Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 DoD Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Equipment/Instrumentation | W911NF 18 S 0006

Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 18 S 0006

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 DoD Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Equipment/Instrumentation opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W911NF 18 S 0006) is a discretionary Department of Defense grant program focused on strengthening research and educational capacity at eligible HBCU/MI institutions by supporting the purchase or improvement of research equipment and instrumentation. It falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity area and is associated with CFDA 12.630. The overall purpose is to help institutions build or expand the physical research infrastructure needed to conduct competitive DoD-relevant science and engineering work, typically by enabling access to modern instruments, shared-use research systems, or other critical equipment that can elevate research capability and student training.

DoD indicated an intention to make about $25 million available under this funding opportunity announcement, contingent on the availability of funds. Funding is provided through grants, with awards issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground, Research Triangle Park Division (ACC-APG-RTP Division). This office makes the awards on behalf of the Army Research Office (ARO), acting as an agent for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)). In practical terms, applicants should expect a DoD research administration and grants management process led through Army contracting channels, even though the program is positioned as a broader DoD research and education effort.

Individual grant sizes are expected to range from $100,000 to $600,000, with an award ceiling of $600,000. Each funded project is structured around a 12-month period of performance, meaning applicants should be prepared to propose an equipment/instrumentation acquisition and implementation plan that can be executed within a single year. While the source text lists a large expected number of awards (500), the core budget statement suggests a competitive environment where proposal quality, alignment, and feasibility will be important considerations, especially given the finite total funding level and the defined award size range.

Eligibility is directed at higher education institutions, specifically public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, with additional eligibility notes referenced in the full announcement for other possible applicant categories. The program is explicitly aimed at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions, so the institutional status and fit with the program goals will be central to determining whether an application is responsive.

Applications are evaluated through a merit review conducted by scientists and engineers from the participating agencies. This signals that proposals are judged primarily on technical and programmatic merit rather than being selected by formula, and that reviewers will likely look for clear justification of the requested equipment, a strong plan for how it will be used to advance research capability and education outcomes, and credible implementation details such as acquisition timelines, installation needs, user access plans, and how the instrumentation will be maintained and utilized beyond the grant period. The announcement was created May 9, 2018, and the original closing date listed is August 16, 2018, which frames when applications were due for this specific cycle.

• The Department of Defense, Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 DoD Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Equipment/Instrumentation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 09, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 16, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 500 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for W911NF 18 S 0006

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