Research of the Implementation of Design Methodologies in the Classroom, Industry and the Department of Defense | USAFA BAA 2015 CALL 0003

Opportunity Information: Apply for USAFA BAA 2015 CALL 0003

The Department of Defense, through the U.S. Air Force Academy, released a discretionary research funding opportunity titled "Research of the Implementation of Design Methodologies in the Classroom, Industry and the Department of Defense." The purpose of the call is to support science and technology research and development that examines how design methodologies are implemented and used in three key environments: educational settings (classrooms), industry, and Department of Defense organizations. The announcement indicates that the full technical and submission requirements are not contained in the short synopsis itself; instead, applicants are expected to rely on the referenced TWO-STEP CALL ANNOUNCEMENT document and the supporting Research Considerations document for the detailed scope, evaluation criteria, deliverables, and proposal instructions. In practical terms, this means the program is likely structured to first collect a short initial submission (often a white paper or concept paper) and then invite selected teams to provide a more complete proposal in a second step, though the exact mechanics are defined in the supporting documents.

The opportunity is identified as USAFA BAA 2015 CALL 0003, and it allows for multiple award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts. That mix of instruments signals flexibility in how the government intends to partner with performers, ranging from more traditional grant-style research to closer government involvement under a cooperative agreement, or acquisition-style contracting when appropriate. The funding activity category is listed as "Science and Technology and other Research and Development," and the associated CFDA number is 12.800, which is commonly used for Department of Defense research programs. The sponsoring agency is the Department of Defense, Air Force Academy.

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the call is generally open to any type of entity (such as universities, nonprofits, for-profits, research institutions, or other organizations), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may appear in the full announcement text. The synopsis highlights that there may be important details or limitations in the "Additional Information on Eligibility" section of the complete materials, so an applicant would need to verify those conditions before preparing a submission.

From a funding and awards standpoint, the announcement lists an award ceiling of $1,100,000 and anticipates making about three awards. This suggests a small number of competitively selected projects, each potentially substantial in size, depending on whether the ceiling applies per award and how the Air Force Academy allocates funds across the expected winners (the definitive interpretation would be in the full documents). The notice shows a creation date of March 13, 2017, with an original closing date of March 28, 2017, indicating a relatively short window between posting and deadline, consistent with calls that expect rapid concept submissions in the first step.

In summary, this is a competitive Department of Defense research call focused on studying and improving the real-world adoption and execution of design methodologies across education, commercial practice, and defense contexts, with up to $1.1 million available per the stated ceiling and an expected three awards. The essential next step for anyone considering applying would be to consult the TWO-STEP CALL ANNOUNCEMENT and Research Considerations documents referenced in the synopsis, since those attachments define the specific research questions of interest, the structure of the two-step submission process, required formats, allowable costs and period of performance, government points of contact, and how proposals will be evaluated.

• The Department of Defense, Air Force Academy in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research of the Implementation of Design Methodologies in the Classroom, Industry and the Department of Defense" 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 Mar 13, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 28, 2017. (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 $1,100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for USAFA BAA 2015 CALL 0003

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