Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), part of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), manages the basic research investment for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. Its mission is to discover, shape, and champion fundamental research within AFRL, universities, and industry laboratories, ensuring scientific breakthroughs transition to meet Air Force and Space Force needs. AFOSR maintains a balanced portfolio of revolutionary research that enables both military and commercial innovation. This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the U.S. Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program solicits unclassified, non-proprietary proposals across a broad range of scientific disciplines, focusing exclusively on fundamental research. Approximately $200 million in Congressional appropriated funding is anticipated to support awards under this BAA, subject to availability of funds. Research proposals are typically funded between $100,000 and $300,000 annually, with most awards lasting three years and a maximum duration of five years. Requests exceeding $10 million will not be considered. Awards may be made as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, technology investment agreements, or other transactions. The number of awards is not predetermined; funding depends on the quality of proposals received. Proposals may be submitted at any time while the announcement remains open, and some specific research topics may recommend submission by particular dates. AFOSR organizes its research into two primary branches: Engineering and Information Sciences (including Engineering and Complex Systems, and Information and Networks) and Physical and Biological Sciences (including Physical Sciences, and Chemistry and Biological Sciences). Each area contains multiple specialized portfolios managed by program officers. These portfolios address topics such as high-speed aerodynamics, propulsion and power, computational mathematics, quantum information sciences, materials for extreme environments, cognitive neuroscience, and many more. Each portfolio description outlines its program objectives, focus areas, and preferred proposal development process. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate program officer before submitting a full proposal, often with a short summary or white paper describing the research concept, scientific significance, current state of the art, intended advances, estimated budget, and timeframe. Eligibility is open to a wide range of entities, including institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, tribal organizations, small businesses, and individuals. There are no geographic restrictions; this opportunity is available nationwide. Cost sharing or matching is generally not required unless specified in specific topic instructions. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award. Proposals must be submitted electronically, typically through Grants.gov, and must comply with the content, format, and submission requirements detailed in the BAA. Review criteria include the scientific and technical merit of the proposal, the potential to advance knowledge in relevant fields, and the qualifications of the proposer. Proposals undergo evaluation by scientific experts and may involve discussions with AFOSR program officers. Awards are contingent on successful negotiations and compliance with applicable administrative and policy requirements. This announcement remains open until superseded, allowing submission at any time, but applicants should be aware of program-specific recommended windows for inquiry and submission. The BAA includes detailed contact information for each program officer. General inquiries about the announcement can be directed to Procurement Analysts Jennifer Brown or Daniel Smith at afosr.baa@us.af.mil. The full announcement, including portfolio descriptions, requirements, and contact information, is available in the official PDF posted on Grants.gov.