ERDC Broad Agency Announcement

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) intended to support research and development activities across a wide array of scientific and engineering disciplines. ERDC operates several laboratories located throughout the United States, including the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL), the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL), the Environmental Laboratory (EL), and the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) in Vicksburg, Mississippi; the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in Hanover, New Hampshire; the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) in Champaign, Illinois; and the Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL) in Alexandria, Virginia. These facilities conduct research in areas ranging from geotechnical and structural engineering to environmental sustainability, computer science, telecommunications, and beyond. The purpose of this BAA is to solicit pre-proposals for research projects that align with ERDC’s diverse mission. Projects supported under this opportunity may include, but are not limited to, work in hydraulics, dredging, coastal engineering, instrumentation, oceanography, remote sensing, geotechnical and earthquake engineering, military engineering, protective structures, aquatic plant management, hazardous waste treatment, and information technology. Additionally, the scope of eligible research includes land conservation, energy, environmental processes, and infrastructure for military and civil applications. This makes the opportunity particularly broad and inclusive, catering to a variety of scientific disciplines and innovative approaches. There are no stated restrictions on eligible applicants, making the opportunity open to a wide range of entities including educational institutions, nonprofits, private companies, and other organizations. According to the notice, no cost sharing or matching is required for participation, simplifying the financial entry point for prospective applicants. The announcement emphasizes that while funding availability may affect the number of awards in each research area, proposals are welcomed year-round across all topic areas of interest. The submission process for this grant is uniquely flexible. Pre-proposals can be submitted at any time during the open period. These pre-proposals undergo review on a rolling basis, offering applicants the benefit of potential early feedback. Applicants interested in this opportunity are directed to visit the ERDCWERX platform for more detailed information on research topics and submission guidelines: https://www.erdcwerx.org/u-s-army-engineer-research-and-development-center-broad-agency-announcement/. This platform provides critical updates and further instructions on engaging with ERDC’s research priorities. Evaluation of proposals is likely to consider alignment with ERDC’s research objectives and the innovative potential of the proposed work. While detailed review criteria are not specified in the synopsis, the open-ended nature of the announcement suggests a focus on scientific merit, applicability, and potential impact. With an award ceiling of nearly $1 billion, this opportunity has the capacity to support both small-scale exploratory studies and large, multi-year collaborative projects. The current closing date for applications is January 1, 2027, with an archive date of January 31, 2027. Given that this is a continuously open announcement with a rolling submission mechanism, it allows substantial flexibility for organizations and researchers to prepare thoughtful, high-quality proposals. The primary contact for the opportunity is Allison Hudson, who can be reached at 601-634-5337 for questions or issues accessing the full announcement online.