STAGE 1: BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) OVERVIEW – Extramural Biomedical and Human Performance Research and Development

This document constitutes Stage 1 of the official Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) issued by the Department of Defense (DoD). This stage provides the foundational information required for potential applicants to determine their eligibility and understand the core intent of this research funding opportunity.

The 2026 BAA seeks innovative, extramural research and development proposals in critical areas of biomedical science and human performance. The primary goal is to support scientific discovery and technological advancement that enhances the health, resilience, and operational capabilities of military personnel. This BAA is open to a wide range of academic, nonprofit, and industry research institutions.

Stage 1 details the general scope, administrative information, and mandatory eligibility requirements that must be met before an applicant proceeds to subsequent stages involving detailed technical proposal submission. Interested researchers must carefully review all criteria in this stage to confirm their organization’s and project’s alignment with DoD objectives and constraints.

Who Is Eligible?

• U.S.-based institutions of higher education (universities and colleges).
• Non-profit research institutions and organizations.
• For-profit commercial companies, both large and small businesses.
• Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs), Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs), HUBZone Small Businesses, and Woman-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs).
• U.S. Government laboratories, including Department of Defense (DoD) labs and other federal agencies.
• Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs).
• State and local government research entities.
• Qualified domestic and foreign individuals, subject to specific security and export control requirements.
• Teams or consortia formed from any combination of the above eligible entities.

Application Steps (2026)

All applications must be submitted in accordance with the following steps and the specific instructions contained in the BAA and associated submission materials. The Department will not evaluate proposals that fail to adhere to these steps.

1. Step 1: Initial White Paper Submission (Mandatory)
   • Submit a concise White Paper (not to exceed 5 pages) via the designated online portal (portal.dod-research.mil/baa2026) by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on April 15, 2026.
   • The White Paper must outline the proposed concept, technical approach, key personnel, estimated budget, and potential impact.
   • Within 30 calendar days of receipt, the Government will provide a written response encouraging or discouraging a full proposal submission. An encouraging response is not a guarantee of award.
2. Step 2: Full Proposal Submission (By Invitation Only)
   • Only those Offerors who receive an encouraging response to their White Paper are eligible to submit a Full Proposal.
   • Full Proposals must be submitted via the online portal by the date specified in the Government’s response, typically no later than July 31, 2026.
   • Proposals must comply with all format, content, and certification requirements detailed in the BAA and the provided proposal preparation guide.
3. Step 3: Administrative and Technical Review
   • Proposals will be screened for administrative compliance (completeness, formatting, timeliness). Non-compliant proposals may be rejected without technical evaluation.
   • Technically compliant proposals will undergo a rigorous scientific and programmatic review by a panel of Government and subject matter expert evaluators against the published evaluation criteria.
4. Step 4: Selection and Negotiation
   • Based on the review, proposals will be ranked, and selections for potential award will be made.
   • The Government will initiate negotiations with selected Offerors on technical, schedule, and cost aspects. This may involve multiple rounds of discussion and proposal revision.
5. Step 5: Award
   • Upon successful negotiation, the Contracting Officer will issue a formal award instrument (e.g., contract, grant, cooperative agreement).
   • Unsuccessful Offerors will be notified in writing once the award selection process is finalized.

Key Dates for 2026 Submissions:

Note: All deadlines are firm. The Government reserves the right to modify dates and will provide notice of any changes through an amendment to this BAA.