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Air Force Academy · Department of Defense

Research Interests of the United States Air Force Academy (formerly USAFA-BAA-2021)

Open

Key facts

Deadline
No deadline listed: see the official notice
Award size
Up to $99M
Match ?
Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply
Anyone (unrestricted)
Where
Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

How this fits you

  • Available in Hamblen County (nationwide program)
  • No match required
  • Past Tennessee awards on file: 43

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

View on Grants.gov

About this grant

The USAFA invests in an active research program for three main reasons. First and foremost, research significantly enhances the cadet learning experience. Our research is done by, for and with cadets who work alongside fellow cadets and faculty mentors. Research provides cadets with rich independent learning opportunities as they tackle ill-defined problems and are challenged to apply their knowledge and abilities. Second, our research program provides opportunities essential for faculty development. Research broadens and deepens the experience base of the faculty. This infuses current, relevant, state-of-the-art and cutting-edge applications and examples into the curriculum. This also helps our faculty remain current in their respective fields. Third, at USAFA we strive to conduct research to enhance the ability of the Air Force to perform its mission. There are ongoing research projects spanning topics as diverse as super hypersonics, cyber security, spatial disorientation, athletic performance and homeland defense. This BAA offers a vehicle for research to be performed to satisfy these three objectives, while also meeting research needs of industry counterparts/serve a public purpose. USAFA’s partnerships with non-Government firms enables development in the public arena, stimulating the studies in the greater technical community. All awards issued against this BAA must serve to benefit the objectives identified above.

Who can apply, from the official notice

White papers and proposals from Federal Agencies, including subcontracting/sub-Non-Federal Entity (NFE) efforts will not be evaluated under this BAA. Federal agencies should contact the Department of Research associated with the given technical area listed in Section I of the BAA to discuss funding through internal Government procedures.

Ask a partner for a letter

Writing the need statement? Hamblen County facts with citations.

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the official notice BAA_FA7000-21-S-0001_Amend_0004.pdf (39 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.

Registrations you need first (2)

  • SAM.gov, Grants.gov · p. 1
    “Amendments to and/or calls on this BAA will be posted to the SAM.gov and Grants.gov website and published when they occur.” Open page 1
  • Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 23
    “Your organization must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number (replacement of Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number), registering with the System for Award Management (SAM) www.SAM.gov (previously Central Contractor…” Open page 23

Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist

What to submit

  • Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 25
    “For the principal investigator and each of the senior staff, provide a short biographical sketch and a list of significant publications (vitae) and attach it to the R&R Senior/Key Person Profile Form.” Open page 25
  • Form SF-LLL · p. 27
    “(2) If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a…” Open page 27
  • Project abstract or summary · p. 29
    “A concise abstract of 300 words or less is required for all proposals.” Open page 29
  • Data management plan · p. 29
    “All proposals should include a supplementary document labeled “Data Management Plan” that is two (2) pages or less in” Open page 29
  • Budget narrative / justification · p. 30
    “In addition to the Research and Related (R&R) Budget forms available on Grants.gov, the budget proposal should include a budget justification for each year, clearly explaining the need for each item. ii.” Open page 30

Formatting rules

  • double-spaced · p. 21
    “Spacing – single or double spaced” Open page 21
  • 12-point font · p. 21
    “Font – Times New Roman, 10 or 12 point” Open page 21

Cost share or match

  • Cost share / match · p. 1
    “Unless specifically indicated in a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a call, cost sharing is permitted and encouraged but not required.” Open page 1
  • Cost share / match · p. 20
    “Cost sharing is allowable but not required.” Open page 20

Mistakes that get applications rejected (2)

  • Sent the wrong way or format: White papers and proposals from Federal Agencies, including subcontracting/sub-Non-Federal Entity (NFE)... · p. 20
    “White papers and proposals from Federal Agencies, including subcontracting/sub-Non-Federal Entity (NFE) efforts will not be evaluated under this BAA.” Open page 20
  • Not registered in time: Proposals will not be accepted through Grants.gov or other methods unless the entity is registered in SAM. · p. 23
    “Proposals will not be accepted through Grants.gov or other methods unless the entity is registered in SAM.” Open page 23

Who in Tennessee has won this program

25 awards to Tennessee groups in 3 counties since 2019 · 0 in Hamblen County. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee winners
Past winnerWhereAmountFiscal year
University of TennesseeTullahoma, Franklin County$17.9M2024
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$5M2022
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$2.2M2022
State of TennesseeNashville$2M spent that year2025
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$2M2021
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville$1.4M spent that year2025
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$980K2019
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$897K2020
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$731K2023
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$601K2020
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$541K2023
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$450K2021

Source: USAspending.gov; Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.

Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization

This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 18 pass-through grants on file · 0 in Hamblen County. Largest shown:

Tennessee pass-through grant winners
Past winnerWhereThroughAmountFiscal year
East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, Washington CountyBioindustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem$1.3M2023
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyUniversity of Texas at Austin$705K2025
Tennessee State UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyOhio State University, the$210K2025
University of TennesseeTullahoma, Franklin CountyOhio State University, the$192K2023
University of TennesseeTullahomaOhio State University, the$192K2023
2Nd Order Effects LLCFairviewNational Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining$170K2026
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyUniversity of Southern California$165K2023
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyUniversity of Southern California$165K2024
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyUniversity of California, Los Angeles$160K2023
State of TennesseeNashvilleUniversity of Southern California$142K spent that year2023
State of TennesseeNashvilleThe University of Texas at Austin$125K spent that year2025
State of TennesseeNashvilleThe University of Southern California$82K spent that year2025

Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).

About the federal program

Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program
Program number 12.800 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force · Project grant

How applications are judged

Awards decisions will be based on a competitive selection of proposals resulting from a peer and/or scientific review.

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

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What's wrong?

Source: Federal grants from Grants.gov · the official federal record. Last checked by GrantMe Oct 8, 2026.

Reference numbers: official notice number FA7000-21-S-0001 · program number 12.800