Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research | FA9550 21 S 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for FA9550 21 S 0001

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) is a standing, open government funding opportunity that supports the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) basic research program. In practical terms, AFOSR uses this announcement to identify, fund, and manage fundamental science and engineering research that can eventually transition into capabilities relevant to U.S. Air Force missions. The overall emphasis is on research topics that can deliver broad, meaningful advantages for national warfighting and peacekeeping needs, with AFOSR coordinating efforts across Air Force labs, universities, and industry partners to both generate new knowledge and help move promising results toward operational relevance.

This opportunity is issued by the Department of Defense through AFOSR under Funding Opportunity Number FA9550-21-S-0001 and is categorized as discretionary funding. AFOSR can support projects through multiple award mechanisms, including grants, cooperative agreements, procurement contracts, and other instruments, depending on the nature of the effort and the level of government involvement anticipated. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the listing is associated with CFDA Number 12.800. A notable feature is that the announcement is effectively open-ended: the original closing date indicates it remains open until a new Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is posted, meaning researchers often engage with AFOSR on an ongoing basis rather than within a single, short application window.

AFOSR organizes and manages its research portfolio through two main scientific departments plus international offices. The departments are Engineering and Information Science (RTA) and Physical and Biological Sciences (RTB). In addition, AFOSR operates international components, including the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EAORD), the Southern Office of Aerospace Research and Development (SOARD), and the Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD). Collectively, these organizations oversee topic areas and help connect global research communities to Air Force-relevant basic research needs. While the specific technical topics are summarized within the full announcement, the key takeaway is that AFOSR’s interests span foundational work in engineering, computing and information sciences, physical sciences, and biological sciences, with an explicit intention to enable future Air Force applications.

Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), and certain nonprofit entities, including nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status (with additional eligibility clarifications referenced in the announcement). This wide eligibility reflects AFOSR’s goal of drawing on the strongest ideas wherever they originate, whether in academia, industry, or other research organizations.

In terms of potential funding scale and volume, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of up to $100,000,000 and an extremely large expected number of awards (999999), which is best interpreted as an administrative way of indicating that AFOSR anticipates making many awards over time across many topics rather than a literal forecast for a single cycle. Overall, this announcement functions as AFOSR’s umbrella vehicle for soliciting and supporting basic research aligned with Air Force priorities, with flexibility in funding instruments, a continuously open posture until replaced, and a portfolio structured around its two major science departments and global research offices.

• The Department of Defense, Air Force Office of Scientific Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 09, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Open until new BAAaposs posted. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 999,999 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for FA9550 21 S 0001

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