CHIPS Research and Development Office (CRDO) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

The U.S. Department of Commerce, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and its CHIPS Research and Development Office (CRDO), has released Broad Agency Announcement 2025-NIST-CHIPS-CRDO-01. This funding opportunity seeks to support research, prototyping, and commercialization efforts that advance U.S. leadership in microelectronics technology. CRDO is tasked with implementing portions of the CHIPS and Science Act and aims to grow domestic innovation, strengthen supply chains, and ensure U.S. global competitiveness in critical and emerging technologies. These areas include semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology and biomanufacturing, commercialization of innovation, and standards development. The announcement underscores the importance of accelerating the pace of commercialization, addressing supply chain vulnerabilities, and reinforcing national and economic security. The program allows for a maximum project performance period of up to five years. Awards under this opportunity will take the form of other transaction (OT) agreements in accordance with 15 U.S.C. § 4659(a)(1). Projects must demonstrate relevance to advancing domestic capabilities in advanced microelectronics and related fields. Awardees may be required to provide a return on investment to the government, which can include equity, warrants, licenses to intellectual property, royalties, or revenue sharing. The agency emphasizes that budgets should be a minimum of $10 million and must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. While cost sharing is not required, CRDO may choose to fund only a portion of a project’s costs if the recipient can show access to sufficient resources to complete the project. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations, accredited institutions of higher education, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and federal entities such as departments and agencies. Applicants must be domestic entities, defined as those organized under U.S. law with a principal place of business in the United States. Individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not eligible. Subawardees may include all eligible applicants, as well as foreign partners not otherwise prohibited by law, subject to compliance with security and national interest restrictions. Federal entities and FFRDCs interested in applying are advised to first consult with CRDO to determine the most appropriate funding mechanisms. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov under the funding opportunity number 2025-NIST-CHIPS-CRDO-01. Paper submissions will not be accepted. The process requires the submission of a White Paper, which will be reviewed for eligibility, completeness, and technical merit. White Papers deemed sufficient may receive invitations to submit a more detailed Pre-negotiation Package, including technical and cost proposals. Submissions will be reviewed according to their contributions to national and economic security, scientific and technical merit, feasibility, commercial viability, and financial viability. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until September 30, 2029, unless an earlier closing date is announced. Additional administrative and national policy requirements apply to awards under this program. These include compliance with statutes governing intellectual property protections, domestic production requirements, restrictions on funding foreign entities of concern, and disclosure obligations under National Security Presidential Memorandum-33. Reporting requirements will be detailed in individual award agreements and are expected to include financial, performance, and technical updates. The CRDO also requires applicants to provide plans for transitioning federally funded innovations to commercial viability and ensuring domestic production capabilities. CRDO offers an informational webinar to provide general guidance on preparing submissions and to answer non-proprietary questions regarding the opportunity. Applicants can direct questions to research@chips.gov with “2025-NIST-CHIPS-CRDO-01 Questions” in the subject line. Technical assistance for Grants.gov submissions is available by calling 800-518-4726 or by emailing support@grants.gov. The agency encourages applicants to monitor both Grants.gov and the NIST website for updates and amendments to the BAA. Awards will be made on a rolling basis as proposals are reviewed and negotiated.