AFRL/AFOSR Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 University Center for High-Speed Aerothermoelasticity

Open Posted

Opportunity number
FA955027S0001
Agency
Applications due
Award size
$8,250,000 to $13,750,000

Opportunity facts

Assistance listings
Funding instrument
Grant
Category
  • Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Eligible applicants
  • Higher Education Inst. (Private)
  • Higher Education Inst. (Public)
Points of contact

Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

Written by GovTribe AI ·

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory Air Warfare Directorate (AFRL/RA), is soliciting unclassified proposals for one university-led Center for High-Speed Aerothermoelasticity, with pre-proposal inquiries due November 13, 2026. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education where the principal investigator holds a full-time, permanent, non-contractor position; researchers at Federally Funded Research and Development Centers and Department of War laboratories are ineligible. The award is $2.75 million per year for three years ($8.25 million base), with an option to extend to five years for a maximum of $13.75 million. An additional $750,000 per year is available when proposals include three investigators with full-time HBCU appointments, capped at $250,000 per HBCU investigator annually, and HBCU partnership is strongly encouraged. The team may include up to ten investigators spanning computational simulation, theoretical modeling, and ground experimentation across high-speed fluid mechanics, thermal transport, and structural sciences. Required research topics include panel flutter and thermal buckling for reusable high-speed vehicles, with collaboration on computational simulations and ground and flight experiments with AFRL/RA and connections to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Arnold Engineering Development Center.

The process begins with a mandatory white paper of no more than five pages, excluding references and CVs, due January 22, 2027 at 11:59 PM Eastern through the AFOSR Qualtrics portal; the government responds by February 26, 2027. White papers are evaluated on technical merit and relevance to Department of War missions, and only invited proposers may submit full proposals through Grants.gov by April 2, 2027 at 11:59 PM Eastern. Selection notifications are anticipated by August 15, 2027. Required submissions include a data management plan modeled on NSF requirements, Gold Standard Science commitments, research security training certifications, ORCID numbers, and an active SAM.gov registration with a valid UEI maintained throughout the award period.

This opportunity is assigned to the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program, Assistance Listing 12.800. Under that program, cost sharing is present but not mandatory, and most awards fall between $100,000 and $500,000. No incumbent recipient is named.

Synopsis

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, in partnership with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Air Warfare Directorate (RA), intends to provide support for a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers at U.S. universities to establish a university-led Center for High-Speed Aerothermoelasticity. This multidisciplinary, basic research initiative focuses on investigating complex problem sets involving the fundamental physics at the intersection of high-speed fluid mechanics, thermal transport, and structural sciences. By supporting a balanced, integrated approach across computational simulation, theoretical modeling, and ground experimentation in these three areas, the Center will tackle critical aerothermoelasticity challenges for the Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering. This opportunity is a chance to work closely with the Air Force Research Lab Air Warfare Directorate (AFRL/RA) on computational simulations and ground and flight experiments in the field of high-speed aerothermoelasticity.


We seek unclassified proposals from a highly collaborative, qualified and responsible university-led team that bridges the traditional silos of fluid dynamics, thermal transport, and structural mechanics. The program requires an interdisciplinary roster of up to ten investigators (including computational and experimental leads) and strongly encourages partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), in alignment with Executive Order 14283. Beyond technical discovery, the Center acts as a vital connection between academia and DoW scientists at facilities such as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC). This ensures that breakthrough academic research translates into tangible capabilities for the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and access to a well-trained future aerospace workforce. It is important that your proposal shows strength in as many of the evaluation areas as practical for maximum competitiveness.


The award shall be made to U.S. institutions of higher education, where the principal investigator is employed on a full-time basis and holds a regular, non-contractor position. Researchers working at the Federally Funded Research and Development Centers and DoW Laboratories are not eligible for this competition.

Files

File Type Posted
FA955027S0001_Amendment_1.pdf PDF
PKG00294475.pdf PDF
Appendix_2_-_AFRL_Privacy_Act_for_Covered_Individuals.pdf PDF
FA955027S0001.pdf PDF

On GovTribe

Work this opportunity

  • Track it in your pipeline
  • Find teaming partners
  • Similar grant opportunities
  • Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity
Try for free Login