Grants.gov

*** Due to Government funds availability, Letters of Intent and/or Proposals are currently NOT being accepted. Should funds become available, the FOA will be updated to accept Letter of Intent and/or Proposals. If you have questions, please contacted by the Grants and Agreements Officer or Contracting Specialists.***The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is seeking innovative applications for Future Scholars under Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce Development Programs. AFRL intends to award multiple grants and cooperative agreements, subject to the availability of funds.This is a five year open Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) accepting proposals from the date of publication for award of grants and cooperative agreements, subject to the availability of funds. Once the FOA has reached the five year period and/or funds are no longer available, the announcement will be modified to reflect the announcement as closed. This FOA will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure awards are pertinent to the Government’s needs and ceiling values.Proposals may be submitted any time from the FOA issue date, until the final submission deadline for proposals and will be evaluated as they are received. Prior to submitting a proposal, Recipients are required to submit a Letter of Intent to the Points of Contact (POCs) listed in Section VII - Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s).This FOA supports STEM Workforce Development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and the DoD STEM Mission. This announcement encourages programs or projects that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students and teachers, and prepare the 21st century STEM workforce. AFRL’s Workforce Development programs or projects include, but are not limited to:Internships (High School through Doctoral)Fellowship Apprentice/Residency ProgramsCollege or University project-based learning programsFormal or informal workforce development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and DOD STEM MissionBefore submitting an application, Recipients are highly encouraged to read the Federal STEM Education Strategy and the DoD STEM’s Mission.AFRL anticipates a total of $50,000,000.00 of Federal funding for multiple awards under this FOA. Proposed efforts may range in size, complexity and periods of performance. The Government reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications submitted in response to the FOA. Using the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 2192, AFRL will select proposed efforts that meet the anticipated FOA’s Funding Opportunity Description and clearly address the goals and objectives as stated in the FOA.Questions concerning this FOA may be emailed to:Sara Telano, Contracting Officer, sara.telano@us.af.milLauren Rice, Contracting Specialist, lauren.rice.3@us.af.milEmail Subject: FOA-20-AFRL/RVKE-0001 QuestionsPlease note, Questions and Answers related to this FOA have been posted and are available for review in Grants.gov.Recipients are advised to complete the following steps, which are required for application submission:Obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number (including the plus 4 extension, if applicable) at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.Register in Grants.gov to receive automatic updates when Amendments to a FOA are posted. Please note that applications will ONLY be accepted through Grants.gov. http://www.grants.gov/.Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/. To be eligible for an award, the Recipient must (1) be registered in the SAM before submitting its application; (2) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.Recipients who are not registered with SAM.gov and/or Grants.gov should allow sufficient time to complete these requirements. It is suggested that the process be started as soon as possible. Questions relating to the registration process, system requirements, how an application form works, or the submital process must be directed to Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Questions relating to the SAM registration process must be directed to Federal Service Desk Contact Information at 1-866-606-8220 or at www.fsd.gov. AFRL representatives cannot answer Grants.gov or SAM registration questions.Recipients wishing to receive additional information on this FOA, including future amendments, should register in Grant.gov as soon as possible. Recipients will only receive an email when an amendment is posted on Grants.gov, if the Recipient is register for email notifications for the FOA in Grants.gov. The Government recommends email registration as soon as possible after the release of the FOA to ensure notice of any amendments or other FOA information.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is interested in receiving a broad range of proposals for augmenting existing and/or developing innovative solutions that directly maintain, and/or cultivate a diverse, world-class Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to maintain the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ technological superiority. The goal of proposed efforts must provide solutions that establish, build, and/or maintain STEM educational pathways of U.S. citizens directly relevant to the needs of Department of Navy’s (DON) current and future workforce. As the capacity of the DON Science and Technology (S&T) workforce is interconnected with the STEM education system, DON recognizes the need to support efforts that can jointly improve STEM student outcomes and align educational and outreach efforts with Naval S&T current and future workforce needs. This announcement explicitly encourages programs that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students of all ages and the naval related workforce. Programs must aim to increase engagement in naval relevant STEM, and enhance the corresponding skills, knowledge, and abilities of participants. ONR encourages applicants to utilize current STEM educational research for informing program design and advancing STEM careers and opportunities of naval relevance.

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) seeks a broad range of applications for augmenting existing and/or developing innovative solutions that directly maintain and/or cultivate a diverse, world-class Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to maintain the U.S. Air Force and Space Force’s technological superiority. The goal of proposed efforts must provide solutions that establish, build, and/or maintain STEM educational pathways and workforce opportunities for diverse U.S. citizens directly relevant to AFOSR science and technology areas.As the capacity of the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Science and Technology (S&T) workforce is interconnected with STEM education and outreach, AFOSR recognizes the need to support efforts that can jointly improve STEM student outcomes and align education and outreach efforts with DAF S&T current and future workforce needs. This announcement explicitly encourages projects that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students of all ages and the air and space-related workforce. Projects must aim to increase engagement in STEM, from students to the current workforce, and enhance people with needed DAF STEM skills, knowledge and abilities. AFOSR encourages applications to utilize current STEM education research for informing project design and advancing STEM careers and opportunities of DAF relevance.This FOA is specifically seeking STEM education and outreach projects that address scientific and technical areas identified in the following thrust areas. Project scope may range in size and complexity. While not a formal requirement or program focus of this FOA, applicants are strongly encouraged to consider under-represented and under-served populations including women and minorities in project plans. Special audience priority areas may include, but not be limited to, military connected students, veteran initiatives, and education systems integral to DAF science and technology.

The Everglade snail kite is a federally listed endangered species. The principal threat to the snail kite is the loss, fragmentation, and degradation of wetlands in central and southern Florida resulting from urbanized and agricultural development and alterations to wetland hydrology through ditching, impoundment, and water level management. The Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project, which was originally designed and constructed to serve flood control and water supply purposes, has disrupted the volume, timing, direction, and velocity of freshwater flow and has resulted in habitat loss and degradation in the Water Conservation Areas (WCAs) and other portions of the historic Everglades. Drainage of Florida’s interior wetlands has reduced the extent and quality of habitat for both the apple snail and the snail kite. The fragmentation or loss of wetland habitat significantly limits the snail kites’ ability to be resilient to disturbance events such as various climatic events. As wetland habitats become more fragmented, either through destruction or as the result of hydrologic management, their dispersal distances become greater, putting increased stress on dispersing kites that may not be able to replenish energy supplies. This agreement represents an opportunity to enter into a cooperative agreement for monitoring juvenile snail kite movement and survival patterns on Lake Okeechobee. Monitoring will focus on Lake Okeechobee, because this is a critical wetland habitat for snail kites and helps link populations in the Kissimmee Chain-of-Lakes to the population in the Everglades. The purpose of this research is to understand how current water management operational plans for lake stage and releases at structures and resulting changes in hydrology affect snail kite reproductive success, survival, demography, and population. This project is being conducted to meet a requirement of a Biological Opinion (BO) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in association with the current regulation schedule for Lake Okeechobee (e.g. 2008 LORS and the anticipated Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM)) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Monitoring and reporting requirements of the BO identify the need to tag up to twenty near fledgling aged snail kites (i.e., 24 days old) with the best proven tags (radio, satellite, or cell) and monitor for up to five months, depending on survival. This period coincides with the lowest survival rates for fledglings as they learn to forage for themselves and begin moving beyond their nest area. Tagging is to commence during the spring recession season. The mechanism for water management effects on juvenile snail kite survival is primarily related to foraging habitat and food availability (but can also include increased predation). For example, rapidly receding water levels or low lake levels in general that occur during the first months of a juvenile fledging the nest can affect food availability through reductions in foraging habitat. These effects may be detectable through fledgling movement patterns or decreased survival if a large enough database is established for comparison. This project will play a critical role in building the knowledge base on juvenile movement and survival patterns under a variety of conditions.

The CCDC ARL invites applications/proposals from covered educational institutions for research and education programs that will meet the following objectives:a. Enhance research and engineering capabilities in areas important to national defense;b. Increase the number of graduates in STEM disciplines; andc. Encourage research and education collaborations with other institutions of higher education and with defense organizations.Support for research, development, testing, evaluation, or educational enhancements will be through the competitive awarding of grants or cooperative agreements.

Request for Information Request for Information: R&ENDEPSTEMFY22RFI Agency/Office: Washington Headquarters Services/Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD) on behalf of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Research & Engineering) Title: National Defense Education Program (NDEP) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Consortia Request for Information (RFI) for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Research & Engineering) Disclaimer: The Department of Defense (DoD) may use responses to this request for information (RFI) to inform future solicitation / funding opportunity announcement. The purpose of this RFI is to survey industry (to include non-profits, academia, large, and small businesses (e.g., 8(a), service-disabled Veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, Veteran-owned small business, and woman-owned small business)) for relevant information. Hence, submitted responses should not be worded as proposals. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submissions of the RFI being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses. Background/Overview: This RFI consists of two focuses, which are outlined below: (1) Transitioning students from 2-year Community College science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs to a STEM degree at a 4-year institution through a consortium based approach (2) Preparing an agile and diverse workforce through technical training and certificate programs and supporting these programs through collaborative partnerships and consortia The Department of Defense (DoD) STEM mission is to inspire, cultivate, and develop exceptional STEM talent through a continuum of opportunities to enrich the current and future DoD workforce poised to tackle evolving defense technological challenges. Towards this end, DoD invests in the future and current STEM talent pools by fostering pathways that connect to a continuum of enriching DoD programs to meet the unique mission needs of the Department. In accordance with 10 USC §2192, Improvement of education in technical fields: general authority regarding education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, NDEP through WHS/AD, is conducting market research to investigate effective approaches at creating STEM education focused consortia or communities of practice at Community Colleges and 2-year colleges. The Federal STEM Strategy states, “The future, more diverse, pool of work-ready, STEM-literate Americans will come through many pathways[1]. About half of students who pursue higher education are likely to start at a community college”[2]. DoD is the largest employer of scientists and engineers in the United States. Therefore, the Department must maintain a robust pipeline of STEM talent by investing in postsecondary STEM activities, specifically in 2-year colleges, to ensure the DoD has enduring access to the best and brightest talent in the near-, mid-, and long-term. This RFI explicitly encourages input from or regarding projects that involve consortia or communities of practices between 2-year institutions, Community Colleges, and relevant partners; improve the capacity of community colleges to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students and teachers; promote the transition from 2 to 4-year degrees; and prepare an agile and diverse 21st century technical workforce. Response(s) to the question(s) below should focus on effective models with specific efforts in at least one of the following: · Reaching and attracting Veterans, their dependents, and military connected students to STEM opportunities[3],[4] · Providing meaningful STEM experiences for students and faculty especially those from underserved populations[5] · Fostering/leveraging partnerships and ecosystems to amplify reach and impact of STEM activity through multi-institution consortia[6] · Promoting transition from 2-year colleges to 4-year degrees in STEM fields · Technical training and certifications through 2-year degree programs, especially in AI, cyber, and advanced manufacturing Questions to address: Respondents can answer any of the questions #1 - #8, but are not required to respond to all questions #1 - #8. 1. What are the biggest needs and challenges that Community Colleges face in regards to STEM education? How could those needs and challenges best be addressed? 2. What educational programs can be developed and implemented at Community Colleges to support DoD science and technology priority areas (https://www.cto.mil/modernization-priorities/)? 3. What are effective ways in preparing 2-year STEM students to transition into 4-year STEM degrees or the STEM workforce? 4. What are effective ways to promote technical training and STEM certificate programs? 5. What partners do Community Colleges and 2-year institutions need to successfully promote certificate programs and/or transitioning students to 4-year institutions? What benefits would come from each type of partner? 6. Whether you are currently part of a consortium-based model or would be interested in participating in one, describe the benefits and drawbacks of such a partnership. What type of consortium structure maximized the creation of effective and lasting relationships between institutions in regards to promoting STEM education? What would the role of the management entity look like, and what partners would be involved? 7. If you are currently part of a local or regional ecosystem[7], either formally or informally, describe the structure and support that the ecosystem provides. Please describe the benefits and drawbacks that you encounter. What efforts support STEM participation by creating accessible, inclusive STEM learning opportunities and promoting STEM careers? 8. What are effective ways in assessing program impact relative to topics mentioned above? Requirement: All qualified, experienced, and capable sources are welcome to respond to this RFI. Large-scale and small-scale examples of programs are of equal interest. Your capabilities should cover any and all areas of focus delineated above. There is no target of years in relevant experience if a program has evidence-based effectiveness and proven results. In addition, please provide the following Point of Contact information for all responses: Company: Address: Point of Contact: Phone Number: Email Address: Business Size and Classification: [example, Large Business, Small Business, 8(a), Woman-Owned/Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), Veteran-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned)] Security Clearance: No security clearance is required for this requirement NAICS recommendations: • 541713 Research and Development in Nanotechnology • 541714 Research and Development in Biotechnology • 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; • 541720 Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities; • 611310 Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; • 611430 Professional and Management Development Training; • 611519 Other Technical and Trade Schools; • 611691 Exam Preparation and Tutoring; • 611710 Educational Support Services; • 712110 Museums; • 813211 Grantmaking Foundations • 923110 Administration of Education Programs; Submission Requirements: All responses to the RFI should be submitted via e-mail to osd.dodstem@mail.mil following the Schedule of Events below. The government is contemplating holding an informational workshop/webinar after the close of the RFI. If you would like to participate, RSVP to the email address provided and state I, II, and/or III from the areas of interest on page 1. Please no phone calls. Schedule of Events Event: Questions Regarding RFI Date: 23 August, 2021 Time: 17:00 EST Event: FAQ Posting Date: 27 August, 2021 Event: RFI Responses Due Date: 10 September, 2021 Time: 17:00 EST There is a maximum page limitation of six (6) pages: four (4) pages for the responses to questions two (2) pages for the capability statement All responses must be typed, single spaced using 12 point, Times New Roman, font, within an 8.5 by 11-inch page size, in Adobe Acrobat PDF (.pdf) or Microsoft Word files. No hard copy or facsimile submissions will be accepted. Cover letters and extraneous materials (brochures, etc.) will not be considered. All submissions shall be at the UNCLASSIFIED level and shall clearly mark proprietary information. All submissions shall include contact information for the individual and/or organization (as appropriate) making the submission. At the discretion of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Research & Engineering), responders may be contacted for further clarification or additional information; if you do not wish to be contacted please indicate so in your response. [1] Barriers and Opportunities for 2-Year and 4-Year STEM Degrees: Systematic Change to Support Students’ Diverse Pathways (2016). https://www.nap.edu/catalog/21739/barriers-and-opportunities-for-2-year… [2] Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education (2018). https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/STEM-Ed… [3] FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 211, 10 USC §2192b Program on enhancement of preparation of dependents of members of armed forces for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [4] S. 153 – Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act [5] DoD STEM defines Underserved populations as students that are dependents of members of the military, national guard and reserves or military connected; students who are eligible to receive Free and Reduced-price Meals—FARMS; Students belonging to racial and ethnic minorities that are historically underrepresented in STEM (i.e., Alaska Natives, Native Americans, Blacks or African Americans, Latinx/Hispanics, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders); Students with disabilities; Students who are English language learners (ELLs); First‐generation college bound students:; Students in rural, frontier, or other Federal targeted outreach schools; and Females in certain STEM fields where they remain underrepresented (Gender) (e.g., physical science, computer science, mathematics, or engineering) [6] FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 217, 10 USC §2358 Mechanisms for Expedited Access to Technical Talent and Expertise at Academic Institutions to Support Department of Defense Missions [7] STEM Ecosystem: STEM education ecosystems consist of multi-sector partners united by a collective vision of supporting participation in STEM through the creation of accessible, inclusive STEM learning opportunities that promote STEM literacy and expose learners to a variety of career paths and facilitate critical transitions from Pre-K through career. A STEM education ecosystem continuously evaluates its activities and adapts as needed to improve outcomes for learners, plans for the long-term, and invests in communicating its work to build broad support and advance best-practices.

The Department of Navy (DoN) Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program aims to increase the quantity and quality of minority professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the defense community. Research conducted at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for the DoN HBCU/MI Program:• Enhances the research and educational capabilities of HBCU/MIs in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to the defense mission of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps• Encourages cross-institutional, collaborative efforts that explore innovative solutions to naval science and technology (S&T) challenges, and• Increases the engagement of students, including underrepresented minorities, in STEM fields important to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.This FOA is executed under policy and guidance of the DoN HBCU/MI Program and is administered by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Competitive white papers and full invited proposals submitted to this FOA must clearly and succinctly describe efforts that advance basic naval-relevant S&T, engage faculty and students in STEM discovery, and expand the research capacity of participant institutions.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District (NWP) intends to enter into a cooperative agreement with a non-Federal public entity or non-profit entity to accomplish the following: 1) provide training and educational opportunities for college students who are studying archaeology and cultural resources management, and 2) continue cultural resources stewardship through identifying, evaluating, and studying cultural resources managed by the Willamette Valley Project or issues relevant to the cultural resources program, which is part of the Environmental Stewardship Program. The recipient’s participants will benefit from gaining experience and expertise in academic and applied aspects of archaeology and cultural resources management, which will increase their ability to be academically and professionally competitive. The fields of archaeology and cultural resources management will benefit from the production of new professionals who have targeted and useful training. The cooperative agreement will be awarded pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 2339. The preferred partner for this cooperative agreement must be a non-Federal public entity or non-profit entity that has access to college student populations who live within commuting distance of the Willamette Valley Project. The entity must be able to provide educational and training opportunities in classroom, laboratory, museum, job-shadowing, and/or field settings that are tailored to the level of education of each of the student participants. These opportunities will be within commuting distance of the Willamette Valley Project. The recipient must have knowledge of and experience with academic and applied aspects of archaeology and cultural resources management and be able to undertake and complete projects of varying scope and complexity related to these fields. The recipient must have experience working with college student populations and supporting students through education and training efforts in the fields of archaeology and cultural resources management.

The Department of Defense seeks innovative applications to cooperatively partner with eligible entities in the implementation and execution of its Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Program. The Department intends to award ONE (1) cooperative agreement award, with a maximum award of up to $450M over a five-year period of performance.SMART is a highly competitive STEM-focused scholarship-for-service program, empowered to make full-tuition awards during any phase of a scholar’s education in a regionally accredited U.S. university or college. The program sponsors undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral study in 21 academic disciplines that the Department has identified as critical to national security and DoD’s future. Established by Congress in 2006, the program has awarded more than 3,700 scholarships, and aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at Department of Defense (DoD) laboratories and facilities.“We are very proud of all the 416 recipients of this prestigious scholarship,” said Mr. Louie Lopez, DoD STEM Director. “I look to forward to seeing these next generation of STEM leaders’ contributions to the Department and the Nation.”The DOD develops STEM talent through its K-20 STEM education and talent development efforts called DoD STEM. DoD STEM aims to inspire, cultivate, and develop talent to address the Nation’s technological challenges, now and into the future.The largest program under DoD STEM is the National Defense Education Program (NDEP). It fosters and enhances the DoD’s ability to develop and access high-quality STEM talent vital to national defense.NDEP activities support the DoD STEM effort in providing authentic learning experiences through a variety of education and outreach initiatives in the form of scholarships, internships, enrichment activities, competitions, and mentorships by leveraging partners from industry, academia, and other government organizations with a shared STEM mission. One of the main NDEP efforts in addressing talent development and recruitment is through the SMART Program.SMART is empowered to make full-tuition awards during any phase of a scholar’s education in a regionally accredited U.S. university or college. The program sponsors undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral study in 21 academic disciplines critical to national security and DoD’s future. Upon graduation, students move directly into employment at DoD facilities. Awards can be made during any phase of a scholar’s education and vary in length from a minimum of one to a maximum of five years. The service commitment is one year of DoD employment for each academic year of SMART funding.The funding announcement will be available in early January 2022 on Grants.gov (www.grants.gov), SAM.GOV (https://sam.gov/) and the U.S. Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory website.The SMART Program will also hold a virtual Opportunity Day on 09 February 2022 from 1300 to 1600 Eastern Standard Time (EST). To register, email osd.smart@mail.mil. More details will be provided prior to the event. To learn more about the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program and the participating DoD sponsoring facilities, visit www.smartscholarship.org.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District (NWP) intends to enter into a cooperative agreement with a non-Federal public agency, nonprofit entity, qualified youth service, or conservation corps organization for land stewardship and restoration services on USACE land in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. This cooperative agreement will assist NWP in fulfilling environmental stewardship responsibilities consisting of restoration and management of native prairie landscapes and wildlife habitat primarily at Fern Ridge Lake while providing education and training to at-risk youth from the nearby community. The recipient’s participating students (participants) will gain experience with project planning, development, and implementation. Projects will mainly focus on land stewardship, prairie and habitat restoration, and nursery and greenhouse maintenance. The cooperative agreement will be awarded pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 2339 Conservation and Recreation Management. The recipient for this cooperative agreement must be a non-Federal public agency, nonprofit entity, or qualified youth service or conservation corps organization that serves at-risk youth in local communities near Fern Ridge and has experience in land stewardship and restoration using small crews supervised by experienced crew leaders so ecological concepts can be accurately conveyed to crew and leaders.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is interested in receiving a broad range of proposals for augmenting existing and/or developing innovative solutions that directly maintain, and/or cultivate a diverse, world-class Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to maintain the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ technological superiority. The goal of proposed efforts must provide solutions that establish, build, and/or maintain STEM educational pathways of U.S. citizens directly relevant to the needs of Department of Navy’s (DON) current and future workforce. As the capacity of the DON Science and Technology (S&T) workforce is interconnected with the STEM education system, DON recognizes the need to support efforts that can jointly improve STEM student outcomes and align educational and outreach efforts with Naval S&T current and future workforce needs. This announcement explicitly encourages programs that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students of all ages and the naval related workforce. Programs must aim to increase engagement in naval relevant STEM, and enhance the corresponding skills, knowledge, and abilities of participants. ONR encourages applicants to utilize current STEM educational research for informing program design and advancing STEM careers and opportunities of naval relevance.

The Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Education Program (NDEP) is seeking to strategically fund science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at 2-year institutions and Community Colleges (2YI/CCs) through a consortium approach. The DoD STEM vision is a diverse and sustainable STEM talent pool ready to serve our Nation and extend the Department’s competitive edge. This NOFO aims to enhance the STEM workforce through regional consortia which will develop and encourage STEM ecosystems between 2YI/CCs and 4-Year Institutions (4YIs), industry, local education agencies, and others in STEM education. Each regional DoD STEM Community College Consortium should collaboratively work with members of their geographical area to promote partnerships that enhance STEM education at 2YI/CCs, while aligning to the DoD STEM mission to “inspire, cultivate, and develop exceptional STEM talent through a continuum of opportunities to enrich our current and future DoD workforce poised to tackle evolving defense technological challenges”. These collaborations should foster the development of 2YI/CC STEM ecosystems that have the ability to implement far-reaching sustainable programs, specifically those that promote the completion of certificate training programs aligned to DoD priority areas; increase transitions from 2YI/CC programs to STEM degrees from 4YIs; and meet the vision, roles, and goals outlined in the DoD STEM Strategic Plan.Responses to this funding opportunity should focus on either or both of the below goals:(1) Promote and support the completion of technical training and certificate programs that strengthen the DoD and Defense Industrial Base (DIB) science, technology, and manufacturing workforce.(2) Develop, support, and increase the transition of students, especially those from underserved and underrepresented populations to include veterans and their spouses, from 2-year institutions and/or Community College STEM programs to STEM degrees at 4-year institutions.

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) seeks a broad range of applications for augmenting existing and/or developing innovative solutions that directly maintain and/or cultivate a diverse, world-class Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to maintain the U.S. Air Force and Space Force’s technological superiority. The goal of proposed efforts must provide solutions that establish, build, and/or maintain STEM educational pathways and workforce opportunities for diverse U.S. citizens directly relevant to AFOSR science and technology areas.As the capacity of the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Science and Technology (S&T) workforce is interconnected with STEM education and outreach, AFOSR recognizes the need to support efforts that can jointly improve STEM student outcomes and align education and outreach efforts with DAF S&T current and future workforce needs. This announcement explicitly encourages projects that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students of all ages and the air and space-related workforce. Projects must aim to increase engagement in STEM, from students to the current workforce, and enhance people with needed DAF STEM skills, knowledge and abilities. AFOSR encourages applications to utilize current STEM education research for informing project design and advancing STEM careers and opportunities of DAF relevance.This FOA is specifically seeking STEM education and outreach projects that address scientific and technical areas identified in the following thrust areas. Project scope may range in size and complexity. While not a formal requirement or program focus of this FOA, applicants are strongly encouraged to consider under-represented and under-served populations including women and minorities in project plans. Special audience priority areas may include, but not be limited to, military connected students, veteran initiatives, and education systems integral to DAF science and technology.

This announcement seeks proposals from universities to create, market and implement a lending library program using DURIP-funded instrumentation. Proposals are accepted from entities who previously received a DURIP grant and currently have access to the DURIP-funded instrumentation. These could have been funded by the Army Research Office (ARO), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and AFOSR. However, this STEM supplement is a stand-alone opportunity that is only provided by the AFOSR.A central purpose of the DURIP-LL program is to provide hands-on experiential learning opportunities using equipment and instrumentation to enhance research related education in areas of interest and priority to the DoD. Therefore, your proposal must address the impact of the equipment or instrumentation on your institution’s ability to educate K-12 students through research in disciplines important to DoD missions.DoD STEM goals are as follows:Goal 1.0: Inspire community engagement in DoD STEM education programs and activities to provide meaningful STEM learning opportunities for students and educators.Goal 2.0: Attract the Nation's and DoD's current and future STEM workforce through multiple pathways to educational and career opportunities.Goal 3.0: Increase participation of underserved and underrepresented groups in STEM education.Goal 4.0: Advance the efficiency and effectiveness of STEM education and workforce development programs, activities, and outreach through evaluation and assessment. Relevant information includes, but is not limited to, details of any other Federal funds to be used, and any funds to be contributed by non-Federal sources toward STEM outreach and education.

Under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 2362 and pending the availability of funds, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) in cooperation with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) seeks unclassified research proposals, basic or applied, from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) in research topics of interest to DoD and ONR.This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) aims to (a) enhance research programs and capabilities in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to the national security functions of DoD; (b) enhance the capacity of HBCU/MI to participate more fully in all DoD research programs and activities; (c) increase the number of graduates, including underrepresented minorities, in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) important to the defense mission; and (d) encourage commitments by the eligible institutions to invest time and resources that will elevate their standing from R2 status to R1 status commensurate with the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.See full text announcement under Related Attachments for more information.

ONR seeks a broad range of applications for augmenting existing and/or developing innovative solutions that directly maintain and/or cultivate a diverse, world-class Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to maintain the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ technological superiority. The goal of proposed efforts must provide solutions that establish, build, and/or maintain STEM educational pathways and workforce opportunities for diverse U.S. citizens directly relevant to ONR science and technology areas.As the capacity of the Department of the Navy (DON) Science and Technology (S&T) workforce is interconnected with STEM education and outreach, ONR recognizes the need to support efforts that can jointly improve STEM student outcomes and align education and outreach efforts with Naval S&T current and future workforce needs. This announcement explicitly encourages projects that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students of all ages and the naval-related workforce. Projects must aim to increase engagement in STEM, from students to the current workforce, and enhance people with needed Naval STEM skills, knowledge and abilities. ONR encourages applications to utilize current STEM educational research for informing project design and advancing STEM careers and opportunities of naval relevance.This FOA is specifically seeking STEM education and outreach projects that address scientific and technical areas identified in the following thrust areas. Project scope may range in size and complexity. While not a formal requirement or program focus of this FOA, applicants are strongly encouraged to consider under-represented and under-served populations including women and minorities in project plans. Special audience priority areas may include, but not be limited to, military connected students, veteran initiatives, and education systems integral to naval science and technology

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) aims to (a) enhance research programs and capabilities in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to the national security functions of DoD; (b) enhance the capacity of HBCU/MI to participate in DoD research programs and activities; and (c) increase the number of graduates, including underrepresented minorities, in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) important to the defense mission.Projects proposed for funding under this FOA must be for basic research. As defined by DoD, “basic research” is systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind. It includes all scientific study and experimentation directed toward increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding in those fields of the physical, engineering, environmental, life sciences, and information sciences related to long-term national security needs.PIs are encouraged to consider innovative approaches for their research projects with a view toward enhancing the ability of their institution to develop stronger science and engineering programs that will enable the institution to participate more competitively in a variety of defense research programs, attract and retain good students by exposing them to state-of-the art research, and encourage them to pursue careers in STEM disciplines.Methods through which these goals can be achieved are varied. Factors such as research capabilities, facilities, and equipment are unique to each institution. Therefore, DoD will not prescribe the approach for a research project; instead, it expects applications to reflect the unique needs and capabilities of the applicant institution.

The Department of Navy (DoN) Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program aims to increase the quantity and quality of minority professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the defense community. Research conducted at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for the DoN HBCU/MI Program:Enhances the research and educational capabilities of HBCU/MIs in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to the defense mission of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps,Encourages cross-institutional, collaborative efforts that explore innovative solutions to naval science and technology (S&T) challenges, andIncreases the engagement of students, including underrepresented minorities, in STEM fields important to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.This FOA is executed under policy and guidance of the DoN HBCU/MI Program and is administered by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Competitive white papers and full invited proposals submitted to this FOA must clearly and succinctly describe efforts that advance basic naval-relevant S&T, engage faculty and students in STEM discovery, and expand the research capacity of participant institutions.The technical content of any proposed effort must contribute to the S&T mission and vision of the DoN and must align with the Naval Research Development Framework.See full text announcement for more information.

This FOA is for STEM education programs and activities, which is formal or informal education that is primarily focused on physical and natural sciences, technology, engineering, social sciences, and mathematics disciplines, topics, or issues (including environmental science education or stewardship).STEM education programs and activities that could be supported by this FOA include one or more of the following as the primary objective:• Develop learners’ knowledge, skill, or interest in STEM.• Attract students to pursue certifications, licenses, or degrees (two-year degrees through post-doctoral degrees) or careers in STEM fields.• Provide growth and research opportunities for post-secondary, college and graduate students in STEM fields, such as working with researchers or conducting research that is primarily intended to further education.• Improve mentor/educator (K-12 pre-service or in-service, post-secondary, and informal) quality in STEM areas.• Improve or expand the capacity of institutions to promote or foster STEM fields.This FOA will not consider applications for research, with the exception of those whose primary purpose is intended to further education (as described in third bullet above) and that are not expected to generate intellectual property. Efforts for research, including those supporting STEM, should be submitted under the current fiscal year Long Range BAA.Please see full text of the announcement for additional details.

This announcement seeks proposals from universities to create, market and implement a lending library program using DURIP-funded instrumentation. Proposals are accepted from entities who previously received a DURIP grant and currently have access to the DURIP-funded instrumentation. These could have been funded by the Army Research Office (ARO), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and AFOSR. However, this STEM supplement is a stand-alone opportunity that is only provided by the AFOSR.A central purpose of the DURIP-LL program is to provide hands-on experiential learning opportunities using equipment and instrumentation to enhance research related education in areas of interest and priority to the DoD. Therefore, your proposal must address the impact of the equipment or instrumentation on your institution’s ability to educate K-12 students through research in disciplines important to DoD missions.DoD STEM goals are as follows:Goal 1.0: Inspire community engagement in DoD STEM education programs and activities to provide meaningful STEM learning opportunities for students and educators.Goal 2.0: Attract the Nation's and DoD's current and future STEM workforce through multiple pathways to educational and career opportunities.Goal 3.0: Increase participation of underserved and underrepresented groups in STEM education.Goal 4.0: Advance the efficiency and effectiveness of STEM education and workforce development programs, activities, and outreach through evaluation and assessment. Relevant information includes, but is not limited to, details of any other Federal funds to be used, and any funds to be contributed by non-Federal sources toward STEM outreach and education.