Open Innovation and Collaboration | Apply Online

FAQs: AFRL Open Innovation and Collaboration (BAA RQKD 2014 0001)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) "Open Innovation and Collaboration" opportunity, released as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) under Funding Opportunity Number BAA RQKD 2014 0001. It is designed to help AFRL use open innovation to address hard, fast-moving technical problems by reaching beyond traditional government R&D pipelines.

2) What is the main goal of the BAA?

The central goal is speed and flexibility: to enable AFRL to rapidly issue targeted Calls for Proposals and make awards as new Air Force needs emerge, especially when promising open-innovation concepts need refinement, maturation, or development.

3) What does AFRL mean by "open innovation" in this context?

In this announcement, open innovation refers to tapping a wider pool of expertise than conventional channels typically reach, including non-traditional performers and unconventional sources of insight, to break through technical barriers and accelerate development.

4) How is this BAA structured?

This BAA functions as an umbrella framework. The actionable details for applicants (such as requirements, terms, deliverables, and any special conditions) are expected to be provided in individual Calls for Proposals that AFRL releases over time.

5) Will every Call for Proposals have the same requirements?

No. The announcement states that each Call for Proposals under the BAA can have different requirements, terms, and deliverables, because each call is driven by a specific technical challenge and what AFRL needs from performers.

6) What types of funding instruments might be used?

The opportunity contemplates multiple possible award instruments, including grants, cooperative agreements, procurement contracts, and other arrangements. The instrument selection is expected to depend on what a particular call requires.

7) What is the CFDA number and program name associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 12.800, the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program, and supports science and technology plus other research and development activities.

8) Is this discretionary or mandatory funding?

It is categorized as discretionary funding.

9) What technical areas does AFRL anticipate supporting under this BAA?

AFRL anticipates calls focused on challenges within or at the intersection of several broad areas, including:

• Materials (e.g., exploiting material properties for unique operational needs, material analysis, concept or prototype development, and scale-up)
• Manufacturing (e.g., processes enabling affordable design, production, and sustainment)
• Aerospace systems (e.g., vehicle design, control, coordinated autonomous and/or manned operations, and power/propulsion for next-generation platforms)
• Human effectiveness (e.g., enhancing human performance and resilience, man-machine teaming, and coordinated activities)
• Sensors and sensing systems (e.g., sensor concept development, design, integration, prototyping, and data integration/exploitation)

10) Does this opportunity emphasize basic research or applied development?

Based on the description provided, the emphasis is on practical innovation and responsiveness to evolving mission demands, including moving from concepts to prototypes, integrating systems, and improving operational effectiveness.

11) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full announcement and any specific Call for Proposals.

12) Are non-traditional performers encouraged?

Yes. A key idea in the announcement is to expand participation beyond traditional government R&D pipelines, explicitly including non-traditional performers and unconventional sources of insight.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

The public-facing record shows no cost sharing or matching requirement.

14) What were the posting date and closing date?

The posting date is July 10, 2014. The original and current closing date is July 12, 2019.

15) Is this funding opportunity still active?

No. The archive date is August 11, 2019, which indicates this particular listing is no longer active.

16) Why do the expected awards and estimated total funding show "0"?

The listing shows expected awards and estimated total funding as "0," which typically signals that funding levels and award volume were not predetermined at the umbrella BAA level. Instead, they would depend on the specific Calls for Proposals, available appropriations, and Air Force priorities at the time of each call.

17) What problem is AFRL trying to solve with this BAA?

AFRL is trying to close a gap related to speed and flexibility. The announcement notes that existing contracting mechanisms can make it difficult to quickly move from a promising open-innovation concept to a formal award that funds refinement, maturation, or development.

18) Where do the real application details come from if the BAA is an umbrella?

The announcement indicates that the actionable details are expected to be contained in individual Calls for Proposals issued under the BAA over time, and those calls may vary based on the technical challenge.

19) Who is the point of contact for administrative or access issues?

The listed point of contact is Joel Watson, Contracting Officer, at 937-713-9813, for administrative or access issues with the full announcement.

20) What is the AFRL rationale for using open innovation?

AFRL notes that open innovation has a strong track record in commercial industry for breaking through technology barriers and accelerating new product development, and also notes that AFRL has already seen benefits from collaborative open innovation.