Website US Department of Defense (DOD)
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) aims to:
- enhance research programs and capabilities in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to the national security functions of DoD;
- 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.
Each grant will be fully funded for a performance period of 48 months in an amount up to $1 million (total of direct and indirect costs).
Important Budget Information
Funds awarded under this FOA will not support the following:
- Student support (tuition, stipends, fees)
- Purchase of equipment (Federal definition – items with an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more and a useful life of more than one year.)
- Foreign travel
- Rental of equipment or facilities
- Consultants
- Subawards
- Alteration or renovation of facilities.
Internal Review Process
UCI may submit no more than three (3) applications under this FOA. Therefore interested applicants are asked to submit the following application materials to the Office of Research (via the UCI Review application system) by Tuesday October 3, 2023:
- Research Project Summary– Up to three pages (single-spaced with 1 inch margins, in 12pt Times New Roman font).
- CV or BioSketchof PI and any co-PIs
Following receipt of internal applications, an ad hoc review committee will be convened. If more than one application is submitted from any given school, the Dean may be asked to rank them in order to aid the review committee in their deliberations. The selected candidate will be notified as quickly as possible in order to allow them time to meet the October 30, 2023 DoD deadline for full applications.
Questions about the internal review process may be directed to Dr. Mike Gallo in the Office of Research at, magallo@uci.edu.