CHEERS MAA Open Period 1 - All Technical Areas, 10 U.S.C. 4001 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

28 September 2026: Amendment 02 — Implementation of EO 14332 (Grant Oversight) & EO 14303 (Gold Standard Science)

Solicitation: FA238424S2334, "Open Period 1 - All Technical Areas"

Parent Announcement: Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) FA238424S2233, "Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring, and Sustaining (CHEERS)"

Solicitation Authorities: 10 U.S.C. § 4001 / FAR Part 35.016 (Broad Agency Announcements); 10 U.S.C. § 4001 / 32 CFR Part 22 & 2 CFR Part 200 (Grants and Cooperative Agreements)

PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT 02:

The purpose of Amendment 02 is to formally update the CHEERS Open Period 1 Solicitation to incorporate mandatory federal oversight and compliance directives pursuant to Executive Order 14332, "Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking," and Executive Order 14303, "Restoring Gold Standard Science," in accordance with Department of the Air Force (DAF) Implementation Guidance (dated 18 March 2026).

Summary of Key Changes:

Gold Standard Science (GSS) Mandate: Incorporated formal definitions of the nine (9) core GSS principles under EO 14303. All institutions submitting proposals contemplating financial assistance instruments (Grants or Cooperative Agreements) must certify compliance and submit an executed GSS Compliance and Disclosure Form with their application.

Two-Step Review Architecture for Assistance Instruments:

Step 1 (Go/No-Go Initial Screening): Evaluates baseline eligibility, commitment to GSS, speed/accountability toward warfighter deliverables, quantitative progress benchmarks, and verification against statutory funding prohibitions (including racial preferences/proxies, denial of the human sex binary, and illegal immigration).

Step 2 (Full Scientific Merit Review): Implements structured evaluation rubrics under DoDGARS 22.315(c) evaluating Criterion 1 (Technical Merits of Proposed R&D) and Criterion 2 (Potential Relationship to DoW Missions), supported by cost realism assessments.

Cybersecurity & S&T Protection Alignment: Clarified that local research protection requirements under AFRLI 61-113 remain fully in effect, while incorporating DoD-wide DFARS clauses for NIST SP 800-171 SPRS assessment verification (DFARS 252.204-7019/7020) and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements (DFARS 252.204-7021).

Added Attachment 4: Formally incorporated Attachment 4, "Gold Standard Science (GSS) Compliance and Disclosure Form."

UPDATED LIST OF ATTACHMENTS (Amendment 02):

"Open Period Solicitation 1_BAA Amend 02" (Revised solicitation document)

"Attachment 1 - List of Provisions and Clauses (BAA)"

"Attachment 4 - Gold Standard Science (GSS) Compliance and Disclosure Form" (Mandatory for assistance applicants)

Related Notice: Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) FA238424S2233, "Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS)"

Note to Offerors: You MUST refer to the parent notice (FA238424S2233) to obtain overarching terms, the revised CHEERS Industry Guide, Statements of Objectives (SOOs), and S&T Protection appendices.

PREVIOUS NOTICE HISTORY:

20 Nov 2025: Amendment 01 - Annual Update

Solicitation: FA238424S2334, "Open Period 1 - All Technical Areas"

Solicitation Authority: 10 U.S.C 4001 - Federal Acquisition Regulation and its Supplements (FAR(S)) / FAR 35 Part 35.016 (Broad Agency Announcements (BAA))

List of Attachments:

"Open Period Solicitation 1_BAA Amend 01"

"Attachment 1 - List of Provisions and Clauses (BAA)"

Related Notice: Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) FA238424S2233, "Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS)"

Note: You MUST refer to the related notice identified above in order to obtain all additional attachments referenced herein (e.g. CHEERS Industry Guide, Statements of Objectives (SOO), and S&T Protection Appendices)