Opportunity Information: Apply for HDTRA1 20 S 0002BAA
The Strategic Trends Division Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), issued by the Department of Defense through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), is a competitive funding opportunity focused on applied research and development that helps DTRA anticipate and characterize the threat environment expected in the 2025 to 2030 timeframe, specifically in the context of Great Power Competition. Through its Strategic Trends Research Initiative, DTRA is looking for work that produces credible, timely, operationally relevant, and actionable research products that can directly inform how the Strategic Trends Division thinks about emerging risks, strategic dynamics, and defense planning challenges.
At its core, the BAA is designed to attract high-quality, independent research from a wide range of performers, including but not limited to universities, think tanks, industry, and other research institutions. The government is not simply seeking general advice or staff augmentation; instead, DTRA expects proposers to define clear research questions and apply a defensible methodology that leads to tangible deliverables. DTRA notes that it will provide guidance and direction during performance to ensure the work stays aligned with mission needs, but the deliverables themselves should be independently produced research outputs that contribute both to DTRA decision-making and to broader scientific and technical understanding within the topic area.
The announcement aligns its thematic emphasis with priorities highlighted in the 2018 National Defense Strategy. Within that framing, DTRA is seeking submissions such as white papers and full proposals for efforts that may include research studies, strategic dialogues, and tabletop exercises. In practical terms, this means applicants can propose analytic projects (for example, structured assessments of future threat pathways), convening and dialogue formats (to test assumptions and synthesize expert judgment), and scenario-driven exercises (to explore how strategic conditions could evolve and what operational implications might follow). The common thread is that the end products must be usable for operationally relevant planning and strategic insight, rather than purely academic exploration.
From an applicant standpoint, the opportunity is broadly open. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses and small businesses), and even individuals. This wide eligibility reflects the BAA model, which is meant to pull in the strongest ideas and capabilities wherever they exist, rather than limiting participation to a narrow category of institutions.
In terms of award structure and scale, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HDTRA1 20 S 0002BAA; CFDA 12.910) is listed with funding instruments that may include grants and procurement contracts, indicating DTRA may choose the instrument type that best fits the proposed work and the government’s intended relationship with the performer. The expected number of awards is around 10, with an award ceiling of $350,000 per award. The posting shows a long open period, with an original closing date of March 2, 2025, suggesting DTRA intended to maintain an extended window for receiving and selecting strong concepts as needs evolve.
Finally, the solicitation indicates a two-phase application approach, which commonly means an initial white paper or concept submission followed by an invitation to submit a more detailed full proposal for selected concepts. The full solicitation should be consulted for the exact sequencing, required formats, evaluation criteria, submission instructions, and deliverable expectations, since those details determine how an idea should be framed, what compliance items must be included, and how DTRA will judge technical merit and relevance to its strategic trends mission.Apply for HDTRA1 20 S 0002BAA
- The Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strategic Trends Division Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.910.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 04, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 02, 2025. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $350,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Strategic Trends Division Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)?
This is a competitive funding opportunity issued by the Department of Defense through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). It focuses on applied research and development that helps DTRA anticipate and characterize the threat environment expected in the 2025 to 2030 timeframe, specifically in the context of Great Power Competition.
What is the main purpose of this BAA?
The goal is to generate credible, timely, operationally relevant, and actionable research products that directly inform how DTRA's Strategic Trends Division thinks about emerging risks, strategic dynamics, and defense planning challenges in the 2025 to 2030 timeframe.
What kinds of work is DTRA looking to fund?
The BAA supports applied research and development efforts that produce tangible research outputs. Example effort types mentioned include research studies, strategic dialogues, and tabletop exercises. Projects can be analytic (such as structured assessments of future threat pathways), convening and dialogue formats (to test assumptions and synthesize expert judgment), and scenario-driven exercises (to explore how strategic conditions could evolve and what operational implications might follow).
Does DTRA want academic research, or research that supports operations and planning?
The emphasis is on operationally relevant planning and strategic insight. The common thread across proposed efforts is that the end products must be usable for planning and decision-making, not purely academic exploration.
Is this opportunity focused on any specific strategic context or theme?
Yes. The announcement targets the threat environment in 2025 to 2030 and is explicitly framed around Great Power Competition. It also aligns its thematic emphasis with priorities highlighted in the 2018 National Defense Strategy.
Who can apply for this BAA?
Eligibility is broad. The opportunity is open to public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including both small businesses and entities other than small businesses), and individuals.
What types of organizations does DTRA expect to participate?
The BAA is designed to attract high-quality, independent research from a wide range of performers, including (but not limited to) universities, think tanks, industry, and other research institutions.
Is this funding meant for staff augmentation or general advisory support?
No. The announcement states the government is not simply seeking general advice or staff augmentation. Proposers are expected to define clear research questions and apply a defensible methodology that leads to tangible deliverables.
What does DTRA mean by "independent research" in this context?
The deliverables should be independently produced research outputs. While DTRA expects to provide guidance and direction during performance to keep work aligned to mission needs, the outputs themselves should be substantive research products that contribute to DTRA decision-making and to broader scientific and technical understanding within the topic area.
What are examples of deliverables that might be relevant?
The announcement references submissions such as white papers and full proposals, and mentions efforts that may include research studies, strategic dialogues, and tabletop exercises. Across these, the key expectation is that the resulting products are credible, timely, operationally relevant, and actionable.
How many awards does DTRA expect to make?
The posting indicates an expected number of awards of around 10.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is listed as $350,000 per award.
What funding instruments might be used for awards?
The opportunity lists funding instruments that may include grants and procurement contracts. This means DTRA may select the instrument type that best fits the proposed work and the intended relationship between the government and the performer.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this BAA?
Funding Opportunity Number: HDTRA1 20 S 0002BAA. CFDA: 12.910.
What is the application process?
The solicitation indicates a two-phase application approach. This commonly means an initial white paper or concept submission followed by an invitation to submit a more detailed full proposal for selected concepts.
Do applicants submit a white paper first, or can they submit a full proposal right away?
The information provided indicates a two-phase approach and describes it as commonly involving an initial white paper or concept submission followed by an invitation for selected concepts to submit a full proposal. The full solicitation should be consulted for the exact sequencing and required formats.
What evaluation criteria will DTRA use to select projects?
The detailed evaluation criteria are not provided here. The solicitation notes that the full solicitation should be consulted for evaluation criteria, along with required formats, submission instructions, and deliverable expectations.
What makes a strong submission based on the information provided?
A strong submission would present clear research questions, use a defensible methodology, and commit to producing tangible deliverables that are credible, timely, operationally relevant, and actionable for DTRA's Strategic Trends mission focused on Great Power Competition in 2025 to 2030.
Is the submission window long, and what is the closing date listed?
The posting shows a long open period, with an original closing date of March 2, 2025, suggesting DTRA intended to maintain an extended window for receiving and selecting strong concepts as needs evolve.
Will DTRA provide direction or involvement during the project?
Yes. DTRA notes it will provide guidance and direction during performance to help keep work aligned with mission needs. At the same time, the deliverables are expected to be independently produced research outputs.
Is this BAA limited to a particular performer type (like only universities or only small businesses)?
No. Eligibility is intentionally broad and includes universities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profits (including small businesses and other-than-small businesses), and individuals.
Where should applicants look for the exact required formats and submission instructions?
The full solicitation should be consulted for the exact sequencing, required formats, evaluation criteria, submission instructions, and deliverable expectations.
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