AFRL/RX Functional Materials Open BAA
Supports advanced functional materials research in the United States through Air Force opportunities.
The AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate Functional Materials Division (AFRL/RXA) solicits white papers year-round under Broad Agency Announcement FA8650-22-S-5002, a rolling two-step BAA open through 28 October 2026 at 3:00 PM Wright-Patterson AFB local time. Total anticipated funding across the full BAA period (FY22–FY26) is approximately $48 million, with approximately $8.5 million available in FY26. Multiple awards are anticipated. Award instruments include FAR Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts, Other Transactions for prototype and research, grants, and cooperative agreements. Award periods run 12 to 60 months for technical effort plus three months for reporting. Cost sharing is not required.
Eligible research falls within four core competencies of the Functional Materials Division: photonic materials (optical materials, EO/IR sensor protection, laser materials); nanoelectronic materials (ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors, 2D materials, magnetoelectric and memristor materials, heterogeneous integration); quantum semiconductor materials and processes (quantum-enabled sensors, secure communications, electronic warfare, infrared sensing, hyperspectral imaging); and soft matter and biomaterials (stimuli-responsive polymers, flexible electronics, wearable sensors, bioelectronics, synthetic biology for materials). The solicitation is unrestricted — small businesses, universities, industry, and non-profits are all eligible. There is no limit on the number of white papers any single offeror may submit.
Step 1 requires a four-page white paper plus one Quad Chart. The government reviews submissions in approximately 30 working days and issues an invitation to proceed or decline within approximately 30 days of that review. Invited offerors then submit a full technical/management proposal (20 pages maximum plus one Quad Chart and a separate 10-page Statement of Work) within 30 working days of the invitation. Security classification may reach SECRET, so applicants should confirm facility clearance status before submitting on sensitive topics.
Photonic materials, nanoelectronic materials, quantum semiconductor materials and processes, soft matter and biomaterials for Air Force warfighting applications.
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