2_4_ESE_WEBINAR_PRESENTATION.pdf

DHS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Webinar: Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Engineering Secure Environments from Targeted Attacks Center of Excellence – NOFO# ST-ESE-21-001

February 4, 2021 Dr. Laura Parker Sensors SME Office of University Programs Science and Technology Directorate

Webinar Information

Acronyms:

COE = Center of Excellence NOFO = Notice of Funding Opportunity HSE = Homeland Security Enterprise ESE = Engineering Secure Environments from Targeted Attacks OUP = Office of University Programs

One solicitation for the ESE COE:

Center Lead - applicants submit a proposal for the Center Lead and partners of their consortia

Please submit all questions in the Chat Box.

Questions will be answered at the end of the webinar.

Questions/answers will be posted on grants.gov.

Questions about specific research themes, topics or questions will not be addressed during this webinar.

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https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=292506 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=330690 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=292506

Agenda

Overview of the Office of University Programs (OUP) The DHS Centers of Excellence (COEs)

• OUP’s expectations of a DHS COE

• What does a COE do?

• Establishing a new COE

• Benefits of being a DHS COE

• Who can apply?

• Clarification about funding

Review Process Tips to consider when applying as a Center Lead Q&A

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Congressional Direction

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Homeland Security Act 2002 - The Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall have the responsibility for:

‒ “[establishing] … a coordinated, university-based system to enhance the Nation’s homeland security”

‒ “supporting United States leadership in science and technology”

‒ “merit review of research and development projects … and the dissemination of research conducted or sponsored by the Department”

OUP executes this responsibility by applying a systematic program management process to partner with academic networks and associated private sector partners to study current and emerging problems, evaluate program risks, and test technical solutions.

S&T OUP manages a complex and broad portfolio of scientific investments focused on the investigation, experimentation, and evaluation of emerging science and technology in response to DHS Component needs.

Objectives:

Generate, advance, and disseminate knowledge, prototypes, and technologies in support of DHS Component-identified operational and strategic challenges.

Build a stable community of homeland security researchers and educators at U.S. colleges and universities capable of providing DHS with novel insights and approaches in diverse scientific domains.

Strengthen the U.S. scientific leadership in homeland security research and education.

Develop a permanent homeland security science and engineering workforce.

S&T Office of University Programs Bringing Innovation to Operations

Programs Managed by OUP

Centers of Excellence COEs develop innovative, customer-driven homeland security science and technology solutions and train the next generation of homeland security experts.

Each new university-based COE is a consortium competitively-awarded for a ten-year term

Network of ten COEs and more than 200 partners

Minority Serving Institutions The OUP Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Programs diversify the academic institutions involved in the homeland security mission and train dedicated professionals who can sustain the homeland security and technology workforce.

Scientific Leadership Awards – institutional awards to support the development of homeland security science and engineering teaching initiatives

Summer Research Team Program – grants supporting summer research collaborations that engage early career faculty and students with the COEs

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Workforce Development Create skilled university graduates and prepare them for the workforce through internships, fellowships and post-graduate opportunities

Financially support students, provide students with experiential learning opportunities, and develop course content at the COEs and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)

Professional Development Deliver COE-developed courses and training materials to current homeland security science and engineering professionals

Develop continuing education science and engineering courses, seminars and certificates for homeland security professionals

Workforce & Professional Development Initiatives

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Value of S&T’s Office of University Programs and the COE Network OUP streamlines access to the expertise of the Nation’s colleges and universities to address pressing homeland security needs:

OUP makes it easy to tap into the intellectual power of America’s universities for homeland security research, development and education.

DHS Components can access academic expertise to answer research questions, deliver technical solutions, and build a highly specialized workforce.

OUP Program Managers provide individualized service to DHS Components and assist with finding needed R&D capabilities within OUP’s network of over 200 partner institutions.

OUP offers established vehicles through which DHS Components and other partners can access the research and expertise found at the S&T COEs.

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OUP Functions

OUP establishes and manages Centers of Excellence, Minority Serving Institution Programs, and Workforce and Professional Development Initiatives, including:

Managing competitions and merit reviews Managing COE projects for DHS Components Establishing competed vehicles to provide access to COEs Establishing and managing academic-related vehicles Providing fellowship vehicles Matching Components with needed capabilities within the COE network Creating opportunities for the homeland security enterprise to interact with researchers

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What are Expectations for COEs?

COEs are funded through cooperative agreements, which enable and require substantial Federal agency involvement.

Applicants for COEs should expect to:

• Dedicate substantial time and resources to OUP and DHS.

• Perform research management oversight.

• Adapt to evolving homeland security challenges and priorities.

• Identify and partner with leading researchers in relevant disciplines.

• Develop sustained relationships with homeland security stakeholders.

• Collaborate with other COEs and be actively engaged in the COE community.

• Plan in advance for transition of research results to users and industry partners.

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Current DHS Centers of Excellence

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Updated Oct. 06 2020

COE Review Process

S&T uses a three-phase review process designed to identify and select high potential applicants Develop Funding Opportunity

Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov

External Scientific Review

NOTE: Not all proposed projects in a COE Lead application are likely to be selected.

Site Visits to COE Lead Finalists

Selection:

• Negotiations with COE Lead on selected projects for the consortia

• Final selection may not include all projects proposed by the center lead

• 10-year award to COE

New COE Kickoff

OUP Process

Customer Involvement

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Internal Mission Relevance Review

DHS stakeholders develop research questions for funding opportunity

Internal Mission Relevance Review

Site Visits to COE Lead Finalists

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S&T has established a thorough and rigorous process to examine and identify the topics for new COEs. This four-month evaluation framework consists of two phases, throughout which S&T determines how a proposed COE topic satisfies the following:

Phase 1: Strategic Assessment It must be a priority for Congress, the Administration, DHS

Leadership, DHS Components, and/or First Responders.

The topic must serve a significant DHS mission and continue to be a DHS priority in the future.

It must address a real knowledge gap.

Phase 2: Topic Refinement It must be a uniquely DHS problem with no other agencies’ research programs sufficiently addressing it.

A COE must be able to make a significant contribution with available resources and academic constraints.

COE

TOPIC

DHS Mission Areas

Law

DHS Mission Relevance

DHS Need

Market Research

Stakeholder Priority

Ability to Contribute

How Are COE Topics Identified?

Funding Opportunity Announcement is posted on www.grants.gov Evaluation Process

• External panel scientific review and recommendations

• Internal panel DHS relevancy review and priority selections

• Site visits with DHS subject matter experts to Lead Institution finalists to assess management Selection

• Selection of new COE Leads and Partners of the consortia

• Negotiations with COE Leads, including COE subcontracting and approval process

• 10-year award to COE

NOTE: Not all proposed projects in a COE Lead application are likely to be selected.

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Establishing a New COE:

Evaluation Process and COE Selection

Initial Work Plan for Year 1

• OUP-facilitated Work Plan Development Workshop.

After Year 1, research projects may be refined, developed or evaluated through:

• Workshops with stakeholders and end users to identify new gaps and research needs.

• Advisory committees – OUP will establish a Board of Directors to provide guidance to OUP.

Biennial Reviews – OUP will conduct a formal review every 2 years with a SME review committee to evaluate the research and reallocate resources as necessary.

Establishing a New COE:

Post-Award Standup

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Being a COE Lead or Partner is a unique opportunity to:

Work on real homeland security challenges.

Develop solutions to make the nation safer, more secure, and resilient against terrorism.

Work closely with a combination of:

• homeland security operational personnel including local, state, and other federal agencies

• scientific subject matter experts

• industry and nonprofit organizations

Foster and enable high-level, inter-agency and public-private partnerships and collaboration.

Why Should You Apply?

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Any accredited U.S. institution of higher education

Center Lead

• Only one (1) application for Center Lead will be accepted from any single university

• Center Partners – are part of the consortia with the Center Lead, with COE Partners submitted through the Lead institution’s application

• Center lead applicants are strongly encouraged to partner with industry, other academic institutions, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic serving institutions (HSIs), and/or other MSIs; institutions in states that are part of the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR);

public sector institutions, and non-profit organizations, including any organizations that meet the definition of nonprofit in OMB Circular A-122, relocated to 2 CFR Part 230.

FFRDCs or laboratories funded by federal agencies may not apply as Center Leads.

FFRDC employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation, regulations, and DHS policies.

Who Can Apply?

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Based on congressional appropriations, COEs are funded up to $3.65 million/year for the selected Center Lead and their network of Partner institutions.

DHS awards the yearly funding award to the Center Lead.

COE Partners are part of the Center Lead portfolio and are funded up to

$3.65 million/year award to the Center Lead institution.

The Center Lead administers funding to all DHS-selected projects, including funding Partner projects that have been incorporated into the newly formed Center.

Clarification about Funding

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Read the entire NOFO.

Develop a diverse but integrated multi-institutional, multidisciplinary team.

Structure projects to be measurable and managed using technical and programmatic milestones.

Demonstrate your knowledge of the DHS organizational structure and its operational missions.

Familiarize yourself with past and current research at the current COE

Network at https://www.dhs.gov/st-centers-excellence Plan for transitioning research results or technologies.

Create a matrix – did you address everything?

Review the checklist.

Tips for Applying

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https://www.dhs.gov/st-centers-excellence

Overall Review Process

Competition Dates:

Posting of Funding Opportunity Announcement: January 5, 2021 Submission of Proposals by Closing Date: March 10, 2021

Three-tiered Review:

Scientific Quality Review (External Review): Anticipated April 2021 Focus on the research quality and influence, the education program, and the appropriateness of the costs.

DHS Relevancy Review (Internal DHS SMEs): Anticipated May 2021 Focus on the mission relevance of the proposed research, education and outreach programs and the applicant’s demonstrated capabilities.

Site Visit Review: Anticipated May 2021

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