Fundamental Research to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), under the U.S. Department of Defense, has released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) numbered HDTRA1-25-S-0001 for the “Fundamental Research to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (FRCWMD)” initiative. Managed by the Research and Development Directorate’s Chemical and Biological Technologies Department, this funding opportunity supports basic and applied research to reduce, eliminate, and counter chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive threats. The announcement invites innovative research proposals aligned with DTRA’s mission to enhance scientific knowledge and technical capability in countering weapons of mass destruction (C-WMD). It is structured to promote long-term scientific advancement, foster cross-disciplinary collaborations, and strengthen the scientific base for national and global defense strategies. The opportunity spans ten years, from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2034, and supports both topic-specific submissions (Attachment 1) and general thrust area projects. A significant portion of the effort is directed toward Thrust Area 1: Fundamental Science for Chemical and Biological Defense. This thrust encourages research in life and physical sciences, focused on countering chemical and biological threats. Applicants may propose research aimed at detection devices, diagnostics, medical and material countermeasures, decontamination strategies, modeling efforts, and agent elimination techniques. Importantly, efforts may also support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education aligned with C-WMD goals. Proposals are accepted in two phases. Phase I involves submission of a pre-application white paper, which must be pre-coordinated with the relevant technical POC unless applying under specified topics (e.g., Topics B1–B6, which waive this requirement). If the white paper is accepted, the applicant is invited to submit a full Phase II proposal. All applications must be submitted via www.grants.gov using designated application packages for the relevant thrust area or topic. A white paper may only be submitted within 45 calendar days of receiving disposition approval after coordination. Detailed instructions are provided for formatting and content of both white papers and full proposals, including necessary forms and required data fields. Funding instruments available include grants, cooperative agreements (CAs), and other transactions (OTs), with grants being the predominant type expected. Awards can range from $25,000 to $1 million annually, depending on project scope. Awards may span up to five years and include base and option years, with structures such as 1+4, 2+3, or 3+2 years. Thirty awards are anticipated per year. Subawards are permitted, and DTRA encourages meaningful participation by universities, which may be a minimum of 30% of total project value. Priority is given to projects that engage students and support early-career researchers. Eligibility for this BAA is open to U.S. and foreign entities, including accredited higher education institutions, nonprofit research organizations, commercial and industrial entities (including small businesses), and foreign government laboratories. However, federal academic organizations, federal labs, and certain Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) cannot act as prime awardees but may serve as collaborators or subawardees. Cost sharing is not required but may be stipulated in specific topics. Submissions will be evaluated based on scientific and technical merit, relevance to DTRA’s mission, capability of the personnel and facilities, and cost realism. Evaluation is performed by both government and non-government subject matter experts. Notifications regarding proposal status will be sent via email, and selected applicants must complete award negotiations before work can begin. Proposals may be subject to further review regarding human subjects, animal use, and select agent research to ensure compliance with ethical and safety standards. Finally, all successful applicants are subject to standard federal grant reporting requirements, including annual and final technical reports, financial reports, and foreign travel reports, where applicable.

Pre-coordination is waived for Topics B1–B6, but applications must strictly follow the white paper and proposal format instructions to be considered. Deviations may result in rejection.