Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority-Serving Institutions of Higher Education (HBCUs/MIs): Center of Excellence for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarship | W911NF 17 S 0006

Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 17 S 0006

The Department of Defense, through the Department of the Army (Army Materiel Command), issued this discretionary funding opportunity to create a single Center of Excellence for STEM Scholarship hosted at an eligible Historically Black College or University or other Minority-Serving Institution (HBCU/MI). The award would be made as a cooperative agreement, meaning the government expects to have substantial involvement in the project rather than simply providing funds with minimal oversight. The Center is planned as a multi-year effort, funded for a 4-year period of performance with an optional fifth year, with the overall purpose of strengthening STEM education pathways, expanding research training, and building a stronger, more diverse pipeline into research careers tied to national security needs.

At the core of the program are two linked goals. First, the Center is expected to develop and implement innovative approaches to STEM education and training that help students persist in STEM throughout their undergraduate years and then move into research careers after graduation (either immediately or after completing advanced degrees). These research careers may be in the public sector or private sector, but they must align with science and engineering areas that matter to DoD and national security. Second, the Center is intended to support a dedicated cohort (a cadre) of students who are committed to earning STEM degrees and who receive the kind of preparation that makes them competitive for research-oriented trajectories. In addition to supporting individual students, DoD explicitly frames this as a workforce development and diversity initiative, aiming to increase diversity across the nations STEM workforce by building long-term capacity at an HBCU/MI.

The opportunity emphasizes STEM disciplines that are of primary interest to DoD, and it provides a fairly broad list. These areas include Biological Sciences; Physical Sciences such as Physics, Chemistry, and Materials Science; Mathematical Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences; Engineering in all categories; Geosciences; Environmental Sciences; and Neuroscience and Cognitive Science. The Center is therefore not limited to one narrow specialty, but applicants would be expected to organize a coherent set of scholarship, training, and research-preparation activities that clearly connect student development to these priority domains.

Funding is intended to cover activities that directly strengthen research education and training for participating students. The solicitation cites examples such as internships and travel to seminars and workshops, and it also references support tied to publications and similar professional development outputs. Taken together, the program is aiming for more than tuition assistance alone; it is structured to help students build the experiences, networks, and research exposure that typically determine whether they stay in STEM, succeed academically, and transition into research roles after earning their degrees.

Eligibility is limited and specific: only 4-year degree-granting covered educational institutions that qualify as HBCUs/MIs will be considered. The notice references the statutory definition in 10 U.S.C. 2362, describing covered educational institutions as either (1) institutions of higher education eligible for assistance under Title III or Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (which generally covers programs supporting institutions serving high numbers of low-income students and minority populations), or (2) accredited post-secondary minority institutions. In other words, the program is designed to place this Center within an institution that already meets federal criteria tied to minority-serving status and accreditation, and that has the capacity to confer 4-year degrees.

From the source details provided, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number W911NF 17 S 0006 under CFDA 12.630, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development. Only one award was expected, reinforcing that this is intended to be a flagship Center rather than a distributed set of smaller grants. The original closing date listed is May 31, 2017, and the funding instrument is explicitly a cooperative agreement, which typically implies close coordination with DoD on program direction, performance expectations, and outcomes tracking over the life of the Center.

• The Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority-Serving Institutions of Higher Education (HBCUs/MIs): Center of Excellence for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarship" 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 2017-04-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-05-31. (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 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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