active Federal Grant

NRL Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Basic and Applied Research

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)

Varies by scope

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The short version

NRL basic & applied research BAA

The Naval Research Laboratory's open-ended BAA soliciting innovative basic and applied research proposals across science and engineering disciplines that advance Navy and Marine Corps operational capabilities. Three research directorates: Materials Science and Component Technology (chemistry, plasma physics, electronics, materials), Ocean and Atmospheric Science and Technology (acoustics, remote sensing, oceanography, marine meteorology), and Naval Center for Space Technology. For-profit organizations including small businesses are explicitly encouraged.

Funding type: Grant
Level: Federal
Amount range: $50,000
Realistic amount: Most individual NRL BAA grants for external researchers run $200,000–$800,000/year for 2–3 year periods
Deadline: White papers accepted through December 30, 2026 (N00173-24-S-BA01, Amendment 0008); formal proposals by invitation only
Status: active
States: Nationwide
Payment model: reimbursement

Who qualifies

Open to all entity types: for-profit companies (including small businesses), universities, nonprofits, FFRDCs, and government labs
NRL specifically encourages Small Businesses (SBs), Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns (SDBs), HBCUs, and Minority Institutions
Research must fall within NRL's technical interest areas — materials science, ocean/atmospheric science, space technology, or related applied science disciplines
Active SAM.gov registration with valid UEI required before an award can be made
No cost-sharing requirement (unusual for DoD — a meaningful advantage for small firms)
Technical merit is the primary selection criterion; cost realism and reasonableness are secondary

Hard requirements

Must be incorporated

What it covers

Eligible expenses

Salaries and benefits for scientists, engineers, and research staff
Laboratory equipment, instrumentation, and scientific supplies
Computational resources and software licenses for research
Travel to NRL for collaboration and program reviews
Subcontracts to qualified research partners
Data acquisition, processing, and analysis
Indirect/overhead at your organization's negotiated federal rate

Ineligible expenses

Commercial product development (research must have basic or applied science character)
Construction or facility renovation
Entertainment, lobbying, or advocacy activities
Work that is classified or requires security clearances (BAA awards are unclassified)
Routine maintenance or operations not tied to research objectives
Profit on cost-plus grant instruments (grants are not profit-bearing)

How to apply

1

Identify relevant NRL research directorate

Review NRL's three directorates and their divisions at nrl.navy.mil to confirm your research aligns with their technical interest areas. The BAA document lists specific topic areas under each directorate.

~4 hrs
2

Prepare and submit a White Paper

Draft a White Paper (typically 5–10 pages) describing the proposed research concept, technical approach, team qualifications, rough cost estimate, and period of performance. Submit to nrl_proposals@us.navy.mil. White papers can be submitted any time during the BAA period.

~20 hrs
3

Await NRL technical review and invitation

NRL scientists evaluate white papers against technical merit and mission alignment. If selected, you receive a formal invitation to submit a full proposal. Invitation is not a guarantee of award — it initiates the next phase.

~1 hrs
4

Prepare full technical proposal and cost volume

Upon invitation, prepare a detailed technical proposal per NRL's formatting requirements, along with a fully justified cost volume. Proprietary technical data can be marked as such — NRL has specific IP handling procedures for BAA awards.

~40 hrs
5

Negotiate and execute award

NRL contracting officers negotiate the award instrument (grant, cooperative agreement, or contract) and terms. Ensure SAM.gov is current and your institution has signed applicable representations and certifications.

~5 hrs

Industry & certifications

NAICS codes: 541712, 541330, 541380, 336411

Insider tip

White papers under 8 pages that open with a crisp 'so what for the Navy' paragraph get faster reads. NRL has persistent interest in dual-use materials, directed-energy plasma physics, and advanced oceanographic sensing. No cost sharing means a $400K NRL grant beats a $600K award requiring 25% match. If invited to submit a full proposal, request a pre-proposal conversation with the technical POC — NRL program scientists frequently help clarify scope.

Deadline & timing

NRL operates a two-stage process: submit a White Paper first (no formal deadline within BAA period). NRL reviews white papers and selects promising ones to invite full proposals. There is no fixed submission window — you can submit a white paper any time the BAA is active.

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