The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Munitions Directorate has released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) titled "Air Delivered Effects" (BAA Number FA8651-22-S-0001) under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 12.800. This BAA remains open for five years from its initial posting and supports research in Basic Research (6.1), Applied Research (6.2), and Advanced Technology Development (6.3). It is structured in two parts: the Basic Open BAA, which accepts white papers at any time, and the Call BAA, which periodically issues specific topic solicitations via SAM.gov and Grants.gov. Offerors are advised to consult with technical points of contact before submission.

The purpose of this BAA is to solicit innovative research proposals in the field of air-delivered munitions. The objectives span a wide range of scientific, engineering, and technological areas relevant to air-delivered effects and the future needs of the Department of the Air Force. These include, but are not limited to, weapon airframe systems, sensors, guidance systems, fuzes, warheads, navigation, modeling and simulation, autonomy, cybersecurity, and education outreach related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Funding through this BAA is anticipated to total no more than $750 million over its duration. The exact amount available for any given research topic is unspecified and will vary by individual Calls. Types of funding instruments include contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions, with cost reimbursement contracts like Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) being commonly expected. No inherent funding is attached to the Basic Open BAA. Deliverables and reporting requirements will vary by award, but commonly include technical reports, data, and potential hardware.

The BAA is open to a broad range of applicants including educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and private industry. Small businesses are especially encouraged to participate. However, eligibility is subject to compliance with certain U.S. government regulations, such as export control and security clearance for classified work. Some awards may require a SECRET facility clearance and adherence to technical data rights and software licensing provisions.

Submission under the Basic Open BAA begins with a required white paper, which should not exceed five pages. This two-step process involves an initial white paper submission and, if favorably reviewed, a request for a full proposal. Evaluation of submissions will consider technical merit, cost realism, and potential for transition of research to government use. Calls under the Call BAA will outline specific submission requirements and deadlines. Offerors must monitor SAM.gov and Grants.gov for updates.

Proposals are evaluated without discussions unless necessary. Criteria include uniqueness, feasibility, technical merit, cost, and associated risks. Evaluations are categorized as Highly Recommended, Selectable, or Not Selectable. Awards may be delayed or declined based on Security Risk Reviews and other factors, including compliance with recent federal policy on foreign government talent programs and cybersecurity standards.

Important contacts for this BAA include technical points of contact listed by research area, and business/contracting contacts Amy Fortenberry and Pam King-Hasberry. Questions and correspondence should always reference the BAA number and specific research area of interest.