The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the Navy's corporate research laboratory, has released its Fiscal Year 2024 Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), identified as N00173-24-S-BA01. This opportunity is aimed at funding basic and applied scientific research relevant to maritime applications. It includes disciplines such as materials science, oceanography, space sciences, information technology, radar systems, plasma physics, and others. The BAA replaces the previous year’s solicitation (N00173-23-S-BA01) and remains open for approximately one year from its publication date.
The primary purpose of the BAA is to solicit white papers and subsequent proposals for research projects with potential utility to the Navy and Marine Corps. NRL is particularly interested in innovative science and technology (S&T) concepts across its directorates. These proposals should align with NRL’s mission to conduct broad, multidisciplinary scientific research and advanced technology development. Acceptable funding mechanisms include contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, technology investment agreements (TIAs), and other transaction agreements (OTAs), each with specific parameters and legal structures.
Eligibility is open to all responsible sources from academia, industry, and the research community, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs). However, this BAA is not set aside for small businesses or other socio-economic categories. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), Navy laboratories, and other Department of Defense and civilian agency laboratories are not eligible for direct awards but may team with eligible applicants. Cost sharing is not required but may be considered voluntarily.
The application process involves a two-step submission: first, a white paper must be submitted to determine the project’s relevance. If selected, the applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposals are by invitation only and must follow specific formats depending on the award instrument sought. Key elements for the white paper include a cover page, technical concept description, potential naval relevance, operational concept, and a rough order of magnitude cost estimate.
Evaluation of submissions will be based on scientific merit, alignment with NRL and Navy missions, and availability of funding. Technical expertise, the significance of the innovation, and the qualifications of the proposing team will be heavily weighted. Submissions will be reviewed individually and not competitively against each other. Additional criteria include compliance with security, biosafety, export control, and human/animal research regulations if applicable.
White papers should be emailed directly to the technical points of contact listed for each research topic in the appendices of the BAA document. For questions or classified proposal instructions, applicants should contact NRL via the provided contact points. Official award notifications will be issued via the Department of Defense’s Electronic Document Access (EDA) system. The announcement does not guarantee funding, and the NRL reserves the right to fund all, some, or none of the proposals submitted.
Ensure alignment with NRL mission; only submit full proposal if invited; avoid unnecessary protected formats or ZIP files; mark proprietary content appropriately
