DTRA safeguards America and its allies from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and provides capabilities to reduce, eliminate, and counter the threat and effects from chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives. DTRA seeks to identify, adopt, and adapt emerging, existing and revolutionary sciences that may demonstrate high payoff potential to Counter-WMD (C-WMD) threats. This BAA is an extramural endeavor that combines the fundamental research, educational program, or other effort needs appropriate for basic or applied research funding of DTRA and other DoD interests.

This announcement solicits ideas and topic-based pre-application white papers for long-term challenges that offer a significant contribution: to the current body of knowledge, to the understanding of phenomena and observable facts, to significantly advance revolutionary technology, to new concepts for technology application, or that may have impact on future C-WMD threat reduction, expertise, or capabilities.

A portion of this effort is expected to be devoted to awards for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education programs with a C-WMD focus; such as, but not limited to postdoctoral fellowships, stipends, degrees, visiting scientist programs, student exchange programs, and development of accredited C-WMD curricula.

Research, educational program, or other effort proposals are sought from accredited degree-granting colleges and universities. Research, educational program, or other effort proposals are also sought from industrial, commercial (including small businesses), and not-for-profit research entities. DTRA strongly encourages and may give preference to pre-application white papers and proposals that demonstrate a significant contribution (significant is defined as a minimum of 30% of total value) by one (1) or more universities.

This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity. This BAA is in effect from March 2015 through September 2024. It is anticipated that a majority of the actions funded from this announcement will be in the form of grants; however, other instruments such as contracts, cooperative agreements (CAs) or other transactions agreements (OTAs) may also be awarded from this announcement. Submissions for this BAA may occur in two ways: 1) in response to the published topics detailed in Attachment 1 or 2) to a general thrust area as described in Section 1.5.

This BAA is open continuously from March 2015 through September 2024. Published topics will include instructions on any topic-specific opening and closing dates. Submissions to a general thrust area may occur at any time this BAA is in effect. Applicants should take care to note requirements for pre-coordination of an abstract.