BAAs are a tool that federal funding agencies (especially DoD) use to solicit proposals for basic and applied research in broad research areas or to generate innovative solutions to specific problems.

BAAs are generally used in place of solicitations for specific types of research projects or narrower research areas when:

  • The government desires new and creative solutions to problems.
  • Using a conventional (narrow) RFP could unintentionally stifle innovative ideas and concepts.
  • Agencies seek to advance the state of the art or increase knowledge or understanding rather than focusing on a specific solution.
  • The government must be able to state its objectives in terms of areas of need or interest rather than specific solutions or outcomes.
  • Meaningful proposals with varying technical and scientific approaches are reasonably anticipated.

BAAs generally consist of one overarching solicitation that outlines several research areas under specific topics to which a PI can respond. Many agencies release yearly BAA solicitations, but additional BAAs are released as needed throughout the year. BAAs are typically open for at least one year, but many BAAs will have a closing date five or more years after their release date. While the closing date for an open BAA might be up to several years away, white papers and full proposals will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis for any open BAA.

All open BAAs relevant to UAH researchers can be found on Grants.gov and in the “Open Broad Agency Announcements” section of each Weekly Funding Bulletin. They usually contain broad topics in areas such as cybersecurity, computer science and engineering, biological sciences, materials science, physics, hypersonics, applied mathematics, data science and informatics, optical science and engineering, etc.

Summary of BAA Features

  • Flexible proposal responses
  • Can submit any time (no strict due dates)
  • Usually open for several years

Noteworthy Open and Recurring BAAs

DARPA Office-wide BAAs (open until superseded)

Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (open until superseded)

FY25 Long Range BAA for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology (closes September 30, 2025)

Air Force Research Laboratory Automated Processes for Knowledge Discovery and Information Retrieval (closes September 9, 2029)

DoD Munitions Directorate Air Dominance BAA (closes October 31, 2029)

Army Applications Lab BAA for Disruptive Applications (closes April 4, 2029)

United States Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) BAA for Basic, Applied, and Advanced Scientific Research (closes April 30, 2028)