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

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), on behalf of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Warfare Centers, is forecasting the Fiscal Year 2026 Naval Engineering Education Consortium (NEEC) Broad Agency Announcement under opportunity number N00178-26-0001. This initiative is designed to strengthen collaboration between the Navy and institutions of higher education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields relevant to naval engineering and operations. The NEEC program seeks to support innovative research that aligns with identified technical topics from participating Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers, fostering the professional development of students and advancing the state of naval science and technology. The opportunity is open exclusively to colleges and universities, both public and private. Research projects should address one of the defined technical topic areas released in the pre-announcement, spanning diverse disciplines such as naval architecture, robotics and autonomous systems, electromagnetic interference, hypersonic materials, advanced sensor networks, predictive maintenance, AI/ML applications, cyber resilience, additive manufacturing, and environmental testing. Each participating Warfare Center has provided specific points of contact and topic descriptions, with expectations for collaboration between awardees and Navy subject matter experts. The initiative places an emphasis on student engagement, with projects often involving undergraduate and graduate participation, capstone projects, and opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in naval research. The funding instrument will be a grant, with an estimated 30 awards anticipated. The award ceiling is $450,000 and the floor is $100,000, although some topic areas provide their own guidance on annual budgets and performance periods. For example, some centers anticipate $125,000 to $150,000 per year per project, while others outline multi-year commitments at set annual funding levels. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The estimated award date is April 1, 2026, with project start dates to follow. The total program funding amount is not yet determined. The estimated application opening date is September 5, 2025, with a full submission due by October 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. The opportunity is currently in a forecast stage, meaning applications cannot yet be submitted, but early engagement with technical points of contact is encouraged during the pre-release period. Once the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity is posted, direct communication with NEEC directors will be restricted, though written questions may still be submitted with the Business Point of Contact on copy. Eligible applicants are limited to private institutions of higher education and public and state-controlled institutions of higher education located in the United States. Eligibility is nationwide with no geographic restrictions beyond institutional type. The research should directly support Navy missions and be designed with the potential for transition to operational use. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review topic-specific expectations, including technical deliverables, collaboration requirements, and anticipated student involvement. Inquiries regarding the program should be directed to Jennifer E. Montrief, Grant Specialist, at Jennifer.e.montrief.civ@us.navy.mil or by phone at 540-273-2519. The NEEC Program Manager, Sally Sutherland Pietrzak, may also be contacted during the pre-release period for topic-related questions at Sally.sutherlandpietrzak.civ@us.navy.mil or 401-832-8735. Additional technical points of contact for each Warfare Center are provided in the pre-release announcement. Applicants should plan for collaborative interaction with Navy researchers and consider how their proposed projects will both advance naval capabilities and contribute to the education and development of the next generation of naval engineers.