Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
ARI's Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is a competitive solicitation used to obtain proposals for basic and applied research that support ARI's mission. Eligible entities include institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, state, and local governments, and small and large businesses. The BAA is one of the primary mechanisms for ARI to award grants and enter into cooperative agreements and can be used to award contracts.
Applied Research
Applicants are strongly encouraged to follow the below application process:
1. Conduct a preliminary inquiry with an ARI Point of Contact (POC)
2. Submit a white paper to an ARI POC for review
3. Submit a full proposal
To conserve valuable applicant and Government resources, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to make a preliminary inquiry by first contacting the ARI POC to discuss your ideas and the interests of ARI. ARI POCs are listed with each BAA research topic and are available to discuss the general need for the type of research effort contemplated and availability of funding before expending extensive effort in preparing a white paper and/or full proposal. For full proposal application instructions please download and read the complete BAA.
Basic Research
The mission of the Basic Research Program is to execute high-risk, high-reward foundational research to develop state-of-the-art theory, methods, and models to create the innovative concepts required to support the Army’s future capabilities and build a force of committed and high-performing personnel. Our program supports research that is likely to stimulate new, basic behavioral research, which in turn, will lead to improved performance of Army personnel and their units. In general, we do not support research that is primarily applied research (e.g., human factors studies, specific-use technology development and validation, or training program evaluations), research on non-humans/animals, or research primarily focused on physiology, psychopathology, or behavioral health. We also generally do not facilitate access to military samples or data.
Our program supports research through grants and cooperative agreements. We will be reviewing white papers and proposals in FY26 for awards to begin in FY27. Please see the information below and the ARI BAA page linked at the top of this page for details about the submission process. The Basic Research Priorities Outline linked below also provides up-to-date information about our program’s priorities and topics of interest. The link may be helpful as you consider the alignment between your proposal and our program’s aims.
White Papers
Those contemplating submission of a proposal are strongly encouraged to submit a white paper before submitting a proposal. Submission of a white paper before a proposal allows for the earliest determination of the potential for funding and minimizes the labor and cost associated with the submission of a proposal that may have minimal probability of being selected for funding. For FY26, the ARI Basic Research program will review white paper submissions that are received by 5:00 PM/1700 Eastern Time (ET) on 1 April 2026. White papers should be submitted to the technical POC corresponding to your submission’s primary topic area, as listed here and in the Priorities Outline. Please CC Dr. Alexander Wind, alexander.p.wind.civ@army.mil, as well.
Questions about a specific research topic area should be submitted in writing to the listed technical POC. General questions regarding white papers should be submitted in writing to Dr. Alexander Wind, alexander.p.wind.civ@army.mil. We will answer questions that are submitted by 5:00 PM/1700 Eastern Time (ET) on 24 March 2026.
Proposals
This year, our team will review proposal submissions that are received by 5:00 PM/1700 Eastern Time (ET) on 31 July 2026. Questions about a specific research topic area should be submitted in writing to the listed technical POC (see Priorities Outline). General questions regarding proposals should be submitted in writing to Dr. Alexander Wind, alexander.p.wind.civ@army.mil. We will answer questions that are submitted by 5:00 PM/1700 Eastern Time (ET) on 17 July 2026. When you submit your proposal, please ensure that you also email a copy to the technical POC corresponding to your submission’s primary topic area and CC Dr. Alexander Wind, alexander.p.wind.civ@army.mil.