Opportunity Information: Apply for CRANBAA19 003
This grant opportunity, titled "Experimental Research to Investigate the Ability to Control Pyrotechnic flame photoemission via electromagnetic stimulation" (Funding Opportunity Number CRANBAA19 003), comes from the Department of Defense through NSWC Crane and focuses on early-stage science and technology research. The core idea is to move beyond the traditional way pyrotechnic devices are designed, where the color and brightness of the flame are primarily "locked in" by the chemical formulation itself. That formulation-based approach often relies on hazardous reactants and specialized compositions to produce specific colors, which can drive up safety risk, logistics complexity, and handling constraints. NSWC Crane is looking for a different model: more universal pyrotechnic formulations whose emission characteristics can be changed on demand in the field.
The research target is microwave-driven control of flame behavior, specifically the ability to use electromagnetic stimulation to selectively change the color and intensity of light emitted by a single pyrotechnic composition. In practical terms, the government is interested in whether microwave energy can interact with the flame (and the reactive species, particles, and plasma-like regions within it) in a way that shifts the spectral output and brightness without needing to swap out formulations. The emphasis is on fundamental research that demonstrates feasibility and builds a real understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms, such as how electromagnetic fields couple into a reacting flow, how energy deposition alters temperature and species populations, and how those changes translate into measurable differences in UV/visible/near-infrared emission. The "battlefield selectable" framing signals an eventual operational goal: a single device that can produce different signaling or obscuration effects depending on the situation, controlled electronically rather than chemically.
The award instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means there is expected to be meaningful technical involvement by the government during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA 12.300. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, indicating the program is primarily aimed at universities and academic research groups capable of conducting controlled combustion diagnostics, electromagnetics experiments, and quantitative spectroscopy.
In terms of scale, the listed award ceiling is $155,000, and the agency anticipated making about three awards. That budget level suggests a focused experimental study or proof-of-concept campaign rather than a long multi-year development effort. It is structured to support laboratory experimentation, diagnostics, and analysis that can demonstrate controllable emission effects and produce data that clarifies the interaction between microwave fields and pyrotechnic flames.
A notable feature of the opportunity is that NSWC Crane can provide government-furnished equipment upon request, which lowers barriers for research teams that do not already have specialized microwave and optical diagnostics infrastructure. The provided setup includes a stainless steel RF cavity (2 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet) with a waveguide connection panel, a pyrotechnic loading door, an exhaust system, and optional diagnostic ports. For microwave generation and measurement, they can provide a 2 kW microwave magnetron, waveguide components, and forward/reverse power meters to quantify delivered and reflected power, plus a USB National Instruments data acquisition device to support synchronized measurements. For emission characterization, they can provide Ocean Optics UV/VIS and NIR spectrometers with calibration sources, enabling quantitative spectral measurements rather than just qualitative color observation. High-speed imaging is also available through both a black-and-white Phantom high-speed camera and a color Phantom high-speed camera, which can capture fast transient flame dynamics and correlate changes in flame structure with changes in emission.
Key administrative details in the source information include a creation date of January 25, 2019 and an original closing date of February 27, 2019, placing it within a time-limited solicitation window. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted DoD research call aimed at proving and explaining microwave-selectable pyrotechnic emission, with a strong experimental and diagnostic component and with government support in the form of specialized RF and optical measurement hardware.Apply for CRANBAA19 003
- The Department of Defense, NSWC - CRANE in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Experimental Research to Investigate the Ability to Control Pyrotechnic flame photoemission via electromagnetic stimulation." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 25, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 27, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $155,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Experimental Research to Investigate the Ability to Control Pyrotechnic flame photoemission via electromagnetic stimulation."
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is CRANBAA19 003.
3) Which organization is offering this funding?
The opportunity is offered by the Department of Defense through NSWC Crane (Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division).
4) What type of work is this solicitation looking for?
It focuses on early-stage science and technology research, emphasizing fundamental experimental work and mechanism-based understanding rather than product development.
5) What problem is the government trying to solve with this research?
The goal is to move beyond traditional pyrotechnic design where flame color and brightness are largely fixed by the chemical formulation. Formulation-driven color control can require hazardous reactants and specialized compositions, which can increase safety risk, complicate logistics, and create handling constraints.
6) What is the core technical idea behind the research?
The central concept is to develop (or demonstrate the feasibility of) more universal pyrotechnic formulations whose light emission characteristics (color and intensity) can be changed on demand using electromagnetic stimulation, specifically microwave energy.
7) What kind of electromagnetic stimulation is being targeted?
The research target described is microwave-driven control of flame behavior.
8) What does "microwave-driven control" mean in this context?
It refers to applying microwave energy to a pyrotechnic flame to see whether the microwaves can interact with the flame environment (reactive species, particles, and plasma-like regions) in a way that selectively changes the spectral output (color across UV/visible/NIR) and brightness from a single composition.
9) Is the government asking for new pyrotechnic formulations or a new way to control existing formulations?
Based on the description, the emphasis is on a new control model: using electromagnetic stimulation to change emission characteristics without needing to swap formulations. The long-term framing suggests "more universal" formulations paired with electronic control of emission.
10) What specific outputs or effects are they interested in controlling?
The solicitation emphasizes the ability to selectively change the color and intensity of light emitted by a pyrotechnic flame, including measurable changes in UV/visible/near-infrared emission.
11) What kind of research approach is expected?
The opportunity emphasizes fundamental research that demonstrates feasibility and builds understanding of the physical mechanisms involved. Examples of mechanisms explicitly highlighted include how electromagnetic fields couple into reacting flow, how energy deposition changes temperature and species populations, and how those changes translate into measurable spectral and brightness differences.
12) What does "battlefield selectable" imply?
It signals an eventual operational objective: a single device that can produce different signaling or obscuration effects depending on the situation, controlled electronically rather than by changing the chemical formulation.
13) What is the award instrument?
The award instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
14) What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?
As described, it typically indicates meaningful technical involvement by the government during the project (rather than a fully hands-off grant).
15) How is this opportunity categorized (funding category and program area)?
It is categorized as discretionary funding under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
16) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 12.300.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. This indicates the opportunity is primarily aimed at universities and academic research groups.
18) What kinds of capabilities are implied for applicant teams?
The description points to teams capable of controlled combustion diagnostics, electromagnetics experiments, and quantitative spectroscopy to measure and explain changes in flame emission.
19) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $155,000.
20) How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipated making about three awards.
21) What does the budget level suggest about project scope?
The description suggests a focused experimental study or proof-of-concept campaign, supporting laboratory experimentation, diagnostics, and analysis rather than a long, multi-year development program.
22) Is government-furnished equipment available for this effort?
Yes. NSWC Crane can provide government-furnished equipment upon request, which may reduce barriers for teams lacking specialized microwave and optical diagnostics infrastructure.
23) What RF/microwave test setup can be provided?
The provided setup includes a stainless steel RF cavity (2 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet) with a waveguide connection panel, a pyrotechnic loading door, an exhaust system, and optional diagnostic ports.
24) What microwave generation and measurement equipment can be provided?
NSWC Crane can provide a 2 kW microwave magnetron, waveguide components, and forward/reverse power meters to quantify delivered and reflected power.
25) Is data acquisition equipment mentioned as available?
Yes. A USB National Instruments data acquisition device is listed as available to support synchronized measurements.
26) What spectroscopy equipment can be provided for emission measurements?
Ocean Optics UV/VIS and NIR spectrometers with calibration sources are listed, enabling quantitative spectral measurements (not just qualitative color observations).
27) Is high-speed imaging equipment available?
Yes. Both a black-and-white Phantom high-speed camera and a color Phantom high-speed camera are listed as available to capture fast transient flame dynamics.
28) What is the purpose of combining spectroscopy and high-speed imaging in this research?
Based on the description, the intent is to correlate changes in flame structure and transient behavior (captured by high-speed imaging) with measured changes in spectral output and brightness (captured by calibrated spectrometers).
29) What are the key dates mentioned for this solicitation?
The creation date is January 25, 2019, and the original closing date is February 27, 2019.
30) What is the overall purpose of the opportunity in plain terms?
It is a targeted DoD research call aimed at proving and explaining whether microwave energy can be used to make a single pyrotechnic composition produce different, controllable emission characteristics (color and intensity), supported by strong experimental diagnostics and optional government-furnished RF and optical hardware.
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