Physical and Networking Layer Prototype (PNLP) | N00014 23 S BC05

Opportunity Information: Apply for N00014 23 S BC05

The Physical and Networking Layer Prototype (PNLP) opportunity is a Department of Defense Office of Naval Research (ONR) funding effort focused on advancing undersea communications that can work reliably across multiple platforms and conditions. The core idea is to develop and demonstrate "multimodal" maritime communications, meaning systems that can use, interpret, and translate among different communication methods (for example, different types of underwater links and pathways that may be needed depending on range, depth, noise, salinity, motion, or whether a signal must cross the air-water boundary). The program is aimed at improving the ability of manned and unmanned air, surface, and subsurface systems to communicate with each other in a way that is more assured and better optimized for the environment.

ONR is looking for proposals that include both hardware and software contributions, rather than purely theoretical work. On the hardware side, the program explicitly mentions modems and test frames, which signals an interest in practical, prototype-grade components that can be integrated into vehicles or test setups and exercised in relevant conditions. On the software side, ONR calls out development that includes novel waveforms, which typically implies new or improved signaling schemes designed to survive the harsh realities of undersea propagation (such as multipath, Doppler effects, attenuation, and intermittent connectivity). Overall, the emphasis is on physical-layer and networking-layer capabilities that can adapt communications behavior to the environment, not just transmit data in a fixed way.

A major technical theme is bridging communications both within the undersea environment and through the air-water interface. Underwater communications often rely on different modalities than above-water links, and transitioning between those domains can be a major point of failure or inefficiency. PNLP is therefore oriented toward solutions that can ingest distinct communication modalities and translate between them so that assets can still exchange information even when they are operating in different parts of the maritime domain. The desired end state is "assured, optimized communication," which implies robustness (communications that keep working under realistic operational stressors) and performance (making smart choices about how to communicate given the constraints and opportunities of the moment).

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary federal opportunity with ONR as the sponsoring agency. The funding opportunity title is "Physical and Networking Layer Prototype (PNLP)" and the funding opportunity number is N00014 23 S BC05. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA number listed is 12.300. The opportunity allows for award instruments including grants and procurement contracts, and eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to different applicant types unless the solicitation adds constraints. The posting indicates an expected number of awards of four, while the award ceiling is listed as 0, which commonly indicates that the maximum dollar amount is not specified in the summary and applicants should consult the full solicitation for budget expectations and limits. Key dates shown include a creation date of January 26, 2023, and an original closing date of May 12, 2023, with a note to refer to the solicitation for white paper due dates, suggesting a staged submission process where initial white papers may be required before full proposals.

• The Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Physical and Networking Layer Prototype (PNLP)" 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 26, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 12, 2023 Refer to the solicitation document for white paper due dates.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for N00014 23 S BC05

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: