FOA-Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-21-S-0001); no deadline set

 

Agency

Department of Defense; Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)

 

Description

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) solicits proposals for basic research through this general Broad Agency Announcement outlining the U.S. Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program. We invite unclassified proposals that do not contain proprietary information for research in many broad areas. We expect to fund only fundamental research. We anticipate many awards in the form of grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, technology investment agreements, or other transactions. Our focus is on research areas that offer significant and comprehensive benefits to our national warfighting and peacekeeping capabilities. These areas are organized and managed in two scientific branches, each with two teams:

 

ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION SCIENCES (RTA)

•        Engineering and Complex Systems (RTA1)

The Engineering and Complex Systems team within the Engineering and Information Science Branch leads the discovery and development of the fundamental and integrated science that advances future air and space flight. The broad goal of the team is to discover and exploit the critical fundamental science and knowledge that will shape the future of aerospace sciences. A key emphasis is the establishment of the foundations necessary to advance the integration or convergence of the scientific disciplines critical to maintaining technological superiority. The central research direction for this team focuses on meeting the basic research challenges related to future air and space flight by leading the discovery and development of fundamental science and engineering in the following research areas:

a.      Dynamic Materials and Interactions

b.      GHz-THz Electronics

c.      Energy, Combustion and Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics

                                                i.          Multi-Physics, Multi-Scale Modeling/Simulation for Energy Conversion

                                              ii.          Game-Changing Thermodynamics Concepts and Innovative Energy Conversion

d.      Unsteady Aerodynamics and Turbulent Flows

e.      High-Speed Aerodynamics

f.       Aerospace Composite Materials

g.      Multiscale Structural Mechanics and Prognosis

h.      Propulsion and Power

i.        Agile Science for Test and Evaluation (T&E)

 

•        Information and Networks (RTA2)

The Information and Networks Team within the Engineering and Information Science Branch is organized to support many U.S. Air Force and Space Force priority areas including autonomy, space situational awareness, and cyber security. The research programs within this team lead the discovery and development of foundational issues in mathematical, information and network oriented sciences. They are organized along three themes: Information, Decision Making, and Networks. The information theme addresses the critical challenges faced by the U.S. Air Force and Space Force which lie at the intersection of the ability to collect, mathematically analyze, and disseminate large quantities of information in a time critical fashion with assurances of operation and security. Closely aligned with the mathematical analysis of information is the need for autonomous decision making. Research in this theme focuses on the discovery of mathematical laws, foundational scientific principles, and new, reliable and robust algorithms, which underlie intelligent, mixed human-machine decision-making to achieve accurate real-time projection of expertise and knowledge into and out of the battle space. Information analysis and decision making rarely occur in the context of a single source. The networks theme addresses critical issues involving how the organization and interaction among large collections of information providers and consumers contributes to an understanding of the dynamics of complex information systems. Our research areas of interest are as follows:

a.      Computational Cognition and Machine Intelligence

b.      Computational Mathematics

c.      Dynamical Systems and Control Theory

d.      Dynamic Data and Information Processing

e.      Information Assurance and Cybersecurity

f.       Mathematical Optimization

g.      Science of Information, Computation, Learning, and Fusion

h.      Trust and Influence

i.        Complex Networks

j.        Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience

 

PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (RTB)

•        Physical Sciences (RTB1)

The Physical Sciences Team leads the discovery and transition of foundational physical science to enable air, space, and cyber power. Research in physics generates the fundamental knowledge needed to advance U.S. Air and Space Force operations, from the perspective of sensing, characterizing, and managing the operational environment as well as developing advanced devices that exploit novel physical principles to bring new capabilities to the warfighter. Research directions are categorized in the following four broad areas, with the focus on advancing our basic understanding of the physical world: (1) Quantum matter and devices; (2) plasma and high-energy-density physics; (3) optics, photonics, and electromagnetics; and (4) aerospace materials. The Physical Science topics are:

a.      Aerospace Materials for Extreme Environments

b.      Atomic and Molecular Physics

c.      Electromagnetics

d.      Laser and Optical Physics

e.      Optoelectronics and Photonics

f.       Plasma and Electro-Energetic Physics

g.      Quantum Information Sciences

h.      Physics of Sensing

i.        Space Science

j.        Ultrashort Pulse Laser-Matter Interactions

k.      Condensed Matter Physics

 

•        Chemistry and Biological Sciences (RTB2)

The Chemistry and Biological Sciences Team is responsible for research activities in chemistry and biological sciences. A wide range of fundamental chemistry, biology, mechanics, and biophysics research is supported to provide the Air and Space Forces with novel options to increase performance and operational flexibility. Research carried out within this team will help usher in revolutionary new technologies that will fundamentally change the way future Air and Space Force weapon systems are designed and implemented. This research effort will endeavor to identify chemical and biological mechanisms, structures, and systems with the potential to inspire future technology in all Air and Space Force systems. Understanding these mechanisms, structures and systems at a fundamental level will accelerate advances in energy technology, control of complex systems, sensors and sensory systems, and materials engineering. The focus is on complex materials, microsystems and structures and well as systems of a biological natural by incorporating hierarchical design of mechanical and functional properties from the nanoscale through the mesoscale, ultimately leading to controlled well-understood chemistry/biochemistry, and material or structural behavior capable of dynamic functionality and/or performance characteristics to enhance mission versatility. In addition to research into underlying materials/biomaterials and fundamental physical/biophysical processes, this area considers how they might be integrated into new classes of devices and pursues a fundamental understanding of materials that are not amenable to conventional computational means. Finally, the energy extraction and storage efforts addresses the characterization, synthesis, and utilization of fundamental energy sources, ranging from novel molecular configurations to photoelectric stimulated mitochondria and solid rocket motor propellants infused with performance improving nano-energetic particles. The Chemistry and Biological Sciences topics are:

a.      Biophysics

b.      Human Performance and Biosystems

c.      Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials and Microsystems

d.      Molecular Dynamics and Theoretical Chemistry

e.      Natural Materials and Systems

f.       Organic Materials Chemistry

 

OTHER INNOVATIVE RESEARCH CONCEPTS

We are always looking for new basic research ideas and are open to considering unique and revolutionary concepts which do not fall into the portfolios described above. If you have an exciting idea that doesn't seem to fit within one of the more specific topic descriptions, you may submit it under this section of the BAA. Research should investigate truly new and unique approaches and techniques that may enable revolutionary concepts with potentially high-payoff relevant to Air and Space Forces. Pre-coordination with the point of contact is, however, very strongly encouraged before submitting a proposal.

 

Approximately $200 million is anticipated to be available for support of actions awarded under this announcement, subject to availability of funds. Research proposals funded between $100,000 and $300,000 per year are encouraged. Most of our awards are three (3) years in duration. Awards may be proposed for not more than five (5) years.

 

Proposers are highly encouraged to contact the Program Officer responsible for your topic(s) of interest prior to developing a proposal.

 

Announcement Number:

FA9550-21-S-0001

 

Closing Date:

This announcement remains open until superseded.

 

Link to Full Announcement

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=334084

 

Contact Information

Calvin D. Scott, AFOSR/RBKC

Senior Procurement Analyst

Email: afosr.baa@us.af.mil

 

Daniel Smith, AFOSR/RBKC

Procurement Analyst

Email: afosr.baa@us.af.mil