Long Range BAA for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Long Range BAA for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology (ONRBAA15 001)?

It is a discretionary, competitive research solicitation run by the Department of the Navy through the Office of Naval Research (ONR). It uses the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) format to invite a wide range of innovative science and technology ideas relevant to Navy and Marine Corps needs.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number is ONRBAA15 001.

Which federal agency administers this opportunity?

The opportunity is administered by the Department of the Navy through the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

What type of solicitation is this (BAA)?

This is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). BAAs are commonly used by defense science and technology agencies to seek a broad range of research ideas rather than funding a single narrowly defined project.

What is the CFDA number and program area associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is associated with CFDA 12.300, Basic and Applied Scientific Research.

What is the funding instrument used under this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant, intended to support research activities rather than procure a specific end-item or commercial deliverable.

What kinds of activities does this program support?

The focus is on basic and applied scientific research, along with other research and development efforts that are relevant to Navy and Marine Corps needs. The program is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, emphasizing advancing knowledge, developing new concepts, exploring emerging technologies, and maturing ideas that could eventually transition into naval capabilities.

What research topics or technical areas are relevant to this BAA?

The synopsis indicates ONR typically seeks high-quality technical proposals aligned to its mission areas. Example topic areas often include autonomy, communications, sensors, materials, power and energy, ocean sciences, information sciences, human performance, expeditionary operations, and other enabling technologies for maritime and expeditionary warfare. The specific technical areas and priorities are contained in the full announcement document titled ONRBAA15 001.

Where do I find the complete details, instructions, and technical thrust areas?

The public synopsis directs applicants to the accompanying document titled ONRBAA15 001 for complete details, including objectives, technical areas, submission instructions, and proposal requirements.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of applicant organization, subject to any additional constraints that may be stated in the full announcement.

What types of organizations typically apply to opportunities like this?

In practice, BAAs like this often draw proposals from universities, nonprofit research organizations, small businesses, large businesses, and government-affiliated research entities. The synopsis also indicates that teaming or collaborative efforts may be allowed where appropriate (details would be in the full BAA).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The listing indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, so proposers are not required to contribute their own funds as a condition of eligibility.

Can voluntary cost sharing be included?

The synopsis notes that no cost sharing is required, and also indicates that voluntary cost share is sometimes permitted in federal research programs depending on the circumstances described in the full solicitation. Any allowance or rules would be described in ONRBAA15 001.

When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on September 29, 2014.

What were the closing dates for this opportunity?

The original closing date and the current closing date are both listed as September 30, 2015.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date is listed as October 30, 2015.

Is this funding opportunity still active?

No. Because it is archived, this specific posting is no longer active.

How long was the solicitation open for submissions?

Based on the posted date (September 29, 2014) and the closing date (September 30, 2015), it was open for roughly a year, which is consistent with a long-range BAA that accepts proposals over an extended window.

What does the creation date mean?

The creation date is listed as April 1, 2015, and is described as an administrative record date in the system.

What kinds of information would the full ONRBAA15 001 document typically include?

The synopsis indicates the full document would normally include the statement of objectives, a breakdown of relevant ONR departments and program officers, technical thrust areas, proposal formatting requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions. It may also include security or export-control considerations (if applicable), guidance about white papers or pre-proposals (if requested), and rules specific to human subjects, animal use, controlled unclassified information, or classified work.

How does ONR typically evaluate proposals under a BAA?

The synopsis notes that BAAs typically center evaluation on scientific merit and mission relevance, including factors such as the technical approach, qualifications of the research team, potential impact, and the connection to Navy and Marine Corps science and technology goals. The exact evaluation criteria would be defined in ONRBAA15 001.

Who should I contact if I have trouble accessing the full announcement on Grants.gov?

For access issues related to the full announcement on Grants.gov, the listed point of contact is Tyler Rehwoldt, Contract Specialist. The synopsis notes this contact is for Grants.gov questions only.

Where should technical questions about research topics be directed?

The synopsis implies that technical questions are usually handled through channels identified in the full BAA document, often via specific ONR program officers tied to the topic areas.

Does this grant opportunity fund procurement of products or commercial deliverables?

No. The funding instrument is a grant, and the synopsis explains it is intended to support research activities rather than procure a specific end-item or commercial deliverable.

Why is it called a "long-range" BAA?

The timing described in the synopsis indicates it was open for an extended period (about a year), which is characteristic of long-range BAAs that accept proposals over a longer window rather than using a single short deadline.

If this posting is archived, does ONR issue similar BAAs in later years?

The synopsis notes that while this specific posting is no longer active, it provides insight into the structure and intent of ONR long-range BAAs, which are frequently reissued in updated forms in later years.