Opportunity Information: Apply for HQ003425NFOEASD05
The Bilateral Academic Research Initiative (BARI) Pilot Program is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity run jointly by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). The program is designed to fund high-risk basic research carried out as a true international collaboration between U.S. and South Korean academic and research partners. Its central theme is advancing the scientific foundations needed for next-generation, ubiquitous information and communication networks, especially networks shaped by extreme-scale devices, distributed intelligence, and increasing network complexity. A notable feature is that proposed research is expected to incorporate not only technical advances but also cognitive and social concepts that can guide technology design choices, reflecting an interest in how human and societal factors influence future networking and information systems.
From a technical perspective, BARI is aimed at early-stage, foundational science rather than incremental development work. The stated intent is to generate significant scientific breakthroughs and new knowledge that could become critical enabling steps toward large-scale revolutions in communication and information technology. In practical terms, strong proposals will likely articulate a compelling basic-research problem with substantial uncertainty and potentially high payoff, show how U.S.-ROK collaboration is essential to success, and explain how the work could reshape understanding or capabilities related to complex, intelligent, and massively distributed networked systems.
The competition is structured as a two-stage process. The first stage requires submission of a white paper, which functions as an initial screening step. Teams that pass the white paper phase are then invited to submit a full technical application in the second stage. Applicants are expected to rely on the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) package for specific instructions, required formats, evaluation factors, and submission requirements, since the public synopsis emphasizes that details are provided in the "Related Documents" area rather than in the brief description.
Eligibility is tightly defined around bilateral teams. Each team must include at least one U.S. Institution of Higher Education (IHE) as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001, and that U.S. university must have a degree-granting program in science or engineering. In addition, each team must include at least one Republic of Korea (ROK) research institution, and the synopsis notes that funding is paid via the ROK research institution. At the same time, U.S. DoD laboratories and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are explicitly prohibited from receiving funds either directly or through sub-awards, which is an important constraint for teams that might otherwise plan to route project funding to those organizations.
Administratively, the opportunity is issued by Washington Headquarters Services under Funding Opportunity Number HQ003425NFOEASD05 and is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA/Assistance Listing 12.630). The funding instrument is a grant, with an award ceiling of $6,000,000 and an expectation of one award, indicating a highly selective competition with a single, potentially large flagship project. The original closing date listed is 2025-08-29, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of 2025-03-13. For prospective applicants, the high-level takeaway is that this is a one-award, high-impact, international basic-research program focused on foundational advances for future information networks, and it requires a properly constructed U.S.-ROK team with careful attention to the two-stage submission process and the restrictions on funding flows to DoD labs and FFRDCs.Apply for HQ003425NFOEASD05
- The Washington Headquarters Services in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bilateral Academic Research Initiative (BARI) Program – Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-03-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-29. (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 $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Bilateral Academic Research Initiative (BARI) Pilot Program
1. What is the Bilateral Academic Research Initiative (BARI) Pilot Program?
The Bilateral Academic Research Initiative (BARI) Pilot Program is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity run jointly by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). It is designed to fund high-risk basic research carried out as a true international collaboration between U.S. and South Korean academic and research partners.
2. What is the main research theme of this opportunity?
The central theme is advancing the scientific foundations needed for next-generation, ubiquitous information and communication networks, especially networks shaped by extreme-scale devices, distributed intelligence, and increasing network complexity.
3. What kinds of networking challenges is BARI interested in?
The program emphasizes foundational advances related to complex, intelligent, and massively distributed networked systems, including scientific underpinnings relevant to extreme-scale devices, distributed intelligence, and growing network complexity.
4. Is this opportunity for basic research or applied development?
BARI is aimed at early-stage, foundational science (basic research) rather than incremental development work. The stated intent is to generate significant scientific breakthroughs and new knowledge that could become critical enabling steps toward large-scale revolutions in communication and information technology.
5. What does "high-risk basic research" mean in this context?
Based on the synopsis, strong proposals are expected to define a compelling basic-research problem with substantial uncertainty and potentially high payoff, with an emphasis on generating new knowledge rather than incremental improvements.
6. Why is international collaboration required?
The opportunity is built around bilateral teams and is intended to be a true international collaboration between U.S. and ROK partners. Strong proposals will likely show how U.S.-ROK collaboration is essential to success, rather than simply beneficial.
7. Are non-technical factors part of the research scope?
Yes. A notable feature is that proposed research is expected to incorporate not only technical advances but also cognitive and social concepts that can guide technology design choices. This reflects interest in how human and societal factors may influence future networking and information systems.
8. What is the submission process?
The competition uses a two-stage process. Stage 1 requires submission of a white paper used for initial screening. Teams that pass the white paper phase are then invited to submit a full technical application in Stage 2.
9. Is a white paper required before submitting a full application?
Yes. The first stage requires a white paper as an initial screening step, and only teams invited after that stage proceed to the full technical application.
10. Where do applicants find the detailed submission instructions and evaluation criteria?
The synopsis indicates that applicants are expected to rely on the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) package for specific instructions, required formats, evaluation factors, and submission requirements. Those details are said to be in the "Related Documents" area rather than in the brief public description.
11. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is tightly defined around bilateral teams. Each team must include at least one U.S. Institution of Higher Education (IHE) as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001, and that U.S. university must have a degree-granting program in science or engineering. Each team must also include at least one Republic of Korea (ROK) research institution.
12. Does the U.S. partner have to be a university?
Yes. The team must include at least one U.S. Institution of Higher Education (IHE) (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001), and the synopsis further specifies that the U.S. university must have a degree-granting program in science or engineering.
13. Is a Republic of Korea (ROK) partner required?
Yes. Each team must include at least one ROK research institution.
14. How is funding handled across the U.S.-ROK team?
The synopsis notes that funding is paid via the ROK research institution.
15. Can U.S. DoD laboratories receive any of the grant funding?
No. U.S. DoD laboratories are explicitly prohibited from receiving funds either directly or through sub-awards.
16. Can Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) receive funding as sub-awardees?
No. FFRDCs are explicitly prohibited from receiving funds either directly or through sub-awards.
17. What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
18. What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling listed is $6,000,000.
19. How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of one award, suggesting a highly selective competition with a single, potentially large flagship project.
20. What is the official Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HQ003425NFOEASD05.
21. Which organization issues this opportunity?
Administratively, the opportunity is issued by Washington Headquarters Services.
22. What is the Assistance Listing / CFDA number?
The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development with CFDA/Assistance Listing 12.630.
23. What is the listed closing date?
The original closing date listed is 2025-08-29.
24. When was this opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of 2025-03-13.
25. What makes this competition especially selective?
Based on the provided synopsis, selectivity is indicated by (1) a two-stage process with a white paper screening step, (2) an expectation of only one award, and (3) a large award ceiling consistent with a single flagship project.
26. What should a strong proposal emphasize, based on the synopsis?
The synopsis suggests strong proposals will likely: (1) articulate a compelling basic-research problem with substantial uncertainty and potentially high payoff, (2) demonstrate why U.S.-ROK collaboration is essential to success, and (3) explain how the work could reshape understanding or capabilities related to complex, intelligent, and massively distributed networked systems, including cognitive and social concepts that inform design choices.
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