Strengthening Teamwork for Robust Operations in Novel Groups (STRONG) | W911NF 19 S 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 19 S 0001

Strengthening Teamwork for Robust Operations in Novel Groups (STRONG) is a U.S. Army Research Laboratory basic research program focused on improving how teams function when they include both humans and AI-enabled intelligent agents. The opportunity is built around the idea that artificial intelligence and machine learning are rapidly becoming embedded in everyday life and will increasingly shape how people perceive information, make decisions, and coordinate actions. STRONG is meant to lay the scientific groundwork for future human-machine teaming by supporting foundational research that explains, predicts, and ultimately improves teamwork in settings where team members may be unfamiliar with one another, roles may change quickly, and intelligent agents may have different capabilities, limitations, and ways of communicating than humans.

The program emphasizes collaborative, multidisciplinary work aimed at producing scientific breakthroughs on critical questions needed to enable effective heterogeneous teams (teams composed of humans plus intelligent agents). Rather than funding near-term product development, STRONG is explicitly oriented toward fundamental study and experimentation that advances the state of the art or increases basic knowledge. In practice, that means proposals must be framed as basic research efforts that generate generalizable insights, theories, models, or experimental evidence about teamwork and coordination in novel group settings, especially where AI systems participate as teammates rather than just tools.

This funding opportunity is offered by the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Materiel Command, through a discretionary award mechanism using cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements generally indicate that the government expects to have substantial involvement during the performance of the work (for example, coordination, collaboration, or joint technical direction), which fits the program's description as a collaborative research venture. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.630 and was created on 2018-10-30, with an original closing date of 2024-02-05.

Eligibility is broad. Institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations (including both small and large businesses) may apply, as long as they are proposing scientific research aligned with the knowledge domains and research questions described in the funding opportunity. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) may also submit proposals, but only to the extent permitted by their sponsoring agency and consistent with that sponsor's policies. Proposals are only considered if they clearly qualify as fundamental scientific research, meaning they are designed to expand basic understanding rather than deliver an operational system or application as the primary outcome.

Several administrative details are notable from the source data. The award ceiling is listed as 0, which typically means a specific maximum amount is not provided in the summary record and applicants must look to the full announcement for budget expectations or negotiate scope and cost consistent with program needs. The "ExpectedAwards" field is blank in the provided record, so the number of awards is not specified here. Overall, STRONG is best understood as a long-horizon Army basic research investment intended to improve the science of teamwork and coordination in future environments where human and AI teammates must operate together effectively, even when teams are newly formed, information is complex or rapidly changing, and robust coordination is essential.

• The Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Teamwork for Robust Operations in Novel Groups (STRONG)" 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 2018-10-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for W911NF 19 S 0001

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