Strategic Capabilities Office Broad Agency Announcement
This BAA funds rapid prototyping research and development for disruptive defense capabilities in five SCO technical interest areas, with awards potentially made as procurement contracts or OT prototype/research agreements.
⚑ Defense BAA focused on rapid prototyping with 3-5 year transition horizon · Eligibility is federal-acquisition based; university can apply directly if otherwise eligible under the solicitation · Awards may be procurement contracts or OTA research/prototype agreements · Five technical areas are defined in the full notice; proposal must fit one of them
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | portfolio topic: national_security_defense (primary); social/behavioral work is minor; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 45 partial | funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
Description
Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) is an organization within the Office of the Secretary of Defense which seeks to identify, analyze, and prototype disruptive applications of new systems, unconventional uses of existing systems, and implement emerging technologies to create operational strategic effects. SCO is a rapid prototyping organization focused on delivering capabilities in 3-5 years to address high priority operational and strategic challenges. The purpose of this BAA, issued under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) parts 6.102(d)(2) and 35.016, is to solicit research submissions for funding consideration in the five areas of technical interest established herein. Procurement contracts, as well as OT agreements for research or prototypes under the authorities of 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) §§ 4021-4022, respectively, may result from this BAA.
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Special Notice. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / IMMEDIATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE / DIRECTOR SCO.
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.