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:

• Airman Systems Directorate (RH)

  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.

• United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM)

  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?

1. Open to U.S. companies, universities, and research organizations.

2. Foreign participation is allowed subject to export and security controls.

3. Cost sharing is not required.

4. 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.

1. Demonstrate clear technical feasibility, transition potential, and sound risk mitigation.

2. Show strong alignment with AFRL’s human effectiveness and medical research priorities.

3. Have experienced teams capable of performing under experimental or prototype authorities.

Evaluation criteria (in descending order of importance):

1. Uniqueness and innovation.

2. Understanding of scope and technical approach.

3. Technical soundness and team qualifications.

4. Transition potential.

5. 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:

• Continuing Human Enabling Enhancing Restoring and Sustaining (Master Announcement)

• CHEERS Open Period 1 - All Technical Areas

• CHEERS Open Period 2 - All Technical Areas

DARPA Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Office-Wide BAA

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) is offering funding for revolutionary research across microelectronics, photonic circuits, quantum systems, biological/organic circuits, advanced manufacturing ecosystems, and dual-use microsystems. Multiple awards are anticipated, with no predefined funding limits. Abstracts are accepted until January 15, 2026, and proposals until March 2, 2026.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding amount is flexible. DARPA anticipates multiple awards, and efforts may span basic research (6.1), applied research (6.2), or advanced technology development (6.3). Proposers can also elect an Accelerated Award Option for awards under $2 million with 30-day award timelines.

What could I use the funding for?

Research areas of current interest to MTO include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Quantum circuits

  1. Interconnect technologies for transferring quantum states between qubit platforms

  2. Generalizable improvements for processing chain for all types of quantum sensors

  3. High density low loss mixed signal transfer between room and quantum temperatures

• Biological circuits

  1. High throughput molecular readers for full spectrum sequencing

  2. 3-dimensional bio-templated self-assembly of microsystems

  3. Highly-parallel DNA writing platforms for long DNA writes for genome-scale complexity with low error

• Photonic circuits

  1. Applications for purely photonic circuits not realizable in electronic circuits

  2. Chip scale photonics for ultralow noise microwave sources

  3. Tunable chip scale ultrafast (<10 ps) lasers

  4. Fiber-inspired ultralow loss integrated photonics

• Manufacturing Ecosystem

  1. Litho- and etch-free direct nanoscale semiconductor manufacturing

  2. Low-loss high permeability/permittivity materials

  3. High density cryogenic-to-room-temperature interconnects

  4. Atomically precise, multi-chemistry molecular manufacturing technologies

  5. Energy reclamation from low-grade waste heat

  6. Reconfigurable multiscale manufacturing for onshore manufacturing

• Dual Use by Design

  1. All-weather long distance high bandwidth communications

  2. Commercially relevant tool development challenge problems

  3. Conformal and malleable batteries

  4. Design and assembly of complex microsystems in supply-chain-free environments

  5. Reconfigurable additive manufacturing for multiple classes of materials

  6. Context aware imaging

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond direct funding, awardees gain significant strategic advantages:

Government Validation & Credibility
DARPA selection signals elite technical quality and national-security relevance — often accelerating partnerships with primes, OEMs, and investors.

Enhanced Market Visibility
Awards frequently lead to increased visibility through DARPA communications, publications, and industry attention.

Ecosystem Access & Collaboration
Awardees join a national innovation community spanning quantum, photonics, microelectronics, and advanced materials — opening doors to long-term collaborations and follow-on opportunities.

Stronger Exit & Acquisition Potential
Non-dilutive support enables deep tech maturation without equity loss. Companies validated by DARPA historically see improved valuation, stronger commercial traction, and increased acquisition interest.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Abstract Deadline: January 15, 2026, 1:00 PM ET

Proposal Deadline: March 2, 2026, 1:00 PM ET

DARPA reviews proposals on a rolling basis.

If you select the Accelerated Award Option (<$2M projects), DARPA may issue an award within 30 days of selection notification.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the Microsystems Technology Office (STO).

Who is eligible to apply?

The BAA does not restrict eligibility. Typical DARPA BAAs accept proposals from:

• U.S. businesses of any size

• Universities

• Nonprofits

• Federally-funded research and development centers (with limitations)

Foreign entities may be subject to additional restrictions depending on classification and export-control considerations.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

DARPA will select proposals that score highly on scientific merit, mission relevance, and cost realism.

• High Scientific & Technical Merit: Innovative, feasible, and well-justified approaches with clear deliverables, identified risks and credible mitigations, and a team with the expertise to execute.

• Strong Contribution to DARPA’s Mission: Efforts that meaningfully advance U.S. national security capabilities, show a credible transition path to U.S. defense applications, and include an IP strategy that does not hinder government use.

• Realistic, Well-Substantiated Costs: Budgets that accurately reflect the level of effort, materials, labor, and technical scope—avoiding artificially low estimates and demonstrating efficient use of prior research and existing capabilities.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Research must be revolutionary, not incremental.

• CMMC Level 2 is required for procurement contracts beginning Nov 10, 2025.

• Foreign influence and security review applies to fundamental research teams.

• Classified submissions require coordination with DARPA security.

• Export control and CUI restrictions apply.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission under this BAA will likely take 120–160 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 under Federal & State R&D Initiatives.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Our full service support is available for a flat fee of $5,000 for the Abstract Submission.

Fractional support is $300 per hour, with most DARPA proposal projects requiring 80–100 hours of expert support from strategy through submission of full proposal.

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

See solicitation on sam.gov

DIU Project Janus – Advanced Nuclear Microreactor Power Plant Prototyping

Executive Summary:

Project Janus is soliciting commercial solutions to design, prototype, and deploy advanced nuclear Microreactor Power Plants (MPPs) that can provide continuous, resilient power across Army installations. Awarded vendors will prototype both a First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) and a Second-of-a-Kind (SOAK) MPP, leading to potential follow-on production and long-term power purchase agreements. Solution Briefs are due December 15, 2025, so companies should begin preparing ASAP.

How much funding would I receive?

DIU does not publish fixed award amounts, but nuclear prototyping OTAs typically fall within the multi-million to tens-of-millions range, depending on complexity and vendor contributions.

Importantly, DIU OTAs can lead directly to large follow-on production contracts or long-term electricity PPAs without further competition, enabling far greater lifetime contract value.

What could I use the funding for?

Problem Statement

Ensuring consistent, resilient energy across military installations and operational theaters has become an increasingly complex challenge for the U.S. military. Aging infrastructure, dependence on vulnerable civilian power grids, complex liquid fuel logistics, and rising energy demands from advanced technologies all threaten mission assurance. Frequent electricity outages, grid disruptions, and limited backup capacity jeopardize critical systems responsible for command, control, communications, and logistics. This directly undermines readiness, training, and operational effectiveness. These vulnerabilities underscore the urgent need for secure, scalable, and independent energy solutions that ensure continuous power for the warfighter to operate anytime, anywhere, regardless of external grid instability or supply chain disruptions.

The U.S. Army, alongside the Defense Innovation Unit, seeks to prototype Microreactor Power Plant(s) (MPPs) capable of developing a suite of advanced nuclear power plant energy solutions to meet the needs of the U.S. Department of War (DoW). These MPPs will leverage recent advances in the nuclear industry to provide continuous and reliable power in all DoW scenarios and will be demonstrated on a military installation within the United States by 2030.

Background

On 23 May 2025, four executive orders (EOs) were issued that aimed at modernizing America’s nuclear energy posture, with direct implications for the Army and the broader DoW. In particular, EO 14299 Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security, states that “it is the policy of the United States to ensure the rapid development, deployment, and use of advanced nuclear technologies to support national security objectives, such as the protection and operation of critical infrastructure, critical defense facilities, and other mission capability resources.” These orders represent a strategic shift towards immediately and impactfully leveraging advanced nuclear technologies. Meeting the objectives of EO14299 requires a focus on both installation and operational energy goals through a coordinated prototype program that leverages MPP technologies to address the Department of War’s energy needs. 

Project Approach

The broader Department of the Army’s Janus program objective is to develop a suite of prototype solutions for MPPs that can supply power for both installations and non-permanent operations. The Janus project approach under the DIU CSO will use an iterative prototype development process to provide a clear path to transition of the successful commercially demonstrated technology solutions. “Suite” refers to the DoW’s intent to select multiple reactor designs for the OTA Agreement, each to be paired with an Army installation by the Army after contract award. This will involve prototyping a First of a Kind (FOAK) MPP under the Army’s regulatory authority, followed shortly after by a Second of a Kind (SOAK) MPP, also using the Army’s regulatory authority. The Department is seeking fission-based solution sets for installation and defense purposes. 

Vendors will be paired with Army installations after the OTA contract award. Vendors will develop their FOAK prototype for demonstration on that installation and commence design of the SOAK prototype near the end of FOAK design. The SOAK prototype is expected to build on lessons learned from the FOAK and include design changes from the FOAK prototype, through iterative prototyping. 

Vendor solutions submitted under the AOI are highly encouraged to use the FOAK and SOAK approach in their proposals, and discuss the path from SOAK to Nth-of-a-kind production. Solutions may utilize the operating life of both the FOAK and SOAK MPPs in series to reach the 30-year lifetime power generation, assuming continuity of power across the 30-year period. 

The Army will be announcing the selection of the initial group of installations for the Janus project MPP prototypes at a later date. Vendors are prohibited from contacting or responding to queries from the installations regarding any aspect of CSO HQ084520SC001 or the Janus project. Vendors who do not comply with the prohibition may be removed from participation in the Janus Project. 

Project Objectives

The Department is seeking solution briefs for the full lifecycle of MPPs that would notionally start operations at an Army installation located in the United States before the end of calendar year 2030. Solution briefs should include all stages of an MPP’s lifecycle: design, testing, regulation, construction, operations, deconstruction, and returning the site to an unrestricted release status.

The objectives of the prototype include: 

• Provide mission assurance through energy resilience for a range of defense applications. 

• Assemble and operate prototype MPPs on military installations within the United States to demonstrate the capability of the MPP designs to provide safe, secure, reliable, and environmentally compliant electricity and thermal energy (if needed) in support of readiness goals for mission critical assets.

• Engage with the government and privatized distribution providers, transmission providers, and commodity providers currently serving U.S. Military installations to facilitate seamless and resilient energy regardless of commercial grid conditions.

Final solutions will follow a process under the U.S. Army Regulatory Authority for the entire lifecycle. The U.S. Army’s regulatory authority is derived from section 91b of the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C. § 2121(b)), as implemented pursuant to the Presidential Directive of 23 September 1961. Vendors will follow the Army regulatory process as documented in AR 50-7 (2016), although additional guidance will be provided during Phase 2 and throughout the FOAK design. AR 50-7 can be found at: https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r50-7_Web_FINAL.pdf. 

Awarded vendors will be given opportunities to provide feedback on gaps in Army regulatory processes as additional regulatory guidance is provided. Additional regulatory requirements, such as transportation of nuclear material on public highways, should be addressed by Vendors during their proposals.

Reviews and implementation during the MPP prototype development process will include an integrated and phased approach to compliance with planning and design, planning and construction, architecture and engineering, building construction, environmental, operating, safety and physical/cyber protection, emergency response planning, deconstruction, and spent fuel management requirements. 

A successful MPP prototype will provide a sound and demonstrated technological solution for commercial operations. A successful prototype will complete fuel load and testing phases and will be permitted by the Army Regulator to begin normal operations. The OTA prototype will transition to unrestricted operations as a COCO MPP with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), production OTA, or other Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) based contract.

Desired Solution Features 

Desired solution features include the following attributes and capabilities: 

• Incorporates nuclear fuel that is enriched to 20% or less U-235 and that is legal for defense purposes. The fuel must be qualified, available, and fabricated on a timeline that will meet program timelines.  

  • Defense-purpose feedstock may be made available as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) for FOAK and SOAK MPPs through an Army fuel allocation process. If feedstock is provided as GFE, vendors will be responsible for transportation, blending, and fabrication of the fuel. 

  • Vendors should address the implications of a) the Government not providing feedstock as GFE, b) of the Government providing feedstock as GFE for only the first fueling, and c) the Government providing feedstock as GFE for the operational life of the MPP.

• Capable of producing electrical power in the range of kW-level up to 20MWe (up to 60 MWth). Capable of local control and dispatch and integrated to the greatest extent practicable into existing infrastructure, operations centers (if applicable), workflows, and operations and maintenance systems. 

• Capable of startup/shutdown and monitoring operations both with and without commercial power availability (both black start and grid-connected start capability). 

• Capable of MPP operations with a commercial power connection, and an alternative credited independent power source as a backup. 

• The MPP should be operated only from the control room located within the Army installation (remote or wireless operation is not allowed). 

  • MPPs with remote maintenance and diagnostics capabilities that comply with relevant cybersecurity U.S. Government standards, e.g., NIST 800-171 Rev. 2 for Federal Contractors, may be considered. 

  • The MPP control room must be designed to accommodate two operators, with space for an additional person, at a minimum. 

• The MPP design should include passive safety features to the extent practical to ensure MPP key safety functions are satisfied under all conditions, states, and modes. 

• Radiation exposure at the MPP site boundary should not exceed the limits provided in 10 CFR 20 during routine operations. Proposals must sufficiently account for relevant factors, including sky shine, emissions from activated site materials, and surrounding buildings at various elevations around the site boundary. 

• The MPP design must address Natural Hazard Phenomena, including seismic loads, external floods, and other potential hazards.

• The MPP design must have clearly articulated systems and safety case approaches, including an initial set of proposed design criteria and design safety strategy.

• Vendor strategy and capability to continuously provide full power supply for up to 30 years, including operations, maintenance, sustainment, and refueling activities. 

  • There are no restrictions on the proposed strategy to achieve 30-years of continuous power (e.g., refueling or ‘replaceable’ modules to maintain continuity of operations). 

  • The overall lifecycle strategy of the MPP by the Vendor will be evaluated and must include associated costs/risks with the proposed strategy for long-term operations.

• Non-core irradiated material should be removed or qualified for unrestricted release within 2 years upon completion or termination of the power production contract. An initial irradiated material disposal plan, along with an associated finance structure, must be approved by the Army before design permitting. 

• Irradiated core material should be removed from the site notionally within 5 years of completion or termination of the power production contract, or as otherwise agreed upon by the Army. An initial core decommissioning plan, along with an associated finance structure, must be approved by the Army before MPP operations are permitted. 

• A target site area should be sized appropriately for FOAK (and SOAK if co-located) to ensure compliance with Federal radiation limits in 10 CFR 20 and the anticipated Seismic Design Category. Selected Vendors will be paired with an installation post-OTA award.

• Reasonable and appropriate safety, physical, cyber, and safeguards measures should be implemented in the design consistent with best practices. Army-specific requirements will be provided to vendors invited to participate in Phase 2 Pitches. 

• In addition to the above desired solution features, solutions must address the aspects below: 

  • A nuclear supply chain for nuclear-grade equipment that is clearly identified and credibly available to supply equipment to meet the notional timeline. The nuclear supply chain identified must meet defense-purpose limitations; any part of the nuclear supply chain reliant on international sources must be identified and mitigated with a plan approved by the Army.

  • Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) for equipment included in the design. The TRL and MRL readiness levels will be evaluated in depth during Phase 2 Pitches. 

  • Identified gaps in available Computational analytical tools, Codes, or Standards accepted for nuclear use. Identified analytical tools, Codes, or Standards for which the design will operate outside the approved range 

  • (e.g., the MPP operates at a higher temperature than existing foundational data).

  • Identified gaps in available material performance data for safety or reliability-related equipment under anticipated operating conditions.

  • Plans and approaches to move from FOAK to SOAK, to Nth-of-a-Kind development and production. Plans to commercialize or develop commercial versions of proposed MPP prototype designs.

  • Long-term plans for fuel acquisition and manufacturing, including the status of negotiations or agreements with miners, enrichers and/or fabricators. 

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond direct prototype funding, awardees gain substantial strategic advantages:

Government Validation & National Credibility
Winning a DIU/Army nuclear award signals unmatched credibility in defense nuclear innovation. This accelerates alignment with primes, utilities, and capital markets.

Path to Long-Term, Non-Dilutive Revenue
Successful prototypes can transition into 30-year Power Purchase Agreements, production OTAs, or FAR contracts, representing massive long-term revenue potential.

Increased Market Visibility
Awardees gain visibility across DoD, DOE, and national energy/security communities—often resulting in media coverage and faster customer traction.

Supply Chain & Regulatory Acceleration
Participation provides exposure to Army regulators, national labs, nuclear fuel providers, and defense-focused supply chain partners—accelerating commercialization beyond the defense market.

Higher Exit and Valuation Potential
Nondilutive support for FOAK/SOAK nuclear builds significantly increases company valuation, technical defensibility, and acquisition potential for defense, energy, and infrastructure buyers.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Solution Brief Due: December 15, 2025

• DIU Review: ~30 days for down-select

• Phase 2 Pitch: Invitation-only, early 2026

• Full Proposal (Phase 3): Following successful pitch

• Prototype Awards: Rolling upon approval and funding availability

• FOAK Operation Goal: Before end of 2030

• SOAK Development: Begins near completion of FOAK design

Where does this funding come from?

Project Janus is funded through the U.S. Army and executed under the Defense Innovation Unit's Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process. Awards are made using Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under 10 U.S.C. § 4022 (formerly § 2371b).

Who is eligible to apply?

U.S. and foreign-owned commercial companies

• Companies proposing fission-based microreactor designs

• Teams including reactor designers, fabricators, integrators, fuel cycle partners

• Vendors able to provide private financial contributions (projects relying solely on government funds are not eligible)

• Vendors able to comply with Section 889 and Army nuclear regulatory requirements

Multiple submissions and teaming arrangements are allowed.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Competitive applicants will:

• Demonstrate credible, deployable microreactor designs at TRL/MRL levels suitable for FOAK prototyping

• Present a robust plan for 30 years of operations, including refueling or replaceable module strategies

• Show credible nuclear supply chain access for fuel, components, and safety-critical systems

• Provide a realistic path from FOAK → SOAK → Nth-of-a-kind commercialization

• Demonstrate ability to meet Army regulatory requirements under AR 50-7

• Provide private cost share or financial contributions, as required in Phase 2

• Address cybersecurity, safety, passive safety features, and natural hazard requirements

• Show strong corporate viability and commercial market strategy (a key DIU evaluation factor)

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Remote or wireless operation of the MPP is not allowed; control room must be on-installation

• Vendors may not contact Army installations

• All proposals must be unclassified; CUI is not allowed

• Foreign-owned firms must be able to secure necessary clearances

• Vendors must address implications of fuel as GFE vs. vendor-supplied

• Submissions must comply with Army radiation exposure limits and 10 CFR 20

• Private financing participation is required to advance to Phase 2 and Phase 3

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive solutions brief will take 50-75 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 Solution Brief for $5000. Pitch & 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 Solicitation Here.

DARPA Strategic Technology Office-Wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

Executive Summary:

DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office (STO) BAA is soliciting breakthrough research concepts that create new mission-level capabilities beyond the current state of practice. The agency will fund a limited number of high-risk, high-reward proposals across a broad range of defense and national-security technical domains. Applications are due December 19, 2025.

How much funding would I receive?

DARPA does not publish fixed award amounts for this BAA. STO funds a limited number of proposals, and budgets are determined by the technical approach, the scope of work, and alignment with STO priorities.

What could I use the funding for?

DARPA's STO seeks innovative ideas and disruptive technologies that provide the U.S. military and national security leaders with trusted, disruptive capabilities across all physical domains (Air, Space, Sea, and Land) and across the spectrum of competition. STO programs deliver solutions at speed and scale for today's warfighters while developing the resilient "breakthrough" systems and technologies needed for future battlespaces. STO does not focus on one area of responsibility or phenomenology. Rather, STO programs capture the strategic, logistical, and tactical complexity of today's national security environments. STO is a "systems office" seeking to create new "proof-of-concept" mission systems. Its goals are to develop and demonstrate new capabilities that expand what is technically possible.

Research areas of current interest to STO include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

•  Acoustic communication and sensing

•  Adaptability

•  Advanced computing

•  Additive manufacturing

•  Architecture and advanced systems engineering

•  Artificial intelligence

•  Autonomy and control algorithms

•  "Big data" analytics

•  Combat identification

•  Command and control (C2)

•  Communications and networking, virtual and adaptive

•  Complexity management

•  Critical infrastructure defense

•  Decision aids and C2 technology

•  DevOps and novel software development and integration

•  Directed energy (DE)

•  Distributed autonomy and teaming (machine-machine, human-machine)

•  Economic security

•  Effects chain functions (disaggregated find, fix, finish, target, engage, assess)

•  Electro-optic/infrared sensors

•  Electromagnetic warfare (EW)

•  High-frequency (HF) communications and sensing

•  High voltage electric power systems and architecture

•  Human behavior modeling

•  Human-machine symbiosis

•  Industrial engineering

•  Integration and reliability technologies

•  Interoperability

•  Logistics

•  Modeling and simulation

•  Microwave and millimeter wave communications and sensing

•  Novel kinetic effects

•  Non-kinetic effects (EW, DE, cyber)

•  Optical technologies

•  Photonics

•  Radio technologies (especially software-defined and novel waveforms and processing)

•  Radar and adaptive arrays

•  Resilient systems

•  Robotics

•  Seekers and other expendable sensors and processing

•  Sensors and analytics

•  Signal processing

•  Space sensors, communications, autonomy, and architectures (especially supporting proliferated low earth orbit constellations)

•  Strategy analysis technology

•  Supply chain analytics

•  System of systems

•  Undersea and seabed technology

•  Tactics development technology

•  Testing and data collection

•  Very low earth orbit (VLEO) technology

•  Very low frequency (VLF) technology

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the direct award, DARPA funding offers significant strategic advantages:

Government Validation and Credibility:
Receiving a DARPA award signals exceptional scientific and engineering merit, which accelerates engagement with primes, integrators, strategic partners, and investors.

Enhanced Visibility and Notoriety:
DARPA programs are frequently highlighted in federal communications, technical conferences, and defense media—boosting your company’s profile across the national security sector.

Ecosystem Access and Collaboration Opportunities:
Awardees gain access to DARPA program managers, government labs, test ranges, and a high-level innovation network—opening doors to future contracts and partnerships.

Stronger Exit and Acquisition Potential:
Nondilutive funding that matures breakthrough technology, combined with the DARPA “stamp,” often increases valuation and attractiveness to large defense, aerospace, semiconductor, and AI-focused acquirers.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are due December 19, 2025.

DARPA does not publish a fixed award timeline.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the Strategic Technology Office (STO), a DoD organization responsible for advanced mission-level systems and emerging technologies.

Who is eligible to apply?

The BAA does not restrict eligibility. Typical DARPA BAAs accept proposals from:

• U.S. businesses of any size

• Universities

• Nonprofits

• Federally-funded research and development centers (with limitations)

Foreign entities may be subject to additional restrictions depending on classification and export-control considerations.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

DARPA will select proposals that score highly on scientific merit, mission relevance, and cost realism.

• High Scientific & Technical Merit: Innovative, feasible, and well-justified approaches with clear deliverables, identified risks and credible mitigations, and a team with the expertise to execute.

• Strong Contribution to DARPA’s Mission: Efforts that meaningfully advance U.S. national security capabilities, show a credible transition path to U.S. defense applications, and include an IP strategy that does not hinder government use.

• Realistic, Well-Substantiated Costs: Budgets that accurately reflect the level of effort, materials, labor, and technical scope—avoiding artificially low estimates and demonstrating efficient use of prior research and existing capabilities.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Proposals must not duplicate existing STO programs or other active STO BAAs.

• Research that yields incremental or “evolutionary” improvements is specifically excluded.

• Offerors are strongly encouraged to review current STO programs and speak with program managers before applying.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission under this BAA will likely take 120–160 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 under Federal & State R&D Initiatives.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Our full service support is available for a flat fee of $15,000 Project + a 5% Success Fee.

Fractional support is $300 per hour, with most DARPA proposal projects requiring 80–100 hours of expert support from strategy through submission of full proposal.

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

See solicitation on sam.gov

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – Mines & Metals Capacity Expansion – Piloting Byproduct Critical Minerals and Materials Recovery at Domestic Industrial Facilities (DE-FOA-0003583)

Executive Summary:

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, through NETL, is offering up to $275 million under DE-FOA-0003583 to fund large pilot facilities that recover byproduct critical materials from coal-based and other industrial feedstocks, mine waste, and process wastes. Projects will design, construct, and operate 1:50-scale or larger pilots that produce market-ready critical material products and generate the data needed for near-term commercial facilities in the United States. Applications are due December 15, 2025, at 5:00 pm EST.

How much funding would I receive?

For this NOFO, funding is structured by topic area:

• Topic Area 1 – Mines & Metals Pilots – Coal-Based Industry

  • Total funding: up to $75 million.

  • Approximate number of awards: 0–3.

  • Approximate award size: $10 million–$50 million per project.

  • Minimum cost share: 20% of total project costs.

  • Approximate project period: 48 months.

• Topic Area 2 – Mines & Metals Pilots – All Industries

  • Total funding: up to $200 million.

  • Approximate number of awards: 0–10.

  • Approximate award size: $10 million–$75 million per project.

  • Minimum cost share: 20% of total project costs.

  • Approximate project period: up to 48 months.

Actual award sizes and number of awards will depend on appropriations, application quality, and DOE priorities.

What could I use the funding for?

Program Goals and Objectives:

This NOFO invests in American industrial facilities that have the potential to produce valuable critical materials from existing industrial processes and legacy waste streams. Industries such as mining and mineral processing, power generation, coal, oil and gas, specialty metals, and basic materials have the potential to recover valuable materials that will address many of America’s most severe mineral vulnerabilities. The goal of this NOFO is to increase domestic critical material production.

American industrial facilities have enormous potential to recover valuable mineral coproducts and byproducts from ongoing operations and legacy waste streams such as mine tailings, impoundments, and coal ash. To de-risk industry investments, the technology for recovering these materials must be piloted under real-world conditions and at a scale relevant to each industry.

This NOFO will support the design, construction, and operation of large (1:50 scale or larger), ‘right-sized’ pilot processing systems at domestic industrial facilities. Successful pilots may produce a wide variety of critical material products, including oxides, salts, metals, alloys, and non-critical material value-added products.

DOE envisions that the large pilots will generate critical information resulting in near-term commercial project viability. Successful pilots will reduce technical uncertainty and financial risk prior to commercial deployment. Should funding and DOE goals align, NOFO award recipients may be considered eligible for possible follow-on scale-up funding opportunities, should DOE pursue such ventures.

Expected Performance Goals:

Performers will design, construct, and operate large pilot facilities (1:50 scale or larger) to produce critical materials necessary for our energy, defense, and economic security and to de-risk commercial scale production technologies to grow new economic and manufacturing opportunities.

Projects will produce qualified market-ready critical material products and other value-added materials with potential offtake agreements. Projects will show they are on track to meet their pilot objectives by producing defined quantities of critical materials at the proposed scales in each phase, subject to evaluation through go/no-go milestones. In addition, projects will generate the critically needed information and operational data required for the development of a near-term commercial facility within the U.S.

Two topic areas are defined based on eligible feedstock and the technology readiness level (TRL). See the attached Technology Readiness Level Reference for TRL definitions.

• Topic Area 1: Mines & Metals Pilots—Coal-Based Industry

  Small pilot-scale facilities (TRL 5) that have demonstrated the capabilities of producing REE and other critical materials from coal-based resources shall be scaled for design, construction, and operation as large, ‘right-sized’ pilot-scale facilities (TRL 7) for the production of market-ready REE and other critical materials, and for generation of critically essential design information and operational data necessary for near-term, future operation of a commercial processing facility (TRL 8) by no later than 2030.

  Topic Area 1 requires the use of coal and coal byproducts as feedstocks with minor or limited emphasis on the use of other (non-coal) industrial-based mining materials. Domestic coal-based feedstock materials (e.g., lignite, refuse tailings, etc.) and/or industrial coal-based wastes (e.g., prep plant wastes, power generation fly/bottom ash, coal-based AMD, etc.) shall be utilized. REE recovery is the required focus of Topic Area 1, preferably with co-recovery of other critical materials and other value-added materials; Critical materials recovery without REE recovery and other value-added material production without REE recovery are not of interest.

• Topic Area 2: Mines & Metals Pilots—All Industries

  This topic area broadly supports piloting the recovery of valuable critical material byproducts and other value-added products from industrial feedstocks, processes, and process wastes including mine waste. Example projects in Topic Area 2 could include critical material recovery from bauxite residue processing, valorization of zinc processing byproducts (e.g., indium from zinc smelting), and valorization of numerous critical materials from ongoing processing of titanium, phosphorous, lead, oil & gas or other industry wastes or production processes. Impounded or stockpiled waste materials are in scope. Modular, mobile, or fixed sites are in scope.

  In Topic Area 2, the applicant will establish large, pilot-scale facilities for production of valuable critical material byproducts from industry operations and/or wastes at the specific TRL ranges described in the subtopics below. These facilities will generate data and information needed for validation of future, near-term domestic commercial production of market-ready critical materials.

  Topic Area 2 requires the use of feedstocks from industrial feedstocks, processes, or process wastes including mine waste. For example, this may include (1) residual material from processing; (2) process streams, process byproducts, secondary materials, and/or waste materials that are produced by industry’s production; or (3) conventional ore (including monazite, bastnaesite, and/or other domestically mined materials) processing waste or waste materials such as residues, slimes, or below-cutoff grade ore or other mined material.

  Feedstocks for Topic Area 2 can come from all industry sources other than coal-based industry and feedstock materials related to post-consumer and manufacturing scrap recycling.

  Subtopic 2a: Mines & Metals Pilots—All Industries—Prior Bench-Scale Facilities

  Subtopic 2a is focused on industrial processes for critical materials recovery that have been developed at a bench-scale TRL of 4 or 5. The objective of Subtopic 2a is to accelerate technology development that leverages industry’s existing bench-scale (TRL 4) or small pilot-scale (TRL 5) process design concepts and scales those processes or systems for design, construction, and operation of a large, ‘right-sized’ pilot-scale facility (TRL 7).

  Subtopic 2b: Mines & Metals Pilots—All Industries—Prior Pilot-Scale Facilities

  Subtopic 2b is focused on industrial processes for critical materials recovery that have been developed at a pilot-scale TRL of 6 or 7 (7 preferred). The objective of Subtopic 2b is to accelerate technology development that leverages industry’s existing pilot-scale facility (TRL 6 or 7, 7 preferred) process design concepts and scales those processes or systems for design, construction, and operation of a large, ‘right-sized’ pilot-scale mineral production facility (TRL 7 or 8, 8 preferred).aterial byproducts and other value-added products from industrial feedstocks, processes, and process wastes including mine waste. Feedstocks for Topic Area 2 can come from all industry sources other than coal-based industry and feedstock materials related to post-consumer and manufacturing scrap recycling.

  Previously developed bench-scale efforts identified for Subtopic 2a are expected to advance the TRL of their process/system from 4 or 5 to 7. Previously developed pilot-scale efforts identified for Subtopic 2b are expected to advance the TRL of their process/system from 6 or 7 to 7 or 8.

  Applications to Topic Area 2 can recover any critical material.

• Information and Requirements for both Topic Areas

  The following information applies to all Topic Areas and Subtopics.

  The overall objective is to design, construct, and operate large pilot critical material production facilities (1:50 scale or larger) in the U.S. that will produce critical material byproducts from industrial processes. These pilots will deliver critical data needed for near-term commercial scale-up by using real-world industrial feedstocks and materials for verification and validation of the commercial potential of their processes/system, including, but not limited to:

  • data on the performance of individual processing circuits/systems and their overall integration,

  • process models,

  • capital and operating costs,

  • scaling factors, and

  • feedstock and end-product characterization
  
  Critical Material Byproduct Targets at Domestic Industrial Sites

  Applications must focus on the development of fully operational processing systems, located at and integrated with a domestic industrial site, that will be operated in a continuous/semi-continuous manner to produce market-ready critical materials. DOE Critical Materials include all minerals on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) List of Critical Minerals plus additional materials for energy. It is within scope to produce any market-ready critical material including critical material concentrates, high purity materials, or material commodities such as mixed oxides, salts, alloys, etc.

  Applicants are encouraged to consider production of materials that support both energy security and national defense needs. Applicants are also encouraged to reference the DOE Critical Materials List12 and USGS 2025 Mineral Commodity Summaries Report.13 Of particular interest are the production of critical materials with low or zero current domestic production. Critical materials with limited domestic production include arsenic, antimony, bismuth, chromium, fluorine, gallium, germanium, graphite, indium, manganese, magnesium, niobium, scandium, tantalum, tin, tungsten, rare earth elements, and yttrium.

  Large Pilot-Scale Facility Size and Operational Information

  The large (1:50 scale or larger) pilot-scale systems of interest in this NOFO should be ‘right-sized’ to demonstrate production of critical materials in quantity and purity specifications to support and establish the basis for near-term commercial production of saleable critical materials. The ’right-sized’, large pilot must have a critical material production capacity target of at least 2% (1:50 scale) of a commercial-scale system. For example, if the targeted critical material production of a large pilot-scale facility is 25 metric tons per year (tpy), and it is identified that commercial-scale systems for that targeted material generally produce 300 tpy, then the large pilot-scale facility would produce 25/300 = 8.3% of a commercial-scale system.
  
  Feedstock and Byproduct Critical Material Target

  The intent is to pilot potential byproduct material valorization at industrial sites including ongoing industrial production streams and waste impounded at active sites or sites of former industrial activity. The use of domestic feedstocks is preferred. Any feedstock located within the U.S. is considered domestic regardless of its original source. For example, mine waste at a U.S. facility that was originally mined from foreign territory is considered a domestic feedstock. No federal funding can be used to procure foreign feedstock.

  Applications proposing feedstock materials related to post-consumer and manufacturing scrap recycling are specifically not of interest.

  Applicants must identify the feedstock and quantify the feedstock throughput and critical material production, in terms of metric tons per year, that:

  • has been successfully demonstrated in their existing bench-scale or pilot-scale system on actual (non-simulated) feedstocks,

  • is targeted for their proposed large pilot-scale facility,

  • is generally targeted in ideal commercial-scale systems, and

  • is targeted for future commercial-scale operation at the site.

  Applicants must state the purity specification of the commercial market-ready critical materials to be produced. The large pilot projects must aim to meet specific quantity and purity standards for the critical material(s) produced or explain why that is not technically, operationally, or economically feasible or appropriate for this project.

  In addition, applicants must describe the overall impact of the large pilot-scale system, as well as a potential future commercial-scale system, on the foreign import reliance for each critical material produced. For example, the large pilot-scale system may reduce import reliance of a specific critical material from 90% to possibly 85% and a future commercial-scale system may further reduce the import reliance to possibly 50%.

  Projects must utilize feedstock materials that are sufficiently abundant to support the awarded project and maintain future pilot operational capacity for a minimum of five years. Applicants must provide evidence of material availability in the quantity needed to fulfill this 5-year requirement. A letter of support should be included in the application from all companies, agencies, or other parties that have ownership/rights to any proposed feedstock materials to allow large pilot-scale facility operation for the performance of the award (e.g., if utilizing coal ash, please provide a letter of support from the power or coal company who is producing the ash). If no letters of support can be obtained, applicants must provide an explanation in the Technical Volume as to why they are not necessary, or how the necessary feedstock is intended to be obtained.

  Large pilot-scale facilities are encouraged to exhibit feedstock flexibility, enabling them to process multiple feedstock types (e.g., bauxite red mud, kaolinite clay, and/or phosphate wastes) within the same facility, though not necessarily concurrently. Strategies that bolster pilot facility resilience by processing diverse feedstocks or offering modularity or mobility are particularly encouraged. Pilot production of multiple critical materials is also encouraged.

  Facility Technical Feasibility and Prior Work

  Applicants are required to:

  • Provide information that demonstrates the technical feasibility of their existing technology for processing the proposed feedstock to produce the critical material(s) of interest at their application’s starting TRL. Actual (non-simulated) feedstock materials must have been used with processes operated in a continuous/semi-continuous manner.

  • Submit photographs of existing systems to demonstrate existing process scale and capabilities.

  • Provide an estimate of the time to acquire any required site permits and time for construction. These estimates will be revised with actual timelines during project execution.

  Applicants should include information relevant to costing, such as Feasibility Studies (pre-Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) based on an AACE Class 4 Cost Estimate25) in the Application Package. Each large-scale pilot is required to be designed, constructed, and operated in a manner to generate relevant new information to aid future development of a commercial system (TRL 8, FEED Study based on an AACE Class 3 Cost Estimate). Development of a FEED Study for the future commercial system is not within scope of this NOFO.

  Where separation, extraction, and recovery processes have been developed by industry, process flowsheets (to the extent that non-proprietary information can be made available) and critical material recovery performance should be described.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond direct funding, this NOFO offers several strategic advantages for companies advancing large pilot-scale critical mineral recovery technologies:

Market Readiness and Investor Confidence
DOE-supported pilot facilities are positioned as a critical bridge to commercialization. Successfully operating a DOE-funded pilot—using real industrial feedstocks at meaningful scale—signals to customers, strategic partners, and investors that your technology is technically validated, financially de-risked, and ready for larger commercial deployment.

Risk Reduction and Safer Scale-Up
The program is structured to help teams identify technical, operational, and integration risks before committing to full-scale capital build-out. Generating continuous or semi-continuous operational data under DOE oversight gives companies greater certainty around project feasibility, cost structure, and long-term performance.

National-Level Visibility and Ecosystem Access
Participation in a DOE-funded pilot often increases visibility within federal agencies, national labs, and the broader critical minerals sector. Awardees are well-positioned for future federal contracting, R&D collaboration, and follow-on scale-up opportunities—subject to DOE priorities and merit review.

Technology Validation that Strengthens Supply Chain Positioning
Producing tonnage-level critical material outputs under DOE-supported conditions enhances credibility with downstream processors and manufacturers. This validation helps companies form off-take relationships, strategic partnerships, and potential commercial agreements.

Workforce, Skills, and Operational Capabilities
Standing up a pilot facility develops advanced operational expertise within your organization—expertise that becomes a competitive advantage when transitioning to full commercial-scale deployment and building long-term U.S.-based critical materials infrastructure.

Collectively, these benefits reinforce domestic supply chain resilience and strengthen a company’s strategic position in the emerging U.S. critical minerals and materials ecosystem.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Application Deadline: December 15, 2025, 5:00 pm EST

• Anticipated Selection Notification Date: January 16, 2026

• Anticipated Conditional Award Date: January 23, 2026

• Anticipated Award Date: June 15, 2026

• Estimated Period of Performance: June 15, 2026 – June 14, 2030 (up to ~48 months)

Where does this funding come from?

Funding for DE-FOA-0003583 comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), specifically Section 41003(b)-(c), and uses FY 2024–2026 funds. The NOFO is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), and administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

Who is eligible to apply?

The NOFO is open primarily to domestic entities as recipients or subrecipients, including:

• Institutions of higher education

• For-profit organizations

• Nonprofit organizations

• State and local governmental entities

• Indian Tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304)

To qualify as a domestic entity, an organization must:

• Be organized, chartered, incorporated, or otherwise formed under the laws of a U.S. state or territory.

• Have its principal place of business in the United States.

• Have majority U.S. ownership and control.

• Have a physical place of business in the United States.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Proposals will be scored according to the following criteria:

Scientific and Technical Merit (50%) – Projects that demonstrate strong scientific grounding, a clear understanding of critical materials recovery, a credible pilot concept, and a realistic commercialization pathway. Competitive proposals show how the pilot is “right-sized” for near-term scale-up and may leverage multiple feedstocks or produce multiple critical material products.

Technical Approach (30%) – Proposals with a well-structured SOPO and Project Management Plan, the ability to begin operations quickly, and a clear path to steady-state critical material production. High-scoring projects show meaningful tonnage potential, robust risk mitigation, and a logical workplan tied to impactful commercial outcomes.

Team Capabilities (20%) – Applicants with strong financial stability, the ability to meet the 20% cost share, and demonstrated experience operating pilot facilities or complex processing systems. Competitive teams typically include industry partners, off-take relationships, established roles, and adequate facilities and equipment.

Additional Selection Factors – Projects that diversify feedstocks or regions, contribute meaningfully to the DOE critical materials portfolio, create high-quality U.S. jobs, align with Buy America preferences, and show a credible path to a future commercial facility are more likely to be selected.

Projects that can stand up large, U.S.-based pilot operations and demonstrate a high-confidence pathway to commercial deployment will be the strongest contenders.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

DOE anticipates awarding cooperative agreements under this NOFO, which include a statement of DOE’s “substantial involvement” in the work performed under the resulting awards. For cooperative agreements, DOE does not limit its involvement to the administrative requirements of the award. Instead, DOE has substantial involvement in the direction and redirection of the technical aspects of the project. DOE’s substantial involvement in resulting awards may include the following:

A. DOE shares responsibility with the recipient for the management, control, direction, and performance of the project.

B. DOE may intervene in the conduct or performance of work under this award for programmatic reasons. Intervention includes the interruption or modification of the conduct or performance of project activities.

C. DOE may redirect or discontinue funding the project based on the outcome of DOE’s evaluation of the project at the Go/No-Go decision point(s).

D. DOE participates in major project decision-making processes.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 160–200 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 under Federal & State R&D Initiatives.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Flat Fee + Success Fee rate can be quoted depending on the size of the project.

Fractional support is $300 per hour, with most projects requiring 80–100 hours of expert support from strategy through submission of full proposal.

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

• See the solicitation here.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – Mine of the Future – Proving Ground Initiative (DE-FOA-0003390)

Executive Summary:

DOE’s Mine of the Future – Proving Ground Initiative (DE-FOA-0003390) will provide approximately $5 million to $40 million per cooperative agreement (about $80 million total, up to four awards) to establish field-scale mining technology proving grounds and run initial mine technology projects focused on critical minerals and materials. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was issued November 14, 2025, and complete applications are due December 15, 2025. DOE anticipates making conditional selections in January 2026, with awards expected to start around June 15, 2026, for an estimated 4-year project period.

How much funding would I receive?

DOE anticipates:

• Approximate total available funding: $80,000,000 (FY26).

• Approximate number of awards: up to four.

• Approximate dollar amount of individual awards: $5,000,000 to $40,000,000.

Awards will be structured as cooperative agreements with an approximate 48-month project period, organized into three budget periods (two for proving ground development and one for initial project execution).

The cost share must be at least 20% of the total project costs for research and development.

What could I use the funding for?

Summary:

The Department of Energy (DOE), through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), intends to support the establishment of Mining Technology Proving Grounds that will act as specialized mining technology testing and research facilities. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to develop and operate field-scale proving grounds that serve as testbeds for validating and de-risking emerging mining technologies. Additionally, these proving grounds are expected to provide the necessary infrastructure, operating environment, and technical capabilities to enable the advancement of innovative technologies from laboratory and/or bench-scale development to integrated field-scale demonstration.

DOE’s vision includes encouraging robust and lasting industry and academic partnerships (e.g., consortia, joint industry partnerships), thereby creating a vital pipeline for innovative technologies and a skilled workforce in mining that will serve as a foundation for domestic mining innovation for many years to come. In addition, applicants must also propose a minimum of one (1) and no more than two (2) mining technology development projects to be conducted at the proving ground. These envisioned mining technology development projects must demonstrate clear progression from laboratory and/or bench-scale validation to field-scale testing at the proving ground site by progressing the proposed technology by at least one TRL from the project(s) beginning. Initial mine technology projects can start anywhere from TRL 2 to TRL 6. Due to the accelerated schedule for this NOFO, if selected, the applicant may be asked to amend the initial projects further during the negotiation and/or definitization process. In summary, FE is requiring applications to include two distinct elements 1) establishment of proving ground and 2) mine technology project(s) that would utilize and demonstrate efficacy of the proving ground.

The proving grounds funded under this announcement will serve as critical platforms to reduce the technical and economic risks associated with novel mining technologies to be utilized by government agencies, industrial partners, and academic institutions. By advancing promising technologies through field-scale validation, the program will accelerate pathways to commercialization, thereby supporting secure, sustainable, and responsible U.S. mining operations.

The DOE aims for a diverse portfolio of proving ground facilities to demonstrate a broad range of mining technologies across various mineral types, geologic settings, and operational scales. The varied estimated award amounts for individual awards reflect DOE's desire to support diverse facility designs, allowing for proving grounds of varying scales, complexities, and capabilities, leveraging existing infrastructure, and enabling targeted technology demonstration across mining process stages.

Program Goals and Objectives:

This NOFO seeks applications to address the establishment of Mining Technology Proving Grounds and accelerate the development of innovative technologies for the U.S. mining sector. This initiative aims to re-establish U.S. leadership in mining by fostering real-world testing, optimization, and deployment of next generation mining technologies, addressing a critical need for secure and resilient domestic Critical Mineral (CM) supply networks.

The primary goal is to establish a field-scale mine proving ground in Budget Period (BP) 1 and BP 2. This facility will host one or two initial R&D envisioned projects in BP 3, focusing on technologies that have progressed beyond laboratory/bench-scale. The objective is to de-risk new mining technologies for commercialization and industry adoption. For purposes of this NOFO, Proving Ground and Facility are used interchangeably and indicate the site in which the envisioned project will be carried out. Additionally, initial mine technology projects can be used interchangeably with Projects, Envisioned Projects, and mine technologies and describe the projects carried out in the Facility in BP 3. Furthermore, for the purposes of this NOFO, Critical Minerals (CM) and Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) are used interchangeably.

DOE envisions that, once established, these proving ground facilities will represent national assets that can accelerate technology innovation by serving as collaborative platforms for future DOE funded projects and as shared resources for industry, academia, and other partners, aligned with DOE mission priorities and subject to the availability of funding.

See more information below:

• Strategic Aims

  This program seeks to re-establish U.S. leadership in the mining sector by supporting R&D in both conventional and unconventional methods and resources. Technology areas include: ore body/resource exploration, appraisal, mining, processing, automation, energy management, and waste management. The proving grounds will facilitate field-scale testing and maturation of innovative technologies for responsible critical mineral mining, streamlining processes, and reducing risks and costs.

  This competitive funding opportunity will support awards for infrastructure development and technologies that transform mining practices. The proving grounds should be designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of Mine Technology projects and will facilitate the maturation of advanced mining technologies. The Mine Technology projects can range from laboratory and/or bench-scale (TRL 2) to field-scale (TRL 6) and must be able to transition at least one TRL from the project’s start. The proving ground will aid in overcoming the "valley of death" where promising technologies often stall due to a lack of suitable testing environments. These sites will also serve as vital training grounds for a new generation of skilled American miners.

• Core Objectives of Proving Grounds

  The proving ground facilities are designed to accelerate the entire exploration-to-production timeline, realizing the "Mine of the Future" vision by de-risking mining technology, developing new methods to reduce waste, and increasing co-product recovery from conventional mining. They will also enhance mineral recovery, emphasize small-footprint mining, foster low-impact tailings management, develop a skilled workforce, improve the sector’s public image, and support regulatory agencies in adopting tested innovations.

• Specific Proving Ground Competencies

  Centralized testing facilities can play a vital role in innovation within the mining industry by streamlining processes, enhancing collaboration, ensuring compliance, and ultimately fostering the development of safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly mining technologies. The Proving Ground should establish these competencies.

  • Standardization of Procedures - Establish standardized testing protocols and methodologies, ensuring consistent results across various innovations to aid in comparing outcomes and determining the effectiveness of new technologies.

  • Resource Optimization - Reduce barriers to smaller companies and startups through shared resources such as advanced equipment, instrumentation, and skilled personnel, leading to cost savings and increased efficiency. This will deliver the benefit from access to high-quality testing without the burden of establishing their own facilities and staff.

  • Controlled Environment - Provide controlled environments that minimize external variables that could affect test outcomes. This is particularly important for mining technologies, where factors such as geological conditions and environmental impacts can substantially influence performance.

  • Data Collection and Analysis - Support comprehensive data collection and analysis, facilitating better R&D practices and outcomes. This leads to faster iteration and improvement of technologies based on empirical evidence derived from extensive testing.

  • Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing - Serves as a hub for collaboration among various stakeholders, including academic institutions, industry leaders, and regulatory bodies. Facilitate anonymization and publication. Such collaboration can enhance knowledge sharing and accelerate innovation within the mining sector.

  • Regulatory Compliance - Aids new mining technologies in compliance with safety and environmental regulations. The testing facilities can ensure that all tests adhere to relevant standards, facilitating smoother certification processes and reducing the time to market for new technologies.

  • Market Readiness - Accelerates market readiness by validating new technologies against real industry standards and performance expectations. Through testing at the proving ground, companies and investors gain confidence that these innovations are ready for increased investment and large-scale adoption.

  • Risk Management - Identify potential risks and challenges associated with new technologies in a controlled environment before they are deployed at actual mining operations. This enhances safety and reduces the likelihood of costly failures.

• Collaborative Approach and Investment

  Successful R&D efforts and proving grounds will be built on partnerships between eligible entities providing training opportunities for future American miners. This initiative aims to accelerate R&D progress from development to commercialization in the field. It will address gaps that neither universities nor the private sector typically prioritize for investment.

• Mine Technology Projects (TRL 2-6)

  Applicants should propose high impact mining technology projects (TRL 2-6) that require field testing to advance to TRL 7 and beyond.

  Projects are recommended, but not required to align with one of three technology development areas:

  1. Resource Characterization and Exploration

  2. Mining and Processing

  3. Equipment and Productivity

  An example list of Specific R&D Technology Areas of Interest that can fit into these three categories is below.

  DOE will fund mining technology projects that can be developed past laboratory/bench-scale and subsequently tested and demonstrated in a field-scale proving ground. Proving ground test beds will be constructed within the first two budget periods of the award, with technology testing occurring in later years. To ensure the award of high-quality projects through the proving ground, applicants are required to propose at least one mine technology project for development and validation at the facility. A maximum of two proposed projects per applicant may be awarded. If the applicant’s proposal is selected, these initial projects may be amended during negotiations and/or definitization.

  In addition to these initial projects, once established, DOE anticipates that these proving ground facilities will serve as platforms to host other DOE funded R&D activities and collaborations, and will be made available as resources to industry, academia, and other research partners. Utilization of these facilities for additional efforts will be subject to DOE programmatic priorities, merit review, and the availability of future funding.

• Research Focus: Innovative Critical Mineral Recovery

  Projects will develop and test innovative mining technologies for recovery of CMM from domestic ores. The goal is to enhance efficiencies, reduce environmental impact, minimize waste, and improve recovery by integrating automation, selective recovery, and modular mobile infrastructure for sustainable mining operations.

• Specific R&D Technology Areas of Interest

  The following is a list of R&D technical areas of interest and is not comprehensive. Other relevant technologies may be included in applications.

  • Comminution & Rock Mechanics

    • Comminution Efficiency - Technologies to improve mineral ore comminution efficiency and reduce grinding energy consumption (physical, chemical, electrochemical).

    • Rock Fracturing & Permeability - Techniques to improve rock fracturing, pore connection, and permeability, enhancing in situ critical mineral extraction efficacy (physical, mechanical).

  • Extraction: In situ Leaching - Methods for mineral extraction that minimize surface disruption and waste.

  • Automation & Robotics - Technologies to automate manual mining tasks (e.g., visual inspection, sampling, material movement) using drones and robotics; development of subsurface hardware, sensors, and computational tools for automation and robotics in ore digging, hauling, extraction, and processing.

  • Data & Sensing

    • Advanced Drilling - Drilling technologies with real-time sensing capabilities.

    • Real-time Material Tracking - Technologies to track and monitor mineralogy of feedstock/ore streams (solid, liquid, slurry) in real-time at the mine or processing plant.

    • Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) - Algorithms to optimize equipment efficiency, resource extraction, and processing; development of autonomous vehicles and machinery; internet of things (IoT) applications for remote operations and monitoring.

    • Advanced Sensing - Methods or tools for detecting underground ore mineralization and low-grade mineral zones in tailings/refuse. Includes techniques for improved subsurface characterization for precision extraction, sensing while drilling, and exploratory drilling.

    • Data Utilization - Collection and utilization of big data, neural networks, AI/ML for subsurface/deep ground resource mapping and mineral exploration, including 3-D volumetric assessment.

• Key Objectives

  • Assess mining technologies for efficiency, cost, and recovery.

  • Develop methods to process low-grade ores, minimize waste rock, and reduce water use.

  • Implement selective recovery and physical concentration techniques for ore and tailings.

  • Create modular, reconfigurable units for flexible deployment and reduced site disturbance.

• Technical Requirements

  For the Proving Ground Facility:

  The Proving Ground must serve as a testbed for next-generation mining technologies, emphasizing modularity, data integration, and real-world validation of critical mineral extraction, processing, and environmental management solutions.

  General Infrastructure Requirements:

  • Location and Access: Must be within the United States with demonstrated access to mineralized materials or simulated deposits representative of CM (e.g., REEs, graphite, lithium, nickel, cobalt).

  • Operational Readiness: Must include site utilities, safety infrastructure, and permitting to enable field-scale operations up to TRL 7.

  • Modularity: Facility design must support plug-and-play testing of multiple technology platforms and allow for reconfiguration to accommodate different mineral systems and extraction processes.

  • Scalability: Capable of expanding operations to accommodate future demonstration projects or partnerships. Designs, flowsheets, and plans for a scalable field test facility handling large quantities of materials at a pilot scale.

  • Simultaneous Operation: Preference for proving grounds capable of operating multiple R&D projects simultaneously, even if only one is initially proposed.

  Technical Capabilities and Instrumentation:

  • Data Acquisition & Monitoring: Deploy a comprehensive digital monitoring system integrating geophysical, geochemical, and operational data into a unified platform (AI/ML-ready).

  • Autonomous & Remote Operations: Infrastructure should support operation and testing of autonomous or teleoperated vehicles, robotic systems, and AI-enabled sensing.

  • Environmental Monitoring: Real-time air, water, and soil monitoring systems must be included to assess environmental impacts and validate sustainable mining methods.

  • Simulation & Digital Twin: Integration with a digital twin environment for real-time simulation, prediction, and validation of process performance.

  Safety, Compliance, and Sustainability:

  • Safety Protocols: Must adhere to applicable Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards, with site-specific health and safety plans in place.

  • Environmental Compliance: Must demonstrate conformance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act, and other applicable federal and state environmental regulations.

  • Sustainability Metrics: Establish baselines for emissions, waste, and energy use; must include monitoring and reporting mechanisms for continuous improvement.

  • Community and Workforce Integration: Include local workforce engagement and training opportunities.

  Workforce and Collaboration Hub:

  • Workforce and Training Integration: Should include provisions for hands-on training, workforce development, and educational use.

  • Visitor and Collaboration Center: For engaging with government, industry, academia, and public.

  For R&D Mine Technology Projects:

  Each applicant must identify up to two (2) initial projects to be demonstrated at the developed proving ground to validate its functionality and de-risk new mining technologies. Proposed initial projects under this funding opportunity may be asked to be amended during negotiations if selected.

  Technical Maturity:

  • Readiness Level: Proposed technologies must be at TRL 2–6 at project start and demonstrate advancement increasing at least one TRL by project completion.

  • Integration with Proving Ground: Must demonstrate compatibility with the facility’s modular systems, safety framework, and data acquisition protocols.

  • Performance Metrics: Include clear performance indicators (e.g., recovery efficiency, selectivity, energy intensity, environmental footprint) and justification of economic and technological advantages over conventional methods.

  Environmental and Safety Considerations:

  • Environmental Footprint: Each project must quantify reductions in waste, emissions, or water/energy consumption compared to baseline operations.

  • Safety Plan: Provide a project-specific safety and hazard mitigation plan consistent with the Proving Ground’s operational safety framework.

  Collaboration and Commercialization:

  • Industry and Academic Partnerships: Demonstrate engagement with industry and/or academia, to support commercialization and workforce development.

  • Transition Plan: Include a post-demonstration pathway outlining next steps toward commercialization or follow-on pilot deployment.

• Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

  Research should begin between TRL 2-6 and aim to advance at a minimum of one TRL by the completion of work at the proving ground.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond direct funding, the NOFO describes several programmatic benefits associated with the proving grounds:

• Market Readiness and Investor Confidence
  The proving grounds are explicitly framed as a way to accelerate market readiness by validating new technologies against real industry standards and performance expectations. Testing at these facilities is intended to give companies and investors greater confidence that innovations are ready for larger-scale adoption.

• Risk Management and Safer Deployment
  Proving grounds allow identification of technical and operational risks in a controlled environment before deploying technologies in active mining operations. This supports improved safety and reduces the likelihood of costly failures.

• National Resource and Ecosystem Access
  Once established, DOE envisions that these facilities will serve as a national resource, accessible to:

  • Multiple DOE offices,

  • Industry partners,

  • Academia, and

  • Other research organizations.

  DOE anticipates that, beyond the initial projects, the proving grounds will be used to host additional DOE-funded R&D activities and collaborations, subject to DOE priorities, merit review, and future funding availability.

• Training, Skills, and Workforce Development
  The program is designed to provide a training platform, disseminating skills, technologies, practices, and expertise needed for responsible mining and critical materials supply chains.

All of these benefits are explicitly tied in the NOFO to strengthening secure, resilient domestic critical mineral and material supply networks and restoring U.S. prominence in the mining sector.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

The NOFO specifies the following key dates:

• Application Deadline: December 15, 2025

• Anticipated Selection Notification Date: January 16, 2026

• Anticipated Conditional Award Date: January 23, 2026

• Anticipated Award Date (project start): June 15, 2026

• Estimated Period of Performance: June 15, 2026 – June 14, 2030 (approximately 4 years)

Where does this funding come from?

The initiative is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) Program.

Awards made under this NOFO will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

The activities support Sections 7001(a) and 7002(g) of the Energy Act of 2020, as funded by IIJA Section 41003(c), and are part of a broader federal effort to advance and potentially commercialize technologies that use unconventional resources to produce critical minerals and materials for U.S. energy, national security, and commodity needs.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Eligible domestic entities (as applicants/recipients):

  • Institutions of higher education

  • For-profit entities

  • Nonprofit organizations

  • State and local governmental entities

  • Indian Tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304)

• To qualify as a domestic entity, an organization must:

  • Be organized under the laws of a U.S. state or territory or under U.S. federal law,

  • Have majority domestic ownership and control, and

  • Have a physical place of business in the United States.

• FFRDCs and federal agencies:

  • DOE FFRDCs: Eligible to participate only as subrecipients, not as prime recipients.

  • Non-DOE FFRDCs: Eligible to participate as subrecipients, not as recipients.

  • Federal agencies and instrumentalities (other than DOE): May generally participate as subrecipients but are typically not eligible to be recipients.

  • NETL is explicitly not eligible to receive awards under this announcement and may not be included as a recipient or subrecipient.

• Foreign entities:

  • In general, foreign entities are not eligible to apply as either recipients or subrecipients.

  • Foreign participation is only possible under limited circumstances with an explicit written waiver request included in the application (and, for each foreign subrecipient, a separate waiver).

• Work location requirement:

  • All work must be performed in the United States unless a waiver of this requirement is requested and approved. Costs for work performed outside the U.S. are unallowable without such a waiver.

• Other statutory ineligibilities:

  • Entities on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals list are prohibited from doing business with the U.S. government and are not eligible.

  • Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are not eligible to apply.

  • Entities of Concern (as defined in NOFO Part 2) are prohibited from participating in projects under this NOFO.

• Number of applications per entity:

  • An entity may submit more than one application, provided that each application describes a unique, scientifically distinct project.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Proposals will be scored according to the following criteria:

1. Proving Ground Merit (45%) – Strength of the proposed proving ground: infrastructure readiness, environmental and siting considerations, stakeholder buy-in, risk mitigation, maintenance planning, and ability to support training and real-world testing.

2. Mining Technology Merit (10%) – Technical quality of initial mine technology projects: clarity of current state and advancement path, relevance to topic goals, scalability considerations, supporting data, and risk mitigation.

3. Technical Approach (30%) – Feasibility and clarity of the overall plan: logical SOPO, ability to host multiple technologies, awareness of facility limitations, alignment of budget to scope, and overall understanding of proving-ground operations.

4. Team Capabilities (15%) – Strength of the team: PI expertise, integrated workplan, prior mining facility experience, maturation planning, and knowledge of permitting, NEPA, and mining operations at scale.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

DOE anticipates awarding cooperative agreements under this NOFO, which include a statement of DOE’s “substantial involvement” in the work performed under the resulting awards. For cooperative agreements, DOE does not limit its involvement to the administrative requirements of the award. Instead, DOE has substantial involvement in the direction and redirection of the technical aspects of the project. DOE’s substantial involvement in resulting awards may include the following:

A. DOE shares responsibility with the recipient for the management, control, direction, and performance of the project.

B. DOE may intervene in the conduct or performance of work under this award for programmatic reasons. Intervention includes the interruption or modification of the conduct or performance of project activities.

C. DOE may redirect or discontinue funding the project based on the outcome of DOE’s evaluation of the project at the Go/No-Go decision point(s).

D. DOE participates in major project decision-making processes.

E. Conducting annual project review meetings and monthly status meetings to ensure adequate progress and that the work accomplishes the program and project objectives. Recommending alternate approaches or shifting work emphasis, if needed.

F. DOE may be involved with external usage of the established Proving Ground once the initial Mine Technology project(s) are completed. DOE's authorized representatives have the right to make site visits upon reasonable notice at a mutually agreeable time established by the parties to review project accomplishments and management control systems and to provide technical assistance, if required. You must provide, and must require your subawardees to provide, reasonable access to facilities, office space, resources, and assistance for the safety and convenience of the government representatives in the performance of their duties. All site visits and evaluations shall be subject to the health, safety and environmental policies required of all visitors and shall be performed in a manner that does not unduly interfere with or delay the work.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–160 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 under Federal & State R&D Initiatives.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We can find partners, manage proposal preparation between partners, and write your proposal. Flat Fee + Success Fee rate can be quoted depending on the scope of work.

Fractional support is $300 per hour, with most proposal projects requiring 80–100 hours of expert support from strategy through submission of full proposal.

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

• See the solicitation here.

The AFWERX & SpaceWERX Open Topic Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

Executive Summary:

AFWERX & SpaceWERX’s Open Topic provides SBIR/STTR awards to small businesses to validate feasibility (Phase I) and build prototypes with Air Force or Space Force partners (Phase II or D2P2). Any technology could potentially be funded if it provides real value to the military. Phase I awards are up to $75K/$110K for 3 months; Phase II up to $1.25M/$1.8M; Direct to Phase II up to $1.25M. The next deadlines are estimated to be Q4 of 2025 or Q1 of 2026.

How much funding would I receive?

1. Phase I (Feasibility Study): Up to $75K (SBIR) or $110K (STTR) for a 3-month effort.

2. Phase II (Prototype Development): Up to $1.25M (SBIR) or $1.8M (STTR) for up to 21 months.

3. Direct to Phase II (D2P2): Up to $1.25M (SBIR) for up to 21 months, available to companies that can skip Phase I by providing prior feasibility evidence and a signed Customer Memorandum.

What could I use the funding for?

• Phase I funds a feasibility study and/or customer discovery to identify an Air Force or Space Force end user and customer, culminating in a preliminary and final report.

• Phase II/D2P2 funds R&D to adapt and prototype your dual-use solution with an Air Force or Space Force Technical Point of Contact and the Customer/End User who signed the Customer Memorandum.

See sample projects here.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, AFWERX/SpaceWERX Open Topic participants gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility: Selection for an AFWERX or SpaceWERX SBIR/STTR award demonstrates strong technical merit and alignment with Department of the Air Force priorities. This validation builds trust among primes, defense customers, and private investors.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition: Awardees are often highlighted in AFWERX communications, SpaceWERX showcases, and federal innovation reports—raising profile across defense, aerospace, and venture communities.

• Access to the National Defense Innovation Network: Recipients gain entry into the AFVentures ecosystem, connecting with Air and Space Force end users, program offices, and transition partners to accelerate dual-use commercialization and follow-on contracting opportunities.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential: By advancing technology with nondilutive funding and government-backed validation, companies enhance valuation, de-risk product development, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on investment

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

The next deadlines are expected to be Q4 of 2025 and Q1 of 2026. Funding is generally received 4-5 months after the deadline.

Where does this funding come from?

Awards are made under the Department of the Air Force SBIR/STTR program via AFWERX/AFVentures and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Proposals are evaluated based on three primary criteria:

• Technical Approach: The soundness, feasibility, and innovation of your proposed solution—how effectively it addresses the problem and advances the state of the art.

• Defense Need: The strength of alignment between your technology and an identified Air Force or Space Force capability gap, as demonstrated through end-user engagement or a signed Customer Memorandum.

• Commercialization Potential: The dual-use viability and market readiness of your solution—its potential to scale in both defense and commercial sectors.

Strong applications clearly articulate all three dimensions, showing technical excellence, a validated Air Force or Space Force use case, and a credible path to commercial success.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Proposal Template Compliance: You must use the required proposal template; any content placed outside designated pages will not be evaluated.

• U.S.-Based R/R&D Requirement: All research and development activities funded under the award must be conducted within the United States.

• ITAR Restrictions: Projects involving ITAR-controlled materials limit the participation of foreign nationals.

• Customer Memorandum Requirement: A signed Customer Memorandum is mandatory for all Phase II and Direct to Phase II (D2P2) submissions.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission 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

• Phase I: $9,000 Flat Fee + a 5% Success Fee.

• Phase II/D2P2: $15,000 Flat Fee + a 5% Success Fee.

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

Access the AFWERX Website here.

Adaptive Manufacturing and Integration at Scale (10^n)

Executive Summary:

The Department of War (using the DIU Commercial Solutions Opening process) is seeking commercial prototypes that demonstrate responsive, adaptive, and scalable production methods (e.g., digital design, AI-enabled software, 3D printing, CNC, automated molding, software-defined manufacturing) to create a resilient domestic space supply chain capable of on-demand production at unprecedented scale.
Responses are due by November 21, 2025, meaning companies should begin preparing today and seek additional help in order to meet this deadline.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding levels are not pre-set. Awards are made under Other Transaction (OT) authority, which allows the government to negotiate prototype agreements of varying scale based on project scope and relevance. Vendors selected for Phase 2 will provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate. Follow-on production contracts—potentially of significantly larger magnitude—may be awarded without further competition if the prototype is successful.

What could I use the funding for?

Background and Problem Statement: The current domestic space supply chain, is oriented towards low-volume, exquisite production of bespoke components for highly specialized spacecraft. This model involves long lead times, high costs, and minimal bench stock. Suppliers are typically small and specialized entities that produce components in units of tens, not hundreds or thousands.

This legacy approach cannot meet current demand, which is driven by a dramatic increase in heavy lift launch capacity, cadence (trending towards a launch every day),  and the need for proliferated satellite architectures. The existing exquisite supply chain will not scale without significant government investment and is unlikely to achieve the production levels needed to support the warfighter in times of conflict.

In response, the Department of War (DoW) is seeking commercial solutions to address production rate and capacity challenges in the U.S. space supply chain. This initiative aims to leverage digital design, AI-enabled software, adaptive manufacturing, and agile testing to rapidly produce dual- use space systems on demand and at commercial scale. Developing responsive, scalable and affordable  space systems is critical for maintaining U.S. technological leadership in the space domain.

The Desired Solution and Key Objectives

The DoW seeks commercial solutions to prototype and demonstrate responsive and adaptive production methods (e.g., design for manufacturing (DFM), artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, computer numerical control (CNC), automated molding, software-defined manufacturing) with the goal of creating a resilient, adaptive, and agile domestic space supply chain capable of on-demand production at an unprecedented scale.

Key objectives include:

• Achieve economies of scale in the U.S. space supply chain 

• Disrupt DoW’s dependence on exquisite sources of parts requiring long lead times

• Demonstrate on-demand production rates of hundreds of units per month (10²/mo) to thousands per year (≥10³/yr).

• Team commercial suppliers, advanced manufacturers, and defense integrators to address critical supply chain shortfalls as appropriate.

• Accelerate the advancement of space manufacturing readiness level (MRL).

• Employ an agile Design-Build-Test and Validate/Qualify iterative process to retain technological relevance.

Participant Roles

We will form teaming arrangements from the down-selected companies to collectively meet the needs of this AOI through an iterative process of digital design, adaptive building, operational test, and independent qualification.

Companies applying should identify with one of the following roles:

• Defense Integrators: Defense contractors with a successful history of executing DoW contracts for system-level production units (e.g., spacecraft, aerospace systems).

• Adaptive Manufacturers: Established companies experienced in scaling design-to-production throughput, including smart factories and agile supply chains.

• Disruptive Innovators: Companies of any size that have developed disruptive technologies or manufacturing capabilities that enable economies of scale (e.g., unique software, robotics, AI algorithms).

Success will be measured by the DoW’s ability to demonstrate substantial economies of scale in the mass production and integration of critical space components and systems.

Mandatory Attributes: 

• Must have an established production capability (e.g. technology, process, or facility) to meet the specified production rates (10²/mo or 10³/yr).

• Must be able to collaborate digitally throughout all prototype phases.

• Must be agile and able to source components at the speed of relevance.

• Defense Integrators must be willing to team with selected commercial companies.

Desired Attributes for Compelling Solutions:

• Ready to produce key elements of flight-ready hardware within 3 months of the award.

• Designed for autonomous operation.

• Produced domestically or via friendly foreign supply chains.

• Responsive and cost-effective at production scale.

• Solutions should be commercially viable independent of this specific government use case.

Product/Capabilities Exemplars

There are known critical space manufacturing supply chain bottlenecks and these challenges range from Tier 1 Systems, Tier 2 Sub Systems, Tier 3 Assemblies, Tier 4 Components and Parts, or Tier 5 Hardware and Materials. Examples include, but are not limited to, propulsion tanks, power supplies, star trackers, thrusters, rad-hard electronics, batteries, modems, crypto, harnesses, and/or domestic commodities production for space applications. It is anticipated that defense integrators include discussion of Tier 1 and Tier 2 supply chain bottleneck solutions while adaptive manufacturers and disruptive innovators can highlight specific Tier 3, 4, and 5 products/capabilities they consider candidates for this CSO.  Capabilities that enable scaled production rates (10²/mo or 10³/yr) are an example.  

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the direct funding, participation offers major strategic advantages:

Government Validation and Credibility:
Selection through the DIU CSO process signals that your company’s industrialized construction approach meets urgent defense infrastructure modernization goals. That endorsement strengthens credibility with defense primes, base infrastructure offices, and private investors.

Enhanced Market Visibility and Notoriety:
Awardees gain visibility through DIU announcements, government communications, and defense industry press—establishing your firm as a recognized innovator in resilient military housing and off-site manufacturing.

Follow-On Production Opportunities:
Successful prototypes can transition directly to follow-on production agreements without further competition, potentially unlocking multi-installation, multi-year build programs.

Nondilutive Growth and Exit Value:
Winning an OT award provides nondilutive capital and validation, often leading to higher valuations and stronger acquisition potential for defense and construction-tech firms.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Phase 1 Submission Deadline: November 21, 2025 (11:59 PM ET)

• Phase 2 Pitches

• Phase 3 Full Proposals

• Awards: Prototype OT agreements are often executed within 60–90 days of selection under the above process.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding is provided through the Department of War (DoW) under the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) using Other Transaction (OT) authority (10 U.S.C. § 4022). This allows flexible, competitive awards to commercial vendors outside of traditional Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Defense Integrators – Established DoD contractors capable of system-level production and integration.

• Adaptive Manufacturers – Companies experienced in high-throughput, smart, or autonomous production systems.

• Disruptive Innovators – Any company (including startups and SMEs) offering breakthrough technologies that enable large-scale or cost-efficient production, such as AI-driven design or robotic manufacturing.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Defense Integrators:

• Have a track record of successful DoD system-level production (e.g., spacecraft or aerospace systems).

• Present clear plans to integrate adaptive manufacturers and innovators into their production pipelines.

• Address Tier 1 and Tier 2 bottlenecks such as propulsion systems, payload integration, or power architectures.

• Demonstrate the ability to rapidly qualify and field flight-ready units at scale.

Adaptive Manufacturers:

• Operate established or emerging smart factories capable of scaling throughput from tens to hundreds or thousands of units per year.

• Showcase agile, AI-enabled, or software-defined production methods (e.g., CNC automation, additive manufacturing, digital twins).

• Emphasize cost-efficient, domestic, and responsive production capacity.

• Target Tier 3 and Tier 4 assemblies or components where scale and speed are critical.

Disruptive Innovators:

• Bring novel technologies or processes that could redefine production economics (e.g., new materials, robotics, or design automation tools).

• Demonstrate a path to integration with larger production ecosystems via teaming with integrators or manufacturers.

• Highlight proof-of-concept or prototype performance showing transformative potential for space manufacturing readiness.

• Focus on Tier 4 and Tier 5 hardware and materials, such as rad-hard electronics, sensors, or propulsion subcomponents.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• All production must be domestic or via allied supply chains.

• Companies must comply with ITAR and DoD security requirements.

• Participants must be able to share and collaborate digitally throughout prototype phases.

• Defense integrators are required to team with selected commercial companies.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive solutions brief will take 50-75 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 Solution Brief for $5000. Pitch & 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 Solicitation Here.

Barracks Resilience Through Industrialized Construction (BR-IC)

Executive Summary:

The Department of War, through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), is soliciting proposals under its Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process for the Barracks Resilience Through Industrialized Construction (BR-IC) initiative. This effort seeks to prototype and scale advanced manufacturing and modular construction solutions to modernize and rebuild military barracks that are energy-efficient, durable, and rapidly deployable.
Responses are due by November 25, 2025, meaning companies should begin preparing today and seek additional help in order to meet this deadline.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding levels are not pre-set. Awards are made under Other Transaction (OT) authority, which allows the government to negotiate prototype agreements of varying scale based on project scope and relevance. Vendors selected for Phase 2 will provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate. Follow-on production contracts—potentially of significantly larger magnitude—may be awarded without further competition if the prototype is successful.

What could I use the funding for?

Problem Statement

The Department of War (DoW) faces a critical challenge in modernizing its aging infrastructure, particularly barracks, which continue to degrade due to poor environmental conditions, structural inefficiencies, and outdated building systems. Issues such as mold, pests, and inadequate HVAC performance directly affect the health, safety, and morale of service members, ultimately diminishing force readiness and retention.

Current military construction (MILCON) processes are characterized by lengthy design cycles, fragmented delivery models, and escalating costs. These legacy approaches cannot meet the speed or scalability required to align infrastructure modernization with operational tempo and strategic readiness goals.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, in announcing the formation of the Barracks Taskforce on October 7, emphasized this urgency: “How can we expect them to be ready for anything on the battlefield when their own living space is a constant source of stress and frustration?”

To address these challenges, the DoW seeks to prototype and scale advanced manufacturing and industrialized construction (IC) solutions capable of delivering high-quality, energy-efficient, and resilient facilities at accelerated timelines and reduced lifecycle costs. The objective is to establish repeatable, modular design and construction methodologies that can be rapidly deployed across installations—improving quality of life and ensuring the warfighter’s environment matches the standard of excellence expected on the battlefield.

Desired BR-IC Solution Objectives 

DIU is seeking vendor solutions from the commercial sector that directly address the challenges listed above. 

The Department is seeking a transformative approach to military construction, one that leverages controlled factory environments to shift significant portions of work off-site. This model enables automation, mechanization, and digital precision, allowing for simultaneous site preparation and module fabrication while ensuring superior consistency and quality. The result is accelerated delivery, improved cost predictability, and durable, high-performance structures that enhance warfighter readiness both domestically and abroad.

Through this effort, DIU aims to prototype IC solutions for repeatable military facility types, showcasing how commercial innovation can revolutionize defense construction. These prototypes will demonstrate how industrialized building methods can deliver faster timelines, reduced costs, and resilient, scalable infrastructure that meets the evolving demands of the DoW.

Proposed vendor solutions should address the following:

• Innovative IC building methodologies, such as volumetric modular, hybrid, and Kit of Parts

• Structure(s) that are adaptable for a variety of geographical locations, both domestic and international

• Organization of specialized roles that often are siloed in traditional construction which need to come together to effectively implement Industrialized Construction, organized into project delivery lifecycle: Design, Manufacturing, Assembly, and onsite construction

• Advanced manufacturing methodologies that can deliver high-quality barracks that ensure both performance and durability

• Faster delivery by reducing design and build timelines 30% or more compared to traditional construction. Proposed structure(s) must be capable of being designed, reviewed, and approved within a 9 to 12 month time frame

• Greater cost predictability by reducing design and construction costs by 20% or more as compared to traditional construction

• A comprehensive prototype that encompasses BR-IC design, manufacturing, and building methodologies while employing advanced manufacturing techniques

• Adaptable designs for barracks.

• Process Efficiency: Describe in as much detail as possible, the vendor’s unique BR-IC process, through design and prototyping, as well as estimates for increased efficiencies in terms of scale, cost, and deliverability

• High Performance Sustainable Buildings: Buildings must be energy resilient high performance sustainable buildings and validated by a third-party certification

Complementary Capabilities

In addition, the DoW is interested in the following optional complementary capabilities:

• Utilities: Vendors may propose solutions that consider Enhanced Use Leases, Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA), Energy Resilience Contracts and/or Power Purchase Agreements 

• Finance: Vendors may propose private capital investment, with little or no government upfront capital investment. For example, proposals may leverage third party/private financing, either independently or through a public private partnership

• Owned, Operations and Maintenance Services: Vendors may propose post-construction building operations and maintenance services

Vendors are requested to provide BR-IC design, manufacturing, and construction solution briefs that include the following; 

• Effective cost and schedule control in all phases (design, manufacturing, construction, integration, performance and servicing) 

• Provide design construction process improvements

• Demonstrate the use of technology/AI to provide a scalable, faster, and reliable aid to design efforts

• Ensure design for manufacturing and assembly 

DoD building standards are typically established by the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) and DoD Unified Facility Criteria (UFC). Vendors are free to propose alternative means of ensuring building longevity, life/safety requirements, and force protection standards are met.

Vendor Solution Brief Submission Options

Vendors have flexibility in how they submit their solution briefs, which can be proposed either independently or through a teaming arrangement:

1. Teaming: Vendors (e.g., Design/Build Firms, Design/Build Joint Ventures) are permitted to submit proposals as part of a team.

2. Scope of Objectives: Vendor or vendor teams may submit a solution brief that addresses one, multiple, or all of the BR-IC objectives.

3. Complementary Capabilities: Vendor or vendor teams may also submit a solution brief that focuses exclusively on one or more of the complementary capabilities.

Expectations 

The successful vendor(s),or team will work collaboratively with DoW personnel to meet the following expectations: 

• Design, manufacture, construct, and commission BR-IC 

• Develop detailed project requirements to meet objectives 

• Submit detailed proposal(s) for completing the design, manufacturing and construction for barracks

• Develop and negotiate design, manufacturing and construction agreements 

• Perform quality control and collaborate with DoW quality management personnel

  • Functions of quality control will be the responsibility of the vendor

  • Functions of quality assurance will reside with the DoW

• Vendor(s) must have the ability to conduct the projects at DoW installations in CONUS and/or OCONUS

Desired solutions should demonstrate relevant and verified experience, as well as descriptions of past examples of designing and constructing BR-IC commercial buildings that are energy efficient with reduced life cycle costs.

Vendors or vendor teams are to provide examples and descriptions of designing and building three completed IC projects within the past 10 years with each project value exceeding $20,000,000. Past building projects must include achievement of sustainable third-party certification. 

The selected vendors/teams will initially demonstrate these approaches by designing, constructing, and commissioning new building(s); some examples include: 

(a) AND/OR ~100,000 SF for ~160 rooms (~300 personnel) multi-story Barracks

(b) AND/OR ~440,000 SF for a 600 room (1200 personnel) multi-story Student Housing

(c) AND/OR ~100,000 SF for 200 rooms (200 personnel) multi-story Unaccompanied Personnel dormitory 

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the direct funding, BR-IC participation offers major strategic advantages:

Government Validation and Credibility:
Selection through the DIU CSO process signals that your company’s industrialized construction approach meets urgent defense infrastructure modernization goals. That endorsement strengthens credibility with defense primes, base infrastructure offices, and private investors.

Enhanced Market Visibility and Notoriety:
Awardees gain visibility through DIU announcements, government communications, and defense industry press—establishing your firm as a recognized innovator in resilient military housing and off-site manufacturing.

Follow-On Production Opportunities:
Successful prototypes can transition directly to follow-on production agreements without further competition, potentially unlocking multi-installation, multi-year build programs.

Nondilutive Growth and Exit Value:
Winning an OT award provides nondilutive capital and validation, often leading to higher valuations and stronger acquisition potential for defense and construction-tech firms.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Phase 1 Submission Deadline: November 21, 2025 (11:59 PM ET)

• Phase 2 Pitches

• Phase 3 Full Proposals

• Awards: Prototype OT agreements are often executed within 60–90 days of selection under the above proce

Where does this funding come from?

Funding is provided through the Department of War (DoW) under the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) using Other Transaction (OT) authority (10 U.S.C. § 4022). This allows flexible, competitive awards to commercial vendors outside of traditional Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

Who is eligible to apply?

This opportunity is open to both U.S. and international vendors across allied nations. To receive an OT award, companies must satisfy 10 U.S.C. § 4022(d) by demonstrating at least one of the following:

• Significant participation from a nontraditional defense contractor.

• All participants are small businesses.

• At least one-third of project cost is funded with non-Federal sources.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

1. Teams with verified IC delivery experience: three completed IC projects in the last 10 years, each >$20M, with sustainability certification.

2. Solutions demonstrating repeatable, modular IC methodologies that:

   • Cut design/build timelines by ≥30% (capable of 9–12 month design/review/approval),

   • Improve cost predictability by ≥20%, and

   • Deliver durable, energy-resilient, high-performance facilities across CONUS/OCONUS.

3. Organizations showing integrated capability across Design → Manufacturing → Assembly → On-site construction, strong quality control, and scalable delivery.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must be registered in SAM.gov prior to award.

• Proposals must comply with CSO HQ0845-20-S-C001 evaluation criteria.

• Vendors must meet DoD building standards (Whole Building Design Guide and Unified Facility Criteria) or propose equivalent alternatives ensuring durability and force protection.

• Projects will be conducted at DoW installations in CONUS and/or OCONUS locations.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive solutions brief will take 50-75 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 Solution Brief for $5000. Pitch & 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 Solicitation Here.

USSOCOM BAA for Extramural Biomedical and Human Performance Research and Development

Executive Summary:

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is awarding $2,000,000 to $10,000,000 for projects across defined Research Areas of Interest (RAIs) to advance biomedical, human performance, and canine medicine relevant to Special Operations Forces. This BAA is open continuously through 31 July 2028; applicants must first submit a pre-proposal via eBRAP and, if invited, a full application (generally within 60 days of invitation).

How much funding would I receive?

1. Typical project size: $2 Million to $10 Million

2. Program capacity: “Anticipated total costs… will not exceed $20 Million annually” across all awards funded under this BAA.

What could I use the funding for?

A primary emphasis of the USSOCOM Biomedical, Human Performance, and Canine Research Program is to identify and develop techniques, knowledge products, and materiel (medical devices, drugs, and biologics) to support far-forward early intervention of life-threatening illnesses or injuries within an Irregular Warfare or asymmetric, multi-domain operational environment. Special Operations Forces (SOF) medical personnel place a premium on medical equipment that is small, lightweight, ruggedized, modular, multi-use, and designed for operation in extreme environments. The equipment must be simple to employ, require minimum maintenance, and have low power consumption. Drugs and biologics should optimally not require refrigeration or other special handling. All materiel solutions must be capable of commercialization. Research projects may apply existing scientific and technical knowledge for which concept and/or patient care efficacy have already been demonstrated to meet SOF requirements. The proposed research must be relevant to active-duty service members, veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public. Relevant research must be responsive to the health care needs of the U.S. Armed Forces, family members of the U. S. Armed Forces, and U.S. Veterans.

Proposals must address a relevant health problem responsive to one of the Research Areas of Interest below (Clinical trials are normally not funded by this BAA):

• Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR)

  SOF medical personnel require capabilities for far-forward medical care to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with critical wounds and injuries. The proposed research, application, and/or development of medical techniques and materiel (medical devices, drugs, and biologics) for optimal triage and early intervention in critical life-threatening injuries when casualty evacuation is not possible or is delayed. The project areas under DCR to which the USSOCOM will give highest consideration are:

  • Global Treatment Strategies and Next Generation Wound Management:
    The proposed project must research, apply, and/or develop effective treatment strategies that address the following elements: resuscitation, optimal resuscitation fluid(s), uncomplicated shock, noncompressible hemorrhaging, traumatic brain injuries, and austere damage control surgery. These strategies must be optimized for medics in austere, far-forward areas, with minimal logistical or specialty support, who must stabilize and treat patients for extended periods (days, not hours). Projects that research and develop an all-in-one traumatic wound care treatment that can achieve hemostasis, and incorporate analgesia are preferred.

  • Analgesia:
    The proposed project must research, apply, and/or develop novel, safe, efficacious, peripherally, and centrally acting analgesia that provide easy administration in the field, tolerance of extreme environments, and effectiveness at the point of injury for a prolonged period of field care (days, not hours) and does not sensitize the patient to topical analgesia. Maximum analgesia with minimal sedation is preferred.

  • Far Forward Blood, Blood Components, Blood Substitute, & Injectable Hemostatics:
    The proposed project must research novel strategies to increase the ease, efficacy, and safety of blood transfusions (i.e., person to person, pre-hospital blood banking, rolling blood banks, and blood substitutes) forward of normal logistics support; (e.g., evaluating blood for type/cross matching and for the presence and/or reduction of pathogens, leucocytes, and AB antibodies to improve safety of whole blood transfusion at the point of injury). Projects that will be considered also include injectable medications to address the coagulopathy of trauma and novel strategies to improve tissue oxygenation.

  • Austere Surgical Stabilization:
    Future theatres where SOF personnel will operate are likely to be much less medically robust than the past decade of fighting in our current theatres (this can translate to remote civilian areas), and there will be a mismatch between capability and need. Rather than sitting at hardened structures waiting on patients, surgical personnel may be increasingly asked to go to the patient. Research should focus on mobility/portability of medical and surgical equipment, including support equipment such as sterilization, with emphasis on equipment with greater capabilities than currently fielded devices, smaller size and weight, low power demands, and flexibility in power supplies. Additionally, research and development efforts should include telehealth technologies linking forward surgical providers with higher medical authority consultation and effective, relevant, and dynamic surgical training capabilities. Lastly, research into future procedures and devices may also include a human systems approach to define limitations and mitigation strategies of surgical capability in austere environments (i.e., low light, temperature variability, improving surgical access in distributed maritime environment, surgery in flight, etc.) to bridge time to surgery when patient load exceeds surgical capability.

• Prolonged Field Care (PFC)

  SOF medical personnel require capabilities for far-forward medical care to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with critical wounds, injuries, diseases, and associated sepsis. PFC should focus on novel treatments that support the ability to manage 3-5 patients across the spectrum of illness to multi-system injury for a minimum of 5-7 days. SOF medical personnel require capability to expedite evacuation and increase survivability with limited site of injury support in austere environments including: hyperbaric, mountainous, high-altitude, arctic, and distributed maritime operations.

• Medical Sensors and Devices

  The primary emphasis is to research, apply and/or develop field-sustainable, rapidly deployable medical sensors and/or devices for extended care beyond initial trauma resuscitation, to include austere/forward surgery while operating in areas where casualty evacuation is delayed or unavailable. In addition, proposals that investigate or develop wireless biosensors should demonstrate physiological monitoring capabilities to include, but not limited to, heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, respiration rate, capnography, core temperature, heart rate variability and compensatory reserve index (CRI). Research and development of devices and sensors should include or plan for the capability to transmit (Bluetooth 4.2) to Android handheld devices and be designed with an open architecture to allow for sensors to be incorporated into a family of sensors that may or may not report to a central handheld device. (NOTE: Ideally, sensor and equipment technologies should be electronically readable, scannable, or transmittable to the Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed Observation Kit (BATDOK), an Android-driven, multi-patient, point of injury casualty monitoring capability being fielded by U.S. Air Force (USAF) Pararescuemen and other SOF Medics. Novel devices are required which aid in measuring physiologic decompensation and/or adequacy of treatment/resuscitation in the field environment and/or provide a trigger for a pre-hospital medical intervention (i.e., validation of tissue (muscle) oxygen saturation (StO2), CRI, traumatic brain injury (TBI) measures, etc.

• Portable Lab Assays and Diagnostics

  The proposed project must research, apply and/or develop novel concepts for portable and environmentally stable far forward laboratory assays and diagnostics. Equipment should be extremely portable, ruggedized, use limited or no external power, and any reagents should be self- contained and stable in extreme environmental conditions. Preference will be given to proposals that are field oriented, rugged, low weight/cube space and have little to no refrigeration requirements. Additionally, novel wireless, transmittable or scannable solutions such as patches, scanner/readers or other noninvasive technologies are encouraged.

• Force Health Protection and Environmental Medicine

  SOF personnel must often operate for extended periods of time in austere environments that expose them to extremes in altitude, temperature, humidity, wind, kinetosis, infectious diseases, toxic industrial chemicals, toxic industrial materials, and environmental hazards (including envenomation). In addition, the environment may be compromised due to chemical, biological, and radiological contamination. The primary emphasis of this research area is to research, apply, and develop techniques, therapeutic measures, and materiel (personal protective equipment (PPE), medical devices, drugs, and biologics) to ensure sustained human performance and effectiveness while operating in harsh environmental conditions and/or wearing appropriate PPE.

  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Rapid Diagnostics, Treatment, and Prophylaxis:
    The proposed projects must research, apply, and/or develop novel approaches that will diagnose, treat, and protect SOF personnel from exposure to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives in near real time.

  • Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) Hazards:
    The proposed project must focus on development of novel methods and devices for rapid identification and analysis of exposures to OEH hazards. Research must support the development and analysis of handheld, field hardened, and environmentally stable analytical devices, monitoring devices, dosimetry, assays for rapid on-site identification, and real-time analysis of OEH hazards in air, water, and soil that could pose an acute or chronic health hazard to SOF personnel. Such OEH hazards include toxic industrial chemicals/toxic industrial materials (TICs/TIMs), lead exposures, food and water borne pathogens, toxins, biological agents, and radiological material exposures.

  • Operational Exposure Monitoring:
    The proposed project must seek to develop wireless biosensors for monitoring SOF personnel in extreme environments (i.e., high altitude, whether in-flight or the environment itself, excessive heat or cold, etc.), and potentially hazardous material exposure. Sensors should address physiological measurements and/or chemical, biological and/or radiological hazards. For hazards monitoring, a personal dosimetry device is desired that can detect and alarm based on radiation and chemical presence. The alarming function can be pre-determined to account for known environmental conditions (i.e., natural occurring radiation levels that are below threshold/detrimental health levels) and parts per million (PPM) counts that would trigger an alert. This detection device needs to be able to alarm differently to identify the "type" of hazard(s), and to trigger a back-off and/or donning of additional PPE. Monitoring should be capable of wirelessly communicating via Bluetooth 4.2 to Android handheld devices, tablets, or compatible wrist-mounted displays.

• Brain Health

  Brain Health research efforts include, but are not limited to: determining if repeated low-level blast exposure (rLLBE) causes brain injury or repeated blast brain injury (rBBI), development and validation of fieldable Neurocognitive Assessment Tools (NCATs) and baseline testing, Comprehensive Symptom History (CASH) collection, blast exposure and impact monitoring, determination of safe acceptable limits for blast exposure, development and validation of capabilities to easily identify/diagnose rBBI, methods to prevent, screen for, monitor, and correct neuroendocrine dysfunction. Additionally, Brain Health research efforts include, but are not limited to: methods to prevent TBI from impact and blast such as redesign of helmets, body armor, and munitions, development of pharmaceuticals to prevent and/or treat brain injury, validation of brain injury prevention strategies, and development of return to duty decision support tools.

  • Environmental Exposures Protection:
    Research that develops novel material and/or approaches to protect SOF personnel from the neurological effects of single and repetitive auditory (impulse noise) and non-auditory (overpressure) blast exposures and other environmental factors determined to affect nervous system function.

  • Environmental Exposure Effects:
    Research that determines the neurocognitive, nervous system, and auditory effects from single and repeated low- and high-level blast exposures, impulse noise, and other potential hazardous environmental factors.

  • Biomarkers:
    Research to determine which biomarkers are indicative of rBBI; sequelae from rBBI causing further injury; recovery status; and recovery rate from rBBI. Testing and validating diagnostic biomarkers for rBBI. Proposals should also consider incorporation of validated biomarkers onto existing or future diagnostic platforms. Use of machine learning and/or model development to interpret and report biomarkers that are indicative of rBBI are of interest.

  • Neuropsychological Testing:
    Research to validate neurocognitive assessment tools (NCATs) to determine baseline neurocognitive status, readiness, neurocognitive degradation, sensitivity to various exposures, TBI and recovery status post injury. Proposals to improve the speed, accuracy, specificity, and proximity to injury for the use of NCATs, as well as to compare new technologies and/or modalities (including passive assessment of cognition) to existing NCATs.

  • Olfactory, Oculomotor, Auditory, Vestibular, Cranial Nerve, and Vocal-Acoustic Performance:
    Research and proposals to perform and validate oculomotor, auditory, vestibular, cranial nerve, and vocal acoustic assessments. Research and proposals to assess the effect of nervous system injury to oculomotor, auditory, vestibular, cranial nerve, and vocal-acoustic performance and strategies to restore their performance after injury and prevent injury or further decline.

  • Postural Stability:
    Research to assess the effects of blast exposure on postural stability including the proprioceptive component. Novel treatment strategies, therapies, and therapeutics to prevent and/or correct detriment to postural stability from TBI and neurotrauma caused by blast, impact, and/or other environmental exposures.

  • Neuroendocrine Dysfunction:
    Methods to prevent, screen for, monitor, and correct neuroendocrine dysfunction.

  • Neuroimaging:
    Research into novel imaging and imaging interpretation techniques including, but not limited to computed axial tomography (CAT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to diagnose brain tissue pathologies including, but not limited to, axonal injury, myelin injury, and interface astroglial scarring without the need for immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, or histopathology testing.

  • Analytics:
    Research into analysis including machine learning, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence enabled analysis of data including, but not limited to, NCATs; environmental exposures likely to affect brain health; blast, impact, and noise exposures; auditory, vestibular, and vocal acoustic assessments; postural stability assessments; and neuroimaging.

  • Neuromodulation:
    Research into the use of neuromodulation techniques for treating TBI, neurotrauma, pain, restoring and improving function, improving behavioral health, and cognitive performance.

  • Brain Lymphatics and Glymphatics:
    Research into measuring the fluid dynamics of the brain lymphatic system, diagnosing dysfunction, and validation for tools or techniques to improve brain lymphatic clearance.

  • Pupillometry, Pupillary Response, and Microsaccades:
    Research into field capable pupillary response measurement capture and analysis, with or without the ability to capture Microsaccades to assess central nervous system loading and/or damage.

• Automation of Systematic Reviews and Metanalysis

  Research into Automation of Systematic Reviews and Metanalysis using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) or a similar method

• Human Performance

  USSOCOM requires SOF personnel to withstand extraordinary physical demands and psychological stress to complete their missions. The optimization of SOF personnel’s ability to perform at very high levels for long durations, in addition to processing information and making critical decisions in a timely manner, while operating in extreme environments, will significantly improve their overall operational effectiveness. This research area explores alternatives and/or new approaches to sustain and optimize SOF human performance both to increase mission capability and to extend the career longevity of SOF personnel.

  • Improved Sleep:
    The proposed project must research, apply and/or develop novel approaches to achieve the restorative effects of sleep. This may include methods to induce, maintain, or improve the quality of sleep throughout the entire night. Additionally, the ability to accelerate the effects of sleep through methods requiring less time (e.g., the effects of sleeping eight hours are realized in four hours’ time) or enabling the SOF personnel to quickly reach and adequately cycle through the stages of sleep where the highest restorative effects occur (i.e., Stage 3/ deep sleep, and Stage 4/rapid eye movement sleep).

  • Optimal Acclimatization Strategies:
    The proposed project must research, apply, and/or develop novel approaches and/or technologies that provide rapid and sustainable human acclimatization in austere environments, to include fatigue countermeasure, extremes in temperature, extremes in altitude, and time-zone change (i.e., circadian acclimatization).

  • Wearables:
    The proposed project must research, apply, and/or develop novel approaches and/or wearable technologies, and/or leverage commercial-off-the-shelf wearable technologies that will monitor physiological measures of human performance to include, but not limited to, caloric expenditure, heart rate/heart rate response, heart rate variability, body fat percentage, sleep hygiene (deep and REM sleep duration) in real-time. Measures should be accurate with low fixed bias, wirelessly communicated via Bluetooth, Near Field Magnetic Induction or Radio Frequency technology in real-time and provide the command the capability to utilize the data for analysis of individuals and/or team performance via the USSOCOM Human Performance Data Management System. The device should be able to be turned on/off and/or have an inactive mode, provide real-time feedback on a display screen, be capable of displaying time, and be adjustable to fit users of different statures. Of parallel interest to address is a proposed project to track sleep, fatigue, and performance degradations through a wearable device that provides quantitative data (rather than qualitative surveys often seen in Fatigue Studies), that in turn will be gathered and amalgamated from entire units, in order to track individual performance, unit performance, mission impacts to performance levels, length of time for acclimatization (if it is ever achieved), and potential risk of mishaps.

  • Diagnostics for Performance Sustainment:
    The proposed project must research, apply, and/or develop minimally invasive diagnostic devices to provide actionable information on nutritional gaps, hormonal response to training, physiological response to performance interventions and recovery, and epigenetic predictors of potential injury.

  • Performance Nutrition:
    The proposed projects must research, apply and/or develop methods to accurately measure nutritional status of SOF personnel. The proposed project should focus on cost effectiveness, accuracy, and end-user compatibility (i.e., user friendly) methods or devices for identifying and optimizing an individual’s nutrient status. Consideration of alternative fuel (energy) sources, dietary supplementation, biomarkers, and nutrient volume/timing are specific areas of interest.

  • Physiological Performance:
    The proposed project must research, apply, and/or develop novel approaches and/or technologies to maximize the physiological performance of SOF personnel in austere and/or training environments, to include increased endurance, enhanced senses, tolerance to environmental extremes, and enhanced overall fitness, to maintain operational posture/ability in high stress scenarios without noticeable augmentation, and without hampering personnel mobility.

  • Cognitive Performance:
    The proposed project must research, apply, and/or develop novel approaches and/or technology that provide greater mental acuity or neuroenhancement (i.e., targeted enhancement and extension of cognitive and affective abilities). Encompasses pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of improving cognitive, affective, motor functionality and performance, to include neuromodulation.

  • Psychological Performance and Suicide Prevention:
    The proposed project must research, apply, and/or develop novel approaches to the assessment and improvement of behavioral health within the force. Examples include but are not limited to, novel approaches to treatment and rehabilitation from acute and/or chronic post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety, improved emotional and nervous system self-regulation, digital/virtual engagement strategies, methods to measure behavioral health performance over time, and improved suicide prevention tools/strategies.

• Canine Medicine and Performance

  SOF personnel rely on canines’ exceptional capabilities as combat multipliers. This research area explores alternatives and/or new approaches to preserve and enhance SOF canine combat performance. SOF medical personnel place a premium on canine-specific approaches that are effective in extreme environments and do not require significant additional logistical support (i.e., maximize use of available SOF Medic materiel). The eight “Canine Medicine and Performance” project areas, to which SOF will give consideration, in priority order, are:

  • Trauma Resuscitation:

    The proposed project must support development of innovative techniques/strategies for canine trauma resuscitation (e.g., hypotensive resuscitation, whole blood/blood component replacement, and non-compressible hemorrhaging), particularly to address ballistic projectile injuries, in diverse/austere environments that lack immediately available medical evacuation or restorative surgical capacity.

    Note: Research should minimize or refrain from utilizing canine specific equipment or devices; this will allow treatment from existing trauma kits fielded by SOF Medics.

  • Non-Traditional Anesthesia Protocols:

    The proposed project must develop novel approaches for routine and emergency/post- traumatic canine field sedation and/or anesthesia in diverse environments and, utilizing pharmaceuticals available to SOF Medics.

  • Canine Performance:

    The proposed project must research, apply, and/or develop novel approaches and/or technologies that address optimization of canine performance through improved physical conditioning programs, reduction of cognitive decline, enhanced nutrition, and genetics research.

  • Sensory Optimization and Protection:

    Research must be oriented toward innovative methods that enhance or conserve SOF canine olfactory, visual, and/or auditory performance during combat operations.

  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Canine Decontamination, Treatment, and PPE Against Possible Exposure:

    The proposed projects must research, apply, and/or develop novel approaches that will diagnose, treat, decontaminate, and protect canines from exposure to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives.

  • Environmental Extremes:

    Project proposals must research, apply, and/or develop novel strategies that address acclimatization to acute extremes in temperature, altitude, and/or time zone change (circadian acclimatization), and/or prolonged marine environmental exposure in SOF canines.

  • Brain Health and TBI

    Brain health research efforts include but are not limited to development and validation of NCATs, blast exposure and impact monitoring, determination of safe acceptable limits for blast exposure, validation of neurocognitive baseline testing, capabilities to easily determine mild, moderate, and severe TBI, pharmaceuticals to prevent or treat brain injury, validation of brain injury treatment strategies, and procedures to determine safe return to duty decisions for SOF canines.

  • Pre- and Post-Trauma Training / Behavioral Issues:

    The proposed project must address unique approaches to diagnosing and treating SOF-peculiar training and post-traumatic canine behavioral issues, to optimize pre-purchase selection and post-purchase training strategies across the enterprise and restore performance in canines with behavioral and/or post-trauma issues.

• Medical Sustainment

  SOF medical personnel require sustainment capabilities to support far-forward medical requirements to reduce the patient and supply risk associated with operational medicine. The proposed research, application, and/or development of medical sustainment techniques and materiel must address unique approaches to optimizing supply management and safeguarding equipment requirements. The project areas under “Medical Sustainment” to which the USSOCOM will give highest consideration are:

  • Power and Energy

    Project proposals must research, apply, and/or develop novel strategies that conserve or optimize medical equipment in-field use to reduce sustainment burden in prolonged, austere environments.

  • Austere Medical Logistics Procurement

    SOF personnel, operating in austere environments, may not have the ability to receive conventional resupply efforts. Project proposals must research, apply, and/or develop novel approaches to assist SOF personnel in developing and receiving medical resupplies or repair parts to meet their needs while in the field. These efforts must meet shipping and handling considerations (i.e. temperature control) for a wide range of medical products from batteries to blood. Efforts may include, but are not limited to, fabrication, improvisation, and/or delivery methods from sea, ground, air, or suborbital domains.

  • Equipment Protection

    Research that develops novel material and/or approaches to protect SOF medical equipment from environmental (i.e. CBRNE, freezing temperatures, etc.) and/or adversarial effects (i.e. jamming, electromagnetic pulse weapons, etc.).

  • Supply Monitoring Capability

    Project proposals must research, apply, and/or develop novel approaches to rapidly forecasting and calculating supply requirements based on patient treatment requirements, shelf-life, and storage considerations.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond direct funding, participation under the USSOCOM Biomedical and Human Performance BAA offers significant strategic advantages:

Government Validation and Credibility:
Being selected for funding by USSOCOM demonstrates exceptional technical capability and mission relevance to U.S. Special Operations Forces. This validation enhances your organization’s credibility with DoD program managers, defense primes, and dual-use technology investors seeking field-proven innovation.

Enhanced Market Visibility and Notoriety:
Awardees often gain visibility through federal award announcements, DoD communications, and defense medical research forums—positioning your company as a recognized contributor to national security and elite force readiness.

Ecosystem Access and Collaboration Opportunities:
Projects funded under this BAA operate within the broader military biomedical and human performance ecosystem, connecting recipients with military laboratories, medical R&D commands, and operational units. This access frequently leads to additional collaboration, follow-on funding, and contracting opportunities.

Stronger Exit and Acquisition Potential:
Advancing your technology with nondilutive government support and demonstrating validation in demanding SOF environments can significantly increase company valuation and strategic attractiveness for acquisition or investment by defense, medical, and performance technology leaders.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Open period: Continuously open through 31 July 2028.

• Two-step submission: Pre-proposal via eBRAP; if invited, submit the full application (generally within 60 days).

• Review & notice: Applicants should receive disposition within ~180 days of submission; awards may be made any time throughout the year and are contingent on funding and successful negotiations.

• Regulatory lead times: Allow 2–3 months for DoD human-subjects review (OHRO/HRPO) and 1–2 months for animal research review (VRO), as applicable.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding is provided by the Department of Defense (USSOCOM) and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA); the program leverages CDMRP/eBRAP systems. Any funds received by USSOCOM appropriate to the BAA’s research areas may be used, up to a program total of $20M annually.

Who is eligible to apply?

Organizations only: national/international, for-profit, non-profit, public, and private. FFRDCs are not eligible for direct awards but may team under their sponsoring agreements. Eligible investigators are individuals employed by/affiliated with eligible organizations. No cost sharing is required.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Winning projects consistently score high on USSOCOM’s evaluation factors, which include:

• Technical Merit and Scientific Rigor: The proposed approach must be well-founded, methodologically sound, and clearly linked to measurable outcomes.

• Innovation and Impact: Reviewers favor projects that introduce novel methods, materials, or technologies capable of significantly improving SOF medical or performance capabilities. Incremental improvements without clear operational relevance tend to score poorly.

• SOF Relevance: Proposals must explicitly tie their work to unique SOF operational needs—such as portability, durability, limited logistics support, or extreme-environment applicability.

• Feasible Study Design and Realistic Execution Plan: Reviewers expect achievable milestones, well-defined deliverables, and credible transition pathways for eventual use by operational forces or integration into DoD systems.

• Qualified Team and Institutional Capability: Teams with demonstrated expertise in biomedical R&D, human performance, or defense health technology—and with access to appropriate facilities and regulatory infrastructure—are prioritized.

• Appropriate and Realistic Budget: Budgets should align with the scope and complexity of work, typically falling between $2 million and $10 million total costs for projects up to five years in duration.

Companies that combine strong technical innovation, credible execution capability, and a direct line of sight to SOF mission impact are most likely to be selected for funding.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Project length: Up to 5 years.

• Pre-proposal required; unsolicited full proposals without invitation are rejected.

• Clinical trials are typically not associated with this BAA.

• Human/animal research approvals required.

• Administrative pitfalls leading to rejection/withdrawal include: missing/over-limit narratives, missing budget, inclusion of URLs in prohibited sections, and inconsistencies between pre-proposal and full application.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive pre-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 pre-proposal for $7000. 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 Announcement: HT9425-23-S-SOC1 BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) for Extramural Biomedical and Human Performance Research and Development Department of Defense