FAA Aviation Research BAA 692M15-25-R-00004: Executive Summary for Startups

Executive Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Research Broad Agency Announcement, solicitation number 692M15-25-R-00004, is a long-running open call for applied and basic research that advances aviation safety. It is sponsored by the Aviation Research Division at the William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace in Atlantic City, New Jersey. White papers are accepted on a rolling basis, and the BAA remains open through December 4, 2034 unless it is terminated sooner or a topic is removed. Amendment 012, issued September 29, 2026, adds four new topics covering cybersecurity for autonomous airport ground vehicles, pilot decision-making training, nationwide pilot training data, and a pilot operational decision-making aid. There are now 15 active topics, with published project budgets ranging from about $100,000 per year to as much as $1.2 million per project.

Solicitation at a Glance

Solicitation number: 692M15-25-R-00004 (Amendment 012)

Full title: Broad Agency Announcement, Aviation Research 2025

Agency: Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace (Atlantic City, New Jersey)

Opportunity type: Broad Agency Announcement issued under the FAA Acquisition Management System (49 USC 106(l) and (m))

Latest amendment: Amendment 012, September 29, 2026

White papers due: Rolling, through December 4, 2034 or until a topic is removed

Response time: The FAA aims to respond within 60 calendar days of receiving a white paper

Funding: Roughly $100,000 to $1.2 million per project depending on topic; several topics set the budget based on the work proposed

Period of performance: Typically 12 to 36 months; no topic accepts efforts longer than 3 years

Award types: Purchase orders, contracts, agreements, or Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs); Firm Fixed-Price awards are preferred for initial phases

Set-aside: None. Open to industry, small businesses, universities, HBCUs, minority-serving institutions, and research organizations

NAICS code: 5417, Scientific Research and Development Services

Submission method: Email to the topic's Technical Point of Contact, with 9-ACT-AAQ-600-BAA@faa.gov copied

What Is the FAA Aviation Research Division?

The Aviation Research Division at the William J. Hughes Technical Center conducts applied research and development with industry, academia, and government to solve current and future air transportation challenges. It runs five program branches: Fire Safety, Airport Technology R&D, Software and Systems, Structures and Propulsion, and Separation Standards Analysis. Research results feed directly into FAA Advisory Circulars, certification guidance, design and evaluation software such as FAARFIELD and BAKFAA, and training material for the FAA workforce.

This BAA is the standing channel for outside organizations to bring research ideas to the FAA. It is open for ten years from December 5, 2024, and the FAA adds and removes topics through amendments. The FAA may also issue "Calls" on SAM.gov when it has a more urgent need in a specific topic area.

How This BAA Differs From SBIR and STTR

Many startups first encounter federal R&D through SBIR and STTR. This BAA works differently, and understanding the differences helps you plan.

• It is not a small business program. There is no set-aside, so startups are evaluated alongside universities, large companies, and research institutions.
• There are no phases. There is no Phase I or Phase II structure. Each topic publishes its own estimated budget and period of performance.
• It is a two-step process. You submit a white paper first. If the FAA is interested and funding is available, it requests a full proposal.
• Proposals are judged on their own merits. The FAA does not rank proposals against others in the same research area.
• Awards are often Other Transaction Agreements. The FAA has historically used OTAs for this BAA, which can offer more flexible terms than traditional contracts.

The 15 Topics of Interest: What the FAA Is Looking For

Every white paper must name the specific topic number and title it responds to. Topics marked as new were added in Amendment 012.

Airport Pavements (ARAP)

ARAP0010: Rational Overload Criteria for Airport Pavements in the ACR/PCR Method. Develop engineering-based criteria for occasional overloads on flexible and rigid pavements, drawing on full-scale test data from the National Airport Pavement Test Facility, suitable for the PCR module of FAARFIELD. Up to 3 years; ROM not to exceed $200,000 per project, per fiscal year.

ARAP0012: Engineering Analysis of Field Monitoring and Instrumentation Data. Improve pavement design, construction, and management using data from instrumented operational airports, including AI/ML, pavement instrumentation, signal processing, materials characterization, and remote data collection. Budget and duration set by proposal; multiple white papers welcome.

ARAP0013: Enhancement of Airport Pavement Layer Backcalculation Software (BAKFAA). Build faster, more accurate models for characterizing asphalt and concrete from Heavy and Falling Weight Deflectometer data, including machine learning or advanced search methods that run in real time or near real time. Up to 3 years; ROM not to exceed $200,000 per project, per fiscal year.

ARAP0014: Advancing Pavement Condition Assessment Practices for Airport Pavements. Compare emerging inspection methods with the ASTM D5340 standard on coverage, accuracy, repeatability, resource needs, and compatibility with pavement management programs. Non-proprietary approaches only. About $250,000 per project, per fiscal year; 12 to 36 months.

ARAP0015: Advancing Concrete Strength Evaluation for Airport Pavement Design and Construction. Explore alternatives or supplements to flexural beam testing, methods for estimating cracking-related properties, and continuous strength measurement for decisions such as early opening. Non-proprietary approaches only. $100,000 to $300,000 per project, per fiscal year; 12 to 36 months.

Airport Safety (ARAS)

ARAS0014: Cybersecurity Concerns with Autonomous Ground Vehicle Systems (AGVS) in the Airport Environment. (New) Applied research on identifying vulnerable system components, validating operational AGVS, preventing and detecting cyberattacks, and safely recovering from a successful attack. Covers self-driving tugs, jet bridges, baggage carts, shuttles, mowers, and perimeter inspection vehicles, plus their command and control systems and field devices. Up to 12 months.

Structures and Materials (ARSM)

ARSM0001: Structural Integrity of Metallic Components. Identify data sources, capabilities, and methods that support FAA risk assessment for metallic structures on transport category airplanes under the Monitor Safety/Analyze Data (MSAD) process in FAA Order 8110.107B. Budget and duration set by proposal.

Structures and Propulsion (ARSP)

ARSP0001: Nickel Anomaly Fatigue Testing. Low-cycle fatigue testing of premium wrought nickel alloy specimens containing subsurface melt anomalies such as "dirty white spots," with baseline testing, fractography, metallography, and a teaming plan with engine manufacturer experts. About 24 months; ROM approximately $350,000.

ARSP0002: Hydrogen Aviation Safety Research. Four research areas: hydrogen leak detection, hydrogen dispersion modeling and simulation, hydrogen risk assessment and mitigation, and integration of hydrogen-powered aircraft into the National Airspace System. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged. Up to 36 months; ROM not to exceed $650,000 per award.

Software and Systems (ARSS)

ARSS0003: Integrated Flight and Propulsion Control for Rotorcraft. Data to support airworthiness criteria for multi-rotor, powered-lift, and eVTOL vehicles, covering stability, control bandwidth, performance, failure modes, system integration, and automation that backs up the pilot. Up to 3 years; budget set by proposal.

ARSS0008: Complex Digital Systems. Assurance and verification methods for AI/ML and autonomy in safety-critical airborne systems, including formal methods, assurance cases, explainability, diverse specifications, and large language models for classifying latent risk. Up to 3 years; ROM not to exceed $400,000 per project, per fiscal year.

ARSS0009: Future of Oversight. New concepts for performance-based and Safety Management System (SMS) based oversight, future oversight workforce needs, measures of oversight effectiveness, and lessons from other regulated industries. Up to 3 years; budget set by proposal.

ARSS0010: A Training Framework for Reducing Pilot Decision-Making Errors. (New) Academic and simulator-based training modules that expose pilots to realistic decision-making errors and teach mitigations, built for Part 121 carriers and extendable to Parts 135, 91K, and 61. About 24 months; ROM up to $910,000.

ARSS0011: Improving Airline Safety Using Nationwide Pilot Training Data. (New) A voluntary, privacy-conscious framework for collecting de-identified flight simulator training data, with standardized data structures, governance, objective performance metrics, and cross-airline benchmarking. About 36 months.

ARSS0012: Pilot Operational Decision Making Aid. (New) Research and test a structured tool that gathers information scattered across flight manuals and handbooks to support pilot decisions in complex situations, with testing on B-737 and A330 simulators. Responses that rely heavily on AI will be viewed less favorably. About 24 months; ROM up to $1.2 million.

Funding Allowance: What Startups Should Expect

Funding is set topic by topic. Some topics publish a firm ceiling, some publish an approximate figure, and some leave the budget entirely to the proposal. In practice:

• Your ROM must match the topic. The white paper's Rough Order of Magnitude cost should be consistent with any dollar value the topic lists and with the scope you propose.
• Many topics are funded annually. Several pavement and software topics cap funding per fiscal year, and continuation after each milestone is at the FAA's discretion.
• Partial awards are possible. The FAA may negotiate an award for only part of a proposal if funding is limited.
• Firm Fixed-Price is preferred for initial phases, and the FAA may change the award type during negotiation.
• Cost sharing is allowed on a cost reimbursement basis with no fee, if your accounting system can support it.

Timeline and Key Dates

December 5, 2024: BAA opened for white papers.

September 29, 2026: Amendment 012 added ARAS0014, ARSS0010, ARSS0011, and ARSS0012.

Anytime: White papers may be submitted on a rolling basis, or in response to a specific Call posted on SAM.gov.

Within about 60 days of submission: The FAA aims to respond, and may request a technical and cost proposal.

December 4, 2034: The BAA expires unless terminated sooner. Awards may still be made after expiration if the white paper was received before that date.

Because topics can be removed by amendment at any time, earlier submissions carry less risk.

How to Apply

Step 1: Contact the Contracting Officer

The FAA strongly encourages applicants to email 9-ACT-AAQ-600-BAA@faa.gov with "Question for the CO" in the subject line before writing, to confirm interest in the proposed effort and whether funding is available. Technical questions go to the topic's Technical Point of Contact (TPOC), and discussions with the TPOC about your white paper are permitted.

Step 2: Submit a White Paper

A white paper is required before any proposal. Offerors who submit a proposal without first submitting a white paper may not be eligible for award.

• Maximum of 5 pages, single sided, single spaced, Times New Roman 12 point, in Word or PDF
• The ROM cost estimate does not count toward the 5 pages
• State the topic number and title in the document and in the email subject line
• Email to the topic TPOC with 9-ACT-AAQ-600-BAA@faa.gov on the cc line

Each white paper must cover the purpose of the research, the research method and how its validity will be demonstrated, the expertise of each team member and any aviation industry partners or endorsements, the current state of development, a proposed timeline, testing and evaluation procedures, and a good faith ROM cost including any fee.

Step 3: Submit a Full Proposal (By Invitation)

If invited, you will receive a Request for Proposal with specific instructions. Proposals are submitted as three separate files, sent only to 9-ACT-AAQ-600-BAA@faa.gov without copying the TPOC:

• Cover letter on company letterhead with the topic, UEI, business type, place and period of performance, estimated cost, proposed award type, and an authorized signature
• Volume I, Technical: up to 25 pages covering background, objectives, feasibility, methodology, technical uncertainties, program management, key personnel resumes (up to 3 pages each, not counted), conflicts of interest, subcontracting, past performance, and intellectual property
• Volume II, Price/Cost: up to 10 pages with costs broken down by task and cost element, plus a funding profile

Proposals should remain valid for at least 180 days.

How Proposals Are Evaluated

Proposals go through peer review and technical feasibility assessment. They are judged on their own merit and relevance, not ranked against other proposals in the same area. The FAA considers:

• Scientific and technical merit: The overall quality and soundness of the proposed research.
• Mission relevance: Potential contribution to the FAA Aviation Research mission.
• Team competency: The experience and capability of the people doing the work.
• Project plan: An effective plan for completing the project.
• Risk: Technical and implementation risk.

Cost is not scored, but the FAA analyzes it for completeness, reasonableness, realism, magnitude, and affordability, including the cost impact of any intellectual property restrictions you assert.

Registration Requirements

Offerors cannot receive an award without an active SAM.gov registration, and Certifications and Representations must be completed there. The cover letter also requires your SAM Unique Entity ID. Registration can take several weeks, so startups without an active registration should begin now. Foreign-owned companies must submit disclosure information for an eligibility review.

A Note on Intellectual Property

Proposals must include a representation of ownership or licensing rights for all intellectual property used, and a list of any technical data or software to be delivered with restricted rights. If you do not submit that list, the FAA assumes it has unlimited rights. Awardees must deliver all technical data and software developed under the award, including source code. Startups should decide early what they will protect and mark it correctly.

Is This BAA a Good Fit for Your Startup?

This BAA tends to fit startups and research teams with a clear technical approach to a real FAA safety or certification problem. Strong candidates include companies working on:

• Airport pavement engineering, sensors, instrumentation, and materials testing
• Cybersecurity for autonomous vehicles and connected ground systems
• Hydrogen sensors, fuel systems, dispersion modeling, and hydrogen infrastructure
• Advanced air mobility, eVTOL, and powered-lift flight controls
• AI/ML assurance, formal methods, and safety-critical software
• Aviation human factors, pilot training, flight simulation, and safety data analytics
• Aerospace metallurgy, fatigue testing, and structural integrity

It is a weaker fit for companies whose main goal is validating a proprietary product, since several topics exclude that, and for companies that need a large, guaranteed award on a fixed timeline.

Strategic Tips for Startup Applicants

• Ask the Contracting Officer first. A short inquiry about interest and funding can save weeks of effort on a topic with no budget.
• Mirror the topic language. Use the topic's terminology and connect your work to the specific FAA guidance, software, or standard it is meant to improve.
• Lead with quality, not length. The FAA states that quality matters far more than quantity, and weak white papers may be declined without further review.
• Show industry support. White papers must describe aviation industry interest, endorsements, or partners, so line up letters or teaming partners early.
• Keep the ROM realistic. Match the topic's published range and tie costs to tasks and milestones.
• Watch for new Calls and amendments. Topics are added and removed regularly, and Calls can signal urgent FAA priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FAA Aviation Research BAA 2025?

It is the FAA's Broad Agency Announcement 692M15-25-R-00004, an open call from the William J. Hughes Technical Center for applied and basic research that advances aviation safety across airport pavements, airport safety, structures and materials, propulsion, hydrogen safety, and software and systems.

What is the deadline for the FAA Aviation Research BAA?

White papers are accepted on a rolling basis. The BAA is open through December 4, 2034, unless it is terminated sooner or a specific topic is removed by amendment.

How much funding is available?

Funding varies by topic. Published estimates range from about $100,000 per project per fiscal year for pavement topics to as much as $1.2 million per project for the Pilot Operational Decision Making Aid topic. Several topics set the budget based on the work proposed.

What topics were added in Amendment 012?

Amendment 012, issued September 29, 2026, added ARAS0014 Cybersecurity Concerns with Autonomous Ground Vehicle Systems in the Airport Environment, ARSS0010 A Training Framework for Reducing Pilot Decision-Making Errors, ARSS0011 Improving Airline Safety Using Nationwide Pilot Training Data, and ARSS0012 Pilot Operational Decision Making Aid.

Can startups and small businesses apply?

Yes. The BAA has no set-aside and is open to industry, small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, universities, HBCUs, minority-serving institutions, and research organizations. Teaming arrangements are welcome.

Is the FAA Aviation Research BAA an SBIR or STTR program?

No. It is a Broad Agency Announcement issued under the FAA Acquisition Management System. It has no phase structure and no small business eligibility requirement, and awards are often made as Other Transaction Agreements.

How long can a white paper be?

White papers may not exceed 5 pages, single sided, single spaced, in Times New Roman 12 point font. The Rough Order of Magnitude cost estimate does not count toward the page limit.

How do I submit a white paper?

Email the white paper to the Technical Point of Contact listed for your topic and copy 9-ACT-AAQ-600-BAA@faa.gov, with the topic number and title in the subject line. The FAA recommends first emailing the same mailbox with "Question for the CO" in the subject line to confirm interest and funding.

How long does it take to hear back?

The FAA aims to respond within 60 calendar days of receiving a white paper, but may take longer. It may respond by requesting a technical and cost proposal.

How are proposals evaluated?

Proposals are peer reviewed on scientific and technical merit, relevance to the FAA Aviation Research mission, team competency and experience, the project completion plan, and technical and implementation risk. Cost is analyzed for reasonableness and affordability rather than scored.

What type of award will the FAA make?

Awards may be purchase orders, contracts, agreements, or Other Transaction Agreements. The FAA has historically used Other Transaction Agreements for this BAA and prefers Firm Fixed-Price awards for initial research phases.

What registrations are required?

You must have an active SAM.gov registration with completed Certifications and Representations to receive an award, and your SAM Unique Entity ID is required in the proposal cover letter.

Get Help With Your FAA White Paper

BW&CO helps deep-tech, aerospace, and dual-use startups pick the right FAA topic, frame the Contracting Officer inquiry, write focused five-page white papers, and build compliant technical and cost proposals, including intellectual property assertions and OTA terms. With more than $350M in non-dilutive funding secured for our clients, we make innovation funding simple.

With rolling submissions and topics that can be removed at any time, the best time to start is now. Book a free strategy call to see if your technology fits.