C-WMD Basic Research BAA

The C-WMD Basic Research BAA (HDTRA1-25-S-0001) is the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's long-running extramural channel for countering weapons of mass destruction at the fundamental-science level. It sits under DTRA and runs from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2034, with topic clusters released on a rolling basis. For the grant and cooperative-agreement path tracked here, awards run from $300,000 to $5,000,000 and can last up to five years. The program is open to U.S.-based universities, non-profits, and research organizations at TRL 1-4, while industry can be served through contracts or OTAs under the same BAA framework. Current topics include microphysiological systems for detection, self-improving AI for adaptive defense, quantum-enhanced data analysis, PFAS-free repellent materials, synthetic-biology threat sensing, and free-standing films for detection wipes. The process is built for teams that can turn basic chemistry or biology into a defense use case and explain why the work belongs at the earliest end of the development chain. A white paper comes first, then invited full proposals for the strongest topics, so applicants need a crisp technical thesis, a credible performer team, and a clean fit to the topic language rather than a broad exploratory pitch.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.