Opportunity Information: Apply for PIA FOA 21 AFRL 0001
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico is soliciting applications for a five-year Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) under the opportunity titled "Science, Innovation and Technology Partnership Intermediary Agreement" (Funding Opportunity Number: PIA FOA 21 AFRL 0001). The core purpose is to select one or more intermediary organizations that can act as a bridge between AFRL and the private sector to speed up technology transfer, increase collaboration, and help move government-developed technologies into real commercial and mission-relevant use. Rather than funding traditional research projects, this opportunity focuses on building a sustained capability that helps companies, startups, universities, and industry partners engage with AFRL in practical ways that lead to licensing, commercialization, and cooperative efforts.
The intermediary role is essentially a technology transfer and commercialization support function. AFRL is looking for an organization that can help identify promising federal technologies, connect them with potential commercial partners, and improve the odds that collaborations actually succeed. The activities described for the PIA include support in areas like patent and intellectual property management, technology and market research, running or supporting collaboration spaces and business incubation, conducting technology assessment activities, and enabling prototyping and manufacturing capabilities. A key limitation is that the intermediary cannot conduct research and development on behalf of the government under this agreement; the expectation is assistance, facilitation, and enablement of tech transition rather than performing the underlying R and D itself.
Eligibility is intentionally narrow. For this particular FOA, AFRL states it intends to seek responses only from research institutions of higher education that are registered and have a physical location in the state of New Mexico. In the source listing, the eligible applicant type is identified as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. This geographic and institutional requirement reflects the anticipated place of performance and the program goals, so prospective applicants outside New Mexico or outside the higher-education research institution category would generally not be considered responsive. Applicants are directed to review the FOA's Section III (Eligibility Information) for the exact requirements and any additional conditions.
From an administrative and compliance standpoint, awards under this announcement fall under 2 CFR Part 200 (the Uniform Guidance) along with Department of Defense Research and Development terms and conditions (March 2021). The FOA also notes that amendments can occur during the solicitation period, that the government may fund all, some, or none of the proposals received, and that applicants are responsible for monitoring Grants.gov for updates. An amendment dated August 27, 2021 (Amend 01) updated the statutory authority referenced in the FOA from 15 U.S.C. 3715 to 10 U.S.C. 2368, aligning the program with the defense-specific authority for using partnership intermediaries to promote defense research and education.
Application submission is handled exclusively through Grants.gov, and applicants are expected to complete standard federal registrations in advance. The opportunity emphasizes obtaining a DUNS number (as listed in the FOA materials), registering in Grants.gov to receive automatic notifications and to submit the application, and maintaining an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration. It also highlights practical realities: these registrations can take time, applicants should start early, and technical or account issues with Grants.gov or SAM must be handled through their respective help desks rather than AFRL staff. For FOA content questions (as opposed to registration or system issues), the points of contact provided are Contracting Specialists Sara Telano (sara.telano@us.af.mil) and Karina Zubiate (karina.zubiate@us.af.mil).
In the published opportunity metadata, the activity category is science and technology and other research and development, with CFDA number 12.800. The instrument type is listed as "Other" (consistent with a PIA rather than a standard grant), the award ceiling is shown as 55,000,000, and the original closing date is listed as 2021-09-21. Overall, this is best understood as a multi-year, institution-led effort to build a durable technology transition pipeline around AFRL Kirtland, focused on commercialization support, partnership building, and IP and market enablement, rather than funding discrete laboratory research tasks.Apply for PIA FOA 21 AFRL 0001
- The AFRL Kirtland AFB in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Science, Innovation and Technology Partnership Intermediary Agreement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-08-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-09-21. (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 $55,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Science, Innovation and Technology Partnership Intermediary Agreement".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PIA FOA 21 AFRL 0001.
Which organization is soliciting applications?
The solicitation is issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) located at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.
What is the overall purpose of this Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA)?
The purpose is to select one or more intermediary organizations that can serve as a bridge between AFRL and the private sector to speed up technology transfer, increase collaboration, and help move government-developed technologies into real-world commercial and mission-relevant use.
Is this opportunity intended to fund traditional research projects?
No. This opportunity is not framed as funding traditional, discrete research projects. It focuses on building a sustained capability that helps companies, startups, universities, and industry partners engage with AFRL in practical ways that lead to licensing, commercialization, and cooperative efforts.
What does an "intermediary" do under this agreement?
The intermediary role is described as a technology transfer and commercialization support function. The intermediary is expected to help identify promising federal technologies, connect them with potential commercial partners, and improve the likelihood that collaborations succeed and technologies transition into use.
What kinds of activities are included in the PIA scope (based on the description provided)?
Activities described include support in areas such as:
- Patent and intellectual property (IP) management support
- Technology and market research
- Running or supporting collaboration spaces and business incubation
- Technology assessment activities
- Enabling prototyping and manufacturing capabilities
Can the intermediary perform research and development (R&D) for the government under this agreement?
No. A key limitation stated is that the intermediary cannot conduct research and development on behalf of the government under this agreement. The expectation is assistance, facilitation, and enablement of technology transition rather than performing the underlying R&D.
How long is the agreement period?
The opportunity is for a five-year Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is intentionally narrow. AFRL states it intends to seek responses only from research institutions of higher education that are registered and have a physical location in the state of New Mexico.
What eligible applicant type is identified in the opportunity listing?
In the source listing, the eligible applicant type is identified as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
If an organization is outside New Mexico, can it apply?
Based on the eligibility description provided, applicants outside New Mexico would generally not be considered responsive, since AFRL indicates it intends to seek responses only from qualifying New Mexico-based research institutions of higher education with a physical location in the state.
Where can applicants find the exact eligibility requirements?
Applicants are directed to review the FOA's Section III (Eligibility Information) for the exact requirements and any additional conditions.
What compliance framework and terms apply to awards under this announcement?
Awards under this announcement fall under 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance) along with Department of Defense Research and Development terms and conditions (March 2021).
What is the statutory authority for this Partnership Intermediary Agreement?
An amendment (Amend 01 dated August 27, 2021) updated the statutory authority referenced in the FOA from 15 U.S.C. 3715 to 10 U.S.C. 2368, aligning it with defense-specific authority for partnership intermediaries that promote defense research and education.
Can the FOA be amended during the solicitation period?
Yes. The FOA notes that amendments can occur during the solicitation period, and applicants are responsible for monitoring Grants.gov for updates.
Is AFRL required to fund proposals submitted under this FOA?
No. The FOA states the government may fund all, some, or none of the proposals received.
How must applications be submitted?
Application submission is handled exclusively through Grants.gov.
What registrations or identifiers are emphasized for applying?
The opportunity emphasizes completing standard federal registrations in advance, including:
- Obtaining a DUNS number (as referenced in the FOA materials)
- Registering in Grants.gov (for notifications and application submission)
- Maintaining an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration
Why does the FOA stress starting registrations early?
Because these registrations can take time, and technical or account issues may need to be resolved through the appropriate help desks. The FOA highlights that applicants should start early to avoid timing problems.
Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov or SAM technical/account issues?
The FOA notes that technical or account issues with Grants.gov or SAM must be handled through their respective help desks, rather than AFRL staff.
Who are the points of contact for FOA content questions?
For FOA content questions (not registration/system issues), the points of contact listed are:
- Contracting Specialist Sara Telano: sara.telano@us.af.mil
- Contracting Specialist Karina Zubiate: karina.zubiate@us.af.mil
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 12.800.
What type of award instrument is this?
The instrument type is listed as "Other", which is consistent with using a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) rather than a standard grant instrument.
What is the maximum (ceiling) amount shown for this opportunity?
The published opportunity metadata shows an award ceiling of $55,000,000.
What was the original closing date listed in the opportunity metadata?
The original closing date listed is 2021-09-21.
What is the best way to understand what AFRL is trying to build with this PIA?
Based on the description provided, this is best understood as a multi-year, institution-led effort to build a durable technology transition pipeline around AFRL Kirtland. The focus is on commercialization support, partnership building, and IP and market enablement, rather than funding discrete laboratory research tasks.
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