Science and Technology Management - ONR Field Acitivities

PE 0602861N: Science & Technology Management ONR Field Activities is a program element within the Navy's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget, managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The primary goal of this program is to provide the corporate and administrative infrastructure necessary to support ONR's mission of discovering, developing, and transitioning innovative science and technology (S&T) to meet current and future operational needs of naval forces. This includes funding for salaries, information technology, financial management, and day-to-day logistical costs for scientists, engineers, and support staff who execute the Navy's S&T programs.

Science & Tech Management ONR Field Acts (Project 0000) specifically supports ONR leadership and management functions for the Naval S&T program. The objectives are to ensure effective scientific and technical direction for the Navy's basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development programs. These efforts are carried out in collaboration with universities, non-profit organizations, Navy laboratories, Warfare Centers, and private industry. The project funds labor costs for ONR headquarters and field activities, enabling personnel to oversee program assessment, resource formulation, contract negotiation, and administration of research initiatives.

This project also provides management and direction for several Navy-wide programs, including the Small Business Innovation Research program, the Naval Research Advisory Committee, the Navy Patent Program, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions Program, the Navy Manufacturing Technology Program, and the Ballistic Missile Submarine Nuclear Security Technology Program. These efforts are designed to foster innovation, ensure intellectual property protection, promote diversity in research, and address critical security technology needs.

Science & Technology Management (Project 0824) covers non-labor costs essential for ONR's mission execution. The primary objectives include funding fixed costs such as communications, training, and other support functions necessary to maintain ONR's operational capability. This ensures that the infrastructure supporting research activities remains robust, reliable, and responsive to evolving Navy requirements.

Within Project 0824, the Research Technology Protection Data Initiatives aim to develop and apply risk management models for research and technology protection. The goal is to create qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods to assess critical and emerging technologies relevant to the U.S. Navy. The initiative also focuses on developing standardized due diligence processes to ensure research integrity and mitigate risks of foreign intelligence exploitation, using publicly available information and compliance with federally mandated disclosures.

Another key objective under Project 0824 is the establishment and staffing of the ONR Cost Estimation Team. This team is tasked with developing tools and processes to improve cost estimation for basic, applied, and advanced technology research programs. Accurate forecasting of S&T costs is crucial for optimizing investment decisions, prioritizing high-impact research initiatives, and ensuring effective transition of breakthroughs into higher category research programs.