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 th