Pilot Program to Increase Research Capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority-Serving Institutions

The Pilot Program to Increase Research Capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MIs) is administered by the U.S. Department of War, through the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Command and Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM-ARL), in partnership with the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. This initiative reflects policy mandates from the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Presidential Executive Order 14332 on federal grantmaking, aiming to significantly bolster the ability of eligible institutions to achieve "very high research activity" (R1 status) as designated by the Carnegie Classification system. The overarching objective is to enhance STEM-related research capacities at underrepresented institutions, thereby supporting national defense priorities and cultivating a more diverse, technically skilled workforce. This pilot program offers substantial investment in institutional capacity-building. Approximately $50 million in total funding will be distributed across five awards, each up to $10 million over a five-year period and not exceeding $2 million per year. The program explicitly seeks proposals that strengthen institutional infrastructure, expand faculty and student research capabilities, and align with DoW's critical technology priorities—such as applied AI, biomanufacturing, quantum and battlefield information dominance, contested logistics, and hypersonics. Applications must directly address how the proposed work supports both research advancement and STEM education, including methods to track progress toward R1 classification. Eligible applicants are exclusively HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions not currently classified as R1. These include institutions defined in sections 322 and 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and those that are actively eligible for Title III or Title V support from the Department of Education. Community colleges may also apply, provided they meet these definitions. Proposals must be led by a U.S. citizen who holds a senior institutional leadership position (e.g., Provost, VP of Research). Importantly, each institution may submit only one application, and subawards or paid collaborations are prohibited. Applicants must submit complete applications through Grants.gov using funding number W911NF26S0075 by 4:00 PM Eastern on April 10, 2026. Prior to submission, institutions must ensure they are registered with SAM and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Required documents include SF-424 forms, project abstracts, detailed narratives describing current and planned research capabilities, budget justifications, biosketches for key personnel, and additional representations and certifications (e.g., lobbying, tax status). Attachments must comply with strict formatting and page limits. Note that while faculty and student stipends are allowable, funding for equipment, renovations, subawards, and tuition is disallowed. Applications will be reviewed by scientific experts and evaluated based on scientific merit, alignment with DoW mission areas, feasibility of achieving R1 status, and potential to enhance STEM education and faculty development. Emphasis is placed on compliance with Executive Order 14332, especially regarding national interest alignment, avoidance of racial preference or ideological content, and adherence to "Gold Standard Science." Notification of awards is expected in July 2026, with funded projects starting around August 2026 and running for up to five years. This is a non-recurring, one-time funding opportunity. No cost sharing is required. Applicants are encouraged to use innovative, scalable approaches to institutional transformation, and must provide evidence-based metrics for impact assessment, such as growth in peer-reviewed publications, STEM enrollments and degrees, research awards, and infrastructure development. All selected projects will undergo post-award compliance reviews related to national security risk assessments, including reviews of key personnel’s affiliations and potential foreign influence as mandated under recent federal policy.

Focus on measurable R1 progression metrics and DoW-aligned STEM topics; avoid disallowed terms like DEI or climate; ensure compliance with EO 14332.