Announcements
Upcoming opportunities, insights, and programming from the Research Development Office are highlighted in the biweekly RD Newsletter and presented here in an expanded form. Check this Announcements page and our @UMDResearch X (Twitter) account for regular updates. Sign up for the newsletter below or view past RD Newsletters at the bottom of this page.
Federal Funding Update
UMD continues to monitor the evolving federal funding situation closely, including the impact of executive orders, agency budget and staff reductions, and grant terminations on our faculty and staff. The Division of Research’s webpage (research.umd.edu/federalupdates) contains information, FAQs, and leadership guidance.
If you receive a stop-work order or termination for a specific project or award, please immediately forward the notification to your ORA Contract Administrator, with a cc: to your Department Chair and Associate Dean for Research.
Events
Women's Health Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative (WHIRC) Convening
Description: Engage with colleagues on campus priority areas to strengthen research and training around women's health (both immediate and longer-term strategies) . Please note: interested individuals who may not specialize in women’s health but use a methodology (e.g. statistical approach, AI/ML approach) that could be impactful in the field are encouraged to attend.
Date: May 2nd, 11am - 1pm
Location: LeFrak, Room 1158
On The Horizon
The UMD Research Development Office, RD Capture Director, and Strategic Intelligence Analyst support our faculty by providing pre-competition intelligence with recommended actions and support.
Did You Know
Proactively engaging with new government program managers can significantly enhance your research visibility and funding opportunities. By presenting your technologies using a quad chart, you can effectively communicate your innovations and their potential impact. Schedule a time with Patrick M. Mendez, UMD’s Research Development Capture Director, to discuss your technology and identify potential federal customers who might align with your research interests. Let's collaborate to bring your research to the forefront!
New and Upcoming Programs
Navy
New Funding Opportunity
- N00019-24-S-0001: FY24/25 Naval Aviation North Stars Enterprise BAA
The NAVAIR North Stars BAA supports the development of disruptive solutions across multiple mission areas, including unmanned-manned teaming, maritime ISR, long-range fires, and cyber operations. Emphasis is placed on integrating digital transformation tools like AI/ML, DevSecOps, and predictive analytics, and enhancing readiness via additive manufacturing and human systems integration. Selected projects will undergo 6–18-month evaluation cycles involving Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) environments and may inform future acquisition pathways. This initiative offers a unique opportunity to develop and transition mature technologies to address capability gaps in naval aviation.
Researchers within ISR, ECE, the Department of Aerospace Engineering, and the Maryland Robotics Center may find this BAA highly relevant. Faculty specializing in autonomous systems, C5ISR, digital twin technologies, secure communications, and cyber-physical system resilience are well-positioned to contribute to mission areas described in the solicitation. Additionally, researchers affiliated with ARLIS may leverage their expertise in human-machine teaming, mission engineering, and synthetic training environments to address critical needs outlined in this opportunity.
Air Force Research Laboratory
New Funding Opportunity
- FA2377-25-R-B007: Sensing Operation Using Prediction (SOUP)
The SOUP program aims to revolutionize how sensing operations are executed in multi-domain environments by leveraging predictive models to inform and adapt sensing strategies in real-time. The effort calls for integrated development of algorithms, software, and potentially custom hardware to create robust, anticipatory sensing systems that are operationally relevant in complex, contested environments. Emphasis is placed on reducing latency, enhancing autonomy, and integrating advanced data fusion techniques that improve the performance of ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) systems. Deliverables may include software tools, algorithms, source code, and data from demonstration events conducted over a 33-month technical period.
This opportunity strongly aligns with researchers in the ISR, the Maryland Robotics Center, and the ECE, particularly those working on sensor fusion, autonomy, and predictive modeling. Faculty affiliated with UMIACS and the Center for Machine Learning could also contribute advanced AI/ML approaches to forecasting sensor behavior or environmental changes. Additionally, applied research groups within ARLIS focused on situational awareness, autonomy, and C5ISR technologies would be well-positioned to lead or collaborate on this effort. Researchers interested in defense-related AI, software-defined sensing systems, and contested-domain operations are encouraged to explore this call.
Requests for Information (RFIs): RFIs offer guidance to the federal government on specific areas of interest. Researchers can respond to RFIs to provide a framework for influencing policy decisions and shaping future funding calls. For questions or support on RFIs, please contact Patrick M. Mendez (pmendez1@umd.edu). RFI due dates are noted in parentheses.