Opportunity Information: Apply for ONR 15 SN 0002
Apply for ONR 15 SN 0002
- The Office of Naval Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Select Topics in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300 Basic and Applied Scientific Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 20, 2014 and posted on Nov 20, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 26, 2015 All white papers are due by December 11, 2014.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,140,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION A. All responsible sources from academia and industry may submit proposals under this BAA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals. However, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation, due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable items of this research for exclusive competition among the entities. B. Federally Funded Research Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy National Laboratories, are not eligible to receive awards under this BAA. However, teaming arrangements between FFRDCs and eligible principal bidders are allowed so long as they are permitted under the sponsoring agreement between the Government and the specific FFRDC.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) grant opportunity titled "Select Topics in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology" (Funding Opportunity Number: ONR 15 SN 0002) is a focused research thrust issued under ONRBAA15-001, the Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology. Rather than being a standalone program with its own unique rules, it points applicants back to the main ONR BAA for the official submission process, evaluation criteria, and award administration. ONR indicates that it anticipates making awards only in the form of grants, and the overall scope sits within basic and applied research consistent with CFDA 12.300 (Basic and Applied Scientific Research).
The thrust is organized around three specific topic areas in nanoscience and nanotechnology, each mapped to a section of the parent BAA. Topic 1 focuses on self-assembly error detection and analysis in complex DNA nanostructures, placed under Warfighter Performance (Code 34) within the Biomaterials and Bionanotechnology area. In practical terms, this topic is about improving the reliability and understanding of DNA-based nanoscale structures that assemble themselves, with emphasis on how to detect, measure, and analyze assembly errors as structures become more complex. The Navy interest implied here is that DNA nanotechnology can enable advanced biosensing, bioinspired materials, or other nanoscale systems, but only if researchers can predict and control defects and failure modes during self-assembly.
Topic 2 targets electric field assisted sintering of ceramics and is aligned to the Sea Warfare and Weapons Department (Code 33) under Structural Materials. This area generally concerns methods to densify and consolidate ceramic materials using electric fields to improve processing speed, lower temperature requirements, tailor microstructure, or enhance final material properties. From a defense and maritime perspective, ceramics matter for high-temperature components, wear resistance, armor, insulating components, radomes, and other demanding structural uses where processing efficiency and performance improvements can translate into better survivability, reliability, or manufacturability.
Topic 3 addresses low cost, large area processing of silicon-based thin film solar cells, also under the Sea Warfare and Weapons Department (Code 33), but within Functional Materials. The central theme is scalable manufacturing approaches for silicon thin-film photovoltaics that can be produced over large areas at reduced cost. The operational relevance is typically tied to energy generation and power availability, which can affect expeditionary capability, remote operations, and reduced logistics burden, with an emphasis on fabrication methods that are compatible with large-area, potentially flexible or lightweight implementations.
In terms of funding profile and scale, ONR lists an estimated total funding amount of $2,140,000 and anticipates roughly 5 awards, though the notice does not set formal award floor or ceiling values. This usually signals that final award size and duration are expected to vary depending on technical approach, scope, and available funds, and that applicants should justify budgets based on the work proposed rather than aiming for a predetermined number.
Eligibility is broadly open to responsible sources from academia and industry, with encouragement for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) to participate or team, although there is no set-aside reserved exclusively for those institutions. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy national laboratories, are not eligible to receive awards directly under this BAA. However, they may participate through teaming arrangements with an eligible lead applicant, as long as such collaboration is allowed under the specific FFRDC sponsoring agreement.
Key dates included a posted date of November 20, 2014, a white paper deadline of December 11, 2014, and a proposal closing date of February 26, 2015, with an archive date of March 28, 2015. While these dates indicate the opportunity is historical/archived, the structure is still useful as a template for understanding how ONR organizes targeted thrusts under its long-range BAA and how future, similar calls may be handled. For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed contact was Kara Stith at 703-696-4324, with Grants.gov identified for submission-related questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this ONR grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Select Topics in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is ONR 15 SN 0002.
Is this a standalone funding program with its own rules?
No. This is a focused research thrust issued under ONRBAA15-001 (the Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology). Applicants are directed back to the main ONR BAA for the official submission process, evaluation criteria, and award administration.
Where are the official submission process and evaluation criteria defined?
They are defined in the parent ONR BAA (ONRBAA15-001), since this thrust relies on the BAA for proposal instructions, evaluation factors, and award management rules.
What type of awards does ONR anticipate making under this opportunity?
ONR indicates it anticipates making awards only in the form of grants.
What research scope does this opportunity support?
The scope sits within basic and applied research and is consistent with CFDA 12.300 (Basic and Applied Scientific Research).
How many topic areas are included in this thrust?
There are three topic areas in nanoscience and nanotechnology.
What are the three topic areas?
The topics are:
- Topic 1: Self-assembly error detection and analysis in complex DNA nanostructures
- Topic 2: Electric field assisted sintering of ceramics
- Topic 3: Low cost, large area processing of silicon-based thin film solar cells
Which part of ONR is associated with Topic 1 (DNA nanostructures)?
Topic 1 is placed under Warfighter Performance (Code 34) within the Biomaterials and Bionanotechnology area, mapped to a section of the parent BAA.
What is Topic 1 trying to accomplish, in practical terms?
Topic 1 focuses on improving the reliability and understanding of DNA-based nanoscale structures that self-assemble, with emphasis on detecting, measuring, and analyzing assembly errors as structures become more complex.
Why would the Navy care about self-assembly errors in DNA nanotechnology?
The implied interest is that DNA nanotechnology could enable advanced biosensing, bioinspired materials, or other nanoscale systems, but only if defects and failure modes during self-assembly can be predicted, detected, and controlled.
Which part of ONR is associated with Topic 2 (ceramics sintering)?
Topic 2 is aligned to the Sea Warfare and Weapons Department (Code 33) under Structural Materials.
What is Topic 2 about?
Topic 2 targets electric field assisted sintering of ceramics, generally involving methods to densify and consolidate ceramic materials using electric fields to improve processing speed, reduce temperature requirements, tailor microstructure, or enhance final material properties.
What kinds of defense or maritime needs connect to Topic 2?
The relevance described includes ceramics used for high-temperature components, wear resistance, armor, insulating components, radomes, and other demanding structural applications where processing efficiency and performance improvements can support survivability, reliability, or manufacturability.
Which part of ONR is associated with Topic 3 (silicon thin-film solar cells)?
Topic 3 is also under the Sea Warfare and Weapons Department (Code 33), within Functional Materials.
What is Topic 3 about?
Topic 3 addresses low cost, large area processing of silicon-based thin film solar cells, emphasizing scalable manufacturing approaches for silicon thin-film photovoltaics produced over large areas at reduced cost.
What kinds of operational needs connect to Topic 3?
The described operational relevance centers on energy generation and power availability for expeditionary capability and remote operations, with an emphasis on fabrication methods compatible with large-area, potentially flexible or lightweight implementations and reduced logistics burden.
What is the estimated total funding amount for this opportunity?
ONR lists an estimated total funding amount of $2,140,000.
About how many awards does ONR expect to make?
ONR anticipates roughly 5 awards.
Is there a stated minimum or maximum award size?
No. The notice does not set a formal award floor or ceiling.
How should applicants think about budgets if there is no award floor or ceiling?
The notice suggests award size and duration may vary based on the technical approach, scope, and available funds. Applicants are expected to justify budgets based on the work proposed rather than targeting a predetermined amount.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly open to responsible sources from academia and industry.
Are HBCUs and Minority Institutions eligible?
Yes. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to participate or team, but there is no set-aside reserved exclusively for those institutions.
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 BAA.
Can FFRDCs participate in any way?
Yes. FFRDCs may participate through teaming arrangements with an eligible lead applicant, as long as the collaboration is permitted under the specific FFRDC sponsoring agreement.
What were the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The listed dates were: Posted date (November 20, 2014), white paper deadline (December 11, 2014), proposal closing date (February 26, 2015), and archive date (March 28, 2015).
Is this opportunity still open?
Based on the listed dates and the archive date, the opportunity appears to be historical/archived.
Why might this archived opportunity still be useful to review?
It can serve as a template for understanding how ONR organizes targeted thrusts under its long-range BAA and how future, similar calls may be structured (including reliance on the parent BAA for rules and procedures).
Who was the listed point of contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
The listed contact was Kara Stith at 703-696-4324.
Where should applicants direct submission-related questions?
Submission-related questions were identified as being handled through Grants.gov.
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