Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Basic and Applied Research
🏛 Naval Research Laboratory
Can you apply?
This grant is for university researchers, research institutions, and organizations conducting basic and applied research in naval technologies. Eligible applicants include accredited universities, federally funded research centers, nonprofit research organizations, and small businesses. The research must align with topics under one of four NRL directorates: Systems, Materials Science, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, or Space Technology. Work can be conducted domestically or internationally, but must serve U.S. Navy research interests.
This grant is for university researchers, research institutions, and organizations conducting basic and applied research in naval technologies. Eligible applicants include accredited universities, federally funded research centers, nonprofit research organizations, and small businesses. The research must align with topics under one of four NRL directorates: Systems, Materials Science, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, or Space Technology. Work can be conducted domestically or internationally, but must serve U.S. Navy research interests.
Program description
Amendment 0006
The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.
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Amendment 0005
The purpose of this amendment is to provide a searchable list of Summary Topics contained in Appendix 1. Expanded descriptions of each topic can be found in the full announcement pdf.
APPENDIX 1 – RESEARCH DESCRIPTION – SUMMARY TOPICS
II. Detailed information about the funding opportunity
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the Navy’s corporate laboratory. NRL conducts basic and applied research for the Navy in a variety of scientific and technical disciplines. The basic research program is driven by perceptions about future requirements of the Navy.
The Navy’s operational effectiveness depends on its ability to keep pace with rapidly developing technologies. NRL contributes to this requirement by conducting research in the following areas, organized into NRL’S three research directorates and Naval Center for Space Technology:
Systems Directorate Code 5000
Materials Science and Component Technology Directorate Code 6000 Ocean and Atmospheric Science and Technology Directorate Code 7000 Naval Center for Space Technology Code 8000
A. SYSTEMS DIRECTORATE – CODE 5000
53-24-01 – HIGH FREQUENCY RADAR
53-24-01C – HIGH FREQUENCY RADAR (CLASSIFIED)
53-24-02 – LOW-COST WIDEBAND ANTENNA ARRAY TECHNOLOGIES
53-24-03 – ADVANCED COMPUTATIONAL ELECTROMAGNETICS
55-24-01 – INFORMATION AND DECISION SCIENCES
55-24-02 – MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HIGH ASSURANCE COMPUTING
55-24-03 – HIGH ASSURANCE ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING
55-24-04 – ADVANCED NAVAL NETWORK SOLUTIONS
55-24-05 – FEDERATED, DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING/NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
56-24-01 – OPTICAL SCIENCES R&D
57-24-01 – ELECTROMAGNETIC TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
57-24-02 – SHIPBOARD ELECTRONIC WARFARE
B. MATERIALS SCIENCE AND COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE CODE 6000
60-24-01 – HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING ON MASSIVELY PARALLEL ARCHITECTURES
61-24-01 – ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE, CONVERSION AND COMMAND/CONTROL
61-24-02 – CORROSION PROCESSES, CONTROL, MITIGATION, AND TECHNOLOGY
61-24-03 – APPLICATIONS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY AND ADVANCED LASER TECHNIQUES
61-24-04 – MULTIECHELON DIAGNOSTICS (MEDx) TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND TIERED EVALUATION
63-24-01 – MATERIALS PERFORMANCE, PROCESSING, AND MODELING
67-24-01 – BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH IN PLASMA SCIENCE
68-24-01 – RADIATION EFFECTS RESEARCH
68-24-02 – PHOTOVOLTAICS FOR PORTABLE POWER
C. OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE CODE 7000
71-24-01 – ACOUSTIC SIMULATION AND TACTICS
72-24-01 – LOW FREQUENCY RADIO INTERFEROMETRY
72-24-02 – OPTICAL REMOTE SENSING OF THE COASTAL REGIME
72-24-03 – REMOTE SENSORS AND IMAGING SYSTEMS
72-24-04 – AIRBORNE, SHIPBOARD, AND OVERHEAD DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS
73-24-01 – OCEAN DYNAMICS AND PREDICTION OCEANOGRAPHY
73-24-02 – SEAFLOOR SCIENCES
73-24-03 – GEOSPATIAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
75-24-01 – ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS, ANALYSIS, AND PREDICTION
76-24-01 – RESEARCH INTO SPACE, BACKGROUNDS, IMAGING AND MODELING
D. NAVAL CENTER FOR SPACE TECHNOLOGY CODE 8000
82-24-01 – SPACECRAFT & SPACE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY
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Amendment 0004
The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers and revise Appendix 1 Summary Topics and email addresses in it’s entirety.
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Amendment 0003
The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.
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Amendment 0002
The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.
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Amendment 0001
The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.
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The Naval Research Laboratory is interested in receiving innovative proposals that offer potential for advancement and improvement in the technical topic areas listed. This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as contemplated in FAR 6.302(d) that provides for the competitive selection of research proposals. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. Awards under this BAA are expected to take the form of Contracts, Grants, Cooperative Agreements and Other Transactions may also be awarded if appropriate. NRL encourages Educational Institutions, Small Businesses (SBs), Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns (SDBs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) to submit proposals under this BAA.
In order to conserve valuable offeror and Government resources, prospective offerors shall first submit a White Paper (WP) to the email address identified in the individual Summary Topics contained in Appendix 1, to include a rough cost estimate. If there is interest in the proposed research the offeror will be invited to submit a Formal Proposal. The selection of proposals for award will be based on a scientific review of proposals submitted in response to each BAA Summary Topic. The major purpose of the evaluation will be to determine the relative merit of the technical approach of each proposal. Business and contractual aspects, including proposed cost and cost realism, will also be considered as part of the evaluation. Selection of proposals for award will be based on the potential benefits to the Government weighed against the cost of the proposals, in view of the availability of funds. The complete BAA including proposal preparation instructions, award considerations, and evaluation criteria is also available at https://www.nrl.navy.mil/Doing-Business/Contracts/Broad-Agency-Announcements/ .
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for university researchers, research institutions, and organizations conducting basic and applied research in naval technologies. Eligible applicants include accredited universities, federally funded research centers, nonprofit research organizations, and small businesses. The research must align with topics under one of four NRL directorates: Systems, Materials Science, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, or Space Technology. Work can be conducted domestically or internationally, but must serve U.S. Navy research interests.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative or Technical Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Statement of Work (SOW)
- Curriculum Vitae or resume of key personnel
- Letters of commitment from partners (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Mary A Johnson Contract Specialist
- 📧 nrl_proposals@us.navy.mil
- 📞 202-767-2021
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 12.300 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$112,259,544
-
$75,710,642
-
$67,720,186
-
$41,543,065
-
$40,990,349
-
$36,741,779
-
$36,400,000
-
$35,252,372
-
$30,000,001
-
$28,978,496
Top States by Funding
- MA 7 awards $191.5M
- DC 8 awards $166.9M
- CA 9 awards $162.4M
- FL 7 awards $118.3M
- HI 7 awards $99.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 12.300). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $334,244,206 | |
| 2025 | $218,929,958 | |
| 2026 est. | $333,130,069 |
FAQ
Can small businesses apply for this NRL grant?
Yes, small businesses can apply if they conduct research in eligible topic areas. They should submit proposals aligned with one of the specified research directorates.
What types of research are funded?
Both basic and applied research in areas like high frequency radar, computing systems, materials science, oceanography, and space technology. Proposals must match one of the listed topic codes.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required for this grant. However, partners may contribute resources to strengthen the proposal.
What is the typical funding level and award duration?
Award amounts vary by topic and proposal scope. Most awards range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars for multi-year projects.
How competitive is this grant?
This is highly competitive. Only the most technically rigorous and innovative proposals aligned with Navy priorities are funded.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Carefully match your research to a specific topic code listed in the announcement. Proposals misaligned with Navy research directorates are unlikely to succeed.
- Demonstrate clear naval relevance and operational impact. Explain how your work addresses future Navy technology needs.
- Include a detailed technical approach with measurable milestones and deliverables that align with annual review cycles.
- Partner with Navy researchers or technical points of contact early to understand current priorities and research gaps.
- Budget for sustained effort over multiple years. Multi-year projects are common and more likely to generate impact than single-year efforts.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals lack clear alignment with Navy operational needs or current research priorities. Applicants submit generic research without demonstrating naval relevance or addressing specific topic requirements. Applications without realistic milestones or measurable technical outcomes are easily dismissed.
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