Air Force Basic Research Sciences Conference and Workshop Support

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research manages the basic research investment for the Department of the Air Force. Through the Air Force Basic Research Sciences Conference and Workshop Support announcement, AFOSR provides partial support for conferences and workshops that serve as forums for research and technology interchange. Supported events must address scientific, technical, or professional issues relevant to the Department of the Air Force basic research mission. Activities may bring experts together to discuss recent research or educational findings, expose researchers or advanced graduate students to new research and educational techniques, disseminate research results, transfer federally developed or federally funded technology to the private sector, or stimulate wider interest and inquiry in relevant scientific and technical issues. Support is subject to available funds and Program Officer discretion and does not constitute AFOSR endorsement of an organization. Approximately 2 million dollars per year is anticipated for awards under the announcement, subject to the availability of funds. Proposals requesting between 5000 dollars and 100000 dollars are encouraged, although AFOSR states that it will not consider a request above 500000 dollars. Most conference and workshop awards have a maximum performance period of one year. AFOSR support is limited to no more than 50 percent of the total estimated cost of the conference or workshop. The announcement expressly states that mandatory or committed cost sharing is not required and that cost sharing is not an evaluation or selection criterion. Applicants must nevertheless document anticipated sources of conference or workshop income and estimates of voluntary uncommitted cost share because AFOSR provides partial support only. Proposal preparation costs are not allowable direct charges to an award. Grant and cooperative agreement awards generally include up to 90 calendar days of pre award costs, but such costs are incurred at the recipients risk and authorization for more than 90 days requires prior approval. Eligible primary applicants are United States institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations, as well as foreign public entities and foreign organizations operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and affiliated research entities are encouraged to submit proposals. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, individuals, Federal agencies, and for profit organizations are not eligible as primary award recipients. Applicants must be qualified and responsible and must satisfy applicable research security, disclosure, Gold Standard Science, public dissemination, conflict of interest, SAM registration, Unique Entity Identifier, and CAGE requirements. Covered Individuals are subject to research security disclosure requirements and must provide required personnel documentation and research security training certifications. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the SF 424 Research and Related form family. AFOSR will not accept or evaluate proposals submitted through another method. Required materials include the SF 424 Research and Related Application for Federal Assistance, R and R Other Project Information Form, publicly releasable Project Summary or Abstract, Project Narrative, Bibliography and References Cited as appropriate, R and R Senior and Key Person Profile materials for Covered Individuals, R and R Budget Form, Budget Justification, and R and R Project and Performance Site Locations Form. Required personnel materials include a biographical sketch, current and pending support, collaborators and other affiliations, training certifications, compliance attestation, and Privacy Act disclosure documentation. A Data Management Plan of no more than two pages is required if the effort generates scientific data. The proposal must not contain confidential or proprietary information, and proposal attachments should be submitted in PDF format without password protection. The Project Narrative must explain the conference or workshop objectives, topics, relevance to the Department of the Air Force basic research mission, relationship to AFOSR research topics, chairperson or principal investigator, proposed participants and invitation method, and event location and logistics. Cost information must include the required budget, a detailed and itemized budget justification, total conference or workshop costs by major cost element, and anticipated sources and amounts of conference or workshop income. AFOSR identifies insufficient cost information as the most common reason awards are delayed. Applicants should therefore document the basis for proposed costs, such as vendor quotations, historical information, estimates, catalog pricing, and applicable indirect or fringe benefit rate agreements. The budget narrative must agree with amounts shown on the required forms. Proposals undergo programmatic and peer review. Initial screening considers completeness, adherence to Gold Standard Science and applicable Executive Order requirements, relevance to the announcement and AFOSR research portfolios, relevance to Air Force, Space Force, and Department of War needs, and consistency with stated administration priorities. Proposals passing the initial screening receive a full evaluation. The primary criteria, which are of equal importance, are the technical merits of the proposed conference or workshop in relation to AFOSR research and development goals and its potential relationship to Department of War missions. Qualifications of the principal investigator or conference chair and the strength of the Data Management Plan when applicable are additional criteria. Proposed costs are also reviewed for reasonableness, realism, allowability, and allocability, and a risk assessment is performed before award. No award is guaranteed. The announcement remains open until superseded or closed, and proposals are reviewed and evaluated as received. Applications may therefore be submitted at any time, but they must be submitted at least six months before the conference or workshop start date. AFOSR cannot make an award after the event begins and may be unable to consider an application submitted less than six months before the event. Awards may start at any time during the year, and most have a maximum performance duration of one year. General questions about the announcement must be submitted by email to afosr.baa@us.af.mil. The named agency contact is Jennifer Brown, Procurement Analyst. Technical questions should be directed in writing to the Program Officer responsible for the relevant research topic. Grants.gov applicant support is available by telephone at 1-800-518-4726 and by email at support@grants.gov.

Submit at least six months before the conference or workshop start date. Clearly connect the event to AFOSR research interests and Department of the Air Force needs. Include clear benchmarks and required Gold Standard Science commitments. Ensure every required document is present because completeness is an initial screening criterion. Provide detailed itemized costs and supporting documentation because insufficient cost information is identified as the most common reason awards are delayed. Explain the basis of costs using vendor quotes, historical data, estimates, catalog pricing, or other supporting documentation. Ensure the budget justification matches all required budget forms. Do not include confidential or proprietary information.