The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has announced a funding opportunity to establish a University Center of Excellence (uCoE) focused on Compositional Optimization, Dynamical Systems, and Control (CODAC). This initiative aims to foster a collaborative research environment involving top-tier academic institutions in the United States. The center will address the critical research needs of the United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Space Force (USSF) through unclassified basic and applied research in the CODAC domain. The effort is spearheaded by multiple technical directorates of AFRL, including the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Information Directorate (RI), the Autonomy Capability Team (ACT3), and the Munitions Directorate (RW).

The objective of the CODAC uCoE is to advance joint optimization and decision-making methodologies relevant to defense technologies. This program will support foundational and applied research (budget codes 6.1 and 6.2), targeting areas of high strategic priority for the USAF and USSF. The collaboration is envisioned as a partnership with one or more leading U.S. educational institutions, facilitating cross-disciplinary research that integrates optimization, control theory, and dynamical systems.

This funding opportunity will offer a single award with a grant ceiling of $5,750,000 and a floor of $500,000. The funding instrument is a grant, and there is no requirement for cost sharing or matching funds. The program falls under the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program, specifically assistance listing 12.800, and supports activities in science and technology, as well as research and development.

Eligible applicants are categorized as "Others," and the announcement notes that further details are provided within the full opportunity text, which should be reviewed for specific eligibility clarifications. Generally, the expectation is that applicants will be universities or consortia of universities with the capability to lead significant research in the specified fields.

The grant notice was originally posted on January 21, 2025, and has been updated as of April 7, 2025. The original application deadline of April 7 has been extended, with the current closing date now set for April 21, 2025. Applications must be submitted by this date. The opportunity is not offered on a rolling basis. The announcement does not specify if it is recurring or provide dates for future cycles.

The point of contact for this opportunity is Elizabeth Burzenski, who serves as the Grants Officer. Applicants experiencing issues accessing the full announcement electronically are advised to contact her via the provided grantor email address.