FY 15 Communications and Networking Discovery and Invention | Apply Online

FAQs: FY15 Communications and Networking Discovery and Invention (ONRBAA14-007)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is the FY 15 Communications and Networking Discovery and Invention opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number ONRBAA14-007), a discretionary grant solicitation from the Office of Naval Research (ONR). It supports Exploratory Development/Applied Research efforts under Budget Activity 6.2.

2) What kind of work is ONR looking to fund?

ONR is looking for early-to-mid stage research and development projects that can produce credible technical advances for Navy and Marine Corps communications and networking needs, particularly in contested, bandwidth-limited, or operationally complex environments. The emphasis is on innovative ideas that could materially change what is achievable in these settings.

3) What is the total funding amount and how many awards are expected?

ONR anticipates making about four awards, with an estimated total funding level of $1,250,000 across the opportunity.

4) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.300 (Basic and Applied Scientific Research).

5) Is cost sharing required?

No. Cost sharing is not required.

6) What are the main technical focus areas?

The technical scope is organized around four main focus areas:

• Bent-pipe SATCOM resilience
• Multi-commodity flow optimization with multiple priorities
• Performance improvements over disruption-prone directional links
• IP multicast techniques compatible with link-state routing and strict-priority automated traffic engineering

7) Will ONR consider ideas outside the four listed focus areas?

Yes. ONR indicates it may also consider strong, highly innovative communications and networking concepts that fall outside these categories, as long as they are clearly important to Navy/Marine Corps missions.

8) What does "bent-pipe SATCOM resilience" mean in this solicitation?

In this context, "bent-pipe" SATCOM refers to satellite communications systems that function primarily as relays (rather than regenerative satellites that process signals onboard). The goal is to improve resilience to interference and jamming and to maintain link performance through techniques that improve RF front-end selectivity and electronic protection.

9) What specific topics are included under the bent-pipe SATCOM resilience focus area?

The solicitation specifically highlights:

• Interference cancellation
• Tunable high-Q bandpass filtering or band-reject filtering
• Electronic protection techniques

10) What is the multi-commodity flow optimization focus area about?

This area seeks new algorithms for multi-commodity flow optimization with multiple priorities, including channelized frequency allocation and management (with HF IP given as an example). It is focused on dynamic, automatic network-level decision-making for routing and managing multiple traffic types across constrained or variable links while honoring priority tiers.

11) What does "multiple priorities" imply for the flow optimization work?

It implies the algorithms should account for priority tiers so that mission-critical or higher-priority traffic can be protected and handled appropriately, especially under heavy demand and disruption.

12) What does "channelized frequency allocation and management" refer to here?

It refers to managing frequency resources that are segmented into channels, and allocating those channelized resources to support network traffic effectively under operational constraints (with HF IP cited as an example use case).

13) What is the directional links focus area trying to improve?

This area aims to improve performance over disruption-prone directional links (such as airborne Common Data Link (CDL) scenarios) by using predictive algorithms to smooth flow control and reduce latency and jitter.

14) What kinds of problems are common on disruption-prone directional links?

The solicitation notes that such links can be fast when available but may experience dropouts, intermittent connectivity, maneuver-related fading, blockage, or scheduling constraints. These behaviors can create unstable end-to-end performance that ONR wants to mitigate.

15) What does ONR mean by using predictive algorithms for these links?

ONR is looking for smarter transport and control approaches that anticipate link changes, avoid overreaction in congestion control, reduce buffering artifacts, and provide steadier end-to-end behavior for real applications even when the underlying link is unstable.

16) What is the IP multicast focus area about?

This area calls for IP multicast techniques that work efficiently with link-state routing and strict-priority automated traffic engineering. The intent is to enable scalable group communications while remaining compatible with link-state routing assumptions and operational policy mechanisms.

17) Why is compatibility with link-state routing and strict-priority traffic engineering important here?

The solicitation points to a need for multicast that behaves predictably in operational networks where routing is link-state based and traffic engineering is automated with strict priority rules. The goal is to avoid inefficient replication, reduce unnecessary bandwidth usage, and maintain policy and routing compatibility.

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open to "all responsible sources" from academia and industry. ONR explicitly encourages participation from small businesses and socioeconomically designated firms, as well as HBCUs and Minority Institutions, both as prime applicants and as team members.

19) Is this solicitation set aside for small businesses or any special category?

No. The solicitation is not set aside for any category. It is intended to draw the best ideas regardless of organization type, while still encouraging participation from small businesses and other designated groups.

20) Which socioeconomically designated organizations are specifically encouraged to participate?

The solicitation explicitly encourages participation from HUBZone firms, SDVOSB, SDB, WOSB, VOSB, as well as HBCUs and Minority Institutions.

21) Are Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) eligible as prime applicants?

No. FFRDCs, including DOE national labs, cannot receive awards directly under this BAA.

22) Are Navy laboratories, warfare centers, or other government labs eligible to apply as prime applicants?

No. Navy laboratories, warfare centers, and other DoD or civilian agency labs are not eligible to submit white papers or proposals as prime applicants under this opportunity.

23) Can FFRDCs or government labs participate in any way?

Yes. Teaming is allowed in several cases. FFRDCs and government labs may participate in collaboration with eligible prime bidders when permitted by their sponsoring agreements.

24) Are University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) eligible?

UARCs may apply unless their DoD contracts prohibit it.

25) What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted on February 20, 2014 (with a creation date of March 7, 2014). The listed closing date is June 30, 2014.

26) Is there a white paper due date?

The listing notes that applicants should consult the BAA and application instructions for any white paper due date requirements.

27) Where do applicants access the full announcement?

The full announcement is accessed through Grants.gov by opening the full announcement link on the synopsis page.

28) Who should be contacted if there are access issues with the full announcement?

For access issues with the full announcement, the contracting officer contact listed is Sarah Lewellen at 703-696-0814.

29) Which ONR research budget category is referenced?

The solicitation is aligned to Exploratory Development/Applied Research under Budget Activity 6.2.

30) What is the overarching operational motivation behind this call?

The call emphasizes technical advances for Navy and Marine Corps communications and networking, with particular relevance to contested environments, bandwidth limitations, and operational complexity, where new approaches could improve resilience, prioritization, and predictable performance.