1. Department of Navy’s Naval Opportunity Awareness Workshop (OAW) for HBCUs/MIs
September 22, 2017
Suggested talking points:
Purpose of this presentation is to give participants an overview of ARL and ARO, discuss ARO’s mission and structure and ARO’s funding opportunities related to HBCUs and MIs
My goal for this presentation is to provide you with a high-level view of ARL, ARO, and to make you aware of the funding opportunities available within ARO
Ms. Patricia Huff
HBCU/MI Program Manager
Army Research Laboratory/Army Research Office

2. Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM)
U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC)
Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM)
Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
Edgewood Chem-Bio Center (ECBC)
Armament (ARDEC)
Comms and Electronics (CERDEC)
Natick Soldier (NSRDEC)
Aviation and Missile (AMRDEC)
Tank-Automotive (TARDEC)
Army Research Office (ARO)
Suggested talking points:
I’ll start by giving you an overview of the Army’s organizational structure above ARO starting at AMC, then focusing down through the hierarchy ending at ARO.
ARO is part of the Army Materiel Command (AMC), and under the Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM).
Throughout all the presentations today, you may hear terms like “Core Program” or “6.1 research” – these terms are usually synonymous, depending on the context, and refer to the most fundamental/basic research.
Basic research being defined as systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications toward processes or products in mind. [from OMB Circular No. A- 11 (1998)]
The other organizations perform primarily applied research (called “6.2” or beyond) and/or development.
Basic research being defined as systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications toward processes or products in mind. [from OMB Circular No. A-11 (1998)]
ARL has a unique role and focuses on the underpinning Science, Technology and Analysis for the Army.
ARL plays a bit different role than other components; because it is basically the corporate lab for Army S&T, not to say that RDECs don’t also do S&T, but it is ARL’s primary mission, and ARL needs to be responsive to the RDECs and generate programs
Research, Development and Engineering Centers (RDECs)
ARL discovers, innovates, and transitions S&T as the
nation’s premier laboratory for land forces.
ARO is ARL’s principal conduit to engage the university research community.

3. ARL-ARO Overview Research Domains
ARO’s Active Research Footprint
Mission: Utilize the vast intellectual capital of our nation’s universities to:
Create and Champion Scientific Discoveries for Revolutionary New Army Capabilities
Drive Science to Develop Solutions to Existing Army Technology Needs
Accelerate Transition of Basic Research
Leverage S&T From Outside Sources
Create and Strengthen University, Industry, Government Partnerships
Unbiased expert assessments for HQs
Educate and Train the Future S&E Workforce for the Army
Prevent Technological Surprises
Research Funding
by State
>$15M
>$8M<$15M
>$2M<$8M
<$2M
270+ Institutes of Higher Learning
1121 Individual Investigators
47 Research Centers
Research Domains
ARO Key Characteristics:
~$200M/yr 6.1 RDT&E Basic Research Funding
Leveraged 3x with well-aligned customer funds (e.g. DARPA)
~40 Program Managers plus mission support staff
Coordinates closely with ARL Directorates, RDECs and other Army commands and DoD components
Chemistry
Computing &
Info Science
Electronics
Life Sciences
Physics
Materials
Mathematics
Mechanics
Network Science
Nanoscience
Driving science to shape the Army of tomorrow

4. Award Type Target Funding
ARO and Broad Agency Announcements and Funding Opportunity Announcements (BAAs or FOAs)
Award Type
Target
Funding
Single Investigator (SI)
Single-laboratory projects
$145K/year (avg) for 3 years
Short Term Innovative Research (STIR)
Very high-risk pilot projects
$60K for 9 mo. ($47K avg)
Young Investigator Program (YIP)
Early-career PIs
$120K/year for 3 years
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)
Promising future leaders
$200K/year for 5 years
Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP)
Instrumentation
$200K (avg) per award
Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI)
Large multidisciplinary programs
~$1.25M/year up to 5 years
Historically Black College/University and Minority Institution (HBCU/MI CORE)
HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions
~$120K/year for 3 years*
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
Multi-phase awards bridging academia & industry
$150K (6 mo.) to $1M (24 mo.)
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
Multi-phase research for industry transition
Suggested Talking Points:
This table gives you a quick summary of the key types of grants and contracts you will see and hear talked about a lot today, especially related to ARMY research funding opportunities

5. Proposal Review and Selection Process
Development of Ideas
White Papers
Receive Proposals
Army Lab/RDEC Review
Science Peer Review
Analysis of Evaluations
Process outcomes:
- Basic Research
- High quality, cutting-edge science
- Solicit/fund only Army relevant areas
- Army relevance must be endorsed by an Army in-house S&E
- Research actively managed to create collaboration and transition
- Army process allows/encourages risk & innovation
Process Point descriptions:
- Program manager interactions with Army and potential PIs
- Evaluate fit to program goals and quality of proposal (~one in ten white papers result in a proposal)
- Evaluate technical merit, Army relevance, and desired participation: SL/SC
- NSF-like peer-review by university S&Es - evaluates scientific merit
- Scores/comments of Army and external reviewers are assessed
- Funding decision based on balancing needs and opportunities, program portfolio, Army objectives
- Approximately one in three proposals is funded
PM Recommendation Management Assessment
Active Involvement
in Execution 7

6. Proposal Evaluation, Selection, and Monitoring (continued)
Grant is Awarded
ARO PM Monitors Program with SL/SCs
Discussions via Phone, and at Conferences
Site Visits, Army Lab Visits
Annual Progress Reports, Manuscripts
PM and SL/SC maintain awareness of progress
PM communicates results, transition opportunities, and breakthroughs to interested DoD S&Es
PM facilitates collaborations with DoD S&Es and other PIs
Leverage external funding to pursue interesting/promising results
Grants are actively managed to maximize technology transfer and collaborative research
PM works with PI and SL/SCs to determine next step (approximately 1/3 are funded with a new grant that is a direct extrapolation of the original)
Grant Ends
Process ensures high quality, Army-relevant, cutting-edge science.

7. Thank You Helpful Resources: http://www.arl.army.mil/