Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA AFRL RQKM 2019 5011
The Data-Driven Discovery of Optimized Multifunctional Material Systems Center of Excellence (D3OM2S CoE) funding opportunity (FOA AFRL RQKM 2019 5011) is a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) effort to create a collaborative center focused on using modern computational approaches to speed up and improve materials research that matters to the U.S. Air Force. The core aim is to develop and apply artificial intelligence, data analytics, and decision science methods to real materials problem areas, with an emphasis on work that is tightly connected to Air Force researchers rather than operating in isolation. In practice, the opportunity is trying to build an enduring, integrated research relationship where academic and USAF teams jointly shape research questions, share insights, and translate data-driven methods into useful materials understanding.
A defining feature of the program is that it is designed to grow and sustain those collaborations by directly funding graduate students at the recipient institution or institutions. Those students are expected to carry out basic research in materials-related problem spaces while applying and adapting data-analytic techniques. The emphasis on “basic research” signals that the program is not purely about near-term product development; it is about pushing the underlying science forward. At the same time, the program is not looking for vague or purely exploratory work. It explicitly calls for results that are “actionable” and “quantifiable,” meaning the research should produce outputs that can be used to make decisions, test hypotheses, or guide follow-on experimentation and development. Examples of the types of outputs implied by this language include validated predictive models, measurable performance tradeoffs, quantified uncertainty, prioritized experimental plans, or data-driven evidence that clarifies relationships between processing, structure, properties, and performance in materials systems.
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement from the government partner compared to a standard grant. That aligns with the stated goal of “strong, organic collaborations” between the recipient and USAF researchers. Cooperative agreements generally imply that AFRL expects to actively engage with the awardee through technical coordination, joint planning, data or resource sharing where appropriate, and ongoing alignment to Air Force materials challenges. The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA 12.800), reinforcing that this is an R&D-centered program within the Department of Defense.
In terms of competitiveness and scale, the FOA lists an expectation of a single award, suggesting AFRL intended to select one primary recipient or one lead organization (potentially with partners) to serve as the Center of Excellence. The eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to different entity types, as long as they meet any conditions described in the full announcement’s eligibility clarifications. The posting was created on November 30, 2018, with an original closing date of January 3, 2019, placing it in a timeframe where proposals would have been expected to quickly outline a credible plan for building a data-driven materials research hub and integrating graduate student research with Air Force priorities.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a workforce-and-collaboration-driven research center effort: it aims to develop a pipeline of graduate researchers working at the intersection of materials science and data/AI methods, while simultaneously delivering measurable advances in fundamental understanding of Air Force-relevant materials systems. The desired end state is not just publications, but decision-ready knowledge and analytic tools that improve how materials are discovered, optimized, and evaluated for multifunctional performance in defense-relevant contexts.Apply for FOA AFRL RQKM 2019 5011
- The Department of Defense, Air Force -- Research Lab in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Data-Driven Discovery of Optimized Multifunctional Material Systems Center of Excellence (D³OM²S CoE)" 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 Nov 30, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 03, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the D3OM2S Center of Excellence funding opportunity?
The Data-Driven Discovery of Optimized Multifunctional Material Systems Center of Excellence (D3OM2S CoE) funding opportunity (FOA AFRL RQKM 2019 5011) is an effort by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to establish a collaborative center focused on accelerating and improving materials research relevant to the U.S. Air Force using modern computational approaches.
What is the main goal of this program?
The core aim is to develop and apply artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and decision science methods to real materials problem areas in ways that are tightly connected to Air Force researchers. The program is built to create an enduring, integrated research relationship where academic and USAF teams jointly shape research questions and translate data-driven methods into useful materials understanding.
What types of approaches or methods does the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes AI, data analytics, and decision science approaches applied to materials research. The intent is to use these computational methods to speed up materials discovery, optimization, and evaluation, particularly for multifunctional material systems relevant to Air Force needs.
How important is collaboration with Air Force researchers?
Collaboration is a defining feature. The opportunity stresses "strong, organic collaborations" and is designed so that academic teams do not operate in isolation. Instead, recipient and USAF researchers are expected to jointly shape the work, share insights, and keep the research aligned with Air Force materials challenges.
What does it mean that the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial government involvement compared to a standard grant. In this program, that aligns with AFRL expecting active engagement with the awardee through technical coordination, joint planning, and ongoing alignment to Air Force-relevant materials problem spaces.
Is this program focused on basic research or product development?
The program emphasizes basic research in materials-related problem spaces. That signals a focus on advancing underlying science rather than being purely about near-term product development. At the same time, the program is not looking for vague or purely exploratory work; it calls for outputs that can be used to inform decisions and guide next steps.
What kinds of results does AFRL want to see from funded research?
The opportunity explicitly calls for results that are "actionable" and "quantifiable." Based on the description, this implies outputs such as validated predictive models, measurable performance tradeoffs, quantified uncertainty, prioritized experimental plans, or data-driven evidence clarifying relationships between processing, structure, properties, and performance in materials systems.
What does "actionable" and "quantifiable" mean in this context?
"Actionable" suggests the outputs should support decisions, test hypotheses, or guide follow-on experimentation and development. "Quantifiable" suggests the work should produce measurable, defensible results rather than general qualitative observations.
How are graduate students involved in this program?
A defining feature is that the program is designed to grow and sustain collaborations by directly funding graduate students at the recipient institution or institutions. Those students are expected to carry out basic materials research while applying and adapting data-analytic techniques.
Why does the program directly fund graduate students?
Based on the opportunity description, direct graduate student funding is a mechanism to build and sustain the collaboration over time and to develop a workforce pipeline of researchers working at the intersection of materials science and data/AI methods.
How many awards does the FOA expect to make?
The FOA lists an expectation of a single award, indicating AFRL intended to select one primary recipient or one lead organization (potentially with partners) to serve as the Center of Excellence.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to different entity types, subject to any conditions or clarifications included in the full announcement.
What is the program classification (CFDA) and what does it indicate?
The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, CFDA 12.800. This reinforces that the program is an R&D-centered effort within the Department of Defense context.
What is the intended end state of this Center of Excellence?
The desired end state is an enduring, integrated research relationship that produces decision-ready knowledge and analytic tools that improve how materials are discovered, optimized, and evaluated for multifunctional performance in defense-relevant contexts. The description suggests the emphasis is not only on publications, but also on measurable advances and usable outputs.
What does "multifunctional material systems" imply here?
Based on the program title and description, it implies materials systems where performance involves multiple functions or requirements, and where data-driven methods can help optimize tradeoffs and improve understanding of how processing and structure relate to properties and performance.
What is the FOA identifier for this opportunity?
The FOA identifier provided is AFRL RQKM 2019 5011.
When was this opportunity posted and when was it originally due?
The posting was created on November 30, 2018, and the original closing date was January 3, 2019.
What does the timeline suggest about proposal expectations?
Given the short window between posting and closing, proposals would have been expected to quickly present a credible plan for building a data-driven materials research hub and integrating graduate student research with Air Force priorities.
Does the opportunity expect a standalone academic effort or a joint academic-USAF effort?
The opportunity is framed around joint academic-USAF effort. It emphasizes integrated collaboration where research questions are shaped together and insights are shared, rather than a standalone effort running independently of Air Force researchers.
What kind of impact is AFRL aiming for with this program?
The program aims to speed up and improve Air Force-relevant materials research by applying data-driven methods, while simultaneously developing a pipeline of graduate researchers trained in materials science combined with data/AI techniques, and producing measurable, decision-supporting research outputs.
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