Continuing Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS) Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA)
Executive Summary:
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Human Effectiveness Directorate (AFRL/RH) and the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) are awarding up to $1 billion in total funding under the CHEERS Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) to support U.S. companies, universities, and research partners advancing technologies that enhance human performance, resilience, and health in aerospace and defense environments.
White papers are accepted through September 30, 2027, and proposal invitations are issued on a rolling basis. Companies should submit white papers as soon as possible in order to have the highest likelihood of funding.
How much funding would I receive?
Funding is project-dependent and determined by the technical approach propose. Typical awards will range from $300,000 to $5,000,000.
What could I use the funding for?
Funding can used for the full range of R&D activities from basic and applied R&D to prototype and experimental testing. See a list of focus areas below:
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Activities within the 711HPW are organized into research areas which are categorized based on the technology readiness level (TRL). Product lines focus on advanced technology development and identifying paths for technology transition while the CTC’s and CRA’s focus on basic research through early applied research. Each division further breaks down the research into Lines of Effort (LoE) or Product Area (PA) for each CTC or PL, respectively. Descriptors of PL, CTC and CRA are provided below:
Product Line (PL): An organizational construct within the Airman Systems Directorate for engineering and transition of technology to the Department of the Air Force and Department of Defense. A Product Line organizes and manages inter-related technology demonstrations and transition paths for Airman Systems Directorate technologies at late applied and advanced technology development stages. The product line may integrate research and engineering tasks across several CTCs within AFRL.
Core Technical Competency (CTC): CTCs represent the technical foundation that is difficult to duplicate and allows AFRL to provide unique technical leadership. They span basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development encompassing the people, information, facilities, equipment, and programs allowing AFRL to solve critical AF and national security problems.
Core Research Area (CRA): A subset of the Core Technical Competencies within the Airman Systems Directorate. CRAs represent a focused group of basic and early applied research, focused on investigating revolutionary, higher risk concepts. The CRAs mature new foundational technologies and transition promising research to product lines of the organization.
Airman Biosciences (RHB)
Aerospace & Operational Medicine PL1: Matures and transitions aeromedical knowledge, technology, and materiel solutions in force health protection, human health and performance, and aeromedical evacuation & enroute care in order to enable, sustain, enhance, and restore operational and aeromedical health and human performance for Airmen executing Air Force missions across all operational domains. Objectives focus on generating high performance Airmen and Guardians through medical availability, enhancing joint combatant commander capabilities, and maximizing human capital and strategic resources by aligning resources to strategic and workforce development. The goal is to transition products that address validated AF/AFMS requirements by focusing on stakeholder engagement to ensure clear demand signals and to create and maintain extensive partnership network to ensure rapid execution and flexibility.
Air & Space Austere Environment Patient Transport (En Route Care) PA1: Advances combat casualty care in the air through biomedical research into interventional strategies and technologies that mitigate the risks for additional insult due to aeromedical evacuation. Transitions promising Science and Technology (S&T) into knowledge and material products that promote the recovery and return to duty of injured or ill service members, from point of injury back to definitive care. Research within this program includes but is not limited to ground medical operations in agile combat employment, autonomous care of patient movement, and optimization of patient movement.
Air & Space Force Health Protection (FHP) PA2: Medical development and biomedical technology investments seek to deliver an improved FHP capability across the full spectrum of operations with research that prevents injury/ illness through improved identification and control of health risks. Under FHP, subproject areas include Occupational Hazard Exposure (Includes Flight Hazards and Integrated Risk), Targeted Risk Identification, Mitigation and Treatment (Formerly Pathogen ID and Novel Therapeutics and includes Big Data), FHP Technologies Development and Assessment (Assay and disease detection), and Health Surveillance, Infection, Injury & Immunity. FHP also includes Innovations and Personalized Medicine. Operational medicine is focused on in garrison care – our next most critical issue post OIF/OEF – and how to care for the whole patient and consideration of comorbidities in treatment of wounded warriors and dependents.
Biotechnology for Performance, Research, and Demonstration PL2: Develops and delivers capabilities to enhance human performance in near-peer conflict. Objectives focus on modular systems that integrate with warfighting platforms and maintaining and enhancing end-user engagement to ensure relevance and realism all while working in close sync with DoD and external partners to deliver high value solutions. The goal is to build momentum for Wearable technology, continue to develop and advocate for human assessment & tracking, strategically plan for product usage in austere environments, and expand on current platform products to develop and connect capabilities with operational challenges.
Airman Sensing & Assessment PA1: Develop and demonstrate advanced prototype products that integrate physiological, cognitive, behavioral, and environmental sensing capabilities with validated analytics, assessments, and intervention capabilities to sustain and enhance air and space operator performance.
Human Performance Augmentation & Development PA2: Develop and deliver capabilities to enhance human performance in near-peer conflict by focusing on modular systems that integrate with warfighting platforms. Working in close sync with DoD and external partners to deliver high value solutions to maintain and enhance end-user engagement to ensure relevance and realism.
Air & Space Physiology, Medicine, and Human Performance (HP) PA3: Enables, sustains, and optimizes performance of Airmen through elevation and alleviation of health effects associated with AF operational missions. Addresses operational environments such as the mitigation of stress in AF personnel, to include aircrew, care providers, aircraft maintainers, intelligence, surveillance and cyber operators, as well as remote piloted aircraft operators. Research within this project includes but is not limited to airman performance and readiness, advancing air and space medicine, and medical operator performance digital engineering. Advanced technology development to enable, sustain, and optimize cognitive, behavior and physiologic performance in highpriority career fields for the United States Air Force (USAF) and in multidomain operations. The sub-project areas include cognitive and physiologic performance under operational and environmental stressors, detection and improvement of physiological performance, and safety via sensor systems and targeted conditioning, which includes training techniques for optimal performance. This project also develops and demonstrates technologies which ingest health status monitoring data to provide scalable situational awareness of individual, unit, and group medical readiness in support of command and control and develops strategies to mitigate performance limitations through physical, pharmacological/non-pharmacological, or behavioral medical interventions and/or technological augmentation.
Medical and Operational Biosciences CTC1: Develops, validates, and enhances medical and operational biosciences and emergent biotechnologies for transition into advanced development products in the Air and Space operational environment to lead to a highly resilient and medically ready force. These products can sense, assess, sustain, and segment warfighter physiological-cognitive performance in multi-domain operations. Deliverables will be enhancing and researching new technologies and concepts to sustain, augment, and restore the multi-domain Airman & Guardian Health and Performance. Customers, end-users, and stakeholders include the DHP and DAF 6.3 programs and product lines: Human Performance/Medical Readiness, Force Health Protection, and En Route Care as some of the primary users.
Biotechnology for Health and Performance CRA1: The Biotechnology for Health and Performance CRA utilizes multivariant, systems biology approaches to provide advanced science and technology solutions to understand the warfighter’s biologic state and the underlying mechanism of responses with the goal of enabling, enhancing, and sustaining the human's ability to dominate air, space and cyberspace.
Applied Cognitive Neurosciences CRA2: Develops and validates technologies in cognitive neuroscience and physical performance to sustain, augment, and recover operator performance and determine medical attributes/metrics for optimal career field alignment.
Health and Performance Sensing and Assessment CRA3: Develops sensing technologies in a variety of form factors to identify, validate and monitor human signatures related to Airmen's and Guardians’ health, exposures and physical/cognitive performance in their associated environments. The research from this CRA will develop sensing solutions optimized for real-time, noninvasive and autonomous sensing and assessing capabilities to enhance and protect Airmen and Guardians in a variety of operational environments.
Biomedical Impact of Air and Space CRA4: Conducts research investigating Airman and Guardian performance degradation resulting from exposure to air and space environments and seek understanding the fundamental mechanisms driving environmental and operational risks. Develop technologies to mitigate or eliminate the root physiologic causes of these degradations and to ultimately optimize Airman and Guardian performance resulting in the capability to fly faster, higher, and longer than our adversaries.
Bioeffects (RHD)
Bioeffects PL: Creates and demonstrates developmental technology & tools to generate products/applications. These products provide optimized design requirements for weapon systems & personal protection device developers, risk and collateral hazard assessments for directed energy systems, and analysis libraries for the representation of humans as part of model-based systems engineering approaches and within engineering-level models of system performance, informing overall system performance impacts and adding fidelity to concepts in wargames. Approaches include the integration of components in engagement and mission-level simulation tools within USAF and DoD software architectures, and model-based systems engineering artifacts to enable future integration and technology transition. Key technologies include directed energy bioeffects systems characterization and risk assessment, directed energy bioeffects components of modeling and simulation tools, and human representation in digital engineering.
Bioeffects CTC1: The Bioeffects CTC will conduct research to enable the maximum safe exploitation of the electromagnetic spectrum for nation defense by protecting personnel & communities and assessing weapons applications. CTC research will focus on characterizing fundamental bioeffects, optimizing the safety/effectiveness of directed Energy systems, developing/assessing dosimetry tools, modeling & simulation of products/applications, protecting device development and providing science-based information to national & international safety standards.
Directed Energy Bioeffects Modeling, Simulation, & Analysis CRA1: The directed energy bioeffects modeling, simulation, & analysis core research area emphasizes research that focuses on new modeling, simulation, and analysis techniques which represent and optimize concepts of directed energy systems employment from the bioeffect standpoint, develops capabilities for studies and means of measuring of effectiveness and suitability for directed energy systems to include direct, scalable, and collateral effects. Research areas include highperformance/ high-fidelity multi-physics simulations, advanced electromagnetic dosimetry models, mechanistic theories & models of injury, thermal/thermoregulatory response models, physics-to-physiology color vision theory, component models of human response to directed energy, statistical approaches for risk assessment, near-real-time numerical approaches and surrogating complexity through machine learning.
Directed Energy Bioeffects Modeling Simulation & Analysis LOE1: Develop and mature physics & engineering-level models for directed energy dosimetry & the resulting biological effects; create algorithms encapsulating empirical datasets & physics-level models of directed energy dose response; supports directed energy modernization campaign and enables the Directed Energy Weapons Review and Approval (DEWRAP) process.
Directed Energy Bioeffects Dosimetry LOE3: Develop novel dosimetry to better understand directed energy interactions and injury to inform software approaches enabling simulation of dynamic scenarios; supports directed energy modernization.
Directed Energy Bioeffects & Mechanisms CRA2: The directed energy bioeffects & mechanisms CRA provides fundamental knowledge of mechanisms of interaction of directed energy with molecules, cells, tissues, and organs in support of military directed energy systems and enables future weapon systems with scalable, disruptive, and ultra-precise effects. Research areas include: discovery science for understanding mechanisms, neurobiological & behavioral response to directed energy, hardening of biological targets to directed energy, mechanistic response of human vision to directed energy, epigenetic response to directed energy exposure, membrane and ion channel response to rapid onset exposures, supra-threshold response – severity of effects, and human factors in technologies for protection.
Research in Directed Energy Multi-Interaction Systems LOE2: Develop and deliver an integrated modeling environment and studies to address critical national defense interests & prevent technological surprises. Study radio frequency, combined or synergistic responses, and their interaction with biology.
Directed Energy Hazard & Protection Assessment LOE4: Feedback & expertise for DoD to optimize safety/performance trades for directed energy systems; evaluation of dose-response of directed energy exposures to achieve specific endpoint; understand human vision response to optical radiation and related protective devices; elucidate margin of effectiveness and safety to meet DoD mission success. Assure no technology surprise.
Directed Energy Weapon Effects LOE5: Feedback & expertise for DoD to optimize safety/performance trades for directed energy systems & provide scientific basis for risk criteria definitions; Allows directed energy weapon modernization & enables review and approval processes for weapons systems.
Warfighter Interactions & Readiness (RHW)
Airman-Machine Integration PL1: Delivers advanced, situationally-adaptive and scalable interface technologies and decision aiding tools. S&T is focused on ABMS compliant, intuitive user interfaces, and intelligent aided decision support to provide rapid, accurate battlefield awareness, maximized distributed human-machine team performance and decision superiority. Operator-centric interfaces increase human combat capabilities while managing human cognitive workload in complex, degraded environments. Key technologies include human-autonomy collaboration and trust in autonomy, development of successful distributed, heterogeneous teams with metrics of team performance, exploitation of human perception and enhancement of operational communication. These efforts address the critical needs for ABMS and JADC2 with optimal human-machine teams ready to operate.
Readiness PL2: Develops and extends technologies and tools for improving the cognitive effectiveness, performance and proficiency of airmen in current and potential future operational mission contexts. Aims to deliver operationally relevant, unobtrusive, integrated metrics, software, & hardware to assess proficiency & readiness in real-time. Develops methodologies to create models & algorithms for performance prediction, training support, & automated instruction. Key technologies include the ability to support multi-capable airmen resilience and mission performance in austere deployed contexts and develop standards for sharable scenario content, data, models, & metrics.
Analytics PL3: Identifies & matures software that streamlines workflow & enables cognition at the scale of war, enabling airmen effectiveness in the air, space, & cyberspace domains for effective C2ISR in Multi-Domain Operations. Develops analytic tools that optimize human cognition with the power of machine computation, thereby enabling consumers to better visualize, interpret, and act on information. Aims to deliver software that is open-architecture, modular, networked, and distributed; able to leverage statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence; and focuses on speed, accuracy, insight, and action.
Warfighter Interfaces and Teaming CTC1: The Warfighter Interfaces and Teaming CTC will conduct research to enable robust decision superiority across our Air and Space Forces by dynamically optimizing the integration of Warfighter cognition with increasingly complex and intelligent machines/systems, creating maximally effective and resilient warfighting teams. CTC research will focus on discovering, developing, evaluating, and transitioning advanced adaptive warfighter interface technology, mission-optimized distributed team performance enhancements, communication management processes, and context-tailored intelligent decision aids/analytics in order to achieve and maintain decision superiority in uncertain environments against peer threats.
Distributed Teaming and Communication CRA1: The Distributed Teaming & Communication CRA emphasizes research that explores the rapid formation, real-time assessment, and dynamically optimized performance of distributed heterogeneous teams of warfighters as well as human-machine teams in order to enable rapid, agile & robust mission operations. Research areas will include: methods to enable the rapid formation of mission-effective heterogeneous teams, dynamic monitoring / assessment of team performance via optimal assemblage of novel and existing metrics, adaptive tactics for recovery from real or predicted team performance degradations, and novel distributed communication & collaboration tools, technologies and management methods that are responsive to variable network environments.
Dynamic Team Performance Assessment LOE1: Enable the rapid formation, real-time assessment, and dynamically optimized performance of distributed heterogeneous teams of warfighters as well as human-machine teams in order to enable rapid, agile & robust mission operations. Research areas include methods to support the rapid formation of mission-effective heterogeneous teams, dynamic monitoring of team performance via optimal assemblage of novel and existing metrics, and real-time contextual aids from team communication.
Team Optimization and Recovery LOE2: Design, develop, and evaluate team optimization and recovery technologies to enhance communication, coordination, and improve decision making among distributed teams. Research areas include interfaces to support joint tasking and team shared awareness (SA) across multiple domains as well as conversational AI technologies to enable high bandwidth natural communications.
Human Machine Interactions CRA2: The Human-Machine Interactions CRA emphasizes research to identify principles of human interaction with highly complex systems, including advanced automation & increasingly intelligent AI enabled machines. The goal of this research is to achieve and sustain decision superiority across complex & uncertain mission environments. Research areas include identifying, characterizing and overcoming key challenges to warfighter interactions with complex and intelligent systems such as situationally-adaptive interface design and usability, knowledge representation across sensory modalities, system observability & transparency, directability, joint cognitive decision making, and maintaining calibrated trust across changing conditions.
Rapid Joint-Cognitive Awareness LOE1: To develop human-centric interfaces and interaction strategies for improved AI/automation transparency, closed-loop adaptive systems that are responsive to warfighter state, and advanced techniques for effectively visualizing large, complex data sets.
HMI-enabled Decision Superiority LOE2: To develop capabilities for continuous planning for C2, next generation interfaces for complex intelligent platforms, and interfaces tailored for emerging Cognitive Warfare (CogWar) concepts.
Human Learning and Cognition (HLC) CTC2: The Human Learning and Cognition CTC enables more lethal Air and Space Forces through research on human multisensory perception, learning, information processing, and action. The research seeks to maximize mission effectiveness by (1) Establishing a persistent, global training and test ecosystem that creates the foundation for personalized, proficiency-based readiness for multi-capable Airmen and Guardians in joint all-domain operations, (2) Creating capabilities that allow teams of humans and machines to adapt and learn together in real time in training and operational settings, & (3) Advancing considerations of human performance in system development and operational planning with digital models of perception, cognition, & action.
Digital Model of Cognition CRA1: The Digital Models of Cognition Core Research Area emphasizes research to identify computational and mathematical mechanisms to represent human perception, information processing, and behavior, including the integration of models that reflect the role of internal and external factors that modulate performance efficiency and effectiveness. The goal is to develop holistic models that support quantitative understanding and prediction of mission effectiveness across domains and at different levels of abstraction for improved systems engineering, wargaming, and operational planning.
Holistic Models for Decision-Making LOE1: Develop models of cognitive systems that support quantitative understanding and prediction of mission effectiveness for decision superiority.
Information Mastery in Cognitive Warfare LOE2: Analytic methods, models, and tradecraft that enables operators to improve Information-Related Capability (IRC).
Learning and Operational Training CRA2: The Learning and Operational Training Core Research Area emphasizes learning and understanding in the context of evolving technology. This includes research to establish an ecosystem that maximizes mission effectiveness while minimizing costs by matching technologies to learning and performance needs; supporting high resolution human and system measurement and quantitative, proficiency-centric readiness assessment and prediction at the individual and team levels; and exploring how to enable human and machine co-learning to support mutual adaptation and understanding in human-machine teams.
Warfighter Learning Technologies LOE1: Research, demonstrate, & transition learning technologies, methods, & infrastructure for personalized, proficiency-based readiness.
Co-Learning for Adaptive Human and Machine Teams LOE2: Establish the foundation for interactive learning and collaborative training of humans and AI-enabled machines to enable uniquely effective human-autonomy teams.
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Aerospace Medicine and Physiology
Aerospace Physiology: Solutions relating to physiologic assessment of aircrew in high altitude Fighters/Trainers.
Assessments of the physiologic response to exposures and stressors from the fighter/trainer environment; can cover any of the following: including effects of fluctuating pressure, high O2, air quality, breathing resistance, thermal burden, dehydration, rest/sleep (physical fatigue), cognitive fatigue, Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) integration (how AFE impacts in-flight physiology, and how AFE components interact with each other to impact physiology and aircrew performance), and combined stressors on performance and decision making in ground-based testing and operational environments, including the analysis of potential countermeasures to optimize pilot performance and eliminate sources of risk.
Solutions to sustain Aircrew performance in extreme environments.
Conduct comprehensive technology assessments of the current military health system simulators that can monitor and track physiologic responses from training student pilots.
There is a strong demand for wearables that are cross compatible across multiple systems to collect physiologic data, that are reliable and validated in the operational environment. Offerors are to conduct a comprehensive technology assessment of commercial off the shelf products, including their suitability for use in the operational environment and their validated measurement capabilities, to help aid aircrew and decision makers on what can be flown in the aircraft and what can be accurately collected from those sensors.
Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention and Treatment for Aircrew and Maintainers: Neck and back pain is a known occupational hazard for the high-performance aircraft community. The government seeks solutions, including tools to prevent, reduce, screen and diagnose musculoskeletal condition as well as alternative/integrative medicine approaches, for prevention or treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. Proposed solutions shall focus on providing reliable measurements to determine platform-specific neck/back dysfunction and improvements due to embedded care.
Gender-specific operational aircrew considerations
Assessment, modeling, detection, and/or mitigation Aircrew and Operator fatigue
Precision Medicine and Medical Standards: Development of solutions relating to the following areas:
Surveillance of conditions, indications, clinical practice guideline adherence, and outcomes to support cost benefit analyses for Air Force population.
Genomics for mishap investigations (gene expression, subtracting human and molecular autopsy).
Studies providing data to support evidence-based aerospace medicine standards and waivers.
Psychological Performance and Mental Health (solutions should relate to at least one of the following areas)
Mental health and psychological disorders amongst airmen and potential influence on readiness and retention.
Neurocognitive diversity; cognitive testing and correlates with mental health and other outcomes.
Assessment of the feasibility of integrating the use of personality data and wearable technology to facilitate adjustment and success during career specific training. Personality assessments and wearables both as tools to facilitate readiness via positive change, wellbeing, and performance by increasing self-awareness.
Public Health and Preventative Medicine
Development, optimization, and validation of pathogen detection methodologies
Cancer analysis in the Air Force population
Development and evaluation of prototypes that can identify carcinogenic toxins or hazardous materials associated with military flight operations from shipboard or land bases or facilities.
Development and evaluation of prototypes that can identify exposures to ionizing radiation and nonionizing radiation from which airmen could have received increased radiation amounts.
Establishment of guidelines for carcinogen exposure as it relates to demographics for each airman to include duty stations, duties and aircraft flow.
Establishment of guidelines that outline the duties and potential exposures of airmen that are associated with higher incidence of cancer.
Development and evaluation of screening tools and/or methods that relate to carcinogen exposure to airmen.
Assess methodologies to prevent wound infection.
Assess infectious disease conditions in Air Force populations.
Occupational Medicine and Bioenvironmental Engineering
Enhancement of capabilities to detect, measure, and assess occupational and environmental health hazard contaminants and extreme environmental conditions.
Assess technologies to enhance capabilities to detect and identify chemical, biological, toxins, radiological, directed energy, poisons and physical hazards on surfaces (including soil and powder), in liquids and in the air in near real-time at the detector's point of operation and notify end user of risk.
Assessment of Aviation-Specific Exposures
Develop, test and evaluate real-time health threat surveillance and reporting system inclusive of all available health information/databases to identify risks/outbreaks and provide decision support to operational commanders.
Evaluation/development of mitigation technology capable of reducing or eliminating occupational and environmental health hazard risks.
En Route Care/Expeditionary Medicine/Prolonged Field Care: Needs in this area include medical capabilities to support in route care to/from remote, austere settings, and in extreme environments.
Training methodologies to improve operational readiness for individuals and teams responsible for delivering basic and advanced en route care capabilities within the aeromedical evacuation system.
Technology assessment/development to support the Air Force Surgeon General’s medical modernization priorities with a focus on modernizing outdated technologies and techniques to promote en route care growth/preparation for future peer/near-peer conflicts involving mass casualty care.
Education and training technologies and methodologies to support efforts to generate, develop, and maintain skillsets across the AOME.
Applications of data science to analyze medical and operational data and outcomes across the AOME, which may include implementation of AI and machine learning to answer operationally relevant questions.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
Beyond direct funding, CHEERS participation offers significant indirect advantages for growth and strategic positioning:
Government Validation and Credibility:
Selection under AFRL’s CHEERS program signals strong technical merit and alignment with Department of the Air Force human performance priorities—an endorsement that enhances your credibility with defense primes, OEMs, and investors.
Enhanced Market Visibility and Notoriety:
Awardees benefit from exposure in federal announcements, AFRL communications, and defense industry press—raising visibility and positioning your company as a trusted innovation partner in the human-performance and aerospace ecosystem.
Ecosystem Access and Collaboration Opportunities:
CHEERS projects operate within a national network that includes top-tier military researchers, AFRL directorates, and medical readiness centers. This access often leads to future R&D partnerships and contracting opportunities.
Stronger Exit and Acquisition Potential:
By advancing your technology with nondilutive support and demonstrating government-backed validation, companies can increase valuation and strengthen their position for acquisition or strategic investment by defense and medical technology leaders.
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
White Paper Deadline: Rolling through September 30, 2027. This means applicants should apply as soon as possible before funds are fully expended.
Review Period: Technically 180 days for AFRL to review white papers - but it could also be reviewed faster.
Proposal Invitation: AFRL will invite full proposals only from offerors whose white papers align with Air Force needs.
Proposal Deadline: Defined in each Request for Proposal (RFP).
Award Timing: Awards are issued once funds become available; no awards are made until funding is confirmed.
Where does this funding come from?
Funding is issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) under the following authorities:
Open Period 1: 10 U.S.C. 4001 / FAR 35.016 (Broad Agency Announcement).
Open Period 2: 10 U.S.C. 4023 (Procurement for Experimental Purposes).
These authorities allow AFRL to fund both research contracts and prototype agreements, depending on project maturity and experimental needs.
Who is eligible to apply?
Open to U.S. companies, universities, and research organizations.
Foreign participation is allowed subject to export and security controls.
Cost sharing is not required.
Offerors may submit multiple white papers, provided each represents a distinct technical approach.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
Offer innovative, defense-relevant solutions that measurably enhance warfighter performance, medical readiness, or operational resilience.
Demonstrate clear technical feasibility, transition potential, and sound risk mitigation.
Show strong alignment with AFRL’s human effectiveness and medical research priorities.
Have experienced teams capable of performing under experimental or prototype authorities.
Evaluation criteria (in descending order of importance):
Uniqueness and innovation.
Understanding of scope and technical approach.
Technical soundness and team qualifications.
Transition potential.
Cost realism and value.
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Export Control: Some projects may require U.S. or Canada Joint Certification (DD 2345).
Human/Animal Subjects & Hazardous Materials: Approval requirements vary by project and will be outlined in each solicitation.
S&T Protection: AFRL’s Science and Technology protection and OPSEC rules apply.
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive white paper + full proposal will likely take 120–200 hours in total.
How can BW&CO help?
Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:
Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development
Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations
Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.
How much would BW&CO Charge?
Our full service support is available for the White Paper for $3000. Full proposal quoted upon invitation.
Fractional support is $300 per hour.
For startups, we offer a discounted rate of $250 per hour to make top-tier grant consulting more accessible while maintaining the same level of strategic guidance and proposal quality.
Additional Resources
View the Funding Announcements: