Open Period 2 – All Technical Areas
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers and organizations supporting U.S. Air Force needs in human performance and aerospace medicine. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, private contractors, and small businesses with relevant technical expertise. The work must support experimental or test purposes for national defense under 10 USC 4023. Projects focus on enabling, enhancing, restoring, and sustaining human effectiveness in aerospace operations.
Applicants must review the related Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) FA238424S2233 and its Statements of Objectives to understand specific technical areas. Organizations must be capable of managing federal research agreements and meeting security requirements. This is a competitive solicitation requiring white papers and potentially subsequent technical proposals.
Program description
The Air Force Research Laboratory, Human Effectiveness Directorate (RH) and the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM), is soliciting white papers (and potentially later technical and cost proposals) on the research located in the Continuing Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS) Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) Statements of Objectives, FA238424S2233.
This Solicitation is limited to those efforts that meet the requirements of 10 USC 4023, which includes the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments may each buy ordnance, signal, chemical activity, transportation, energy, medical, space- flight, telecommunications, and aeronautical supplies, including parts and accessories, and designs thereof, that the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary concerned considers necessary for experimental or test purposes in the development of the best supplies that are needed for the national defense.
List of Attachments:
1. “Open Period Solicitation 1_ARA Amend 01”
2. “Attachment 1 – List of Provisions and Clauses (ARA)”
Related Notice: Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) FA238424S2233, “Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS)”
Note: You MUST refer to the related notice identified above in order to obtain all additional attachments referenced herein (e.g. CHEERS Industry Guide, Statements of Objectives (SOO), and S&T Protection Appendices)
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- White paper (required first submission)
- Technical proposal (if invited after white paper review)
- Cost proposal (if invited after white paper review)
- Organization documentation (tax status, DUNS, SAM registration)
- Security and compliance certifications as specified in solicitation
Program contact
- 👤 Amber A Taylor Grantor
- 📧 AFRL.711HPW.MAA@us.af.mil
- 📞 7033475655
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 12.800 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$536,656,761
-
$402,229,566
-
$316,957,199
-
$122,126,321
-
$76,955,949
-
$74,687,361
-
$61,554,981
-
$49,791,410
-
$41,621,494
-
$37,440,610
Top States by Funding
- CA 16 awards $123.7M
- OH 3 awards $77.2M
- MA 5 awards $47.6M
- NY 4 awards $31.3M
- TX 4 awards $30.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 12.800). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $874,454,904 | |
| 2025 | $652,065,758 | |
| 2026 est. | $700,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this CHEERS grant?
Universities, research institutions, contractors, and small businesses with relevant aerospace or human performance expertise can apply. All applicants must be eligible under 10 USC 4023 for experimental/test work supporting national defense.
What is the application process?
The solicitation operates in phases. First, submit a white paper. Selected applicants then submit technical and cost proposals as requested by the Air Force Research Laboratory.
What technical areas are funded?
All technical areas listed in the Statements of Objectives (SOO) in the related MAA FA238424S2233 are eligible. You must review that document to identify specific research focus areas.
When is the deadline?
The fixed deadline is September 30, 2027. This is an open period solicitation, so submission timing depends on the phases outlined in the announcement.
What funding instruments are available?
Awards may be structured as cooperative agreements, grants, other instruments, or procurement contracts. The specific instrument type depends on the project and Air Force needs.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Download and carefully read the related MAA FA238424S2233 and all attachments before writing your white paper. The Statements of Objectives will define eligible technical areas.
- Clearly connect your research to human effectiveness, aerospace medicine, or sustaining performance in Air Force operations. Be specific about how your work supports national defense.
- Follow the white paper format and requirements exactly as specified in the Open Period Solicitation. Reviewers will screen harshly for non-compliant submissions.
- Ensure your organization can handle federal compliance, security protocols, and potential facility/personnel access requirements. Budget for these administrative costs.
- If selected after white paper review, prepare detailed technical and cost proposals promptly. The Air Force will likely set tight timelines for the proposal phase.
⚠️ Common mistakes
White papers that fail to connect research to the specific Statements of Objectives or that ignore the 10 USC 4023 national defense requirement get rejected immediately. Organizations without relevant aerospace, medical, or human performance expertise struggle to be competitive. Many applicants underestimate the compliance and security overhead required for Air Force research agreements.
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