FY25 Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Office-Wide Broad Agency Announcement

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) has issued an Office-Wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), N00421-25-S-0001, for fiscal year 2025. This opportunity is administered by the NAWCAD Enterprise Procurement Support Division (A2161000) and is intended to support basic and applied research, advanced technology development, and prototype projects that can enhance the mission capabilities of the U.S. Navy. The BAA is not a request for technical or engineering support services, but rather a means of advancing scientific and experimental efforts relevant to naval aviation and warfare capabilities. The funding opportunity is governed by FAR 6.102(d)(2) and 35.016, DFARS 235.016, and 2 CFR §200.203, as well as 10 U.S.C. §§4021 and 4022 for Other Transaction Agreements (OTs). The program supports research across a broad array of technical domains, such as advanced manufacturing, aeromechanics, AI/machine learning, autonomy, avionics and sensors, cyber, digital engineering, hypersonic systems, materials science, human systems integration, mechanical and propulsion systems, quantum technologies, and secure communications. High-priority research areas include AI/ML, autonomy, cyber, digital engineering, quantum, and secure communications and networks. Research that advances understanding in these areas or proposes innovative prototype systems will be considered. The opportunity is open to projects that are directly relevant to enhancing the mission effectiveness of DoD personnel or improving defense systems. Eligible proposers include a wide spectrum of entities: U.S. and foreign academic institutions, small and large businesses, non-profits, and other organizations. While the opportunity is open to all qualified proposers, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), DoD and other federal agency labs, and Navy laboratories are not eligible for direct funding under this BAA, though they may participate as team members. University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) may apply unless specifically restricted by their DoD contracts. Proposers must comply with export control laws and safeguarding requirements related to controlled unclassified information (CUI), and fundamental versus non-fundamental research distinctions are clarified in alignment with DoD policy. Submissions follow a two-phase process. In Phase I, proposers submit a white paper outlining the technical concept, future naval relevance, and a rough cost estimate. White papers may be submitted any time until June 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Only those selected after review will be invited to submit a full proposal under Phase II. Proposers should address specific areas of interest and may not submit a general response covering multiple areas. The white paper must follow formatting and submission guidelines, including a page limit of three pages (excluding cover), and must be submitted via email to one of two specified addresses depending on proposer type (academia or other organizations). Evaluation criteria include the technical approach, relevance to the NAWCAD and Navy mission, and cost realism. Multiple awards are expected, but the number and value of awards will depend on the merit of submissions and availability of funds. The BAA supports a range of award mechanisms including procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and OTs, with the contracting officer holding sole discretion on the award instrument. Grants and cooperative agreements will follow 2 CFR Part 200 and applicable DoD terms and conditions. The anticipated funding levels vary, and awards made through the NAWCAD Strategic Education Office have historically ranged between $160,000 and $200,000 for periods of up to 24 months. Cost sharing is not required but may be encouraged in specific cases such as OT agreements for prototypes. For technical questions, proposers may contact Stephanie Gleason at Stephanie.L.Gleason2.civ@us.navy.mil. Business inquiries may be directed to Elisabeth Keith at Elisabeth.A.Keith.civ@us.navy.mil or Joanne Hall at Joanne.M.Hall16.civ@us.navy.mil. White paper submissions must be sent to NAWCAD-Academia-BAA@us.navy.mil for academic institutions, and NAWCAD-Industry-BAA@us.navy.mil for all others. The announcement remains open through June 22, 2026, and the full BAA, including appendices on submission requirements for each award type, can be accessed through SAM.gov or Grants.gov using opportunity number N00421-25-S-0001.

Submit a white paper tailored to a specific area; general or misrouted submissions will be rejected