The Naval Engineering Education Consortium Broad Agency Announcement supports academic research partnerships that advance critical Navy science and technology priorities while cultivating a skilled naval engineering workforce. Administered by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division on behalf of the Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Centers, the program funds colleges and universities to conduct applied research aligned with the Navy’s strategic technical domains, such as advanced materials, robotics, sensors, artificial intelligence, hypersonic systems, and maritime autonomy. Projects are expected to engage students directly, providing hands-on research experience that strengthens the pipeline of engineers and scientists entering defense-related fields.
Each participating Warfare Center defines specific technical areas of interest, and proposals are evaluated for scientific merit, relevance to naval challenges, and educational impact. Typical awards range from $100,000 to $450,000, depending on scope and duration, with many multi-year projects supporting graduate and undergraduate research teams. The total expected number of awards across all topics is approximately 30, and awards are made as discretionary grants under Assistance Listing 12.300, Basic and Applied Scientific Research. Matching funds are not required.
Eligibility is limited to accredited public and private U.S. institutions of higher education. Proposals must originate from these institutions, and collaboration with Naval Warfare Center technical points of contact is encouraged during the pre-release period but restricted once the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is posted. After publication, applicants may continue to submit written technical questions through the designated business contact. This process ensures fairness and compliance with federal research solicitation protocols.
Applications will be submitted through Grants.gov following the forthcoming NOFO publication. At present, the posting date is unknown due to pending system changes in federal grants management. The current forecast anticipates an estimated award date of April 1, 2026, with project start dates to follow shortly thereafter. Proposals are expected to detail specific research goals, student involvement, transition plans to Navy applications, and deliverables such as models, prototypes, or validated methods.
The funding opportunity represents an annual cycle under the NEEC framework, and future solicitations are expected to follow similar timing. Inquiries prior to NOFO posting should be directed to the NSWC Dahlgren Division’s Business Point of Contact at NSWCDD-CTO-ACQ@us.navy.mil or Grant Specialist Jennifer Montrief at 540-273-2519. Once active, all official application materials and deadlines will be available on Grants.gov under opportunity number N00178-26-0001.
