FY25-29 STRATEGIC TRENDS RESEARCH INITIATIVE BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement to solicit strategic research on future challenges related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) over the next five to ten years. The solicitation, covering Fiscal Years 2025–2029, seeks analytical studies, policy analyses, and international dialogue facilitation that anticipate how nuclear, chemical, biological, and emerging technologies may be developed or employed by adversaries, and how such capabilities could impact U.S. deterrence, crisis prevention, and conflict‑resolution efforts. The research is intended to inform DTRA’s dual mission as a Defense Agency—supporting strategic policies to reduce global WMD threats—and a Combat Support Agency—identifying and fielding responsive solutions for Joint Staff and Combatant Commands.

Specifically, the initiative invites work that explores new or enhanced WMD materials, delivery mechanisms, or technologies that could increase the lethality or persistence of existing threats. Studies should assess the implications for U.S. allies and partners, providing timely, credible insights and actionable recommendations on deterrence, risk reduction, arms control, and escalation management. The solicitation encourages engagement in Track 1.5 and 2 international dialogues to broaden the analytical base and strengthen cross‑government collaboration.

Eligible work must conform to the NAICS codes listed in the announcement, including 54169 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services), 54171 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), and related codes for nanotechnology, biotechnology, social sciences, and space research. All proposals must align with these classification requirements.

Contract Opportunity Type: Solicitation (o)

Product Service Code: AM12-INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS R&D SERVICES; INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS; APPLIED RESEARCH
NAICS Code:
54171-Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

This is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) soliciting strategic research on challenges related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) 5–10 years in the future in support of the mission of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). The BAA covers Fiscal Year (FY) 2025–2029 with a total funding amount of $35,880,000, subject to availability of funds. This BAA will remain posted on the Government point of entry, https://sam.gov/content/home until superseded.

Within DoD, DTRA provides cross-cutting solutions to enable the DoD, the United States Government (USG), and international partners to deter strategic attack against the United States and its allies; prevent, reduce, and counter WMD and emerging threats; and prevail against WMD-armed adversaries in crisis and conflict. In pursuit of its mission, DTRA serves two distinct yet complementary roles as a Defense Agency (DA) and Combat Support Agency (CSA). As a DA, DTRA supports strategic policies and priorities to reduce global WMD and emerging threats by deterring potential adversarial acquisition and use of WMD materials/components through nuclear assurance, treaty support, and building partner capacity programs. As a CSA, DTRA leverages its unique capabilities and expertise to identify, develop, and field solutions to counter WMD and emerging threats in direct support of Joint Staff and Combatant Commands.

Within DTRA, the Strategic Integration Directorate (SI), Strategic Trends Office (SI-ST) is responsible for anticipating, understanding, and characterizing WMD trends and threats 5–10 years in the future and delivering timely insights and recommendations on how to adapt/respond.
SI-ST’s Strategic Trends Research Initiative (STRI) is a curated research portfolio sponsoring analytical studies and Track 1.5 and 2 international dialogues to generate timely, credible, and actionable insights into challenges related to WMD and emerging technology. SI-ST’s research explores a range of challenges related to nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, including the development of materials, methodologies, or technologies with potential to create new or increase the impact of existing WMD threats. SI-ST’s primary focus area is on WMD challenges 5–10 years into the future and the associated implications for DTRA, DoD, USG, and U.S. allies and partners in areas of deterrence, crisis and conflict prevention, risk reduction, arms control, escalation management, strategic competition, and prevailing during conflict with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) possessing adversaries. 

With its emphasis on examining and anticipating WMD threats and trends in the future, SI-ST’s research reinforces DTRA’s priorities of ensuring an actionable, forward-thinking countering-WMD (CWMD) mission focus; shaping the understanding of CWMD challenges across the policy, Military Service(s), and Combatant Command communities; and recommending solutions to those challenges.

In addition to the 1 allowable NAICS Code provided in the Classification Section of this posting, the NAICS Codes listed below are applicable under this BAA. 

• 541690: Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
• 541713: Research and Development in Nanotechnology
• 541714: Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)
• 541715: Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
• 541720: Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
• 541990: All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• 611310: Academies, College or University Including Military Service (college)
• 927110: Space Research and Technology

Notice ID: HDTRA124S0003

Additional buyer information

Department/Ind. Agency: DEPT OF DEFENSE
Sub-tier: DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY (DTRA)
Major Command: DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY