Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Virginia received a $271,962.51 project grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the Basic and Applied Scientific Research program (CFDA 12.300), awarded May 1, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2029. The project addresses supply chain challenges associated with ultrahigh strength steels, research directly aligned with ONR's mission to develop advanced materials and manufacturing capabilities supporting naval operations and Marine Corps technological superiority. This three-year research initiative will be conducted at the University of Virginia's Charlottesville, Virginia campus, leveraging the institution's established expertise in materials science and advanced manufacturing.

The award supports fundamental and applied research investigations into critical materials science priorities relevant to naval applications. As a competitive, merit-based selection under the ONR's peer-reviewed Basic and Applied Scientific Research program, this project was evaluated on scientific and technical merit, naval relevance, institutional capabilities, investigator qualifications, and cost realism. The University of Virginia, a major federal research contractor with substantial experience delivering materials analysis and advanced scientific investigation services to defense and civilian agencies, will conduct research performance at institutional facilities to address supply chain vulnerabilities and optimization strategies for ultrahigh strength steel procurement and utilization in naval platforms and systems.