FY25 ONR Office Of Naval Research (ONR) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics(STEM) Education and Workforce Program

The Office of Naval Research (ONR), a component of the U.S. Department of Defense, is currently soliciting proposals for its Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education and Workforce Program. With a long-standing mission to foster the development of cutting-edge scientific knowledge and to strengthen the national STEM workforce pipeline, ONR’s STEM program plays a crucial role in supporting educational efforts aimed at expanding access, improving quality, and building institutional capacity in STEM-related fields. This opportunity is offered under funding opportunity number N0001425SF006 and is open to a wide array of entities across academia, non-profit, for-profit, and eligible foreign organizations. The program supports formal and informal education initiatives that promote engagement and learning in the physical and natural sciences, engineering, technology, social sciences, and mathematics. It emphasizes projects that can increase learner interest or proficiency in STEM, attract students into STEM careers or higher education tracks, and provide hands-on research opportunities for post-secondary students. Additionally, it seeks to strengthen the quality of mentoring and teaching in STEM at the K-12 and post-secondary levels, while also enhancing the capacity of institutions to support and advance STEM education missions. Applications that propose research must clearly align with educational outcomes and are expected to not generate intellectual property. Pure research efforts should instead be directed to ONR's separate Broad Agency Announcements (BAA). All projects must be consistent with the overall goal of enhancing the Navy and Department of Defense mission through a better educated and technically proficient STEM workforce. Funding levels and periods of performance may vary depending on the technical merit and scope of the proposed work. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the open period. The submission process accommodates both white papers and full proposals. White papers are optional and provide a preliminary overview of the proposed concept. Full proposals must follow specific formatting and content requirements, including detailed technical narratives, project milestones, management strategies, and budget breakdowns. Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov, while white papers, if used, should be uploaded through ONR’s Submission Portal. The application deadline is June 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of technical merit, relevance to Navy mission objectives, and availability of funding. The ONR may also assess risk related to foreign affiliations and influence, particularly regarding intellectual property and compliance with national security standards. Applicants will be notified by email regarding the outcome of their proposal submissions, but funding is not guaranteed until an official award notice is signed by a government Grants Officer. For technical questions, the primary contact is Ms. Kathleen Miranda, Program Officer ([email protected], 875 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22203). Questions related to the submission process can be directed to Veronica Lacey, Grants Officer ([email protected]). The performance period for awards will vary by project scope, and while there is no cost-sharing requirement, voluntary matching is permitted. There is no pre-application requirement such as LOIs or concept papers, and the opportunity is recurring annually, with the next anticipated cycle starting July 2026.

Demonstrate clear technical innovation, strong alignment with Navy STEM priorities, and capable project leadership. Highlight educational outcomes over intellectual property generation.