LPS Qubit Collaboratory (LQC)

The LPS Qubit Collaboratory (LQC) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911NF-21-S-0009-3, issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (Research Triangle Park Division), outlines a continuous funding opportunity designed to accelerate innovation in quantum information science and technology. This initiative is a joint effort between the U.S. Army Research Office (ARO) and the National Security Agency's Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS), with a mission to enable fundamental discoveries in qubit development and foster the growth of a robust quantum science workforce. The program is authorized under 10 USC 2358 and issued in compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.102(d)(2), inviting proposals under a framework of full and open competition. The BAA supports research in three primary categories: Incubator, Collaboratory, and Quantum Computing Research (QuaCR) Fellowships. The Incubator track targets individual investigators and small teams, particularly from institutions with limited research infrastructure, to explore high-risk, high-reward ideas or to lay foundational work for more robust collaborations. The Collaboratory track is intended for significant partnerships among academic institutions, industry, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), and government labs. These groups are expected to engage in long-term collaborative research tackling fundamental challenges in qubit device physics and quantum information processing. QuaCR Fellowships provide direct support to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who are U.S. citizens working in quantum computing or quantum sensing fields aligned with existing ARO or LPS research programs. Research proposals must align with specific priority thrust areas, including spin qubit accessibility, epitaxial material performance evaluation, voltage-controllable superconducting qubits, higher-temperature qubit operation, novel applications of precision quantum devices for classical computing, and innovative educational strategies in quantum information science. Applicants are expected to clearly articulate the scientific challenges being addressed, the collaborative advantages of their approach, expected milestones, and decision points for continued funding. The maximum funding levels are $500,000/year for Incubator projects (1–3 years), $800,000/year for Collaboratory projects (2–3 years), and variable amounts for QuaCR fellowships depending on academic level. The application process is two-staged for Incubator and Collaboratory proposals. Stage 1 requires submission of a White Paper that outlines the research concept, team, budget estimates, and key milestones. Feedback will be provided before proceeding to Stage 2, which is the full proposal. QuaCR Fellowship proposals are submitted separately and must be sponsored by a principal investigator. All proposals must include specific forms such as ARO Form 51 and 99, as well as budget justifications and CVs. Submissions can be made via Grants.gov or email (depending on award mechanism type), and applicants must have active registrations in the System for Award Management (SAM). Evaluation criteria include scientific and technical merit, the potential for advancing quantum computing, qualifications of the research team, and cost reasonableness. Matching or cost-sharing is not required and is not considered in evaluation. Successful proposals may be awarded as grants, cooperative agreements, or procurement contracts, depending on the nature of the work and agency involvement. Recipients are required to submit periodic progress and financial reports, and additional compliance may apply depending on the nature of the research, such as human subjects or animal use. This BAA remains open through April 30, 2027, with rolling submission accepted. White Papers are especially encouraged between February 1 and May 30 of any year, and full proposals are typically reviewed around June. While no explicit recurring cycle is defined, the structure implies ongoing annual consideration. The technical points of contact are Dr. T.R. Govindan (ARO) and Dr. Charles Tahan (LPS), with additional contact details and submission requirements provided in the BAA document. This opportunity represents a critical strategic investment in foundational quantum research and the development of a national quantum workforce.

Clearly address scientific challenge, uniqueness of collaboration, expected milestones, and decision points for continued funding.