CFDA#
12.431
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Funder Type
Federal Government
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IT Classification
B - Readily funds technology as part of an award
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Authority
Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
Summary
The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) – Capacity Building opportunity. The program is sponsored and managed by the Basic Research Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD [R&E]), awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The DoD plans to award FY24 DEPSCoR appropriations through this announcement.
DEPSCoR's objectives are to:
- increase the number of university researchers in eligible States/Territories capable of performing science and engineering (S&E) research responsive to the needs of the DoD;
- enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education (IHEs) in eligible States/Territories (listed below) to develop, plan, and execute S&E research that is relevant to the mission of the DoD, and competitive under the peer-review systems used for awarding Federal research assistance; and
- increase the probability of long-term growth in the competitively awarded financial assistance that IHEs in eligible States/Territories receive from the Federal Government for S&E research.
Consistent with these long-term objectives of building research infrastructure, the DoD intends to competitively make, and fund from fiscal year 2024 appropriations, multiyear awards for capacity building in IHEs with basic research areas relevant to the DoD's mission and which are important to national security.
This funding opportunity aims to support the strategic objectives of IHEs (either individually or in partnership with others) in DEPSCoR States/Territories to achieve basic research excellence in areas of high relevance to the DoD. The intent of this DEPSCoR-Capacity Building effort is to foster new, strategic, multi-thrust efforts to increase basic research capacity in DoD-relevant research areas at the applicant IHE. DEPSCoR-Capacity Building is an opportunity for Executive Offices of IHEs in DEPSCoR states and territories to develop strategic plans to grow and expand basic research capacity at the IHE, and to use that capacity to outreach to the surrounding DEPSCoR region, with a long-term goal to compete and contribute more effectively in the DoD basic research enterprise. Innovative approaches to improving basic research capacity beyond the initial seed capacity of the IHE are highly encouraged. DEPSCoR-Capacity Building is less interested in plans that do not seek to significantly improve and expand the existing seed capacity and thrusts already ongoing at the applicant IHE. Applied research proposals are not responsive to this call.
History of Funding
Approximately $6,000,000 was available for FY23.
Approximately $1,000,000 was available for FY22.
2021 awardees can be found here: https://basicresearch.defense.gov/Portals/61/Documents/DEPSCoR/FY21%20DEPSCOR%20Awards%20List.pdf?ver=dduVpbDBkNUDSKYg-Gv7Sg%3d%3d
Approximately $7.2 million was available for FY20. 2020 awardees can be found here: https://basicresearch.defense.gov/Portals/61/press%20release%20for%20FY20%20program%20FINAL_1.pdf
2019 awardees can be found here: https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2172557/dod-invests-36-million-for-the-defense-established-program-to-stimulate-competi/
Additional Information
Applicants must be aware of the following expectations of the DEPSCoR-Capacity Building program:
- Applications must identify current seed capacity and the basic research capacity gaps which are inhibiting basic research excellence and competitiveness.
- Applications must articulate thrusts to full the basic research capacity gaps identified at the IHE and the required capabilities that need to be developed at the applicant IHE to achieve full and competitive basic research capability in DoD-relevant research areas.
- Applications must present a strategic plan to sustain the enhanced basic research capacity after the DEPSCoR award period of performance and must discuss regional outreach and partnerships.
- Applications must present a management plan for coordinating multiple thrusts working on a common basic research theme that will fill the capacity gaps and develop new basic research capabilities. These thrusts could include but are not limited to purchasing new equipment, supporting new hires, and support for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Adequate provision for substantive commitment by the IHE's executive offices and appropriate administrative support is an important factor contributing to the success of this Capacity Building effort.
- Applications (at the Full Proposal Stage) must include Letters of Recommendation for Commitment / Endorsement
- Letters of recommendation from any regional partners that may benefit from or contribute to the success of your proposed activity (industry, non-profit, other IHEs, etc.). (Required)
- Any current or planned support from the state or region, financial or otherwise. (Not Required)
Eligibility Details
Eligible applicants in FY2024 are qualified and responsible IHEs in the following states and territories: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The Team Lead must be a member of the IHE's executive staff such as the Vice-President of Research and be employed in a DEPSCoR eligible State/Territory.
None of the following entity types are eligible to submit proposals as primary award or subaward recipients under this announcement:
- Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs)
- Federal agencies (to include Military Educational Institutions)
Deadline Details
White Paper and Supporting Documentation may be submitted starting April 16, 2024, and are to be submitted by June 24, 2024. Full applications (by invitation only) are due on November 25, 2024. Similar deadlines are anticipated annually.
Award Details
The Basic Research Office anticipates up to $6 million in total funding will be made available for this program to fully fund and award between one to four grants up to $1.5 million (total cost) each. Each grant award will be funded up to $750,000 (total cost) per year for two (2) years. Cost sharing or matching is not required. The award start date is determined at the time of award but is most likely projected for a June 2025 start date.
In addition to this DEPSCoR - Capacity Building FOA, the Basic Research Office anticipates funding up to 25 awards under the DEPSCoR – Research Collaboration FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2024-0006 to support collaborative research activities in DoD-relevant fields. This additional competitive research funding is separate from this announcement and is also set aside for researchers at IHEs in DEPSCoR eligible States/Territories.
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