Fundamental Research to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction | Apply Online

FAQs: Fundamental Research to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (DTRA BAA)

1) What is the "Fundamental Research to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction" opportunity?

It is a Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) that funded basic and early-stage scientific research to improve the United States' ability to understand, prevent, deter, detect, and respond to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threats.

2) Which agency sponsors this funding opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), a Department of Defense organization focused on countering WMD threats and supporting deterrence and threat reduction missions.

3) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is HDTRA1-09-14-FRCWMD-BAA.

4) What program category does this opportunity fall under?

It is in the science and technology research and development category, with an emphasis on fundamental (basic) and early-stage research rather than near-term acquisition or fielded systems.

5) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is tied to CFDA 12.351, which is associated with basic scientific research supporting efforts to combat WMD.

6) When was the announcement originally posted?

The announcement was originally posted on September 28, 2009.

7) What were the closing and archive dates shown for this opportunity?

The record shows an original closing date of September 30, 2014, a later current closing date of September 30, 2015, and an archive date of October 30, 2015. This suggests it remained open or was administratively extended beyond the initial period.

8) How much total funding was estimated under this BAA?

The estimated total funding listed is $500,000,000. This reflects the overall scale of the BAA across multiple years and multiple awards, not a single grant amount.

9) Does the listed $500,000,000 mean a single award could be that large?

No. The $500,000,000 figure represents the overall estimated total funding across the BAA, potentially covering many separate awards over multiple years. BAAs typically fund numerous efforts at different funding levels based on scope and alignment with agency needs.

10) What types of funding instruments could be used?

The program allowed multiple instrument types, including grants, other agreements, and procurement contracts. This provides flexibility to support a range of work, from academic-style basic research to more deliverable-driven efforts.

11) Was cost sharing or matching required?

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

12) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it was broadly open to a wide range of applicant types, subject to specific eligibility conditions in Section III of the full BAA.

13) If eligibility is "unrestricted," are there still detailed eligibility rules?

Yes. While the top-line description is broad, the detailed rules, conditions, and any exclusions are defined in Section III of the full BAA, which is identified as the authoritative source.

14) What kinds of organizations are typically eligible for DTRA fundamental research BAAs?

The summary indicates broad eligibility and notes that, in similar DTRA BAAs, eligible proposers often include universities, nonprofit research institutions, for-profit companies, federally funded research and development centers, and sometimes other government entities. Any additional considerations (such as foreign participation or security-related requirements) would be defined in the full BAA.

15) What is the main focus of the research funded by this opportunity?

As a fundamental research solicitation, the emphasis is on advancing scientific understanding and establishing new technical approaches or enabling technologies relevant to countering WMD threats, rather than delivering a fully fielded capability.

16) What kinds of threats or domains does "counter-WMD" include in this context?

The summary describes relevance to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive threats.

17) Were specific research topics listed in the summary provided?

No. The summary does not list specific research topics. It indicates that BAAs generally describe technical areas or research needs in the full announcement.

18) What research areas are commonly included in a DTRA counter-WMD fundamental research portfolio?

While not enumerated as official topics in the provided summary, it notes that a typical DTRA "Combat/Counter WMD" fundamental research portfolio commonly covers areas such as threat characterization, detection science, diagnostics, nuclear and radiological science, chemical and biological defense-related fundamentals, modeling and simulation, data analysis methods, materials and sensing technologies, and other enabling disciplines supporting counter-WMD missions.

19) How are proposals generally evaluated under a BAA like this?

The summary indicates selection is generally based on peer or technical review criteria such as scientific merit, relevance to mission needs, team qualifications, and feasibility, with the full solicitation serving as the authoritative source for evaluation criteria.

20) Where would applicants find the full requirements, instructions, and official details?

The listing referenced an "Additional Information" link where the full BAA could be accessed. The full solicitation is described as the authoritative source for research topics, proposal instructions, evaluation criteria, and award conditions.

21) Is there a contact email for questions or access issues?

Yes. The email contact provided is HDTRA1FRCWMDA@dtra.mil, intended for assistance such as trouble accessing the announcement electronically.

22) Why does this opportunity allow both grants and contracts?

The summary explains that this mix is typical for Department of Defense research BAAs because it gives the agency flexibility to support different kinds of research efforts, from basic research to more defined deliverables or prototype-focused work.

23) Is this opportunity intended for near-term acquisition programs?

The summary suggests it is designed to attract innovative foundational research ideas that may not be ready for near-term acquisition programs, but can create new knowledge, methods, or enabling technologies relevant to countering WMD threats.