Office of Naval Research (ONR) – Long-Range Broad Agency Announcement
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Long-Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is one of the most strategically important and flexible research funding mechanisms in the U.S. Department of Defense. Unlike narrowly scoped solicitations with rigid objectives, the ONR Long-Range BAA remains continuously open and allows investigators to propose groundbreaking scientific and technological innovations that may reshape future capabilities for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The program welcomes both high-risk discovery science and early prototype development, with the goal of identifying and nurturing ideas that could eventually transition into naval systems, operational tools, or fieldable technologies.
The scope of ONR’s Long-Range BAA spans a wide range of domains including autonomy, robotics, oceanography, materials science, sensors, artificial intelligence, machine learning, naval architecture, cyber defense, quantum information science, advanced communications, human performance, propulsion, maritime energy systems, and modeling and simulation. ONR also supports research in undersea systems, electromagnetic spectrum operations, decision-support algorithms, climate impacts on naval operations, marine biofouling, advanced ship structures, biological sensing, and emerging maritime analytics. ONR program officers seek disruptive, multidisciplinary science that may require bold hypotheses, unconventional methodological approaches, or new analytical frameworks.
Eligibility for the ONR Long-Range BAA is intentionally broad: universities, nonprofits, private research labs, federally funded R&D centers, large defense contractors, and for-profit corporations of all sizes are eligible to apply. Startups with dual-use maritime, sensing, computational, or advanced-materials capabilities can be highly competitive. Due to national security considerations, foreign participation may be limited unless permitted within the topic area.
ONR typically uses a two-step submission process, beginning with a white paper that allows program officers to assess potential naval relevance and research fit before inviting a full proposal. Evaluation criteria emphasize scientific merit, novelty, feasibility, transition potential, contribution to naval missions, and the technical capabilities of the research team. ONR is known for actively engaging with investigators during the early stages to shape research concepts and ensure alignment with strategic naval priorities.
Example
– ONR Long-Range BAA: https://www.nre.navy.mil/work-with-us/funding-opportunities
ScienceDocs Proposal Support
ScienceDocs has significant experience supporting ONR researchers with white-paper framing, full proposal development, technical narratives, and transition strategy articulation. For expert assistance preparing a competitive ONR submission, visit: