Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Department of the Navy (DoN) Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program

The Office of Naval Research has issued the Notice of Funding Opportunity N0001425SF005 for the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of the Navy Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions Program. This program is designed to expand participation of HBCU/MIs in Navy research, development, test, and evaluation programs, and to strengthen their capacity to conduct basic and applied research. The overarching goal is to increase the quality and quantity of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs at these institutions while fostering engagement of both faculty and students. The program emphasizes three core objectives: enhancing research and educational capabilities in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to Navy and Marine Corps missions, encouraging cross-institutional collaborations that address naval science and technology challenges, and promoting student engagement in STEM fields. Proposals must align with naval-relevant science and technology priorities, and competitive submissions must also demonstrate the capacity to expand institutional research infrastructure and student involvement. Projects should address research areas such as information and cyber superiority, undersea battlespace access, sea platform survivability, warfighter performance, and aviation and defense systems. The funding available under this announcement totals $1,575,000, with approximately three awards anticipated. Individual awards will range between $450,000 and $525,000, with a maximum of $185,000 allowed in the first year, $175,000 in the second year, and $165,000 in the third year. Up to $35,000 in year one, $25,000 in year two, and $15,000 in year three may be allocated to equipment, materials, and supplies. The anticipated period of performance is three years, and no-cost extensions must be justified and requested at least 90 days before the end of the project. Renewal or supplemental awards will not be allowed. Eligibility is restricted under 10 U.S.C. §4144 to covered educational institutions, which include institutions eligible for Title III or V assistance under the Higher Education Act or accredited minority institutions. All proposed personnel and principal investigators must be U.S. citizens as of September 19, 2025, the date white papers are due. The principal investigator must hold a full-time tenured or tenure-track appointment at one of the eligible minority-serving institution types. This is a single principal investigator award; co-investigators and sub-awards are not permitted. The application process requires the submission of white papers, which are mandatory and due on September 19, 2025. Only applicants whose white papers are positively evaluated will be invited to submit full proposals, which are due December 12, 2025. Notifications of white paper evaluations will be issued by November 7, 2025, and award selections are expected by March 27, 2026. The anticipated start date for projects is July 1, 2026. White papers must follow strict formatting guidelines and include summaries, technical concepts, student engagement strategies, statements of naval relevance, rough order of magnitude budgets, and abbreviated curricula vitae for principal investigators. Proposals will be evaluated based on naval relevance, technical merit, student engagement, personnel qualifications, and potential contribution to the Navy’s mission. Submissions must be made electronically, with white papers submitted through the ONR Submission Portal and full applications submitted via Grants.gov. All applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management and hold a valid Unique Entity Identifier and CAGE code. Selected awardees will be notified via email, and formal award documents will be accessible through the Department of Defense Electronic Document Access system.

Applicants are encouraged to consult with Naval Technical Points of Contact prior to submission.