Air Force Seeks Input on Location of Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
The Air Force is seeking input on “the degree of impact the location of AFOSR has on your organization’s confidence in the Air Force’s ability to manage basic research.”
Responses must be received before 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time this Wednesday, January 29.
This Request for Information (RFI) was posted on Friday, January 24, with a five calendar day (including the weekend) response period.
The one-page RFI provides no information about why it was posted. Reports indicate that the Air Force is examining the feasibility of moving AFOSR from Arlington VA to the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
An announcement (Package #1) posted by AFOSR a year ago entitled “Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research” states:
“The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) manages the basic research investment for the U.S. Air Force. As a part of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), AFOSR’s technical experts foster and fund research within the Air Force Research Laboratory, universities, and industry laboratories to ensure the transition of research results to support U.S. Air Force needs. Using a carefully balanced research portfolio, research managers seek to create revolutionary scientific breakthroughs enabling the Air Force and U.S. industry to produce world-class, militarily significant, and commercially valuable products.”
The recently-enacted FY 2014 omnibus appropriations bill provides $525 million to the Air Force for the 6.1 Basic Research program managed by AFOSR. 6.2 Applied Research programs received $1,147 million; 6.3 Advanced Technology Development programs received $637 million in this bill.
The RFI asks responders to rank on a four-point scale, ranging from “4 = Significantly Impacts” to “1 = No Impact” “the degree of impact the location of AFOSR has on your organization’s confidence in the Air Force’s ability to manage basic research.” In addition, “If desired, comments may be provided regarding the basis for your organization’s assessed impact.” The RFI provides specific instructions on where to seek additional information and where responses are to be submitted.
The American Physical Society, an AIP Member Society, will be commenting on this RFI on its website .
