Discovery Research K-12 – The Discovery Research K-12 (DR K-12) program seeks to enable significant advances in student and teacher learning of the STEM disciplines. Projects funded under this solicitation begin with a research question or hypothesis about how to improve preK-12 STEM learning and teaching and then develop, implement, and study effects of innovative educational resources, models, or technologies.  DR K-12 invites proposals that meet a variety of educational needs, from those that address immediate challenges facing preK-12 STEM education to those that anticipate the future when expectations, roles and resources are likely to be aligned in different ways. DR K-12 especially encourages proposals that challenge existing assumptions about learning and teaching within or across STEM fields, envision needs of learners in 10-15 years, and consider new and innovative ways to support learning.  Total Funding: $55M. LOI Due Date: November 5, 2010.  Full Proposal Due Date: January 6, 2011.

Posted Date: September 7, 2010

Funding Opportunity Number: 10-610

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Comparative Analysis of Marine Ecosystem Organization (CAMEO) – The purpose of the CAMEO program is to strengthen the scientific basis for an ecosystem approach to the stewardship of our ocean and coastal living marine resources and ecosystems. The goal is to provide an understanding of and predictive capability for marine ecosystem organization and production, particularly as the dual drivers of climate variability and fishing pressure affect them.  As a partnership initiated in FY2009 between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US Department of Commerce, NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA NMFS), CAMEO-supported research will focus on basic science to understand ecosystem processes – basic research that will ultimately contribute to management of marine species, habitats and ecosystems. Central to the program is an emphasis on collaborative partnerships between academic and federal agency scientists.  Total Funding: $6M.  Full Proposal Due Date: January 7, 2011.

Posted Date: September 7, 2010

Funding Opportunity Number: 10-611

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Probability – The Probability Program supports research on the theory and applications of probability.  Subfields include discrete probability, stochastic processes, limit theory, interacting particle systems, stochastic differential and partial differential equations, and Markov processes. Research in probability which involves applications to other areas of science and engineering is especially encouraged.  Full Proposal Window:  October 23, 2010 – November 7, 2010; October 23 through November 7, annually thereafter.

Posted Date: September 7, 2010

Solicitation Number: PD 10-1263

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Accelerating Innovation Research – To accelerate the process of innovation, NSF is undertaking two related, new activities. The first will encourage the translation of the numerous, technologically-promising, fundamental discoveries made by NSF researchers, while drawing upon and building the entrepreneurial spirit of the researchers and students. The second activity will foster connections between an existing NSF innovation research alliance (including consortia such as Engineering Research Centers (ERC), Industry University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC), Partnerships for Innovation (PFI), Science and Technology Centers (STC), Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (NSEC), Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) grantees) and other institutions, whose complementary focus will spur the development of discoveries into innovative technologies through collaboration. Both of these activities are designed to strengthen the U.S. innovation ecosystem. WEBINAR: A webinar will be held in September 2010 to answer any questions about this solicitation. Details will be posted on the Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) website (www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=iip) as they become available.  Total Funding: $12M.  LOI Due Date: December 1, 2010.  Full Proposal Due Date: February 1, 2011.

Posted Date: September 3, 2010

Funding Opportunity Number: 10-608

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Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering – To address the need to enhance diversity in its programs, the Directorate for Engineering (ENG) at the National Science Foundation is offering research initiation grants under the program name Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering, BRIGE. ENG offers this BRIGE funding opportunity to all beginning engineers with the intent of increasing the diversity of researchers in the engineering disciplines. The goal of the BRIGE solicitation is to increase the number of proposals to the Directorate for Engineering from individuals who can serve as role models and mentors for an increasingly diverse engineering student population who will become the workforce of the future. BRIGE aims to support innovative research and diversity plans that contribute to recruiting and retaining a broad representation of engineering researchers especially those subgroups that are underrepresented in the engineering population in programs supported by these grants. Total Funding: $5M.  Full Proposal Due Date: January 24, 2011.

Posted Date: September 3, 2010

Funding Opportunity Number: 10-609

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Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2011 (Release 2) (SBIR) – The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program stimulates technological innovation in the private sector by strengthening the role of small business concerns in meeting Federal research and development needs, increasing the commercial application of federally supported research results, and fostering and encouraging participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses.  The SBIR program solicits proposals from the small business sector consistent with NSF’s mission. A main purpose of the legislation is to stimulate technological innovation and increase private sector commercialization.  The four broad topics are: 1) Biotechnology and Chemical Technologies (BC); 2) Education Applications (EA); 3) Information and Communication Technologies (IC); and 4) Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, and Manufacturing (NM).  Total Funding: $37.5M.  Eligibility: Small Business.  Full Proposal Due Date: December 3, 2010.

Posted Date: August 30, 2010

Solicitation Number: 10-607

Fall 2011 EPA Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships For Graduate Environmental Study – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Center for Environmental Research (NCER), invites applications for the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships for graduate environmental study for master’s and doctoral level students.  The STAR Fellowship program was initiated in 1995. Approximately 1,500 STAR fellowships have been awarded since the inception of the program. The STAR Fellowship program is part of the national effort to help ensure that the U.S. meets its current and projected human resource needs in the environmental science, engineering, and policy fields (Jackson 2002). The purpose of the fellowship program is to encourage promising students to obtain advanced degrees and pursue careers in an environmental field. The goals of the programs are to bolster the environmental generation of tomorrow, bridge to diverse communities, and boost excellent research and development that advance the protection of human health and the environment through education.  There are 20 different topic areas under this solicitation.  Total Funding: $4.5M.  Closing Date: November 5, 2010.

Posted Date: September 2, 2010

Solicitation Number: EPA-F2011-STAR-A1 thru EPA-F2011-STAR-L1

Communications Under Extreme RF Spectrum Conditions (CommEx) Proposers’ Day Conference – DARPA anticipates releasing the BAA for the Communications Under Extreme RF Spectrum Conditions (CommEx) program with the objective of enabling radio communication networks to operate under extremely severe and complex interference, anticipating traditional interference and communications threats, high power threats, as well as novel interference resulting from new adaptive threats. The CommEx program will assess next generation and beyond jamming threats and then develop advanced interference suppression and avoidance technologies to successfully communicate in the presence of severe, traditional, and novel types of interference that are orders-of-magnitude more severe than what are currently addressed by the most advanced systems. DARPA will host a Proposers’ Day Conference for the Communications Under Extreme RF Spectrum Conditions program on September 20, 2010 in Arlington, VA, in support of this Broad Agency Announcement.  Registration Deadline: September 16, 2010.

Posted Date: September 3, 2010

Solicitation Number: DARPA-SN-10-72

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Adaptive Execution Office (AEO) Office-Wide – The mission of the Adaptive Execution Office (AEO) is to bring about the transfer of DARPA technology to the warfighter. To this end, AEO develops and employs novel processes, new tools and techniques, and innovative business models. This includes establishing strong organizational relationships that expose warfighters to DARPA technology, import aspects of warfighter’s needs and experience into the DARPA culture, and develop programs executed by “great groups” of multidisciplinary performers that include scientists, engineers, and operational end users. A major objective of AEO is to demonstrate the transition worthiness of DARPA technology and systems through rigorous self-assessment as well as clear articulation of technical strengths and limitations.  AEO seeks responses relating to four Mission Areas: 1) Adaptive Systems; 2) Operationally-Focused System Integration; 3) Accelerated System Production Technology; and 4) Comprehensive System Assessment.  AEO’s solicitation focuses on the development, integration, demonstration, and validation of high-payoff technologies and systems-enabled by and incorporating DARPA technologies-for well-defined DoD operations.  Eligibility: All.  Abstracts and Proposals may be submitted anytime through September 2, 2011.

Posted Date: September 3, 2010

Solicitation Number: DARPA-BAA-10-56

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Quantum Assisted Sensing and Readout (QuASAR) – The Quantum Assisted Sensing and Readout (QuASAR) BAA seeks proposals addressing the development of next generation sensors for fields, forces and time building upon established control and readout techniques from atomic physics. These sensors will help to address outstanding challenges in physics, materials, and biological sciences.  Proposals should address one or more of the three technical areas: 1) Field Sensing; 2) Force Sensing; and 3) Timekeeping.  Eligibility: All.  Abstract Due Date: September 27, 2010.  Proposal Due Date: November 8, 2010.

Posted Date: September 1, 2010

Solicitation Number: DARPA-BAA-10-90

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Cognitive Radio Low-Energy Signal Analysis Sensor ICs (CLASIC) – DARPA is soliciting innovative research and development (R&D) proposals in the area of Cognitive radio Low-energy signal Analysis Sensor Integrated Circuits (CLASIC), a thrust within the DARPA Adaptive RF Technology (ART) program. The goal of CLASIC is to enable monolithic, high performance, ultra high-energy efficiency, signal recognition integrated circuits (ICs) for next-generation military microsystems in areas such as cognitive communications, radar and electronic warfare.  Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in integrated circuit design, architectures or algorithms.  Eligibility: All.  Abstract Due Date: October 1, 2010.  Proposal Due Date: December 10, 2010.

Posted Date: August 31, 2010

Solicitation Number: DARPA-BAA-10-77

Advanced Lubrication System Technology Development – This IDIQ contract will require the contractor to conduct on-site (Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio) basic and applied research and development relating to critical turbine engine lubrication system technology targeted for high performance, highly efficient & adaptive turbine engines being developed under the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine (VAATE) program.  The objectives of this program include developing advanced turbine engine lubrication system technologies that enable higher temperature, improved heat sink, and effective thermal management capability. The development and fusion of prognostic & diagnostic technologies and algorithms to accurately and rapidly assess engine mechanical system health and reliability is also desired. Additionally, efforts to further the basic understanding of oil coke formation mechanisms and developing practical material solutions to minimize or altogether prevent oil coke formation in high temperature engine environments are sought.  Total Funding: $9M. Eligibility: All.  Proposal Due Date: October 19, 2010.

Posted Date: September 3, 2010

Solicitation Number: BAA-10-04-PKP

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Liquid Rocket Engine Technology Development (LRETD) – The Air Force Research Laboratory, Propulsion Directorate at Edwards AFB, CA is soliciting technical, management and cost proposals on three (3) research and development efforts.  The three topics are as follows: Topic 1 – Green Advanced Spacecraft Propulsion (Green ASP) – AFRL’s object of this program is to develop a thruster that will accomodate increased temperature and oxidation product environments to deliver predictable performance; Topic 2 – Health Assessment and Recognition Tools (HART) – The purpose of this topic is to solicit proposals for the development of innovative technologies in the field of liquid rocket engine health management. More specifically, the purpose of this topic is to develop sensors and sensor data algorithms that will enable oxygen-rich staged-combustion cycle reusable booster engines to achieve the Air Force operability goal for engine turnaround time; Topic 3 – Propulsion Unit for CubeSats (PUC) – Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards AFB seeks to develop a propulsion module for precision maneuvering of very small spacecraft. Total Funding: Topic 1-$3.7M; Topic 2-$2.116M; Topic 3-$1.78M.  Eligibility: All U.S. firms.  Proposal Due Date: October 15, 2010.

Posted Date: August 31, 2010

Solicitation Number: BAA1002PKTA

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RFI: AFRL/RYZ Rapid Reaction Program – The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Sensors Directorate (RY), Sensor Applications & Demonstrations Division (RYZ) desires the capability to rapidly respond to weapon system platform Information Technology (IT) research, development, and acquisition requirements for the USAF by developing and employing advanced platform IT equipment that will meet the needs of weapon system maintenance and operational personnel.  AFRL is responsible for researching, designing, developing, fabricating, and maintaining platform IT research and development projects used to support and enhance real world weapon systems and operational level personnel.  The majority of the work of AFRL focuses on design and fabrication projects of IT based weapon systems.  Due to technical complexity and schedule however, the division often contracts for activities such as software development and maintenance, computer platform design, studies of alternatives, proof of concept studies, systems integration, and prototyping.  Weapon systems supported include all USAF, USA, USMC, USN, AFRC, and ANG air and ground systems.  To support their mission, AFRL needs advanced IT equipment, approaches, procedures, and technical and administrative support to satisfy weapon systems project requirements.  Response Date: September 8, 2010.

Posted Date: August 31, 2010

Solicitation Number: FA8604-10-C-7452