Research Development Newsletter

Joint Notice of Intent to Issue Connected Communities 2.0, Solar Technologies’ Rapid Integration and Validation for Energy Systems, and SuperTruck Charge
Department of Energy		NOI #	DE-FOA-0003372
Anticipated Release Date:	Between April and September 2024
The DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) released a Notice of Intent to issue over $100 million for field demonstrations and other research to support better planning and operation of the electric grid. This investment will also help optimize systems with grid-connected buildings and vehicles powered by clean, distributed energy generation and show these advanced technologies are reliable, secure, and ready to support a clean energy economy for all Americans. EERE intends to issue these funds through three separate, competitively awarded FOAs administered by three EERE Technology Offices. The issuing offices and respective FOAs are: OFFICE FOA NAME FOA DESCRIPTION Building Technologies Office (BTO) Connected Communities 2.0 (No. DE-FOA-0003136) This FOA will leverage foundational approaches from existing Connected Communities projects to advance solutions for the grid edge—where electricity distribution transitions between the utility and the customer—at community scale, integrating buildings and transportation, community renewables, and storage technologies. Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) Solar Technologies’ Rapid Integration and Validation for Energy Systems (STRIVES) (No. DE-FOA-0003331) This FOA will develop and demonstrate technology and market tools for better integration of distributed energy resources including solar, wind, and energy storage.   Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) SuperTruck Charge (DE-FOA-0003344) This FOA will address the challenges associated with vehicles-to-grid integration and large-scale charging installations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The FOA-issuing offices—BTO, SETO, and VTO—will collaborate with other DOE offices to equitably address grid edge challenges, including EERE’s Geothermal Technologies Office and Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office, as well as DOE’s Office of Electricity.
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DOE Announces Intent to Fund Consensus on Clean Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Technologies with a FOA Anticipated in Summer 2024

The DOE Office of Carbon Management and Office of Resource Sustainability have teamed up to announce a notice of intent (DE-FOA-0003355) indicating that it anticipates releasing a new funding opportunity, Promoting Domestic and International Consensus on Clean Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Technologies, likely in late summer 2024. The purpose of the funding will be to support technology consultation, analysis, and cooperation; outreach; and technical conferences and workshops for two program areas: 1) carbon management technologies, and 2) domestic and international oil, natural gas, methane hydrates, hydrogen, and critical minerals. 

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Notice of Intent to Issue Smart Manufacturing Technologies for Material and Process Innovation
Department of Energy		NOI #	DE-FOA-0003328
Anticipated Release Date:	June 2024
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue DE-FOA-0003329, on behalf of the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO). This FOA will support the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of smart manufacturing technologies that can contribute to a resilient, responsive, leading-edge, and efficient manufacturing sector that delivers the technologies needed for the nation’s clean energy transition. Smart manufacturing can help the manufacturing community reduce manufacturing costs and accelerate time-to-market by illuminating the connection between in-process manufacturing data and ultimate performance characteristics of final products. It is anticipated that this FOA may include the following Areas of Interest: Area of Interest 1: Smart Manufacturing for a Circular Economy Area of Interest 2: Smart Manufacturing for Tooling and Equipment Area of Interest 3: Smart Manufacturing for High Performance Materials Area of Interest 4: Smart Technologies for Sustainable and Competitive US Mining
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CHIPS for America Announces Vision and Future Funding Opportunities for $3B Semiconductor Packaging Program

The CHIPS for America initiative run by NIST has released its vision to boost U.S. capabilities for advanced packaging, a key technology for manufacturing semiconductors. Advanced packaging is a cutting-edge design and manufacturing method that places multiple chips with a variety of functions in a densely interconnected two- or three-dimensional “package.” This design paradigm can help the sector achieve the ever denser, smaller dimensions that the most advanced semiconductors require. Advanced packaging requires an interdisciplinary approach that brings together chip designers, materials scientists, process and mechanical engineers, measurement scientists, and many more. It also requires access to resources such as advanced packaging facilities. Currently, the United States is limited in both conventional and advanced packaging capacity. The approximately $3B program will be dedicated to activities that include an advanced packaging piloting facility for validating and transitioning new technologies to U.S. manufacturers; workforce training programs to ensure that new processes and tools are capably staffed; and funding for projects that focus on: 

• materials and substrates
• equipment, tools and processes
• power delivery and thermal management
• photonics and connectors
• a chiplet ecosystem
• co-design for test, repair, security, interoperability and reliability

The first FOA focused on materials and substrates is anticipated in early 2024.

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DOE Vehicle Technologies Office Intends to Issue FOA on Technology Integration in Q1 2024

The Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) will issue a new FOA on Technology Integration (DE-FOA-0003250) in January or February 2024. Within VTO, the Technology Integration Program supports the demonstration and deployment of new technology at the community level, but ultimately with broader national reach. The Technology Integration Program supports a broad technology portfolio that includes alternative fuels, workforce development and training, and other efficient advanced technologies that can reduce transportation energy costs for businesses and consumers. The program provides objective, unbiased data and real-world lessons learned to inform future research needs and support local decision making. It also includes projects to disseminate data, information, and insight, as well as online tools and technology assistance to cities and regions working to implement alternative fuels and energy efficient mobility technologies and systems. Areas of Interest will potentially include the following:

• Clean Cities outreach, engagement, and technical assistance
• Training on net-zero emission vehicles and infrastructure technologies for critical emergency response workers
• Demonstration and deployment open topic

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DOE Vehicle Technologies Office Planning to Release Research, Development, & Demonstration FOA in Q1 2024

The Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office intends to release a funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0003248) in January or February 2024 that will advance research, development, demonstration and deployment (RDD&D) in several areas critical to achieving net-zero greenhouse (GHG) emission by 2050 including: Development of innovative battery chemistries, reducing GHG emissions in off-road vehicles, improving transportation efficiency via connected vehicles, domestic production of electric steels and improved cybersecurity for electric vehicle charging. The anticipated FOA targets Vehicle Technologies research and development projects potentially including:

• Next Generation Phosphate-Based Cathodes
• Na-ion Battery Seedling Projects for Electric Vehicle Applications
• Low GHG Concepts for Off-Road Vehicles
• Saving Energy with Connectivity
• Domestically Produced E-Steels
• Cybersecurity for Smart and Secure Electric Vehicle Charging

The FOA is anticipated in January or February 2024.

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DOE Intends to Fund Projects that Transform Carbon Emissions into Valuable Products with FOA Anticipated in Q1 2024

The DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) recently issued a notice of intent to provide funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for large-scale conversion of carbon emissions into environmentally responsible and economically valuable products. Projects will develop the sustainable feedstocks and conversion technologies necessary to produce crucial fuels, materials, and other carbon-based products. If issued, the funding will support two areas of focus: (1) research and development of electrochemical conversion processes that convert carbon emissions into valuable products such as engineering polymer/resin precursors, specialty chemicals, and commodity chemicals; and (2) feasibility studies that examine retrofitting refineries for carbon utilization and production of value-added products. DOE expects to issue the FOA during the first quarter of calendar year 2024.  

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Pivot Search BAA’s search – https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/352238

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program
Department of Defense – Office of Naval Research (ONR)		Solicitation #	N0001424SF005
Deadline:	Open until 4/4/2025
Amount:	Varies depending on technology area and technical approach
ONR seeks a broad range of applications for augmenting existing and/or developing innovative solutions that directly maintain and/or cultivate a diverse, world-class Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to maintain the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ technological superiority. The goal of proposed efforts must provide solutions that establish, build and/or maintain STEM educational pathways and workforce opportunities for diverse U.S. citizens directly relevant to ONR science and technology areas.
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FY24 Broad Agency Announcement for Innovative Environmental Technologies and Methodologies
Department of Defense – Department of the Navy		Solicitation #	N3943024S2000
Deadline:	Open until 4/7/2025
Amount:	Varies depending on technology area and technical approach
This announcement seeks out technologies and methodologies to reduce environmental impacts from current and past Navy operations, and applies to Navy installations worldwide. NEXWC is interested in environmental technologies and methodologies that are either new, innovative, advance the state-of-the art, or increase knowledge or understanding of a technology or methodology. The technology or methodology shall address one of the following topic areas. Environmental assessment, restoration and cleanup Conservation of natural resources Unexploded Ordnance Technologies and methodologies addressing emerging chemicals Environmental compliance Resilient infrasctructue crucial for enduring environmental protection Remote sensing, and web based data processing, modeling, and reporting of environmental data
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Scientific Feasibility (SciFy)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative and revolutionary computational approaches that measure the feasibility of technical claims to enable accurate assessments of scientific content.

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NRL Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Basic and Applied Research

NRL requests white papers for long-range Science and Technology (S&T) projects which may offer advancement and improvement potential for Navy and Marine Corps operations. This announcement emphasizes NRL’s broad role in the competitive funding of meritorious research across a spectrum of science and engineering disciplines.

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DOD Strategic Capabilities Office Broad Agency Announcement

Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) is an organization within the Office of the Secretary of Defense which seeks to identify, analyze, and prototype disruptive applications of new systems, unconventional uses of existing systems, and implement emerging technologies to create operational strategic effects. SCO is a rapid prototyping organization focused on delivering capabilities in 3-5 years to address high priority operational and strategic challenges.

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DOD 2024 ERDC BAA

The ERDC is responsible for conducting research in the broad fields of hydraulics, dredging, coastal engineering, instrumentation, oceanography, remote sensing, geotechnical engineering, earthquake engineering, soil effects, vehicle mobility, self-contained munitions, military engineering, geophysics, pavements, protective structures, aquatic plants, water quality, dredged material, treatment of hazardous waste, wetlands, physical/mechanical/ chemical properties of snow and other frozen precipitation, infrastructure and environmental issues for installations, computer science, telecommunications management, energy, facilities maintenance, materials and structures, engineering processes, environmental processes, land and heritage conservation, and ecological processes.

This announcement is continuously open; pre-proposals may be submitted and will be reviewed at any time throughout the year.  The availability of funds may limit the ability of the U.S. Government to make awards in specific areas, nevertheless, pre-proposals are sought under this announcement for all research areas identified

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DARPA Defense Sciences Office Office-wide

This opportunity is to identify and create the next generation of scientific discovery to fuel innovation throughout the Agency and beyond. DSO frames its office according to the thrust areas described further below, but encourages any fundamental research concept, idea, or effort that addresses DARPA’s mission to make pivotal investments in breakthrough technologies for national security.

Novel Materials & Structures: This thrust includes, but is not limited to, science and technology in quantum devices, atomic scale systems, and functional and structural materials.

Sensing & Measurement: This thrust includes but is not limited to, science and technology in quantum sensing and metrology, seeing (sensing) the unseen, and novel light sources.
Computation & Processing: This thrust includes, but is not limited to, science and technology of quantum computing, cryptography, and modeling of complex systems.
Enabling Operations: This thrust includes, but is not limited to, technologies to support spacebased operations, tactically remote environments, and resource assurance.
Collective Intelligence: This thrust includes, but is not limited to, exploration of complex social systems, adaptable Artificial Intelligence (AI), and AI-accelerated learning.
Emerging Threats: This thrust includes, but is not limited to, national security concerns related to global issues associated with raw material availability, environmental catastrophes, and digital societies.

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DOE – FY 2024 CONTINUATION OF SOLICITATION FOR THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Office of Science (SC) of the Department of Energy (DOE) hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving grant applications for support of work in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Isotope R&D and Production, and Accelerator R&D and Production.

This FOA is our annual, broad, open solicitation that covers all research areas in SC and is open throughout the Fiscal Year. Any research within SC’s Congressionally-authorized mission may be proposed under this FOA. This FOA will remain open until September 30, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern Time, or until it is succeeded by another issuance, whichever occurs first.

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Army Contracting Command Announces Broad Agency Announcement for Development, Maturing, Demonstrating and Transitioning Aviation-Related Critical Technologies

Through this Master Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) (W911W6-23-R-0010), the Army Contracting Command announces its intent to solicit future proposals in alignment with its mission to develop, mature, demonstrate and transition critical technologies and products through technology programs and customer support that modernize, maintain and sustain Army Aviation as the dominant land force aviation component in the world. Individual calls will specify the research area(s) being solicited. This BAA closes on June 20, 2024.

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U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Broad Agency Announcement on Enabling Cyber-Linked Physical Sensing Exploitation Accepting White Papers

This Broad Agency Announcement (FA8650-21-S-1016) on Enabling Cyber-Linked Physical Sensing Exploitation (ECLPSE) will be a Two Step, Open BAA to support research and analysis on cyber-physical sensing and Electronic Warfare (EW)-kinetic effects to enable understanding how cyber-connected devices interact with the physical environment found in manufacturing automation, utilities, transportation, agricultural, medical, and other common applications. This effort will also support research and analysis regarding the prevention and exploitation of information leakages similar to electromagnetic security (EMSEC) vulnerabilities in the cyber/EW-physical domain. Individual contracts will be up to $20M. The first step is submission of a white paper. Approved white paper offerors will receive Requests for Proposals. This BAA closes on February 25, 2026.

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DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Broad Agency Announcement for Foundational Research

This BAA (W911NF-23-S-0001) and the associated list of research topics is accepting white papers and proposals that help the ARL meet its mission to operationalize science to ensure overmatch in any future conflict. This BAA combines two previously separate BAAs focused on basic and applied research into a single document and closes on November 20, 2027.  

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Advanced Manufacturing Research in support of the Sciences of Extreme Materials Competency – Closing date Nov. 19, 2027

Army modernization requires a set of robust manufacturing strategies and integrated capabilities that enable a highly connected and collaborative enterprise. Agile manufacturing involves digitally enabled advanced manufacturing (AdvM) technologies with ubiquitous access to rapid prototyping, small-scale production, materials by design, etc. that are capable of scalable, and on-demand distributed production of components and systems. Agile manufacturing integrates the procedures, resources, and preparation that are needed to respond to changes in the demand utilizing systems, resources, and practice to react to these demands and adapt quickly without jeopardizing the Army’s ability to meet the performance requirements.

This area seeks transformational materials that can operate in extreme conditions, and methods to manufacture them readily in the organic US industrial base as well as in austere environments at the point of need. Next generation Army components and systems will need to integrate novel structures of unmatched geometric complexity, and novel materials produced using novel data driven digital manufacturing methods. Topics of interest include:  Additive manufacturing, Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques for AdvM, Printed hybrid electronics including multi-functional devices and structures, Novel and robust design methodologies for convergent manufacturing, and more. 

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Electric- and Magnetic-Field Sensor Technology – Closing date Nov. 19, 2027

Research proposals are desired that are related to small, rugged, low-power electric- and magnetic-field sensors that can be deployed on a battlefield using artillery-based delivery systems, or scattered from air or ground vehicles, or emplaced by individual soldiers. These sensors should be passive or semi-active (i.e., with no local field-generating element), and may operate at low frequencies in the quasi-static zone (or “near field”), where the electric and magnetic fields are not coupled. These sensors should be characterized by exceptionally low power, size, weight, and cost, and/or by exceptionally high sensitivity and low noise (i.e., with performance limited by the background environment). Sensor bandwidth generally falls between DC and ~1 MHz, but may be further limited for specific applications: e.g., 0.001-10 Hz for anomaly detection; 30-3000 Hz for electric-power sensing; 3-30 kHz for very low frequency (VLF) sensing.

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Invincible Materials Research in support of the Sciences of Extreme Materials Competency – Closing date Nov. 19, 2027

The invincible materials portfolio focuses on the fundamental, basic and applied material science and engineering to identify novel and emerging materials, systems and technologies for use across multiple high valued platforms and systems. The portfolio seeks to expand knowledge of materials and the related science and engineering of all materials classes with respect to synthesis, processing, development of novel materials or feedstocks, methods, advanced manufacturing techniques, experimentation, high through put techniques, machine learning, characterization, and modeling and simulation. The portfolio seeks to enable the discovery, development, design and integration of emerging structural, chemical and biological protection, electronic, laser and energy, materials in traditional and extreme environments such as materials under high rate and dynamic conditions. The portfolio also seeks material science and manufacturing technologies that supports the soldier, combat vehicles, combat support vehicles and other high valued assets to enable improved performance and survivability.

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Invisible Materials Research in support of the Sciences of Extreme Materials Competency – Closing date Nov. 19, 2027

The Invisible Materials Portfolio seeks to identify novel electromagnetic spectrum materials (EMS) for use in a wide range of military applications. The portfolio seeks materials with advanced capabilities to increase, decreases or alter the energy emitted, scattered or absorbed in a controlled manner.

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Multimodal Synthetic Data for Machine Learning – Closing date Nov. 19, 2027

The use of artificial intelligence solutions for Army field applications will rely heavily on machine learning (ML) algorithms. Current ML algorithms need large amounts of mission-relevant training data to enable them to perform well in tasks such as object and activity recognition, and high-level decision making. Battlefield data sources can be heterogeneous, encompassing multiple sensing modalities. Present open-source data sets for training ML approaches provide inadequate representation of scenes and situations of interest to the Army, in both content and sensing modalities. There is a push to use synthetic data to make up for the paucity of real-world training data relevant to military multi-domain operations of the future. However, there are no systematic approaches for synthetic generation of data that provide any degree of assurance of improved real-world performance of the ML techniques trained on such data. The problem of effective synthetic data generation for ML raises deeper questions than that of artificially generating speech or imagery that humans find realistic.

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DOD Tactical Heterogeneous Sensing in Complex Environments, Aerosols, and Impacts- November 19, 2027

 This program focuses on basic and applied research investigations designed to enhance situational and operational awareness with respect to operations in complex, multi-domain environments enabling C4ISR and maneuver capabilities. The research covers a broad portfolio including aerosol sciences, propagation of electro-optic (EO), electro-magnetic (EM), radio-frequency (RF) and acoustic signals in complex environments, impacts thereof, and heterogeneous sensing. Areas of specific interest are optical spectroscopy and characterization of aerosols, modeling of light interaction with material, atmospheric aerosol composition, heterogeneous remote sensing, and propagation modeling. Complex environments of particular interest are urban, littoral, forested, and domain interfaces.

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DOD Quantum networking for communications, distributed entanglement and information processing – November 19, 2027

 The Army seeks proposals in the development of quantum networks to advance performance metrics across a range of applications, including information distribution/security/processing, logistics, conventional networking and computing.

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U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences Broad Agency Announcement for Basic Research (Fiscal Year 2025) – White Paper, March 1,2024 – Full-proposal July 1, 2024

The Basic Research program focuses on three strategic areas for advancing personnel science.

1.     Science of Measurement of Individuals and Collectives: Advanced psychometric theory for deriving valid measurements from complex assessments and continuous streams of data

2.     Understanding Multilevel and Organizational Dynamics: Multilevel theory and methods for understanding dynamic restructuring, coordination, and composition processes in teams and complex organizations

3.     Formal/Informal Learning and Development: Holistic models of individual and collective learning and development across work settings and contexts throughout the career span

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DARPA Strategic Technology Office (STO) – October 31, 2024

DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office (STO) is seeking innovative ideas and disruptive
technologies that provide the U.S. military and national security leaders trusted, disruptive
capabilities to win in all physical domains (Air, Space, Sea, and Land) and across the spectrum
of competition, from deterrence to high-end peer combat. STO seeks to carry out DARPA’s
mission of creating high-risk, high-reward “breakthrough” technologies with a focus on
ambitious, difficult, and revolutionary projects that achieve significant changes or fundamental
shifts in technical capabilities and give our warfighters new ways to fight. STO will develop and
deliver solutions at a speed and scale to be operationally relevant in a relatively short time, just a
few years, from the initiation of the project to proof of concept.

STO is a “systems office,” seeking to create new “proof-of-concept” mission systems. Its goals
are to develop and demonstrate new capabilities that expand what is technically possible.

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DARPA Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office-wide – October 29, 2024

The Information Innovation Office (I2O) creates groundbreaking science and develops transformational capabilities in the informational and computational spheres to surprise adversaries and maintain enduring advantage for national security. I2O programs address elements of four key thrust areas:  Proficient artificial intelligence (AI), Resilient, adaptable, and secure systems, Advantage in cyber operations, and Confidence in the information domain.

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DARPA Exploration Announcement (EA) Master Solicitation for Advanced Research Concepts (ARC) – October 26, 2024

The Advanced Research Concepts (ARC) program will rapidly solicit and explore a high volume of promising new ideas for limited-scope investments. Projects will focus on answering high-risk/high-reward fundamental research questions and assessing the impact of further investment on problems of importance to the Department of Defense.

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DOE FY 2024 CONTINUATION OF SOLICITATION FOR THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – September 30, 2024

The Office of Science (SC) of the Department of Energy (DOE) hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving grant applications for support of work in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Isotope R&D and Production, and Accelerator R&D and Production.

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DOD Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology – Sept. 30, 2024

ONR, ONRG, and MCWL are interested in receiving proposals for Long-Range S&T Projects that offer potential for advancement and improvement of Navy and Marine Corps operations.

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DARPA Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) – August 20, 2024 4:00 PM

Current Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are being successfully exploited to achieve powerful new capabilities. DARPA seeks to invest in focused explorations of what the AI science and technologies of the future could be. DARPA’s AI Exploration (AIE) program will enable exploratory research on a range of AI related topics that will be periodically solicited as AIE Opportunities through publication of Presolicitation Notices under Contract Opportunities on https://SAM.gov. It is DARPA’s intent to make awards for future AIE Opportunities within 90 days of posting on https://SAM.gov. In order to ensure that DARPA achieves the AIE goal of award within 90 calendar days from the posting date of each AIE Opportunity, DARPA reserves the right to cease negotiations when an award is not executed by both parties (DARPA and the selected organization) on or before the deadline explicitly listed in each AIE Opportunity Notice. This deadline will be no more than 90 calendar days from the posting date of the corresponding AIE Opportunity.

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DARPA-RA-23-02 Forward-Looking Experimentation (FLEX) – August 9, 2024

The Microsystems Technology Office at DARPA seeks fundamental research proposals for disruptive ideas in information and communication technologies (ICT) addressing the grand challenges for a data-driven future. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems. The goal of the Forward-Looking Experimentation (FLEX) program is to identify the direction and timing of key disruptive advances in ICT, accelerate technology exploration and generate intellectual property, develop next-generation researchers for the U.S. workforce, and build the foundation for future research programs.

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Army Geospatial Center (AGC) – July 26, 2024

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is general in nature and addresses multiple topic areas of research for the Systems and Acquisition Support Directorate and the Warfighter Support Directorate. Submissions in response to this announcement shall be for areas relating to the advancement of a wide variety of geospatial topics, which are listed in 2023_AGC Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)_Review – KO Signed FINAL’.  Accordingly, proposals selected for award are considered to be the result of full and open competition and fully compliant with Public Law 98-369, ‘The Competition in Contracting Act of 1984’.

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DOD EXTREME COMPUTING

CONCISE SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENT:The Air Force Research Laboratory is soliciting white papers under this Broad Agency Announcement for research, development, integration, test and evaluation of technologies/techniques to support research in the focus areas computational diversity and efficient computing architectures, machine learning and artificial intelligence in embedded system and architectures, computing at the edge, nanocomputing, space computing, and robust algorithms and applications.

BAA ESTIMATED FUNDING:  Total funding for this BAA is approximately $497.9M.  Individual awards will not normally exceed 36 months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $1M to $3M.  There is also the potential to make awards up to $99.9M

BAA NUMBER: FA8750-23-S-7004

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DARPA – Microsystems Technology Office: Intensity-Squeezed Photonic Integration for Revolutionary Detectors (INSPIRED) 

DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office seeks innovative proposals to develop compact, ultralow-noise optical detectors that employ squeezed-light measurement techniques to advance precision optical sensing. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.

The principal objective of the Intensity-Squeezed Photonic Integration for Revolutionary Detectors (INSPIRED) program is the development of optoelectronic detector modules that integrate squeezed-light measurement techniques into form factors comparable to commercial photodetector modules, thereby achieving sensitivity significantly beyond the quantum shot-noise limit. Such “squeezed-light detectors” will be transformative in advancing squeezed-light quantum measurement beyond laboratory environments as practical, general-purpose detector components that can be employed in diverse optical systems. The superior sensitivity of squeezed-light detectors is expected to provide decisive quantum advantages in wide-ranging application domains such as active imaging; atomic sensing; navigation; microscopy; and communications.

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NASA 2024 Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) – multiple due dates

 The goal of the HRP is to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration. The scope of this goal includes both the successful completion of exploration missions and the preservation of health over the astronaut’s lifetime. The HRP contains five Elements: Space Radiation, Human Health Countermeasures, Exploration Medical Capability, Human Factors and Behavioral Performance, and Research Operations and Integration.

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Current Calls for Expressions of Interest

Hearing from you that you are interested in a limited submission opportunity helps us determine whether a full internal competition will be needed. The only information you typically need to provide in an expression of interest is your name and department information (and that of your team, if applicable) and your tentative project title. All applications are accepted through InfoReady.

W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program (June 2024 Grant Cycle)
W.M. Keck Foundation					Solicitation #	n/a
Internal Deadline:	6/30/2024	Limit:		4
Sponsor Deadlines:	Consultations will occur between 7/15/2024 and 8/15/2024; Invited applications are due 11/1/2024
The Research Program seeks to benefit humanity by supporting projects in two specific areas (1) medical research and (2) science and engineering, that are distinctive and novel in their approach, question the prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in their field. Funding is awarded to universities and institutions nationwide for projects in research that: Focus on important and emerging areas of research Have the potential to develop breakthrough technologies, instrumentation or methodologies Are innovative, distinctive and interdisciplinary Demonstrate a high level of risk due to unconventional approaches, or by challenging the prevailing paradigm Have the potential for transformative impact, such as the founding of a new field of research, the enabling of observations not previously possible, or the altered perception of a previously intractable problem Does not focus on clinical or translational research, treatment trials or research for the sole purpose of drug development Fall outside the mission of public funding agencies Demonstrate that private philanthropy generally, and the W. M. Keck Foundation in particular, is essential to the project’s success
Apply in InfoReady			Read Solicitation

 

Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP)
Department of Energy – AMMTO					Solicitation #	n/a
Internal Deadline:	6/25/2024	Limit:		2
Sponsor Deadline:	9/4/2024
E-scrap—which includes mobile phones, home appliances, medical or office equipment, and anything else powered by electricity—represents the fastest growing waste stream globally, with e-scrap generation expected to double between 2014 and 2030. Only 17.4% of e-scrap was collected and recycled globally in 2019, discarding 83% of e-waste and $57B in raw material value. However, e-scrap recovery faces numerous roadblocks, including a fragmented recycling value chain, a complex and dynamic feedstock, and a rapidly evolving end-use market. In response, E-SCRAP is challenging American entrepreneurs to revolutionize critical material recovery and reshape the future of sustainable manufacturing. This prize will advance in three phases as described in the solicitation.
Apply in InfoReady			Read Solicitation

 

Partnerships for Innovation – Research Partnership (PFI-RP) Track
National Science Foundation					Solicitation #	NSF 23-538
Internal Deadline:	6/24/2024	Limit:		1
Sponsor Deadline:	9/3/2024
The Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) Program within the Division of Translational Impacts (TI) offers researchers from all disciplines of science and engineering funded by NSF the opportunity to perform translational research and technology development, catalyze partnerships and accelerate the transition of discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace for societal benefit. The intended outcomes of both PFI-TT and PFI-RP tracks are: a) the commercialization of new intellectual property derived from NSF-funded research outputs; b) the creation of new or broader collaborations with industry (including increased corporate sponsored research); c) the licensing of NSF-funded research outputs to third party corporations or to start-up companies funded by a PFI team; and d) the training of future innovation and entrepreneurship leaders.
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NSF Major Research Instrumentation Pre-Concept Call
National Science Foundation					Solicitation #	NSF 23-519
Internal Deadline:	5/21/2024	Limit:		4
Sponsor Deadline:	11/15/2024
A full internal competition for the NSF MRI program will take place this summer. Prior to that, we would like to hear from those who intend to submit an MRI proposal and for what equipment. This pre-concept stage will help the RTT Office to gauge campus and regional interest, facilitate letters of support from nearby institutions, and provide guidance. At this stage, the only information needed is the team, the instrument you are proposing to acquire or develop, and what track your proposal would fall into. Submitting a pre-concept entry does not constitute a commitment to submit to the internal competition. If you are still waiting on notification from last year’s competition, let us know if you plan to re-submit this year assuming your pending proposal is not awarded. Limitations: Track 1 – proposals between $100K and $1.4M: Limit 2 Track 2 – proposals greater than $1.4M and up to $4M: Limit 1 Track 3 – proposals that include the acquisition, development, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to reduce consumption of helium, for any amount up to $4M: Limit 1
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2025 Regional Innovation Engines
National Science Foundation					Solicitation #	NSF 24-565
Internal Deadline:	5/21/2024	Limit:		1
Sponsor Deadlines:	6/18/2024 (Letter of Interest)
The NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program creates regional-scale, technology-driven, inclusive innovation ecosystems throughout the United States by accelerating key technologies, addressing regional, national, societal, and/or geostrategic challenges, driving economic growth, creating and retaining quality jobs, expanding equitable pathways into careers, and strengthening national competitiveness and security. Each NSF Engine represents a formal coalition of regional partners tasked to carry out an integrated and comprehensive set of activities spanning use-inspired research, translation of innovation to practice, entrepreneurship, workforce development, community engagement, and ecosystem building, to nurture and accelerate the growth of regional innovation ecosystems grounded in technological innovation and regional, national, societal, and/or geostrategic challenges.
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