Armed Forces Pest Management Board Broad Agency Announcement | AFPMB BAA 24 02

FAQs: Armed Forces Pest Management Board Broad Agency Announcement (AFPMB BAA 24 02)

What is AFPMB BAA 24 02?

AFPMB BAA 24 02 is a Department of Defense grant opportunity that supports the Fiscal Year 2024 Deployed Warfighter Protection (DWFP) Program. It is a Broad Agency Announcement intended to fund applied, innovative projects that reduce disease and operational impacts from medically important pests affecting deployed military personnel.

What problem is this funding opportunity trying to solve?

The goal is to reduce disease risk and operational impacts caused by medically important pests that threaten deployed forces, with particular emphasis on arthropods and other vectors linked to mosquito-borne viruses, tick-borne pathogens, and fly-borne bacterial pathogens.

Who is issuing and managing this solicitation?

The solicitation is issued through the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood Contracting Division, Fort Detrick (ACC-APG Edgewood). The DWFP Program at the Armed Forces Pest Management Board serves as the execution management agent.

What is the legal authority cited for this opportunity?

The solicitation is issued under the authority of 10 USC 4001.

Is this a grant, contract, or something else?

The opportunity lists a grant as the funding instrument type. It is also labeled with an "Other" opportunity category.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.355.

Is the competition restricted or unrestricted?

The listing describes the competition as unrestricted.

What kinds of projects is the program looking to fund?

The program is geared toward original, innovative, and applied research that can move technologies forward into advanced development. The emphasis is on tangible outcomes that are relevant to real-world deployment conditions.

What kinds of outcomes are considered responsive to the program goals?

Examples of the types of outcomes described include deployable or near-deployable solutions such as new insecticides, improved formulations of existing products, improved pesticide delivery and application equipment, and new or enhanced methods of personal protection against biting arthropods.

Is basic research a good fit for this opportunity?

Proposals focused mainly on basic research may be administratively withdrawn. The stated expectation is that projects should be tied to tangible product or capability outcomes suitable for operational use.

What are the FY24 research areas, and do proposals need to fit one of them?

Yes. To be responsive, an application must fit at least one of five defined FY24 research areas, and applicants are responsible for selecting the most appropriate category.

What is DWFP-1: Bite Prevention?

DWFP-1 targets gaps in personal protection tools that prevent human-vector contact. It can include innovations in repellents, treated fabrics, wearable technologies, or other approaches intended to reduce bites in operational settings.

What is DWFP-2: Vector Control?

DWFP-2 focuses on new ways to apply insecticides, identify or develop new toxicants, or adapt existing toxicants for medically relevant arthropods. It emphasizes effectiveness against target vectors and suitability for military use.

What is DWFP-3: Decision Support Tools or Software Applications?

DWFP-3 supports tools that improve data-driven surveillance and control decisions. Examples mentioned include predictive modeling and software that can inform outbreak response and optimize vector control strategies.

What is DWFP-4: Vector Surveillance and Identification?

DWFP-4 seeks improved surveillance tools and technologies that strengthen vector control outcomes by making it easier to detect, monitor, and correctly identify relevant arthropods.

What is DWFP-5: Vector Pathogen Diagnostics?

DWFP-5 aims at diagnostic tools that can rapidly detect multiple arthropod-borne pathogens within a single assay, supporting faster and more actionable public health and force protection decisions.

How many awards are anticipated?

The program anticipates making around 30 awards.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is listed as $975,000.

What is the application closing date?

The original closing date is April 26, 2024.

What are the main technical threats or vectors highlighted in the description?

The description highlights medically important pests and vectors, especially those associated with mosquito-borne viruses, tick-borne pathogens, and fly-borne bacterial pathogens.

Do applicants have to choose the correct research area themselves?

Yes. The notice states that applicants are responsible for selecting the most appropriate category among the five FY24 research areas.

Are there additional documents or attachments that applicants should review?

Yes. The notice references attachments for additional details, which typically include submission requirements, evaluation criteria, technical topic clarifications, and any DoD-specific compliance expectations.

Where in the DoD structure does this program sit, based on the notice?

Based on the notice, the opportunity supports the DWFP Program, with the Armed Forces Pest Management Board acting as the execution management agent, and the solicitation issued through ACC-APG Edgewood.

What does the opportunity mean by "deployable" or "near-deployable" solutions?

The notice frames this as solutions that can be moved into advanced development and are relevant to real-world deployment conditions, as opposed to early-stage discovery work.

Does the opportunity emphasize operational relevance?

Yes. The purpose and research focus emphasize reducing disease and operational impacts for deployed military personnel, and the project expectation is to support practical, field-relevant capabilities.