The purpose of this combined Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 35 and Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) under 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200.204 (henceforth referred to as BAA ) is to solicit research proposals for submission to the U.S. Army Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AI2C) for funding consideration.
This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), for the Army Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AI2C), is issued under the provisions of paragraph 6.102(d)(2) and 35.016 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which provides for the acquisition of basic, applied, and advanced research and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement. This will be done through the competitive selection of proposals, and 10 U.S.C. 4001, 10 U.S.C. 4021, and 10 U.S.C. 4022, which provide the authorities for issuing awards under this announcement for basic, applied, and advanced research. The definitions of basic and applied research may be found at 32 CFR 22.105. Proposals submitted in response to this BAA and selected for award are considered to be the result of full and open competition and in full compliance with the provisions of Public Law 98-369, "The Competition in Contracting Act of 1984" and subsequent amendments.
The Army Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AI2C) is seeking artificial intelligence research and development whitepapers and proposals in support of new technologies and translational research-based approaches that support the identification, alignment, and exploitation of basic, applied, and advanced research.
AI2C's foundational research mission spans basic research (budget activity 6.1) and applied research (budget activity 6.2) as defined by 32 CFR 22.105 but may include advanced technology development (budget activity 6.3) and advanced component development and prototypes (budget activity 6.4) when opportunities arise to directly or indirectly help achieve AI2C's mission.
This publication constitutes a BAA for awards as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2) and 35.016 as well as a merit-based, competitive procedure in accordance with the Department of Defense Grant and Agreement Regulations (DoDGARS) at 32 CFR 22.315(a) and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Other Transaction Guide version 2.0 dated July 2023.
Background
The U.S. Army Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AI2C) issues this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to solicit research proposals for funding consideration. The BAA aims to acquire basic, applied, and advanced research that is not tied to specific system development or hardware procurement. This initiative is governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and relevant U.S. Code provisions, ensuring a competitive selection process for proposals that align with the Army's mission in artificial intelligence research and development.
Grant Details
The AI2C seeks proposals that support new technologies and translational research in artificial intelligence. Key areas of interest include:
1) Autonomous Platforms - Research on ground and air vehicles capable of operating in various environments;
2) AI/ML Algorithms - Improvements in machine learning methods;
3) AI/ML Decision Support - Enhancements in decision-making algorithms;
4) Human-AI Integration - Research aimed at reducing cognitive burdens on humans;
5) Synthetic Environments - Improved situational awareness through data visualization;
6) Distributed AI - Leveraging AI techniques across networks;
7) Underpinning Methodologies - Tools and frameworks that support advanced research;
8) Special Topics - Specific areas with strong funding potential will be posted as amendments.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, and for-profit organizations, both domestic and foreign. However, foreign entities may face security restrictions. Government laboratories and federally funded research centers are not eligible as prime contractors but may participate under certain conditions.
Period of Performance
The period of performance for this BAA spans from April 16, 2025, to April 15, 2026.
Grant Value
The total value of the grant is not explicitly stated, but various instruments such as procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, technology investment agreements (TIAs), or other transactions (OTs) may be awarded based on the proposals received.
Place of Performance
The specific geographic locations for performance are not detailed in the announcement.
