The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) has released CALL 05 under the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA8651-22-S-0001 titled "University Day 2025". This solicitation, issued on May 14, 2025, specifically targets U.S. universities, prioritizing those that do not currently maintain a contractual or grant-based relationship with AFRL/RW. Nonetheless, all U.S. academic institutions are eligible to apply. The primary intent is to fund short-term seedling research projects in the area of cutting-edge technological advancements that align with AFRL’s objectives.
Two specific research areas are open for proposal submissions under this CALL. Research Area 2 (RA 2) focuses on "Bioprincipic Systems (Sensors, Processing, Control, and Materials)", while Research Area 17 (RA 17) addresses "Weapon Autonomy and Control Technology Research". Applicants must choose only one research area for each proposal submission. The overarching goal is to assess potential technical quality, feasibility for future partnerships, and the expected return on investment from these university-led efforts.
AFRL/RW anticipates awarding five to six projects, each receiving between $75,000 and $100,000. The awards are structured as grants and are expected to commence on June 23, 2025. The duration of each project is twelve months, with ten months dedicated to research and two months for compiling the final report. Cost-sharing or matching is not required. Proposals will undergo a security risk review in compliance with AFRL Instruction 61-113 and other related guidelines. Covered Individuals, defined as senior or key research personnel, must complete and submit the necessary disclosure and consent documentation.
All proposals must be submitted by 3:00 PM CST on May 21, 2025. Proposals should be sent either through Grants.gov or via email to afrl.afrl.rwkbaacallsworkflow@us.af.mil, with a notification sent to the same email address upon Grants.gov submission. Questions regarding the proposal process were due by April 29, 2025. A detailed Statement of Objectives (SOO) must accompany each submission, and proposals will be judged based on technical merit, innovation, feasibility, and transition potential to meet government needs. Only highly ranked submissions will be invited to a virtual pitch day, which could result in same-day awards.
The evaluation process includes a three-tiered categorization of proposals—Highly Recommended, Selectable, and Not Selectable—based on technical soundness, innovation, and the potential for future government integration. Contact for proposal submissions is Adam Noffke (afrl.afrl.rwkbaacallsworkflow@us.af.mil), and technical questions can also be addressed to Program Manager Tonya Savage (tonya.savage.1@us.af.mil). Key documents, such as the overarching BAA, required security forms, and appendices, are available on SAM.gov and Grants.gov.
