The ARO is soliciting proposals for Staff Research Program opportunities. The purpose of the program is to enable ARO scientific staff to maintain and expand professional competence in support of fulfilling the ARO mission through the conduct of hands-on, basic research. The staff research will be performed collaboratively with institutions external to ARO. Staff research efforts will involve scientific study directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge and scientific understanding in engineering, physical, life and information sciences, when there is an intersection with the interests and capabilities of the participating external institutions in these basic research areas. 

Staff research will be conducted, directed and managed by an ARO scientist at the institution's laboratory facilities or field research sites, in collaboration with a PI designated by the institution. ARO scientists will not be named as a PI on any proposal or resulting award. Results of the Staff Research Program may include publication or co-authorship of research results and presentation at scientific forums, and contribute to the education and training of students, in accordance with the terms of the cooperative agreement. 

This PA is expected to result in the award of cooperative agreements (CAs) as defined at 31 U.S.C. 6305 for the execution of the program. The CA is in accordance with Chapter I, Subchapter C of Title 32, Code of Federal Regulations (Reference (b)) and Chapter XI of Title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (Reference (c)) and implementing regulations. The principal purpose of this PA is to establish CAs that will allow U.S. Army Research Office (ARO) scientific staff members to participate in collaborative research at qualified educational institutions. The Universities should offer all core facilities on the campus to ARO personnel on the same basis that they are available to members of the regular faculty. ARO’s partnership with the Recipient is to carry out the public purpose of the support or stimulation of basic and applied (fundamental) research in areas of science with potential interest to ARO rather than the acquisition of supplies or services for the direct benefit of the Government. Substantial Government involvement is expected through the collaborative planning, management and research to be performed by the participants in the Staff Research Program and ARO. 

This Program Announcement (PA) is a continuously open announcement beginning 20 February 2020 through 4:00 PM local time (Research Triangle Park, NC), 19 February 2025. Amendments to this PA will posted to Grants.gov if they occur.