FAA - BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT AVIATION RESEARCH 2025

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

Executive Summary:

This FAA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is an open, rolling opportunity to submit white papers for aviation research topics. There is no fixed deadline—white papers may be submitted at any time until the expiration of the BAA or until a Topic is removed.

If you are developing technologies in airport pavements, aircraft structures, propulsion, avionics, AI/ML, or safety systems, this is a flexible entry point to secure non-dilutive R&D funding. Because submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, strong teams can engage early and iterate with the FAA.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding varies by topic. Examples explicitly stated include:

• Many topics:

  • Not to exceed $200,000.00 per project, per fiscal year

• Some topics:

  • Approximately $250,000 per project, per fiscal year

  • Approximately $350,000 (total)

  • Not to exceed $400,000.00 per project, per fiscal year

• In several topics:

  • Funding is not specified and will be determined based on the proposed work

All funding is:

• Subject to availability

• Typically awarded annually

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports aviation R&D aligned with FAA priorities, including:

• Airport pavement research (e.g., cracking, materials, instrumentation, modeling)

• Structural integrity of aircraft components

• Propulsion and fatigue testing (e.g., nickel alloy anomalies)

• Flight controls, avionics, and safety systems

• AI/ML applications in aviation systems and certification

• Software tools and engineering models (e.g., FAARFIELD, BAKFAA)

• Oversight systems, safety management, and regulatory innovation

Projects generally include:

• Research, testing, and data analysis

• Modeling and simulation

• Software/tool development

• Field validation and implementation planning‍ ‍

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Direct engagement with FAA technical teams and subject matter experts

• Opportunity to influence FAA standards, Advisory Circulars, and software tools

• Access to FAA datasets, test facilities (e.g., NAPTF), and research infrastructure (where applicable)

• Potential for follow-on work based on performance and results

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

• Submission timeline:

  • White papers may be submitted at any time until the expiration of the BAA or until the Topic is removed

• Project duration:

  • Many topics allow up to 3 years

  • Some specify 12 to 36 months or 24 months

  • Others: not specified

• Funding cadence:

  • Typically annual funding, subject to availability

  • Continued funding is at FAA discretion based on performance and results

• Award timing:

  • Not specified in the solicitation

Where does this funding come from?

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

• Specifically through the William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace

This is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for aviation research.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Eligibility is not explicitly specified in the provided text

The solicitation refers broadly to:

• “Offerors”

• “Aviation community”

• Entities capable of submitting white papers aligned to technical topics

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the solicitation, competitive projects will:

• Directly address a specific Topic of Interest

• Demonstrate technical feasibility and research rigor

• Leverage real-world data, FAA datasets, or test facilities

• Align with FAA implementation goals (e.g., integration into FAARFIELD, Advisory Circulars)

• Show clear pathways to improving safety, performance, or certification processes

• Incorporate advanced methods (e.g., AI/ML, modeling, novel instrumentation) where relevant

Projects that connect research outputs to practical FAA use cases are strongly aligned.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Submissions must be in the form of white papers aligned to specific Topics

• Work must follow instructions and evaluation criteria in the BAA

• Some topics include specific constraints, for example:

  • Avoiding proprietary system promotion in certain research areas

  • Compatibility with FAA systems or software environments

• Funding is:

  • Subject to availability

  • At FAA discretion based on performance and results

No universal restrictions (e.g., cost share, TRLs) are specified in the provided text.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

• The solicitation requires brief descriptive white papers

Estimated effort will depend on complexity, but:

• White papers are typically faster to prepare than full proposals

• Exact preparation time is not specified in the solicitation

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Identify the best-fit FAA Topic(s) for your technology

• Translate your innovation into a compliant white paper aligned to FAA expectations

• Position your work for implementation into FAA standards, software, or guidance

• Help structure a phased engagement strategy to maximize follow-on funding

• Ensure your submission is clear, technically credible, and aligned with evaluation criteria

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($15,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.