Boosting Innovative GEOINT - Science Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BIG-ST BAA)

The Boosting Innovative GEOINT - Science & Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BIG-ST BAA) is an initiative led by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), a component of the U.S. Department of Defense. The NGA plays a critical role in providing geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) that supports national security. This funding opportunity, identified under Funding Opportunity Number HM047623BAA0001, seeks to leverage scientific research and technological innovation to solve complex challenges in the GEOINT field. The BIG-ST BAA operates under the assistance listing 12.630, which covers basic, applied, and advanced research in science and engineering. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to solicit groundbreaking ideas from a wide range of eligible applicants that address hard problems in GEOINT. Submissions must align with one or more of the technical domains outlined by the NGA, including: (1) Foundational GEOINT, (2) Advanced Phenomenologies, and (3) Analytic Technologies. These domains encompass a wide variety of potential topics from improving geospatial models and data integration, to advancing new sensing technologies and developing cutting-edge analytic tools. The BAA is structured to attract novel concepts that have the potential to significantly improve U.S. GEOINT capabilities. Rather than accepting submissions on a rolling basis, this opportunity operates through a series of discrete "Topic Calls." These Topic Calls are published under the umbrella of the BIG-ST General Solicitation and are announced on federal websites such as Sam.gov, Grants.gov, and the Classified IC-Acquisition Research Center. Each Topic Call includes its own submission deadlines, proposal requirements, and thematic focus. Abstracts and full proposals are only reviewed in response to open Topic Calls—submissions to the General Solicitation itself are not accepted. Interested applicants must monitor the relevant platforms for updates and new Topic Calls. As of the latest update (April 1, 2026), Topic 6 titled "Magnifying University Science Expertise 2 (MUSE 2)" remains open and is restricted to grant applicants only. While the abstract submission period for Topic 6 closed on March 31, 2026, the full proposal deadline may still be forthcoming and should be confirmed through the related documents available on Grants.gov. Previous topics have either been closed or canceled, including Topic 1 (GFM), Topic 2 (MUSE), Topic 3 (VLBI+G), and Topic 4 (RF-COP), which was canceled. The BIG-ST BAA General Solicitation document has also gone through several revisions, with the latest version (Revision 3, dated April 25, 2025) governing Topic 5 and beyond. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad. According to the announcement, all responsible sources capable of meeting the government's requirements are encouraged to apply. This includes a wide array of entities, such as academic institutions, nonprofits, and commercial organizations. However, each Topic Call may introduce specific restrictions, particularly when classified materials are involved. Accessing some Topic Calls may require a login and approved credentials for the Classified IC-ARC platform. While no matching funds are required, applicants should follow all specific instructions detailed in each Topic Call, including proposal formatting, required documentation, and submission portals. For additional support, applicants encountering access difficulties or needing clarification are directed to contact OCS Grants via the provided unclassified email. The overall deadline for the BIG-ST BAA General Solicitation is December 14, 2026, and the archive date is December 15, 2026.