CHIPS Research and Development Office (CRDO) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, through the CHIPS Research and Development Office, is soliciting proposals under the CHIPS Research and Development Office Broad Agency Announcement. The program is intended to advance microelectronics technology in the United States and support innovations that strengthen the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem and further national and economic security. The broader objective is to grow U.S. leadership in semiconductor technology and accelerate commercialization in critical and emerging technology areas. Awards will take the form of other transaction agreements, and the expected period of performance is five years. The BAA identifies six general priority areas. These are semiconductors; application of artificial intelligence for advanced microelectronics research and development; application of quantum technology for advanced microelectronics research and development; application of biotechnology and biomanufacturing technology for advanced microelectronics research and development; commercialization of innovations; and standards development. Examples include next-generation lithography, semiconductor devices and memory, advanced packaging, AI-enabled manufacturing, quantum computing and sensing, bioelectronics, medical implantable devices, commercialization of federally funded discoveries, and standards related to quantum manufacturing, data, design, provenance, and security. General AI applications that are not directly related to advanced microelectronics research and development are outside the scope of the BAA. The amended BAA also permits CRDO, through the Investment Fund, to make investments in companies conducting research and prototyping activities with the goal of eventually commercializing products and services that strengthen the domestic semiconductor ecosystem and supply chain. Project budgets should be at least $10 million and must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. The number of awards and all funding considerations depend on the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious proposals. For multi-phase awards, funding is initially provided only for the first phase, with later phases potentially funded incrementally based on satisfactory performance, continued relevance to CRDO priorities, and available funds. Cost sharing is not required for all awards, although CRDO may fund only part of a project's total costs if the recipient demonstrates access to sufficient funding to complete the project. Award recipients may also be required to provide the Department with equity, warrants, intellectual property licenses, royalties, revenue sharing, or other instruments to ensure a government return on investment. Eligible applicants include domestic for-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, accredited institutions of higher education, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, and Federal entities. A domestic entity must be organized under U.S. law or the law of a U.S. jurisdiction and have its principal place of business in the United States. Individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not eligible. Eligible subawardees include eligible applicant types as well as foreign partners that are not otherwise prohibited, subject to applicable requirements. Federal entities and FFRDCs may participate only to the extent permitted by law and applicable direct competition requirements, and applications involving them must demonstrate that the proposed work does not compete with the private sector and provide documentation of their authority to receive Federal award funds. Federal funds may not be provided to a foreign entity of concern. Applications follow either the R&D Project Path or the Investment Fund Path. Both begin with a required White Paper submitted electronically through Grants.gov under announcement 2025-NIST-CHIPS-CRDO-01. CRDO initially reviews White Papers for eligibility, completeness, and responsiveness. For the R&D Project Path, qualifying White Papers are then considered for scientific and technical merit and potential contribution to national and economic security. Applicants that advance are invited to submit a Pre-negotiation Package containing a detailed technical and cost proposal and other required documents. For the Investment Fund Path, CRDO determines at its discretion whether an applicant is better suited to that path and invites selected applicants to submit an Investment Fund Application containing a company description, applicant background, national and economic security narrative, financial plan, and foreign ownership information. Invitation-only packages submitted without a CRDO invitation will not be reviewed. Paper, email, fax, and other submission methods are not accepted. R&D applications are evaluated on national and economic security, scientific and technical merit, project feasibility, commercial viability, and financial viability. Pre-negotiation Packages are also prioritized based on contribution to economic and national security, duplication of other federally funded projects, and efficient use of taxpayer dollars and sufficient taxpayer return, with the greatest weight given to the first factor. Investment Fund Path decisions consider whether direct company investment or project-specific R&D funding would better spur semiconductor innovation, the value of direct CRDO involvement, potential government return on investment, and support for collaborations. Investment Fund Applications are subject to business, technical, and national security diligence and are evaluated for their contribution to national and economic security, domestic semiconductor innovation, and likelihood of a positive Department return. Applications are being accepted and considered on a rolling basis until September 15, 2026, when the BAA will temporarily close because of NIST system upgrades. The BAA is expected to reopen with updated submission instructions in November 2026 and then accept applications through September 30, 2029, unless amended to establish an earlier closing date. Awards will be made on a rolling basis as invited Investment Fund Applications and Pre-negotiation Packages are received and evaluated and other transaction agreement terms are finalized. Programmatic, technical, and administrative questions may be sent to research@chips.gov with "2025-NIST-CHIPS-CRDO-01 Questions" in the subject line. Grants.gov technical assistance is available at support@grants.gov or 800-518-4726. Recipients will be subject to negotiated administrative and national policy requirements, including domestic production and control provisions for federally funded intellectual property, investment and research security requirements, and financial, performance, and/or technical reporting.

Demonstrate a strong contribution to U.S. national and economic security and technology leadership; present an innovative feasible achievable and complete technical approach with clearly defined deliverables; demonstrate project feasibility and realistic costs; provide a credible commercialization pathway and evidence of market demand; demonstrate financial viability and a credible capital raising plan as applicable; emphasize efficient use of taxpayer dollars and sufficient taxpayer return; avoid duplicate or overlapping White Papers; ensure the White Paper is eligible complete and responsive.