MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) STEM Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology (BEST) Robotics Grant is a federally funded opportunity offered through the MDA’s STEM Outreach Program. This initiative supports the long-term goal of increasing awareness and proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among K-12 and college students. By doing so, it aims to cultivate a future workforce capable of addressing the nation’s missile defense challenges across government, industry, and academia. MDA achieves this by investing in education-based partnerships that broaden access to and participation in STEM programs across the educational continuum. BEST Robotics, Inc., the nonprofit partner of this initiative, engages students through a sports-like, hands-on robotics competition that blends science and engineering in a highly interactive format. The program is unique in that it is free for students and schools, operating through a volunteer base from higher education institutions and industry professionals. The MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant offers Local Competition Hubs affiliated with BEST Robotics, Inc. financial support to purchase robotics sensors and educational software licenses necessary for the 2025 or 2026 BEST competition season. Eligible applicants include official BEST Robotics Local or Regional Competition Hubs or national organizers that are either managed by a Higher Education Agency (HEA), such as a university or college, or are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working closely with an HEA. Additional requirements include up-to-date registration in SAM, Grants.gov, and the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE). If the applicant previously received an MDA STEM BEST Robotics Grant, all prior reporting requirements and proposed team registration goals must have been met. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by August 20, 2025, at 4:00 PM Mountain Time. Required application components include the SF-424 (R&R) form, a detailed funding request, a proposed competition schedule, signed support letters from both internal and external stakeholders, certifications for SAM and WAWF accounts, and a post-award agreement letter. Optional support letters from local governments, STEM organizations, or industry partners may also be included. MDA evaluates applications based on three criteria: need (50%), impact (30%), and support (20%). The funding limit for each award is $30,000. The grant specifically covers robotics sensors and educational software licenses to be used during the 2025 and/or 2026 BEST Robotics competition seasons. These must be one-time purchases supporting a single year of software use or sensors intended to support AI integration in robotics kits. Recipients must handle all implementation and material distribution independently, without additional support from MDA. Successful applicants will be notified via email by September 30, 2025. Reporting obligations include submission of a map identifying all participating schools, a completed MDA reporting template with demographic and results data, and 10–30 photos documenting major competition events. Grant vouchers must be submitted via WAWF and approved by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), which then forwards the request to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) for payment. For inquiries, applicants may contact Ambros Montoya at ambros.d.montoya.civ@mda.mil or the MDA STEM Outreach Program Office at STEM@mda.mil.