Air Force -- Research Lab · Department of Defense
Research and Development (RAD) Directed Energy (RD) University Assistance Instruments
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Jul 18, 2029 · 1015 days left
- Award size
- Up to $49M
- Cost share / match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Anyone (unrestricted)
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Grant-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- No cost share required
- Tennessee recipients since 2023: 22
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
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Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/6db2ce81-3523-4a4e-84b8-65b6aaac9f28 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/3f259da3-5be2-4d17-b037-96cbe65b406d
Read the official notice View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar Sign in to save
About this grant
Eligibility (from the notice)
Should we apply? (2-minute check) Ask a partner for a letter
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Jun27
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters. - Jul11
Finish a complete draft for a final review
University grant offices require final versions about 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. Emory Office of Sponsored Programs - Jul16
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Jul18
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the funding notice 1._RDK-RAD-FOA-2024_AMEND3.pdf (23 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. The notice itself always controls.
Registrations you need first
Grants.gov · p. 2
“Amendments to the original funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will be posted to the Grants.gov Webpage: https://www.grants.gov/.” Open page 2
SAM.gov · p. 3
“Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) E.” Open page 3
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 19
“Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number will also be given upon SAM registration.” Open page 19
New to these? SAM.gov registration can take weeks, so start early: grant-ready checklist.
Steps before the deadline
Letter of intent · p. 1
“Prior to submitting a full application, Recipients are required to submit a Letter of Intent through the Valid Eval Portal at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/afrl_rad/signup.” Open page 1
Letter of intent · p. 6
“Prior to submitting an application, Applicants are required to submit a Letter of Intent.” Open page 6
Letter of intent · p. 6
“Applicants are required to submit a Letter of Intent through the Valid Eval Portal at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/afrl_rad/signup, which will then be reviewed for potential selection, to submit a full application.” Open page 6
Letter of intent · p. 9
“Actions Required by Applicants/Recipients at letter of intent submission.” Open page 9
What to submit
Project abstract or summary · p. 15
“Include a concise (not to exceed 300 words) (publicly releasable) abstract describing the research objective, technical approaches, anticipated outcome and impact of the specific research, and public purpose in accordance with 32 CFR §22.205.” Open page 15
Budget narrative / justification · p. 16
“In addition to the Research and Related Budget forms available on Grants.gov, the budget proposal should include a budget justification for each year, clearly explaining the need for each item.” Open page 16
Form SF-424 · p. 23
“Attachment IV, SF424 5.” Open page 23
Length limits
Any: 20 pages max · p. 11
“Any application pages more than the allowable 20-page limitation will not be reviewed.” Open page 11
Include: 300 words max · p. 15
“Include a concise (not to exceed 300 words) (publicly releasable) abstract describing the research objective, technical approaches, anticipated outcome and impact of the specific research, and public purpose in accordance with 32 CFR §22.205.” Open page 15
Formatting rules
double-spaced · p. 17
“Spacing – single or double spaced” Open page 17
12-point font · p. 17
“Font – Times New Roman 12 point” Open page 17
single-spaced · p. 17
“This includes cover page, charts, graphs, maps, and photographs when printed using the formatting requirements set forth above and single spaced.” Open page 17
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 11
“Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing is not required under this FOA.” Open page 11
Mistakes that get applications rejected
Could get your application rejected · p. 6
“Letters of Intent and/or Applications received after the Final Submission Deadline will be deemed late and will not be accepted for review.” Open page 6
Could get your application rejected · p. 11
“Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions identified in (Section IV - Submitting the Application) or they will be rejected.” Open page 11
Could get your application rejected · p. 11
“Any application pages more than the allowable 20-page limitation will not be reviewed.” Open page 11
Could get your application rejected · p. 12
“Applications submitted without prior submission of a Letter of Intent, will NOT be considered for the proposed effort.” Open page 12
Could get your application rejected · p. 13
“Valid Eval will result in being disqualified for potential award.” Open page 13
Could get your application rejected · p. 19
“If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal agency may determine that the applicant is disqualified.” Open page 19
Who in Tennessee has won this program
22 awards to Tennessee recipients in 3 counties since federal FY2023. Largest shown:
| Recipient | Where | Amount | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Tennessee | Tullahoma, Franklin County | $17.9M | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $5M | 2022 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $2.2M | 2022 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $2M | 2021 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $980K | 2019 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $897K | 2020 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $731K | 2023 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $601K | 2020 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $541K | 2023 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $450K | 2021 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $447K | 2022 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $435K | 2021 |
Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.
About the program (12.800)
Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program