The United States Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) has released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), numbered W911NF-23-S-0010, valid from May 1, 2023, through April 30, 2028. This funding opportunity is issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground, Research Triangle Park Division, and seeks proposals for basic, applied, and advanced scientific research that support Army readiness and effectiveness through innovative behavioral and social science studies. ARI functions as the Army’s principal organization for advancing behavioral and social science research, with a mission to improve personnel, organizational systems, and leader development efforts.
The scope of the funding covers a broad range of topics. For basic research, areas of interest include the measurement of individuals and groups, multilevel organizational dynamics, behavior in military environments, and learning and development throughout military careers. Applied and advanced research targets include holistic personnel assessment, talent management analytics, leadership competencies in complex settings, team assignment and performance, and technological fluency. Research can be conducted through grants, cooperative agreements, procurement contracts, technology investment agreements (TIAs), and other transaction authorities (OTs). The funding instrument used will depend on the proposed work and the nature of collaboration required. Awards will be subject to availability of funds and programmatic priorities.
This is a continuously open announcement; applications may be submitted at any time during the five-year period. Interested applicants are encouraged to first consult with ARI technical points of contact listed in Section II.A of the announcement. The submission process is recommended to follow three stages: contact the TPOC or area-specific ARI Manager, submit a white paper, and—if encouraged—submit a full proposal. White papers may be up to six pages with bios of key personnel, and are used to determine the likelihood of receiving an award. Full proposals must follow strict formatting and include detailed technical and cost volumes. Proposals must be submitted via email for contract proposals or through Grants.gov for assistance agreements.
Eligibility is broad and includes institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and foreign entities, although restrictions may apply for security or policy reasons. Government laboratories, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and U.S. Service Academies may not participate as prime awardees but may be included through direct military interdepartmental agreements. Cost sharing is not required for most award types, although it may be necessary for TIAs or OTs.
Proposals will be evaluated on scientific merit, relevance to ARI’s mission, qualifications of the team, and cost realism. There is no set limit for award size or number, and funding levels are subject to budget constraints. Applicants are expected to adhere to federal regulations governing research ethics, such as human subjects protections, animal welfare, and conflict of interest disclosures. For questions or proposal submissions, applicants can contact the ARI program office at usarmy.rtp.devcom-arl.mbx.baa@army.mil. Specific technical contacts are also provided within the full announcement for topic-specific inquiries.
Submit a white paper first. Follow exact format guidelines. Must have active SAM registration.
