University support for the US navy's rapid applied materials processing laboratory (ramplab)

The Department of the Navy Office of Naval Research awarded the University of Tennessee $10.8 million through the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Education, Outreach and Workforce Program (CFDA 12.330) on September 1, 2026, to support the Rapid Applied Materials Processing Laboratory (RAMPLAB) university support initiative. The project runs through August 31, 2030, with place of performance in Tennessee. The STEM Education program targets K-12 students, Navy uniformed members, and Navy civilians, supporting educational programs with defense and naval relevance. Award decisions are based on competitive technical, management, and cost review, emphasizing scientific merit, workforce pipeline development, contributions to the national defense mission, and institutional partnerships with naval or defense laboratories. The evaluation criteria favor proposals demonstrating outreach to increase the STEM educational pipeline, dissemination of Navy and defense career information, industry-government partnering that accelerates incorporation of new science and technology into fielded systems, and cost effectiveness. University of Tennessee, a 1862 land-grant research institution, serves as the prime recipient and operates as a unitary system with administrative headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee.