Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research | FA9550 19 S 0003

Opportunity Information: Apply for FA9550 19 S 0003

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) is offering a standing, broad research funding opportunity focused on basic research that supports the U.S. Air Force and, more broadly, national defense needs. AFOSR serves as the organization within the Department of Defense that plans, coordinates, and executes the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) basic research portfolio, using technical guidance from AFRL and aligning projects with Air Force requirements. A central theme of this opportunity is not only generating new scientific knowledge, but also helping promising results move toward eventual transition and use in Air Force-relevant capabilities. The program emphasizes research areas expected to deliver significant, wide-reaching benefits for warfighting effectiveness and peacekeeping missions, which signals that proposals should clearly connect fundamental science to long-term Air Force interests even when the work is early-stage or exploratory.

The opportunity is organized around two major AFOSR scientific departments, reflecting how AFOSR manages and invests in research. The first is Engineering and Information Science (often referenced as RTA), which typically covers foundational work that underpins future technologies in areas such as engineering disciplines, computing, autonomy, sensing, communications, cyber-relevant science, and related information-centric topics. The second is Physical and Biological Sciences (RTB), which typically includes core research in physics, chemistry, materials, mathematics, atmospheric and space-relevant sciences, and biological or bio-inspired science that could ultimately impact human performance, survivability, sensing, or other defense-relevant outcomes. The listing notes that research activities within each department are summarized in the full announcement, so applicants are generally expected to identify the specific program area and align their technical approach with the interests of the appropriate AFOSR program manager.

This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity with a very flexible set of funding instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, and other mechanisms. That flexibility usually means the government may choose the instrument type based on the nature of the work, the level of expected government involvement, and the pathway toward transition. The catalog reference is CFDA 12.800 (Department of Defense research programs), and the sponsoring agency is the Department of Defense, Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, and additional eligible entities as described in the announcement. In practical terms, that makes this opportunity accessible to universities, research institutes, startups, established companies, and nonprofit laboratories, and it can also support collaborative arrangements across academia, industry, and government labs when aligned with AFOSR interests.

Administratively, the opportunity number is FA9550-19-S-0003, with an initial posting/creation date of April 10, 2019. The closing date is described as "Posted until superseded," which indicates an open or continuously available announcement that remains active until replaced or updated rather than operating on a single short submission window. The stated award ceiling is very high (up to $100,000,000), which is typical of umbrella announcements covering many different research topics and award types rather than reflecting a common single-award size. The expected number of awards is listed as an extremely large placeholder value, reinforcing that this is a broad, ongoing vehicle used to solicit and fund multiple efforts over time.

Overall, this opportunity functions as an umbrella solicitation for AFOSR-managed basic research aligned to Air Force priorities, spanning engineering and information sciences as well as physical and biological sciences. Competitive proposals generally need to present strong fundamental science, a clear fit to one of AFOSR's research portfolios, and a credible narrative for how the research could eventually transition to support Air Force needs, even if the immediate work is aimed at foundational discovery rather than near-term product development.

• The Department of Defense, Air Force Office of Scientific Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 10, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Posted until superseded. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9,999,999 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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