Department of Defense Advanced Computing Initiative (ACI) Fiscal Year 2019 | W911NF 19 S 0007

Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 19 S 0007

The Department of Defense Advanced Computing Initiative (ACI) Fiscal Year 2019 funding opportunity (BAA W911NF 19 S 0007) is a Department of Defense research program focused on advancing computing systems in areas that matter to US national security. The program was initiated by the National Security Agency and the Combat Capabilities Development Command/Army Research Laboratory/Army Research Office, and it is designed to grow DoD expertise and long-term capability in computing systems research while strengthening ties between the defense community and the broader computing research ecosystem. ACI is positioned against a major shift in the field: the slowdown of traditional CMOS transistor scaling and the rise of non-von Neumann approaches, which together are opening up many new directions for hardware, software, and system-level innovation.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its two-step application process, which is meant to reduce wasted effort for applicants and streamline government review. First, applicants must submit a timely and compliant Concept Paper. The government uses these concept papers to pre-screen ideas and decide which ones are most promising. Only applicants whose concept papers are rated highly will be invited to submit a full Proposal, and an invitation is mandatory to proceed. If an applicant does not submit a concept paper, they are not eligible to submit a proposal. If they do submit a concept paper but do not receive an invitation, they are also not eligible to submit a proposal. Applicants who are invited to the proposal stage will receive government feedback on their concept paper, with the intent that this guidance will materially strengthen the eventual full proposal.

The technical scope is centered on computing systems research and explicitly targets work aligned with one or more of four thrust areas: (1) Novel Methods of Computing, (2) Hardware and Software Systems Components, (3) Exploration of System Concepts, and (4) Algorithms and Architectures. The thrust descriptions in the solicitation are meant to provide useful direction without overly constraining applicants, and the program encourages innovative ideas within these topic boundaries. One clear boundary is that quantum computing concepts are outside the scope of this BAA, so proposals focused on quantum computing would not be considered responsive.

The opportunity supports a range of project structures, from single-investigator efforts to larger multidisciplinary, cross-institutional teams. Teaming is encouraged when the research problem spans multiple linked issues and requires expertise that is distributed across different organizations, with an emphasis on synergy across disciplines rather than loosely connected tasks. For team submissions, the proposal must name one Principal Investigator as the primary technical point of contact, and one institution must be designated as the primary recipient for award administration. The application must also clearly explain how participating institutions will collaborate, what each partner will do, and how funding will be allocated, including any planned subawards, both in the technical narrative and in the budget.

From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary R&D opportunity under CFDA 12.431 and can be awarded using several instrument types, including cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts. Eligible applicants are broad and include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, individuals, for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), and small businesses. The issuing organization is the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Materiel Command. The opportunity was created on February 25, 2019, with an original closing date of May 31, 2019. The stated award ceiling is $2,000,000, and the listing indicates 500 expected awards.

• The Department of Defense, Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Department of Defense Advanced Computing Initiative (ACI) Fiscal Year 2019" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.431.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 25, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2019. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 500 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for W911NF 19 S 0007

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