OARS funding Management

This BAA's primary objective is to attract outstanding researchers and scholars who will investigate topics of interest to the defense acquisition community. The program solicits innovative proposals for defense acquisition management and policy research to be conducted for approximately a 12-month period during the September 2013 through May 2015 timeframe. In this BAA, the phrase "defense acquisition management and policy research" refers to investigations in all disciplines, fields, and domains that (1) are involved in the acquisition of products and/or services for national defense, or (2) could potentially be brought to bear to improve defense acquisition. These include but are not limited to economics, finance, financial management, information systems, organization theory, operations management, human resources management, and marketing, as well as the "traditional" acquisition areas such as contracting, program/project management, logistics, and systems engineering management. The proposed research must provide through the dissemination of findings in a final Technical Report a public benefit beyond the potential to improve the efficiency, quality, innovation, and/or cost of DoD and DoN acquisition programs. Findings, for instance, should also be potentially applicable to improving private-sector competitiveness or effectiveness.

We are particularly interested in how devices change the way lives are lived and markets operate. For example, we would like to see research that studies how mobile computing alters decision processes, whether by changing access to information, by enabling information manipulation, or by social sharing. We would be interested in the mobile device as a way for suppliers or retailers to reach consumers, as a decision-making tool, as a tool for consumers to reach out to suppliers and retailers, as a response vehicle for market research, as a device for marketplace observation and tracking, or as a medium for social influence. Without limiting the scope of possible studies, other topics that would be of interest include: Innovative uses of mobile devices and location-based services-and the data they generate-to gather and construct consumer insights How the mobile platform plays a role in shopper marketing (e.g., mobile coupons, showrooming) Mobile display advertising effects and processes Mobile paid search compared to PC-based paid search Mobile devices in measuring and motivating goal progress and setbacks Complementarity and substitution between mobile and fixed computing Comparing mobile use by children and adults

NCIIA is pleased to announce a NEW E-Team Program, launched in fall 2012. The program provides early-stage support and funding of up to $75,000 for collegiate entrepreneurs working on market-based technology inventions.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is pleased to announce the availability of funds for the Refugee Microenterprise Development Project. ORR has supported microenterprise development projects since 1991 through the award of discretionary grants to a variety of public agencies, community economic development agencies, local mutual assistance associations, and voluntary agencies. The broad goals of this program are to: 1. Assist refugees in becoming economically self-sufficient by owning and managing a small business, 2. Provide seed money to refugee serving organizations to start and develop microenterprise program that will serve refugees at sustained and expanded levels, and 3. Help mainstream organizations develop the experience of serving refugee populations. In order to achieve these objectives, award recipients under this announcement will provide pre-business and post-business technical assistance as well as capital to refugee entrepreneurs.

The study of adult offender decision-making has typically been approached from the rational choice model. With this solicitation NIJ seeks to expand the existing research by examining the process of adult offender decision-making with respect to the decision to offend. NIJ requests proposals that either expand the rational choice model or use other theories (e.g., behavioral economics, business models, psychology, or cognitive models) or both. Proposed research also should consider issues such as social context, emotions, default choices, or possibly environmental context to help the field gain a better understanding of the overall decision-making process.

The National Science Foundation's Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS), Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SES), National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), and the SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (SMA) award grants to doctoral students to improve the quality of dissertation research. These grants provide funds for items not normally available through the student's university. Additionally, these grants allow doctoral students to undertake significant data-gathering projects and to conduct field research in settings away from their campus that would not otherwise be possible. Proposals are judged on the basis of their scientific merit, including the theoretical importance of the research question and the appropriateness of the proposed data and methodology to be used in addressing the question. In an effort to improve the quality of dissertation research, many programs in both BCS and SES, the Research on Science and Technology Surveys and Statistics program within NCSES, and the Science of Science and Innovation Policy program in SMA accept doctoral dissertation improvement grant proposals. Requirements vary across programs, so proposers are advised to consult the relevant program's webpage for specific information and contact the program director if necessary.

The Decision, Risk and Management Sciences program supports scientific research directed at increasing the understanding and effectiveness of decision making by individuals, groups, organizations, and society. Disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, doctoral dissertation research, and workshops are funded in the areas of judgment and decision making; decision analysis and decision aids; risk analysis, perception, and communication; societal and public policy decision making; management science and organizational design. The program also supports small grants that are time-critical (Rapid Response Research - RAPID)and small grants that are high-risk and of a potentially transformative nature (EArly-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research - EAGER).