Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 12.800
- Agency
-
Air Force
Department of Defense
- Grant awards
- 14,699 $11,642,524,159 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Block Grant
- Formula Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 57-3600-0-1-051
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Air Force, through its Materiel Command Research Laboratory (Air Force Research Laboratory), funds basic research in science and engineering areas relevant to Air Force and Space Force missions under CFDA 12.800, with the most recent grant awards dated October 1, 2026.
The program funds a broad portfolio of fundamental research spanning quantum systems, materials science, aerospace structures, artificial intelligence and machine learning, directed energy, electromagnetic phenomena, and combustion dynamics. Recent awards exemplify the scope: neuromorphic materials for aerospace structure adaptation ($261,783), quantum testing of bioinspired devices ($347,890), and keratin self-assembly into chiral nematic liquid crystals ($150,000). Awards also support conferences and symposiums in the program's research disciplines.
Grant activity remains substantial. The portfolio includes 14,699 awards since 1995, with $11.64 billion in combined federal dollars obligated. Award frequency declined from 863 in 2023 to 252 through early October 2026, a trend worth monitoring. Project Grants dominate at 92 percent of awards (13,496), with Cooperative Agreements accounting for 8 percent (1,178). The Department of the Air Force directly funds 9,846 awards worth $5.07 billion federal dollars, and the Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Research Laboratory funds 4,399 awards worth $4.88 billion federal dollars—together representing the vast majority of the program's activity. Sixteen distinct funding agencies participate, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Army Materiel Command, each with smaller allocations.
Award sizes vary widely. Individual project grants range from $10,000 to $3 million, with two recent Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) awards at $3 million and $2.99 million. Most awards fall in the $100,000 to $500,000 range. Cost-sharing is present but not mandatory—combined total obligated is $14.27 billion against $11.64 billion federal, reflecting recipient contributions.
Open or recently posted opportunities include the Fiscal Year 2027 MURI competition (due April 9, 2027, universities only), Fiscal Year 2027 Young Investigator Program supporting early-career researchers with up to $150,000 per year for three years (due December 4, 2026), and Defense University Research Instrumentation Program for research equipment acquisition at universities (due November 6, 2026). The broad Fiscal Year 2027 Research Interests solicitation from AFOSR (FA955026S0001) remains open as the standing avenue for unsolicited proposals. The Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS) multiple authority announcement maintains three open solicitations through 2027 for human effectiveness research. Applicants include universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit firms, and in some vehicles industrial laboratories, though Federally Funded Research and Development Centers are typically ineligible.
Objective and description
- Objective
To maintain technological superiority in the scientific areas relevant to Air Force needs; to prevent technological surprise to our nation and create it for our adversaries; to maintain a strong research infrastructure composed of Air Force laborator
- Description
Research that enhances the ability of the Department of the Air Force (DAF) to perform the DAF mission.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Private/public educational institutions; other private/public nonprofit organizations which are operated primarily for scientific, educational, or similar purposes in the public interest, and commercial concerns.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Private/public educational institutions; other private/public nonprofit organizations which are operated primarily for scientific, educational, or similar purposes in the public interest, and commercial concerns.
- Uses of assistance
Basic research, applied research, advanced research, and development projects that are necessary to the responsibilities of the United States Air Force in the field of research and development; and, either relate to weapon systems and other military needs; or are of potential interest to the Air Force. Funds must be expended in a manner consistent with the statute and its aforementioned purpose.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Up to five years. Awards will be incrementally funded.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Research proposals shall be prepared in accordance with instructions in individual program announcements. See Grants.gov (www.grants.gov).
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Awards decisions will be based on a competitive selection of proposals resulting from a peer and/or scientific review.
- Award procedure
Awards decisions will be based on a competitive selection of proposals resulting from a peer and/or scientific review.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Contact the appropriate regional contracting office.
- Renewals
Contact the appropriate regional contracting office.
- Appeals
Contact the appropriate regional contracting office.
Grant opportunities
Show 40 more
Latest 50 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 14,699 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Center For Defense Manufacturing And Machining | $798,863,080 | 7% |
| 2 | Bioindustrial Manufacturing And Design Ecosystem | $536,656,768 | 5% |
| 3 | Flextech Alliance, Inc. | $470,162,704 | 4% |
| 4 | The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York | $297,741,217 | 3% |
| 5 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | $239,507,464 | 2% |
| 6 | The Leland Stanford Junior University | $230,050,610 | 2% |
| 7 | Red Rock Biofuels LLC | $219,143,312 | 2% |
| 8 | Regents Of The University Of Michigan | $205,650,786 | 2% |
| 9 | University Of Dayton | $195,924,284 | 2% |
| 10 | Cornell University | $191,228,383 | 2% |
10 of 1,480 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $744,982,413 |
| FY2025 | $587,754,377 |
| FY2024 | $851,307,497 |
| FY2023 | $1,123,250,030 |
| FY2022 | $594,920,644 |
| FY2021 | $566,105,083 |
| FY2020 | $533,936,652 |
| FY2019 | $510,713,234 |
| FY2018 | $369,378,145 |
| FY2017 | $460,699,105 |
| FY2016 | $534,715,390 |
| FY2015 | $509,066,486 |
| FY2014 | $630,450,085 |
| FY2013 | $408,283,839 |
| FY2012 | $477,331,322 |
| FY2011 | $475,333,345 |
| FY2010 | $493,377,908 |
| FY2009 | $378,483,323 |
| FY2008 | $350,932,074 |
| FY2007 | $320,104,337 |
| FY2006 | $265,339,964 |
| FY2005 | $112,322,903 |
| FY2004 | $130,585,472 |
| FY2003 | $35,587,980 |
| FY2002 | $164,034,992 |
| FY2001 | $178,795,294 |
Show all 26
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 12.800?
Assistance Listing 12.800 is Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program, a federal grant program run by Air Force (Department of Defense).
What is the CFDA number for Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program?
Its CFDA number is 12.800: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 12.800 awarded?
14,699 grant awards under 12.800 have obligated $11,642,524,159 in federal funds to 1,480 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 12.800?
The recipients obligated the most under Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program are National Center For Defense Manufacturing And Machining ($798,863,080), Bioindustrial Manufacturing And Design Ecosystem ($536,656,768) and Flextech Alliance, Inc. ($470,162,704).
How much did 12.800 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 12.800 obligated $587,754,377 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 12.800?
13 of the latest 50 opportunities under 12.800 are open or forecasted. The latest, Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Department of War (DoW) Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI), was posted on September 21, 2026.
On GovTribe
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