FOA Questions and Answers 25 June 2020.pdf

FOA Questions and Answers:

FOA-20-AFRL/RVKE-0001

25 June 2020

No. Question Answer

1 "This announcement encourages programs or projects that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students and teachers, and prepare the 21st century STEM workforce. AFRL’s Workforce Development programs or projects include, but are not limited to: • Internships (High School through

Doctoral) • Fellowship Apprentice/Residency Programs • College or University project-based learning programs • Formal or informal workforce development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and DOD STEM Mission." Would a robotics program for students ages 9-14 qualify?

Please reference FOA Questions and Answers: Notice of Intent

05 June 2020. See question 15

2 It is unclear if a program outside of "(a)anticipated places of performance include but are not limited to AFRL’s Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), installations located at:

Directed Energy Directorate (RD), Kirtland AFB, NM • Space Vehicles Directorate (RV), Kirtland AFB, NM • Munitions Directorate (RW), Eglin AFB, FL • Air Vehicles Directorate

(RB), Wright Patterson AFB, OH • Propulsion Directorate (RZ), Wright Patterson AFB, OH •

711 Human Performance Wing (RH), Wright Patterson AFB, OH • Information Directorate

(RI), Rome, NY" would be considered.

We are located in Connecticut.

Please reference FOA Questions and Answers: Notice of Intent

05 June 2020. See question 41.

3 Would a program that has no military, or DoD ties be considered? Please reference FOA Questions and Answers: Notice of Intent

05 June 2020. See question 3.

4 I see that it's administered in New Mexico, but is the money also meant to be spent in state or are the grants available in a larger region?

Please reference FOA Questions and Answers: Notice of Intent

05 June 2020. See question 4.

5 I came across the grant for supporting future scholars for STEM and am wondering whether as an individual I would be eligible to apply?

Per the FOA, he current FOA is for organizations and not individuals. However, we encourage you to visit the DoD STEM program website for individual opportunities:

https://dodstem.us/stem-programs/programs https://dodstem.us/stem-programs/programs

6 In evaluating the proposals, will reviewers look more at the process related mechanisms that are set up to attract students, engage in collaborations with the Air Force, and, in general, enhance the pipeline of students doing DoD-related STEM research, or will the actual science/technology be equally weighted? The proposed FOA seems to focus on the process-related mechanisms, and so I was unsure of how much the proposed research themes might be evaluated.

Per the FOA, Section V - Application Review Information, all criterions listed are of equal importance.

7 Thinking ahead: is there an optimal yearly budget that you are looking at in order for proposals to remain competitive? I notice a maximum amount of $5M/year, but given that the anticipated budget is $50M, this would mean that only a few proposals might be funded.

Knowing this information is helpful in terms of determining the size of the proposed team

AFRL anticipates a total of $50,000,000.00 of Federal funding for multiple awards under this FOA. Proposed efforts may range in size, complexity and periods of performance. Please note, the

Government (AFRL) reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the applications in response to this announcement.

8 When I first started my career years ago on the faculty at the University of Florida (UF), I was an AFOSR Summer faculty fellow at Tyndall AFB. In this program, I was able to bring a

UF graduate student with me to work at TAFB for the summer. This type of program was beneficial in (a) allowing me, as a faculty member, to learn more about AF funding opportunities (and, in general the DoD), and (b) allowing the student to do research that inspired him to go and work with a defense-related contractor after his graduation. Would a joint faculty/student summer activities program with expanded follow on activities be something that would be appropriate to propose for the anticipated FOA, or would this overlap too much with the existing version of the AFOSR program for faculty?

This FOA supports STEM Workforce Development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and the DoD

STEM Mission. Additional details would have to be given in the

Letter of Intent and proposal.

9 What’s a realistic number of AFRL researchers to anticipate being interested in mentoring

MESA students? For example, the AFRL Mentors web page lists 249 potential mentors. Of that number, about 144 are hyperlinked as actively soliciting student participation. If even half of these researchers were interested in each supporting a single mentee, they could annually mentor @ 70 students, or almost ten per college.

The program or project mentor ratio, will vary subject to the proposed effort. However, on average students are assigned a primary and secondary mentor.

10 When the deadline to apply for this grant was or when it would be made available. I am interested in more information about this grant

The initial submission deadline for proposals is 21 July 2020, 2:00 PM EST. Proposals submitted during the initial submission deadline will be prioritized for evaluations. After, proposals may be submitted any time from the FOA issue date, until the final submission deadline for proposals and will be evaluated as they are received. Prior to submitting a proposal, Recipients are required to submit a Letter of Intent to the Points of Contact

(POCs) listed in Section VII - Federal Awarding Agency

Contact(s) of the FOA.

11 Do I have to submit a Letter of Intent before the application/proposal? Yes. Please reference FOA Section III. Eligibility Information

12 I see that there is a list of places of performance in the FOA. I just wanted to see if this is a restriction as in Hampton Roads there is such a great Air Force presence with Langley and

NASA, that I think this could be a good fit for us.

Please reference FOA Questions and Answers: Notice of Intent

05 June 2020. See question 41.