SLA NOFO Webinar Presentation_08-27-2020.pptx

Greg Simmons Program Manager Office of University Programs Science and Technology Directorate August 27, 2020 Webinar: Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Scientific Leadership Award for Minority Serving Institutions

DHS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Webinar Information Acronyms:

COE = Center of Excellence HSE = Homeland Security Enterprise MSI = Minority Serving Institution NOFO = Notice of Funding Opportunity OUP = Office of University Programs SLA = Scientific Leadership Award STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Please submit questions in the Chat Box.

Questions will be answered at the end of the webinar, time permitting.

Questions/answers will be posted on grants.gov.

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

DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES + SHARED GOALS = POWERFUL SOLUTIONS

Agenda DHS S&T OUP Overview

MSI SLA

Expectations of a SLA recipient Who can apply for a SLA Clarification about funding DHS S&T COEs Review Process Tips to consider when applying for a SLA grant Q&A

Congressional Direction 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”

DHS S&T

Office of University Programs Streamlines access to the expertise of the Nation’s colleges and universities to address pressing homeland security needs:

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.

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

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

DHS S&T OUP Functions Establishes and manages COEs, MSI 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

DHS S&T OUP Thrust Areas COEs:

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 MSIs:

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.

SLAs – 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

Overview of SLAs DHS S&T aims to support the ability of MSIs to learn techniques, build capacity, and connect with various organizations conducting business in or directly supporting homeland security mission areas.

SLAs provide funding to MSIs to support research and professional development opportunities for faculty, course development, and equipment purchases for capability enhancement.

SLAs support MSIs in their efforts to attract highly technical students and provide exposure and mentorship opportunities with DHS programs.

Students and faculty engage in research projects related to the homeland security enterprise (HSE), while also providing a pathway towards student internships or fellowship programs that provide relevant experiences to support DHS and the HSE at large.

SLA recipients consistently engage with DHS S&T to ensure that the program is effectively building the workforce that will support the HSE going forward.

Awarded institutions develop programs that provide experiential learning opportunities for students that already are pursuing STEM related degrees.

What are Expectations for SLAs?

SLAs are funded through cooperative agreements, which enable and require substantial federal agency involvement.

Applicants for SLAs should expect to:

Dedicate time and resources to DHS S&T Perform research management and student 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 COEs and be actively engaged in the DHS S&T community Integrate homeland security research and topics into curriculum/courses

Proposals may be submitted only by accredited Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic- Serving Institutions (HSIs), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI), Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs), or Tribal College or Universities (TCUs) in the U.S., its territories or possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; these institutions must award bachelors’ degrees in STEM fields SLA Performer One grant will be awarded to an eligible institution Applicants Any Principal Investigator at an accredited MSI can apply in partnership with other subcontractors or performers One project per proposal May submit more than 1 proposal for separate projects Who Can Apply?

~$3.2 million is available for up to 7 SLA performers.

DHS S&T will award funds in two phases.

Minimum award amount for each phase is $250K with a maximum of $350K.

Phase 2 funding is contingent upon phase 1 progress and accomplishments.

Note that recipient must use 50% of total budget for direct support of students, Support may be in the form of stipends for unpaid internships, scholarships, student employment, etc.

Clarification about Funding

Scientific Leadership Awards COE Collaboration The proposal must include a letter of support from a DHS S&T COE, detailing how the COE and the SLA recipient will work collaboratively to advance proposed project(s) The COE thematic research areas should align with or compliment the applicants proposed research project(s)

Current DHS S&T Centers of Excellence

Security Technology Transition/ Master of Business Administration Logo - TBD

Current and Emeritus COE Network

COE Topic Alignment to DHS Missions

Being a SLA recipient 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 Cultivate and mature the next-generation of STEM workforce ready to address homeland security challenges Why Should You Apply?

Overall Review Process Competition Dates:

Posting of Funding Opportunity Announcement: August 10, 2020 Submission of Proposals by Closing Date: October 9, 2020

Two-tiered Review:

Scientific Quality Review (External Review): October 12 – November 6, 2020 Focus on the research quality and influence, the education program, and the appropriateness of the costs.

Relevancy Review (Internal DHS SMEs): October 12 – November 6, 2020 Focus on the mission relevance of the proposed research, education and outreach programs and the applicant’s demonstrated capabilities.

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 Plan for transitioning research results or technologies Create a matrix – did you address everything?

Tips for Applying

TP: Carefully read the FOA. It is complicated and we ask a lot of Center Lead applicants. Please be responsive.

Questions?

What to know more about the DHS S&T Office of University Programs?

Visit:

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