Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Consortium | W911SR 24 S 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for W911SR 24 S 0001

The Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) STEM Consortium opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W911SR 24 S 0001) is a Department of Defense discretionary funding competition to select a single organization to stand up and run a national-style consortium focused on strengthening and expanding defense-relevant research at MSIs and HBCUs. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which signals that the government expects to be actively involved in guiding or collaborating on the work rather than simply providing funds with minimal interaction. The program is rooted in statutory authority from Section 252 of the FY10 National Defense Authorization Act, codified at 10 USC 4144, which supports research and education programs and activities at HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions.

At its core, the DoD is looking for an entity that can implement, execute, develop, and administer a consortium of STEM-capable MSIs and HBCUs that can perform basic, applied, and advanced research and development. The intent is not just to coordinate research projects, but to build long-term institutional capacity so that participating universities, colleges, and their students can become significant contributors to Defense research. That capacity-building emphasis typically implies activities such as forming multi-institution research teams, facilitating partnerships with DoD laboratories and program offices, improving research infrastructure and administrative processes at member institutions, mentoring faculty and student researchers, and creating pathways that help institutions compete more effectively for future DoD funding.

Eligibility is centered on the applicant being (or becoming prior to award) a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization under the Internal Revenue Code. In practice, this means the lead applicant is expected to function as the coordinating backbone organization that manages membership, governance, program operations, and relationships with both the DoD and the participating MSIs/HBCUs. The consortium itself is intended to include MSIs and HBCUs that offer STEM education and have the capability to conduct research across the basic-to-advanced spectrum. While the consortium members are the institutions doing the research and training work, the awardee is responsible for overall management, administration, and strategic direction.

The DoD makes clear that the selected recipient must bring credible organizational strength and a track record that reduces performance risk. Applicants are expected to demonstrate management capability and sufficient financial and technical resources to run the program of activities described in the funding opportunity. They must also show a satisfactory record of managing and administering comparable MSI/HBCU STEM programs or activities, particularly if they have held prior awards of this type. Beyond capacity and experience, the opportunity highlights the need for integrity and sound business ethics, and the organization must be otherwise eligible to receive a cooperative agreement under applicable laws and regulations. Collectively, these requirements point to an applicant that can handle federal compliance, financial controls, reporting, and complex coordination across many institutions while maintaining strong stewardship of public funds.

From a funding and competition standpoint, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $15,000,000 and anticipates making one award. The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the listing is associated with CFDA number 12.630. The sponsoring/issuing organization is ACC-APG-Edgewood (Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood area), which aligns with the DoD focus on applied defense science and technology needs. The application closing date is listed as 2024-09-12, and the opportunity was created on 2024-07-10.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a DoD-backed consortium-building effort where the awardee serves as the central organizer and operator of a coordinated network of MSIs and HBCUs. The government is seeking a partner that can provide vision, leadership, and operational discipline to expand research participation, strengthen institutional capabilities, and create sustainable collaboration mechanisms so that MSIs/HBCUs and their students play a larger, more consistent role in defense research and development over time.

• The ACC-APG-Edgewood in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Consortium" 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 2024-07-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-09-12. (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 $15,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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