The Army Research Office is seeking proposals under the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911NF-25-S-0001 for the Department of Army Energetics Basic Research Center (EBRC), for Fiscal Year 2025. This opportunity is primarily aimed at advancing the field of energetic materials (EM) and is intended to enhance the Army's capabilities in range and lethality through novel research and materials. The focus of this funding opportunity includes developing new energetic materials and methods, exploring the influence of microstructures on energy release, and improving diagnostic and modeling approaches.

The BAA emphasizes the importance of basic research that contributes to enhancing lethal effects and minimizing payload limitations in current weapon systems, which supports the Army's goal of achieving dominance in Multi-Domain Operations. Applicants are required to target their research proposals to one of the key technical thrusts: novel materials and synthesis methods, the influence of microstructure and geometry on energetic release, or advanced diagnostics and modeling. The research should be innovative, aiming at discovering new synthesis methodologies, developing scalable synthesis techniques, and addressing current knowledge gaps regarding energy release mechanisms.

The application process under this BAA is conducted in two stages. Initially, applicants are required to submit a four-page whitepaper that outlines the proposed research’s innovation, scientific approaches, relevance to the Army, and potential impact. Only the most promising whitepapers will be invited to submit a full proposal. Only those invited by the government after the whitepaper stage are eligible to submit a detailed proposal for funding consideration.

Funding under this BAA is provided under Funding Area Two, also known as the "Seedling" funding area. Awards under this area are expected to foster collaboration between the awarded projects and the ongoing research under the previously awarded Funding Area One to Purdue University. The Seedling awards are expected to range from $60,000 to $250,000 per year, with typical awards in the range of $120,000 to $180,000 annually. There is a preference for awarding cooperative agreements to ensure maximum interaction and collaboration between the government and the researchers.

Eligibility for this BAA is open to institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, and for-profit entities in the United States or its territories. No cost sharing or matching is required, and proposals will be evaluated based on scientific merit, alignment with the Army's mission, and the qualifications of the proposed team. A total of approximately $1 million per year is expected to be available for multiple Seedling awards.

Whitepapers must be submitted by January 6, 2025, and successful whitepapers will be invited to submit full proposals by February 14, 2025. Full proposals are due by April 7, 2025, and awards are expected to be announced around June 1, 2025.