ERDC Broad Agency Announcement

The Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) soliciting research and development proposals across a wide array of scientific and engineering disciplines. ERDC is a premier research institution encompassing multiple specialized laboratories located throughout the United States, including the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL), Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL), Environmental Laboratory (EL), Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), and the Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL). These labs conduct research to support both military and civil missions, covering topics from infrastructure resilience and environmental restoration to cybersecurity and materials science. This BAA invites innovative proposals under a cooperative agreement funding mechanism and is structured to support research across numerous fields such as hydrology, dredging, geotechnical engineering, environmental modeling, advanced computing, and the development of nature-based infrastructure solutions. Specific research areas include but are not limited to military hydrology, sediment transport, ecological forecasting, biogeochemical processes, and AI/ML applications in environmental modeling. The ERDC encourages multi-disciplinary approaches and is particularly focused on projects that advance the state of science and engineering while aligning with mission-critical objectives of the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. This opportunity is continuously open, with no pre-set deadline for pre-proposal submission. Proposals can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Pre-proposals are strongly encouraged before submission of full proposals, and applicants are referred to the ERDCWERX website for submission instructions and detailed information on research topics. The funding opportunity emphasizes collaboration with universities, non-profit institutions, and private industry, and also encourages participation from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions (HBCUs/MIs), as well as small and disadvantaged businesses. Full proposals selected for funding will be subject to peer or scientific review and must comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Uniform Guidance. Awards may take the form of cooperative agreements, grants, or contracts, depending on the specifics of the proposed research and level of government involvement. The BAA outlines procedures for both pre-proposal and full proposal preparation and evaluation, with distinct criteria used to assess scientific merit, relevance to ERDC research needs, and cost-effectiveness. Applicants must ensure that proposals clearly specify if research is fundamental in nature and demonstrate eligibility, particularly if representing Federally Funded Research and Development Centers or government entities, which face specific statutory limitations. The ERDC International Research Office (IRO) based in London also supports proposals that promote international collaboration in research areas aligned with ERDC's priorities. The current closing date for application submissions is January 1, 2027, with awards contingent upon availability of funds. Contacts for proposal support include Zavien Beal (601-634-3962) and Julian Richmond (for international proposals). This announcement supersedes all previous versions and will remain in effect until replaced by a new issuance.