Collective Judgment Formation-Collaborative Research Alliance

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has announced the Fiscal Year 2024 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the Collective Judgment Formation Collaborative Research Alliance (CJF CRA), under solicitation number W911NF-24-S-0010. The initiative seeks groundbreaking research in the area of human-agent collaboration to advance decision-making capabilities in intelligence activities. The program focuses on creating foundational understanding and scientific advancements in collective judgment formation involving human teams and artificial intelligence (AI) agents. The CJF CRA aims to address challenges in processing and analyzing vast volumes of multi-modal, multi-source data for high-confidence decision-making in intelligence contexts. Research under this BAA is expected to improve human-agent collaboration, mitigate biases, and enhance team decision-making while maintaining awareness of the evolving capabilities and limitations of AI systems. By fostering collaboration across academia, industry, and government, this effort is expected to contribute to the state of the art in fields such as psychology, computer science, and data science, with potential applications beyond military and intelligence domains. ### Funding Scope and Use The program consists of three primary Technical Areas (TAs): 1. **TA1** - Social Science Theories for Human-Agent Systems: This area seeks to develop and test theories related to biases, cognitive processes, and group dynamics in human-agent interactions. 2. **TA2** - Computational Models: Focuses on developing formal computational models and intelligent systems to improve collective judgment formation and team performance. 3. **TA3** - Testing, Evaluation, and Transition: Involves designing and running experiments using scalable testbeds to evaluate the effectiveness of human-agent systems. Funding is anticipated to support one award per TA, with a base period of three years for TA1 and TA2, plus a two-year option, and a five-year contract structure for TA3. Cooperative agreements are preferred for TA1 and TA2 to enable collaboration, while TA3 will operate under a contract. Total funding allocations and submission requirements are detailed in the solicitation. ### Eligibility and Priorities Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit entities within the U.S. Proposals must focus on fundamental research, and each submission should address only one TA. White papers are mandatory for TA1 and TA2, with strong encouragement for TA3, to allow early government feedback. Collaboration between academic disciplines and alignment with ARL’s objectives is a priority, with special consideration for research that contributes to the public domain. ### Submission Requirements and Application Process Applicants must submit a white paper by September 25, 2024, and full proposals by November 21, 2024. White papers are limited to seven pages, including a cover page, technical content, and biographical sketches. Submissions must outline the scientific innovation, anticipated impact, and team composition, emphasizing relevance to intelligence activities. Full proposals will require detailed project descriptions, budgets, and compliance with federal regulations. ### Evaluation Criteria and Timeline Proposals will be evaluated based on scientific merit, potential impact on intelligence analysis capabilities, and the qualifications of the research team. Key dates include a virtual Proposers Day on September 4, 2024, and notifications of award decisions by December 19, 2024. The program intends to begin execution of awards in February 2025. ### Important Dates - **Proposers Day (Virtual):** September 4, 2024 - **White Paper Submission Deadline:** September 25, 2024, by 3:00 PM EDT - **Full Proposal Submission Deadline:** November 21, 2024, by 3:00 PM EST - **Anticipated Award Notification:** December 19, 2024 - **Program Start Date:** February 2025 For additional information, applicants may contact the government through the designated email or visit the relevant websites listed in the solicitation. The BAA emphasizes the importance of innovation, collaboration, and a multidisciplinary approach to advance human-agent systems and enhance decision-making processes in complex operational environments.