ARMY APPLICATIONS LAB BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DISRUPTIVE APPLICATIONS | W911NF 19 S 0004

Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 19 S 0004

The ARMY APPLICATIONS LAB BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DISRUPTIVE APPLICATIONS is a U.S. Army research and development funding opportunity issued by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army (Army Materiel Command) through the Army Applications Lab (AAL). It is structured as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), meaning it is designed to solicit a wide range of innovative ideas and proposals rather than prescribing a single narrowly defined project. The core purpose is to identify and support basic and applied research efforts that align with the Army Applications Lab research areas of interest, with an emphasis on disruptive approaches that could meaningfully improve Army capabilities or solve challenging Army-relevant problems.

This BAA is released under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d)(2), which is a competitive procedure specifically intended for the selection of proposals in basic and applied research. It also cites statutory authorities including 10 U.S.C. 2358, 10 U.S.C. 2371, and 10 U.S.C. 2371b. In practice, these authorities give the Army flexibility to fund research using multiple award mechanisms and to work with a broad set of performers, including nontraditional defense partners, when appropriate. The announcement points offerors to the definitions of basic and applied research in 32 CFR 22.105, clarifying that the work sought is research-oriented (ranging from early scientific exploration through more mature applied concepts), rather than routine product procurement.

The opportunity is classified as discretionary and falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category. The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number provided is 12.431, which is associated with Department of Defense research programs. The funding instruments listed include cooperative agreements, grants, other transaction-type arrangements (captured in the listing as "Other"), and procurement contracts. This mix signals that AAL may choose the award instrument that best fits the nature of the proposed effort, the maturity of the technology, the level of collaboration needed, and the intended outcomes.

In terms of scale and competitiveness, the notice indicates an expected number of awards of up to 1000 over the life of the announcement, which is typical of BAAs that remain open for multiple years and make awards on a rolling basis as proposals are received and selected. The award ceiling is shown as 0, which generally indicates that a single universal maximum award amount is not specified in the synopsis; instead, funding levels are likely determined by the scope, technical merit, and relevance of each individual proposal and by available funds at the time of selection. The announcement was created May 2, 2019, with an original closing date of May 1, 2024, reflecting a multi-year window during which proposals could be submitted and evaluated.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the expectation that the full announcement would explain eligible applicant types in more detail. In many Army BAAs, eligibility can include companies (including startups), universities, nonprofit research organizations, federally funded research and development centers where permitted, and other qualified entities, sometimes including individuals depending on the specific terms. The key takeaway from the synopsis is that eligibility is not limited to a single sector; AAL is signaling openness to a diverse pool of innovators as long as they can perform the proposed research and meet the requirements of the selected award mechanism.

Finally, the BAA explicitly states that proposals submitted and selected for award are treated as the product of full and open competition, consistent with the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-369) and subsequent amendments. That language is important because it clarifies the competitive standing of awards made under the BAA process and helps organizations understand that selection is conducted through a recognized competitive research solicitation pathway, even though the BAA may accept submissions over an extended period and may cover multiple research topics rather than one single program.

• The Department of Defense, Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "ARMY APPLICATIONS LAB BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DISRUPTIVE APPLICATIONS" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.431.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 02, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 01, 2024. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1,000 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for W911NF 19 S 0004

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