The FY25-29 Strategic Trends Research Initiative Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) issued by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) seeks white papers for strategic research focused on future threats related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) over the next five to ten years. The initiative supports DTRA's mission to deter strategic attacks, counter emerging WMD challenges, and assist U.S. allies. The total funding available is approximately $35.88 million across the specified fiscal years. The announcement outlines eligibility for U.S.-based industrial and academic entities, detailing a two-phase submission process: initial white papers followed by proposals. The research aims to characterize the battlespace, assess WMD trends, and provide actionable recommendations to enhance U.S. strategic posture and collaboration with allies. Emphasis is placed on diverse perspectives, interdisciplinary approaches, and a focus on innovative methodologies while addressing WMD threats, emerging technologies, and geopolitical considerations. Deliverables include technical reports, progress updates, and communication and engagement plans. The initiative aims to recognize and cultivate new researchers within the countering WMD community, ensuring comprehensive insights to inform U.S. security policies.

The FY25-29 Strategic Trends Research Initiative Government Call solicits unclassified white papers from qualified government-affiliated organizations, aligning with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (DTRA) mission to counter threats, including weapons of mass destruction. This initiative provides a framework for organizations such as Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, University Affiliated Research Centers, and other U.S. government-commissioned entities to propose research projects. With a total funding availability of $35,880,000, the period for submission spans from fiscal years 2025–2029. Research projects must focus on leveraging unique capabilities and responding to classified and emerging strategic challenges. Awardees will receive sponsorship via the Economy Act, and all projects will entail rigorous reporting and management standards set by DTRA. The GovCall will be continuously updated to reflect changing strategic priorities. This initiative emphasizes collaboration among government entities to enhance national security efforts against various forms of threats.

The Strategic Trends Research Initiative (STRI) for Fiscal Year 2025 outlines funding opportunities for white papers addressing international dialogues, analytical studies, and research aimed at countering weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The initiative is structured around three thrust areas, allowing flexibility in topic selection while prioritizing the capability scope for researchers. Contracts under this initiative will be firm fixed price for labor with cost-plus provisions for travel and other direct costs. Key elements include an expectation for all projects to produce technical reports, a streamlined white paper submission process, and a commitment to prompt evaluation and funding. Emerging researchers are encouraged to lead projects with guidance available for organizational partnerships, including restrictions regarding military personnel. Foreign national participation from treaty allies is permitted. The initiative underscores a collaborative approach, promoting knowledge sharing across agencies to ensure effective use of funds and avoid duplication of effort in the ongoing fight against WMD threats. Overall, this program emphasizes research integrity, security compliance, and strategic engagement with partners in advancing national defense objectives.

The Strategic Trends Research Initiative (STRI) by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) aims to support research that deterrents strategic attacks and counters weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The FY 2025 Research Topic Information Session outlines key thrust areas, including emerging threats and CWMD research topics, emphasizing the involvement of junior researchers. Proposals require technical reports as deliverables, with funding remaining stable despite potential budget-related changes. White papers, submitted for evaluation, have no limitation on quantity, but performance timelines can vary based on the number received. Collaboration with military personnel and foreign allies is subject to specific ethical guidelines to avoid conflicts of interest. The document clarifies organizational roles, including the qualifications for principal investigators and options for U.S. and NATO allies’ researchers. Overall, STRI seeks innovative proposals responsive to evolving global threats while ensuring operational and ethical compliance in research activities.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is hosting an informational session regarding a new Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the Strategic Trends Office (SI-ST), focusing on countering weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and emerging technology challenges for FY25-29. The session outlines the agency's mission to deter strategic attacks, prevent the proliferation of WMDs, and ensure effective crisis response. The BAA offers funding opportunities totaling approximately $35.9 million over five years, covering different thrust areas, including strategic international dialogues, analytical studies, and projects led by emerging researchers in the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) domains. Key elements of the proposal process, eligibility criteria, and project management expectations are also detailed, emphasizing the necessity for actionable outputs addressing future WMD threats. Overall, this initiative aims to leverage collaborative research to bolster the preparedness and response of the U.S. and its allies in countering evolving threats to national and global security.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) announced an amendment to the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) HDTRA1-24-S-0003 regarding its Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) research priorities. This initiative aims to deter strategic attacks against the U.S. and its allies and counter weapons of mass destruction (WMD). A virtual Research Topic Information Session (RTIS) is scheduled for August 22, 2024, where participants can learn about the updated BAA, FY25 research priorities, and submission deadlines. White papers for funding consideration must be submitted by September 18, 2024, with a focus on various thrust areas relevant to WMDs, including international dialogues, analytical studies, and emerging research projects. Key priorities include studying WMD threats, enhancing military resilience, and exploring innovative arms control solutions. The document outlines submission instructions and emphasizes that proposals should not be submitted without prior approval from the DTRA following the white paper review. This framework encourages collaborative research to address WMD-related challenges and enhance U.S. defense strategies.

The Strategic Trends Research Initiative Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) HDTRA1-24-S-0003 calls for the submission of white papers that pertain to potential future dialogues, analytical studies, and research projects aimed at supporting the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (DTRA) mission. This initiative is designed to deter strategic attacks on the U.S. and its allies, counter weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and address emerging threats. The recent amendment to the BAA rectified a minor typographical error in the document's distribution statement. Overall, the BAA serves as a platform for engaging various stakeholders in research that contributes to national security efforts related to WMD and related adversarial challenges. The structure of the document clearly outlines the purpose, intended outcomes, and procedural elements for submitting proposals in connection with this initiative.