laser performance are being sought for 2 to 5 microns?
The call describes a need for materials enabling laser sources in the 2 to 5 micron band that can achieve either high average power (tens of watts) and/or high pulse energy (at least hundreds of millijoules per pulse for pulse durations of 100 nanoseconds or less).
Does AFRL restrict proposals to specific laser generation approaches?
No. AFRL states proposals may address any credible approach to generating high-power or high-energy laser light in the 2 to 5 micron band, while also identifying three priority technical thrust areas.
What are the three priority technical thrust areas in CALL 3?
The three highlighted priority areas are: (1) new non-oxide, orientation-patterned nonlinear optical crystals for quasi-phase-matching (QPM) frequency conversion, (2) infrared fiber technology for 2 to 5 microns (including transmission fibers and gain-host fibers), and (3) new bulk nonlinear optical crystals for frequency conversion to 2 to 5 microns (with special emphasis on 4.5 to 5 microns) pumped by common laser sources.
What is the first priority area about (orientation-patterned nonlinear optical crystals)?
The first priority area seeks new non-oxide, orientation-patterned nonlinear optical crystals for quasi-phase-matching (QPM) frequency conversion, aimed at generating light across the full 2 to 5 micron band.
What is a key discriminator for the orientation-patterned crystal priority area?
AFRL emphasizes scalability, expressing particular interest in approaches that can scale to several-millimeter apertures, since larger apertures typically support higher power handling and practical beam-quality management.
What is the second priority area about (mid-IR fiber technology)?
The second priority area targets infrared fiber technology spanning 2 to 5 microns, including both low-loss transmission fibers and fibers that can serve as laser gain hosts.
What fiber loss performance goal is stated for CALL 3?
AFRL states a goal of very low optical loss of about 0.1 dB/m across a broad portion of the 2 to 5 micron spectrum.
Why does the call emphasize connectorization for mid-IR fibers?
AFRL explicitly identifies connectorization as a major practical barrier and seeks methods to reduce fiber connector/coupling losses to 0.1 dB per coupling event or better, supporting deployable and maintainable systems rather than lab-only demonstrations.
What is the third priority area about (bulk nonlinear optical crystals and frequency conversion)?
The third priority area seeks new bulk nonlinear optical crystals that can produce high power and/or high energy output between 2 and 5 microns, with special emphasis on 4.5 to 5 microns, using frequency conversion pumped by common laser sources.
What pump laser wavelengths does AFRL highlight for frequency conversion approaches?
AFRL highlights frequency conversion pumped by common laser sources around 1 micron, 1.55 microns, or 2 microns, indicating interest in practical pathways that leverage mature pump laser ecosystems.
What types of award instruments might be used?
The BAA indicates awards may be made as cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or other instruments, depending on the specific call and government intent.
How long is the expected period of performance?
Periods of performance are expected to be about 36 months, plus an additional 3 months for final reporting.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The solicitation states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.800 (Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted by entity type, with a key constraint that foreign participation is not allowed. Small businesses are explicitly encouraged to propose either on the full effort or on portions aligned with their capabilities.
Is foreign participation allowed?
No. The BAA explicitly states that foreign participation is not allowed.
Are small businesses encouraged to apply?
Yes. Small businesses are explicitly encouraged to submit proposals, either covering the entire effort or specific portions matching their strengths.
Where are calls like CALL 3 posted?
AFRL issues individual BAA calls through the Federal Business Opportunities portal (FedBizOpps), which was later integrated into SAM.gov. Each call establishes its own proposal window.
How long do offerors typically have to submit proposals after a call is announced?
Offerors typically have 30 to 45 calendar days from the call announcement date to submit technical and cost proposals, with the exact due date defined in the specific call.
What happens if a proposal is submitted outside an active call window?
The BAA states that proposals submitted after the due date or before a call is issued will not be reviewed and will be returned.
What rule governs late proposal handling?
Late proposal handling follows FAR 52.215-1(c)(3), as referenced in the BAA.
Can AFRL issue multiple calls under this BAA?
Yes. AFRL notes it may release multiple calls sequentially or concurrently under the BAA framework.
Is AFRL obligated to make an award under CALL 3?
No. AFRL reserves the right to make no award under any call.
Will there be multiple awards?
The government expects to make multiple awards of varying sizes depending on the call topic, technical merit, and available funding.
Who should be contacted for technical questions?
Technical questions are directed to William Mitchell at Wright-Patterson AFB: phone 937-255-9583; email William.Mitchell@wpafb.af.mil.
Who are the contracting points of contact?
The contracting contacts listed are Scott Savory (Contracting Officer, 937-255-5478) and Gail Nyikon (Contract Negotiator, 937-255-5402) for access and submission questions related to the announcement.
What are the key dates mentioned for this opportunity?
The posted date is February 3, 2009, and the CALL 3 timeline shown lists a March 13, 2009 current closing date. The BAA also references broader dates in the record, and offerors are expected to track the specific call announcement for the authoritative deadline.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Directed Energy Materials Program CALL 4 High Power Microwave Windows First Category Window
Previous opportunity: Directed Energy Materials Program CALL 2 Optical Isolation
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for BAA 09 11 PKM CALL3
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (BAA 09 11 PKM CALL3) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Directed Energy Materials Program CALL 4 High Power Microwave Windows First Category Window Apply for BAA 09 11 PKM CALL4 Funding Number: BAA 09 11 PKM CALL4 Agency: Air Force Research Lab Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Directed Energy Materials Program CALL 5 High Power Microwave Windows Second Category Window Apply for BAA 09 11 PKM CALL5 Funding Number: BAA 09 11 PKM CALL5 Agency: Air Force Research Lab Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| GLANSER Geospatial Location Accountability Navigation System for Emergency Responders Apply for BAA09 02 Funding Number: BAA09 02 Agency: Office of Procurement Operations Grants Division Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Funding Opportunity Notice for FY 2009 SBIR/STTR Phase II Grant Applications Apply for DE PS02 09ER09 09 Funding Number: DE PS02 09ER09 09 Agency: Chicago Service Center Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| 2009 NGA University Research Initiatives (NURI) BAA Apply for HM1582 09 BAA A103 Funding Number: HM1582 09 BAA A103 Agency: National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $6,750,000 |
| ROSES 2008 Astronomy and Physics Research and Analysis Apply for NNH08ZDA001N APRA Funding Number: NNH08ZDA001N APRA Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY09 DOD Prostate Cancer New Investigator Award Apply for W81XWH 09 PCRP NIA Funding Number: W81XWH 09 PCRP NIA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY09 DOD Prostate Cancer Training Award Apply for W81XWH 09 PCRP PCTA Funding Number: W81XWH 09 PCRP PCTA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY09 DOD Prostate Cancer Physician Research Training Award Apply for W81XWH 09 PCRP PRTA Funding Number: W81XWH 09 PCRP PRTA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Genetic Studies of Food Allergies Research Program Investigator Initiated Research Award Apply for W81XWH 09 GSFARP IIRA Funding Number: W81XWH 09 GSFARP IIRA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY09 DOD Prostate Cancer Population based Idea Development Award Apply for W81XWH 09 PCRP PBIDA Funding Number: W81XWH 09 PCRP PBIDA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY09 DOD Prostate Cancer HBCU Student Summer Training Program Award Apply for W81XWH 09 PCRP STPA Funding Number: W81XWH 09 PCRP STPA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DTRA FY2009 2011 Basic Research for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Apply for HDTRA1 08 10 BRCWMD BAA Funding Number: HDTRA1 08 10 BRCWMD BAA Agency: Defense Threat Reduction Agency Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY09 DOD Prostate Cancer Health Disparity Training Award Apply for W81XWH 09 PCRP HDTA Funding Number: W81XWH 09 PCRP HDTA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Microsystems Technology Office Wide Broad Agency Announcement Apply for DARPA BAA 09 25 Funding Number: DARPA BAA 09 25 Agency: DARPA MTO BAA 09 25 Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY2009 IPP SEED FUND CALL ANNOUNCEMENT Apply for NNH09IPP001O Funding Number: NNH09IPP001O Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2009 Atmospheric Composition Modeling and Analysis Apply for NNH09ZDA001N ACMA Funding Number: NNH09ZDA001N ACMA Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2009 Cosmochemistry Apply for NNH09ZDA001N COS Funding Number: NNH09ZDA001N COS Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2009 Heliophysics Guest Investigators Apply for NNH09ZDA001N HGI Funding Number: NNH09ZDA001N HGI Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Basic Research Challenge (BRC) Program Apply for ONRBAA09 017 Funding Number: ONRBAA09 017 Agency: Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "BAA 09 11 PKM CALL3", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.