Electronic Warfare Technology | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?

This opportunity is the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Electronic Warfare Technology solicitation, Funding Opportunity Number ONRBAA10-007.

2. What is the purpose of the ONR Electronic Warfare Technology opportunity?

The solicitation supports science and technology research intended to advance next-generation electronic warfare (EW) components and systems for U.S. naval forces (Navy and Marine Corps). The focus is on improving control of the electromagnetic spectrum by detecting and understanding threats earlier, disrupting or deceiving adversary systems, and protecting U.S. systems from both intentional jamming and unintentional interference. ONR is looking for work that moves beyond theory and results in demonstrated technologies that improve real-world EW performance.

3. What kinds of technical areas does this opportunity cover?

The opportunity is organized around the three classic pillars of electronic warfare:

• Electronic Warfare Support (ES): sensing, intercepting, and characterizing hostile or unknown emissions to improve threat warning and situational awareness, including methods to recognize and interpret signals in complex environments.
• Electronic Attack (EA): technologies that deny, degrade, disrupt, or deceive adversary electronics, especially C4ISR networks (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), including decoys and countermeasures that interfere with weapon tracking and guidance.
• Electronic Protection (EP): defensive capabilities to keep U.S. weapons, sensors, and communications functioning despite jamming, interference, or a crowded spectrum environment.

4. Is ONR looking for theoretical research, applied demonstrations, or both?

ONR emphasizes measurable improvements and technology maturation, not purely exploratory or theoretical studies. The solicitation highlights demonstrated technologies intended to strengthen operational electronic warfare performance.

5. Who is the sponsoring organization and what internal ONR area does this fall under?

The sponsoring organization is the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The relevant technical area is ONR Code 312 Electronic Warfare (312EW), under the EW Discovery and Invention program investment portfolio.

6. What type of funding instrument is used?

The opportunity supports awards as grants and procurement contracts. It is categorized as discretionary funding.

7. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA is 12.300, Basic and Applied Scientific Research.

8. When was the opportunity posted and what are the key dates?

• Posted: December 1, 2009
• Closing date (original and current): May 11, 2010
• Archive date: June 10, 2010

9. Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided.

10. Who is eligible to apply as a prime applicant?

Eligibility is broadly open to responsible sources in academia and industry, and teams are encouraged.

11. Are HBCUs and Minority Institutions encouraged to participate?

Yes. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to participate, including through teaming arrangements. However, no portion of the opportunity is formally set aside for them.

12. Are Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) eligible to receive awards directly?

No. FFRDCs, including Department of Energy national laboratories, are not eligible to receive awards directly under this announcement.

13. Can Navy laboratories, warfare centers, or other government labs apply as the prime offeror?

No. Navy laboratories, warfare centers, and other DoD or civilian agency labs should not submit white papers or full proposals as prime offerors under this announcement.

14. Can ineligible federal labs participate in any way?

Yes. The announcement indicates that FFRDCs and government laboratories may participate through teaming arrangements with eligible prime applicants, when such teaming is permitted under the relevant sponsoring agreements. Interested federal labs are directed to coordinate with the appropriate ONR point of contact to discuss fit and approach.

15. Are teams or collaborations encouraged?

Yes. Teams are encouraged, and offerors must be willing to cooperate in an integrated program environment.

16. What collaboration and information-sharing expectations apply?

Offerors must be willing to exchange software, data, and other technical information with other ONR-selected contractors and system integrators as part of an integrated program environment.

17. Does the opportunity mention export-controlled or ITAR-related restrictions?

Yes. The announcement notes that some topics may involve export-controlled technologies. For those areas, participation is limited to U.S. persons as defined under ITAR (22 CFR 120.1 et seq.). Applicants should be prepared for compliance constraints related to personnel, technical data handling, and dissemination of results depending on the topic.

18. What does the solicitation mean by improving control of the electromagnetic spectrum?

As described, the goal is to help friendly forces detect and understand threats earlier (ES), disrupt or deceive adversary systems (EA), and protect U.S. systems so they keep working despite jamming, interference, or spectrum congestion (EP).

19. What adversary systems are explicitly called out as targets for electronic attack research?

The announcement highlights adversary command and control and sensing networks, particularly those grouped under C4ISR, and also includes decoys and countermeasures that can interfere with weapon tracking and guidance systems.

20. Where can applicants find more information or access the full announcement?

The announcement references an additional information link to ONR BAAs (Broad Agency Announcements). For issues accessing the full announcement, a contact is provided (Jennifer Williams, Contract Specialist).

21. Who should be contacted for problems accessing the announcement?

Jennifer Williams, Contract Specialist, phone 703-588-2432.

22. Who handles questions related to Grants.gov?

Questions about Grants.gov are handled through the usual Grants.gov support channels (as referenced in the opportunity information).