Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Create the Future Independent Research Effort
Funding Agency:
- Department of Defense
The Create the Future Independent Research Effort (CFIRE) seeks to ensure the future technological superiority of the DOD by cultivating emerging areas of research at institutions of higher education (hereafter referred to as “universities”) today. The topic areas that we seek to support with this FOA are independent from those described in our open BAA (Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research) and do not fall completely within any one research program. We seek to support multidisciplinary research efforts, creating synergies to speed DoD-relevant research and development. Basic and applied research are defined in the DoD Financial Management Regulation:
Basic research is systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind. It includes all scientific study and experimentation directed toward increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding in those fields of the physical, engineering, environmental, and life sciences related to long-term national security needs. It is farsighted high payoff research that provides the basis for technological progress (DoD 7000.14-R, vol. 2B, chap. 5, para. 050201.B).
Applied research is systematic study to understand the means to meet a recognized and specific need. It is a systematic expansion and application of knowledge to develop useful materials, devices, and systems or methods. It may be oriented, ultimately, toward the design, development, and improvement of prototypes and new processes to meet general mission area requirements. Applied research may translate promising basic research into solutions for broadly defined military needs, short of system development. This type of effort may vary from systematic mission-directed research beyond that in Budget Activity 1 to sophisticated breadboard hardware, study, programming and planning efforts that establish the initial feasibility and practicality of proposed solutions to technological challenges. It includes studies, investigations, and non-system specific technology efforts. The dominant characteristic is that applied research is directed toward general military needs with a view toward developing and evaluating the feasibility and practicality of proposed solutions and determining their parameters. Applied research precedes system specific technology investigations or development. Program control of the applied research program element is normally exercised by general level of effort. Program elements in this category involve pre-Milestone B efforts, also known as Concept and Technology Development phase tasks, such as concept exploration efforts and paper studies of alternative concepts for meeting a mission need (DoD 7000.14-R, vol. 2B, chap. 5, para. 050201.C).
Multiple awards
Pre-proposal inquiries and questions must be received in writing by electronic mail to the address(es) listed under section G.2. of this FOA not later than 14 December 2022 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time to be considered.
White papers must be received by submitting to https://community.apan.org/wg/afosr/p/submitawhitepaper by 20 January 2023 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time to be considered.
17 March 2023 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time
MS. ALEAH L. PARKER, AFOSR/RBK GRANTS OFFICER Email: aleah.parker@us.af.mil