Continuing Human Enabling Enhancing Restoring and Sustaining
This Air Force Research Laboratory and USAFSAM announcement funds S&T work for human effectiveness and medical-military needs through separate BAAs, procurement-for-experimental-purposes, and a non-grant CSO track.
⚑ MAA with multiple separate solicitations and two-step white-paper process · CSO track is explicitly not grant-eligible · FFRDC participation requires sponsoring-agency and AFRL determinations before eligibility · foreign-owned firms should notify the contracting officer; participation may be restricted
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 58 good | peripheral portfolio topic: public_health; signature methods: surveys longitudinal, community engaged; social/behavioral work is substantial; funds applied research; biomedical core — IPPRA health lane is communication/crisis/policy (capped); clinical-trial/biomedical core — IPPRA angle is policy/community (capped) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 55 good | technical depth: minor; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 30 weak | funds applied research; deep-tech content |
Description
The Air Force Research Laboratory, Human Effectiveness Directorate (AFRL/RH) and the United States Air Force School of Medicine (USAFSAM) CHEERS Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) is intended to provide a comprehensive strategy for AFRL/RH and USAFSAM's range of Science and Technology (S&T) requirements, allowing for progression from basic research to technology maturation and transition.
20 Nov 2025: Amendment 01 - Annual Update
The CHEERS Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) MUST be reviewed in tandem with the solicitations in order to have access to all applicable attachments and instructions. There are three (3) open, 2-step, solicitations currently accepting white papers. Please see below for solicitation numbers.
Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA), Notice FA238424S2233:
1. CHEERS MAA Open Period 1 – Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), Solicitation FA238424S2334
2. CHEERS MAA Open Period 2 – Procurement for Experimental Purposes (ARA), Solicitation FA238424S2335
3. CHEERS MAA Open Period 3 - Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), Solicitation FA238424S2336 (NOTE: THIS CSO IS NOT GRANT-ELIGIBLE)
Please reach out if you have any questions regarding the MAA and/or the solicitation(s). Technical questions may be directed to the technical POC’s identified in the announcement/solicitations. General questions may be directed to the CHEERS email org box: AFRL.711HPW.MAA@us.af.mil
Eligibility
The following guidance is provided for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) contemplating submitting a proposal in response to a solicitation, as either a prime or subcontractor. FAR 35.107-1(c)(4) prohibits an FFRDC from competing with any non-FFRDC concern in response to a Federal agency request for proposal for other than the operation of an FFRDC (with exceptions stated in DFARS 235.017-1(c)(4)). There is no regulation prohibiting an FFRDC from responding to a solicitation issued under this MAA. However, the FFRDC's sponsoring agency must first make a determination that the effort being proposed falls within the purpose, mission, general scope of effort, or special competency of the FFRDC, and that determination must be included in the FFRDC's proposal. In addition, AFRL must make a determination that the work proposed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with domestic private industry. Only after these determinations are made, would a determination be made concerning the FFRDC's eligibility to receive an award. Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the Contracting Officer identified in the solicitation before deciding to respond. Foreign contractors should be award that restrictions might apply which could preclude their participation.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Amber A Taylor Grantor <AFRL.711HPW.MAA@us.af.mil>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Department of Defense (BAA-style) conventions SEE A DOD EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Department of Defense (BAA-style)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.