ERDC Broad Agency Announcement

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) issues its annual Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to solicit fundamental and applied research proposals. This BAA reflects ERDC’s commitment to advancing science and engineering in areas of strategic importance to the Department of Defense (DoD) and broader national interests. ERDC operates through multiple specialized laboratories across the U.S., including the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, Environmental Laboratory, Information Technology Laboratory, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, and Geospatial Research Laboratory. These labs conduct interdisciplinary research spanning hydrology, environmental science, geospatial analytics, military engineering, IT, cold-region sciences, and infrastructure systems. This BAA invites proposals addressing a vast range of research domains. These include but are not limited to coastal and inland waterway engineering, sediment transport, infrastructure sustainability, cold-weather engineering, energy systems, remote sensing, ecological restoration, and AI/ML applications in hydrologic modeling. The announcement emphasizes exploratory research that can evolve into transformative technologies and methodologies, improving military capabilities and civil works missions. The BAA is not tied to specific deliverables or hardware development but instead supports exploratory and experimental projects. Research awards may include contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other funding mechanisms depending on project scope and government involvement. Proposals are accepted from academic institutions, non-profit organizations, for-profit entities, and others capable of carrying out the proposed research. The ERDC encourages participation from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions (HBCUs/MIs), small businesses, and veteran-owned organizations. Eligibility restrictions apply to Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and U.S. government entities, which must demonstrate unique capabilities not available in the private sector and submit appropriate authorization documentation. Submissions begin with a white paper or pre-proposal, accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. These are reviewed continuously. White papers should detail the proposed research's relevance to ERDC priorities, the technical approach, qualifications of key personnel, and budget estimates. If the concept aligns with ERDC interests and available funding, the organization may be invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposal preparation includes rigorous technical content, a detailed cost breakdown, and compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation guidelines. Evaluation criteria include scientific merit, innovation, relevance to ERDC mission areas, technical feasibility, and qualifications of the research team. The BAA remains open until superseded and does not contain a fixed application deadline. It is considered a standing opportunity for research collaboration with ERDC, subject to availability of funds in specific research areas. Awards resulting from this announcement are considered the outcome of full and open competition. No specific cost-share or matching requirement is mentioned, and funding amounts vary based on the project’s nature and scope. Contacts for this opportunity include Christopher Barnett and Robyn D. Wells at ERDC Contracting Office. Additional information, including research topic details and white paper submission instructions, is available through the ERDCWERX portal at https://www.erdcwerx.org/u-s-army-engineer-research-and-development-center-broad-agency-announcement/.