The CHEERS Open Period 1 – All Technical Areas funding opportunity, issued under Funding Opportunity Number FA238424S2334, is managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Human Effectiveness Directorate and the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. This solicitation is part of the broader CHEERS (Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining) Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA), which seeks research that enhances human effectiveness in Air Force and Space Force environments. The opportunity is guided by federal acquisition regulations, notably 10 U.S.C. 4001 and FAR 35.016, under the framework of Broad Agency Announcements.
The program invites the submission of white papers addressing any technical area outlined in Attachments 2 and 3 of the CHEERS MAA. The solicitation follows a two-step process: the initial submission of white papers due by September 30, 2027, followed by full proposals by invitation only. The funding instruments include contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, IDIQs, and transactions authorized under 10 U.S.C. 4021 and 4022. While the total award funding ceiling is not specified per award, the cumulative ceiling for all awards under this solicitation is $484.73 million. Multiple awards are anticipated, though the exact number will depend on merit and available funding.
White papers and subsequent proposals should align with objectives in the MAA’s Statement of Objectives and will undergo a rigorous review process. Proposals may be accepted without negotiation, and submission without a prior white paper is not permitted. Performance periods, deliverables, and program security requirements vary depending on the approach proposed. No cost-sharing or matching is required for this opportunity, and submissions from domestic and international applicants may be considered, subject to export control and security guidelines.
All submissions must be sent via email to AFRL.711HPW.MAA@us.af.mil. Evaluation may take up to 180 days. Selected applicants will receive a request for full proposals with specific submission instructions. Key contacts include program managers across various divisions, such as Kelly Kaleda, Stacey Martens, Dr. Lindy Lutz, and Linda Armstrong, along with contracting officers Amber Taylor and Ashlee Green.
The opportunity is open until September 30, 2027. Awards will be made as funding becomes available and may be made at any time during the open period. This call does not include an immediate award component and only solicits white papers during the current phase. Interested parties are encouraged to consult the CHEERS Industry Guide and MAA for full details on technical scope, submission structure, and review criteria.
Submitting a white paper is mandatory to be invited for full proposal; do not submit full proposal uninvited; review CHEERS MAA and Industry Guide thoroughly.
