Air Force -- Research Lab · Department of Defense
Continuing Human Enabling Enhancing Restoring and Sustaining
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Aug 22, 2044 · 6528 days left
- Award size
- Not stated: see the official notice
- 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 Roane County (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 43
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/76e69002-8eff-4020-877e-6185de52139e · Printed from grantme.click/grants/d11a9ea4-558c-4f91-80b8-8ee87a6ccd6a
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
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About this grant
The Air Force Research Laboratory, Human Effectiveness Directorate (AFRL/RH) and the United States Air Force School of Medicine (USAFSAM) CHEERS Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) is intended to provide a comprehensive strategy for AFRL/RH and USAFSAM's range of Science and Technology (S&T) requirements, allowing for progression from basic research to technology maturation and transition.
20 Nov 2025: Amendment 01 - Annual Update
The CHEERS Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) MUST be reviewed in tandem with the solicitations in order to have access to all applicable attachments and instructions. There are three (3) open, 2-step, solicitations currently accepting white papers. Please see below for solicitation numbers.
Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA), Notice FA238424S2233:
1. CHEERS MAA Open Period 1 – Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), Solicitation FA238424S2334
2. CHEERS MAA Open Period 2 – Procurement for Experimental Purposes (ARA), Solicitation FA238424S2335
3. CHEERS MAA Open Period 3 - Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), Solicitation FA238424S2336 (NOTE: THIS CSO IS NOT GRANT-ELIGIBLE)
Please reach out if you have any questions regarding the MAA and/or the solicitation(s). Technical questions may be directed to the technical POC’s identified in the announcement/solicitations. General questions may be directed to the CHEERS email org box: AFRL.711HPW.MAA@us.af.mil
Who can apply, from the official notice
The following guidance is provided for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) contemplating submitting a proposal in response to a solicitation, as either a prime or subcontractor. FAR 35.107-1(c)(4) prohibits an FFRDC from competing with any non-FFRDC concern in response to a Federal agency request for proposal for other than the operation of an FFRDC (with exceptions stated in DFARS 235.017-1(c)(4)). There is no regulation prohibiting an FFRDC from responding to a solicitation issued under this MAA. However, the FFRDC's sponsoring agency must first make a determination that the effort being proposed falls within the purpose, mission, general scope of effort, or special competency of the FFRDC, and that determination must be included in the FFRDC's proposal. In addition, AFRL must make a determination that the work proposed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with domestic private industry. Only after these determinations are made, would a determination be made concerning the FFRDC's eligibility to receive an award. Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the Contracting Officer identified in the solicitation before deciding to respond. Foreign contractors should be award that restrictions might apply which could preclude their participation.
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct8
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 - Aug1
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Aug15
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Aug20
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Aug22
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Roane County facts with citations.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice Attachment_1_CHEERS_Industry_Guide_Amend_01_20Nov2025.pdf (37 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 (3)
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 16
“Solicitation Number (Note: this is the solicitation number, not the CHEERS MAA announcement number FA2384-24-S-2233), Title of Program, Name of Offeror, Business Size, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number,…” Open page 16
SAM.gov · p. 28
“To apply for grants and other funding opportunities the applicant entity must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).” Open page 28
Grants.gov · p. 28
“Proposals will not be accepted through Grants.gov or other methods unless the entity is registered in SAM. iii.” Open page 28
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. 16
“Resumes, descriptions of facilities and equipment, a proposed Statement of Work are not required at this point. e.” Open page 16
Length limits
White Paper: 5 pages max · p. 15
“Page Limitation: 1) The White Paper shall be limited to 5 pages, prepared and submitted in Word format. 2) Font shall be standard 10-point business font Arial. 3) Character spacing must be “normal,” not condensed in any manner.” Open page 15
SOW: 5 pages max · p. 18
“The page limitation covers all information including indices, photographs, foldouts (counted as 1 page for each 8.5 by 11 portion) tables, charts, appendices, etc. 8) The proposal page limit does not include the offeror’s proposed Statement of Work (SOW);…” Open page 18
Formatting rules
10-point font · p. 15
“Page Limitation: 1) The White Paper shall be limited to 5 pages, prepared and submitted in Word format. 2) Font shall be standard 10-point business font Arial. 3) Character spacing must be “normal,” not condensed in any manner.” Open page 15
1-inch margins, double-spaced · p. 16
“4) Pages shall be double-spaced (must use standard double-space function in Microsoft Word), 8.5 by 11 inches, with at least one-inch margins on both sides, top and bottom. 5) All text, including text in tables and charts, must adhere to all font size and…” Open page 16
Mistakes that get applications rejected (2)
Over the length limit: Any pages in excess of the stated page limitation after the format check will not be considered for review... · p. 19
“Any pages in excess of the stated page limitation after the format check will not be considered for review purposes. d.” Open page 19
Not registered in time: Proposals will not be accepted through Grants.gov or other methods unless the entity is registered in SAM. iii. · p. 28
“Proposals will not be accepted through Grants.gov or other methods unless the entity is registered in SAM. iii.” Open page 28
Who in Tennessee has won this program
25 awards to Tennessee groups in 3 counties since 2019 · 0 in Roane County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $2M spent that year | 2025 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $2M | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | $1.4M spent that year | 2025 |
| 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 |
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 Roane County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, Washington County | Bioindustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem | $1.3M | 2023 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | University of Texas at Austin | $705K | 2025 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | Ohio State University, the | $210K | 2025 |
| University of Tennessee | Tullahoma, Franklin County | Ohio State University, the | $192K | 2023 |
| University of Tennessee | Tullahoma | Ohio State University, the | $192K | 2023 |
| 2Nd Order Effects LLC | Fairview | National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining | $170K | 2026 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | University of Southern California | $165K | 2023 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | University of Southern California | $165K | 2024 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | University of California, Los Angeles | $160K | 2023 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | University of Southern California | $142K spent that year | 2023 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | The University of Texas at Austin | $125K spent that year | 2025 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | The University of Southern California | $82K spent that year | 2025 |
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).