Air Dominance Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

The Air Dominance Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA8651-25-S-0001 is issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Munitions Directorate, located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The AFRL/RW is the U.S. Air Force’s primary organization for research and development of conventional munitions. This BAA supports the agency's mission to develop and transition cutting-edge munitions technologies for air, space, and cyberspace superiority. This announcement reflects an open and competitive opportunity that complies with the Competition in Contracting Act, and is designed to attract a wide array of research proposals from academia, industry, and nonprofit entities. The BAA is structured in two formats: the Basic Open BAA and the BAA with Calls. The Basic Open BAA allows white paper submissions on a rolling basis for a five-year period, while the BAA with Calls includes specific solicitations that are published periodically on sam.gov and grants.gov. The announcement is designed to fund efforts under budget categories 6.2 (Applied Research), 6.3 (Advanced Technology Development), and 6.4 (Advanced Component Development and Prototypes), with the goal of maturing technologies for integration into operational Air Force capabilities. White papers are reviewed through a two-step process where successful submissions may be invited to provide full proposals. Importantly, proposals submitted without invitation will not be considered. The research scope is divided into thirteen key areas, including modeling and simulation, innovative aircraft integration, missile electronics, advanced warhead and propulsion technologies, artificial intelligence, and missile test and evaluation. Each area has designated technical points of contact who should be consulted prior to submission to ensure alignment with the AFRL’s research interests. Deliverables vary by award but typically include status reports, final reports, and possibly hardware or software components. Some efforts may require classified facility clearances, and data rights provisions under DFARS will apply, with the expectation of at least Government Purpose Rights or Unlimited Rights depending on the funding structure. Awards under this BAA may be in the form of contracts, cooperative agreements, grants, or other transaction agreements, based on the type of research proposed. Although there is no fixed funding ceiling for individual awards, the cumulative funding under this BAA is not expected to exceed $750 million over the five-year period. Matching is not a requirement for eligibility but is permitted. The BAA encourages participation from small businesses and other eligible entities and allows for cost sharing if proposed. White paper submissions must be limited to five pages and follow strict formatting guidelines. A favorable evaluation of a white paper is required before a formal proposal may be requested. Evaluation criteria for white papers emphasize technical merit and feasibility, while full proposals are assessed on innovation, approach, potential transitionability of deliverables, and cost realism. Additional security reviews are required for all covered individuals involved in research proposals, including a submission of forms related to foreign talent disclosure, key personnel, and potential foreign affiliations. For contractual inquiries, contact Ms. Amy Fortenberry at amy.fortenberry.1@us.af.mil or (850) 882-3657, or Ms. Allison McCowan at allison.mccowan@us.af.mil or (850) 585-5936. Technical questions should be directed to the points of contact listed under each research area. This BAA remains open until amended or reissued, and applicants are encouraged to monitor sam.gov and grants.gov for any changes or Calls.

Applicants are encouraged to contact technical POCs prior to submission. Strict formatting and data rights assertions per DFARS are required.