Naval Engineering Education Consortium (NEEC) Broad Agency Announcement for Fiscal Year 2026

The Naval Engineering Education Consortium (NEEC) Broad Agency Announcement for Fiscal Year 2026, identified as N00178-26-0001, is a forecasted opportunity managed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division on behalf of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Warfare Centers. The program falls under Assistance Listing 12.300 for Basic and Applied Scientific Research and is designed to engage colleges and universities in advancing research aligned with the Navy’s technology and workforce development priorities. It is structured to strengthen collaboration between academic researchers and Navy technical experts while providing students with valuable applied research experience. The NEEC program focuses on research projects that support naval science, engineering, and technology needs. For Fiscal Year 2026, numerous topics of interest have been identified across multiple Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers, ranging from ship and submarine design, robotics, autonomous systems, electromagnetic spectrum operations, stealth materials, and cyber resilience, to hypersonics, energetics, predictive maintenance, and advanced sensor development. Specific technical areas span from electromagnetic interference research to generative AI for robotics, adaptive tuning for underwater sensors, bio-inspired phase-changing materials, and hypersonic thermal protection systems. These areas are intended to foster research that is both relevant to operational needs and conducive to academic growth, particularly through student engagement in capstone projects, applied research, and collaborations with Navy scientists:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}. Funding for this opportunity is discretionary, with expected awards ranging between $100,000 and $450,000 depending on the scope of the research and institution involvement. Approximately 30 awards are anticipated, with award durations and funding levels often aligned with multi-year projects, including some structured for three years of support at annual funding levels. Cost sharing or matching is not required. Eligible expenditures include research personnel support, student participation, materials, and collaboration activities with Naval technical experts. The estimated award date is April 1, 2026, with funded projects expected to begin soon thereafter . Eligibility for this program is limited exclusively to U.S. colleges and universities. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private nonprofit higher education institutions are eligible to apply. Other entities such as for-profits, state agencies, and nonprofits are not eligible. During the pre-release phase, applicants were encouraged to contact NEEC Directors directly for technical clarifications regarding specific research topics. After the close of the pre-release period on August 29, 2025, direct communication with technical points of contact is no longer permitted. From that point forward, questions must be directed through the Business Point of Contact with the NEEC Director copied, ensuring that all communication is centralized and transparent:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. Applications are due by October 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time. This is the final submission deadline, and there are no intermediate pre-application requirements such as concept papers or letters of intent indicated in the pre-release documents. The Notice of Funding Opportunity is expected to be formally posted in early September 2025, though the exact date remains to be confirmed due to anticipated changes in federal grants management. This schedule positions the current status as forecasted, with applicants advised to monitor Grants.gov and NEEC communications for the official posting . Applications will be evaluated based on alignment with Navy research needs, the strength of proposed methodologies, potential for student involvement and workforce development, and the feasibility of transitioning research outcomes to Navy use. The emphasis on student participation reflects NEEC’s dual mission of both advancing naval technology and cultivating the next generation of scientists and engineers prepared to address critical defense challenges. Proposals should describe in detail how students will engage in the effort and gain practical research experience, often in collaboration with Navy scientists and engineers:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}. For additional information, applicants should direct administrative inquiries to the NSWC Dahlgren Business Point of Contact at NSWCDD-CTO-ACQ@us.navy.mil or to Grant Specialist Jennifer E. Montrief, who can be reached at jennifer.e.montrief.civ@us.navy.mil or by phone at (540) 273-2519. Technical questions should reference the appropriate NEEC technical points of contact as listed in the pre-release documentation, though applicants are reminded that direct communication is no longer permitted post pre-release period. The NEEC Program Manager, Sally Sutherland Pietrzak, also serves as a key contact and can be reached at sally.sutherlandpietrzak.civ@us.navy.mil, phone (401) 832-8735:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.