Broad Agency Announcement
This Army BAA funds innovative, rapid-prototyping and systems-integration work for ESI Directorate technical areas, including secure data transmission, C5I engineering, and readiness engineering, for eligible small businesses under a federal contract set-aside.
RESTRICTED TO: SMALL BUSINESS SBIR STTR
⚑ Federal contract opportunity, not a grant. · Total Small Business Set-Aside; universities may participate only if teamed with an eligible small business, not as the lead applicant. · Broad Agency Announcement with no stated award ceiling. · Focus is rapid prototyping / systems integration / secure data handling for Army ground and air platforms.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 90 strong | SBIR/STTR — core Hub pipeline (faculty founders + small-business partners); funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 75 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | portfolio topics: national_security_defense, cybersecurity (primary); social/behavioral work is minor; funds applied research; university can only partner, not lead |
Description
The mission of ESI Directorate is to provide support for rapidly integrating and maturing ESI technologies onto ground and air platforms and for rapid prototyping to define, ideate, and test, to “learn by doing” and enable Solider-centric System Design. ESI explores how to manage and securely transmit trustworthy data as it transverses the Army’s network. This BAA invites industry to submit innovative proposals that address the technical portfolio areas of the ESI Directorate: Systems Integration (SI), C5I Engineering and Readiness Engineering.
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5). Notice type: Presolicitation. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE ARMY / W6QK ACC-APG.
Apply
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.