Fundamental Research to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency has issued the Broad Agency Announcement HDTRA1-25-S-0001 for fundamental research to counter weapons of mass destruction. This funding opportunity seeks to support fundamental scientific research that advances the state of knowledge and provides technological solutions to counter chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive threats. The primary aim of this program is to foster innovation in the fields of chemical and biological defense by supporting research efforts that contribute to the understanding of phenomena, development of new technologies, and identification of novel approaches for countering threats. The BAA will remain open continuously from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2034. Submissions can be made in two ways: in response to specific topics published in Attachment 1 or under a general thrust area described in Section 1.5 of the announcement. All submissions, whether topic-specific or general, require pre-coordination of ideas before submission of white papers, except where waivers are explicitly granted. Evaluation will occur in two phases. Phase I involves the submission and review of pre-application white papers, while Phase II is reserved for invited full proposals. Eligible applicants include accredited academic institutions, industrial and commercial entities, and not-for-profit research organizations. Participation from universities is strongly encouraged, with preference given to proposals that demonstrate significant university involvement. Federal laboratories and government agencies cannot act as prime awardees but may collaborate as subawardees. Awards may take the form of grants, cooperative agreements, or other assistance instruments and will vary in size depending on the scope of work. Funding for grants may range from smaller awards of $25,000 to larger efforts of up to $1,000,000 annually, including direct and indirect costs. Proposed efforts can span up to five years, structured as a base period of one to three years with additional option years as appropriate. Thirty awards are anticipated annually, subject to the availability of funds. Applicants must submit white papers and proposals through Grants.gov and adhere to the submission guidelines outlined in the announcement. Key requirements include project abstracts, technical narratives, and detailed budgets. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate multidisciplinary approaches and student involvement. Successful proposals will be evaluated based on scientific merit, relevance to the mission goals, capability of personnel and facilities, and cost realism. The announcement details specific topics under Thrust Area 1, including research themes focused on innovative drug delivery systems, quantum computing for medical countermeasure development, oral microbiome responses to pathogens, and material solutions for chemical and biological defense. Proposals must address the challenges outlined in these topics while ensuring broad relevance and scientific impact. For submissions addressing topics A1 through A7, the pre-application white paper deadline is February 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. These topics do not require pre-coordination of abstracts prior to white paper submission.