F02 STEM NFO Amd 03 STEM Scholarship Programs 05032023.pdf

The application extension highlighted on the cover page only applies to organizations already invited to apply to this opportunity.

FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY: Washington Headquarters Services Acquisition Directorate

(WHS/AD)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE: Department of Defense (DoD) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) National Defense

Education Program (NDEP) Notice of Funding Opportunity

(NFO)

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Amendment 03: STEM Scholarship Programs

NOTICE OF FUNDING

OPPORTUNITY (NFO) NUMBER:

HQ003423NFOEASD01

ASSISTANCE LISTING: 12.006 National Defense Education Program

KEY DATES: Amendment Posted: 9 February 2023

White Papers Due: 6 March 2023, 2359 Eastern

White Paper Review Period: 14-24 March 2023

Invitation for Full Technical Applications: 3 April 2023

Technical Applications Due: 15 May 2023, 2359 Eastern

Technical Application Review Period: 22 May - 9 June 2023

Notification of Award (Tentative): 28 June 2023

Award Finalized (Tentative): 1 August 2023

AGENCY CONTACT: Jonathan Bertsch

Grants Officer, WHS/AD

E-mail: jonathan.e.bertsch.civ@mail.mil mailto:jonathan.e.bertsch.civ@mail.mil

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Education Program (NDEP) is seeking to strategically fund grants supporting scholarship programs for students intending to pursue a research career in STEM fields, as per Topic of Interest six (6) in the DoD STEM NDEP NFO (Section 1.C.6.). The scholarship program may support students at an accredited 2- or 4- year institution of higher education. The scholarship program should prioritize students that show promise of becoming the leading scientists, engineers, and mathematicians that will meet the future of our Nation’s STEM talent needs.

Additionally, NDEP is seeking program partners that:

• Encourage classroom excellence;

• Promote the involvement of undergraduates in cutting-edge, faculty mentored scientific, engineering and mathematics research;

• Leverage network of university partners to help identify prospective scholars;

• Implement innovative approaches to reach underserved and underrepresented populations to include military Veterans and their spouses, and military-connected students; and

• Proven outcomes in encouraging scholars to pursue advanced degrees in science, mathematics, or engineering.

Interested parties should submit a white paper in response to this amendment no later than 6 March 2023 at 11:59pm ET, following the instructions and template outlined in

Sections III.A., IV, and XII of the NFO. The white paper should be emailed to osd.dodstem@mail.mil with the subject line, “NFO White Paper Submission, Amendment 03: STEM Scholarship Programs.” Applicants will be selected from the white paper submissions to be invited by the Government via email to submit a full technical application on Grants.gov for evaluation and possible award consideration.

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

The Department may award multiple grants with maximum award(s) of $7M for a period of four (4) to five (5) years, subject to the availability of funds. Applications with a proposed budget exceeding maximum grant may be considered, subject to the overall merit of proposed activity, and availability of funds. However, this does not bind the

Government to award grants beyond the maximum grant award described above.

III. TECHNICAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Technical applications are accepted by invitation only and must adhere to all application guidelines and page limits, found in NFO Section IV. Note the turnaround time between invitations sent by the Government to submit full technical applications and when technical applications are due. Refer to timeline on the cover page.

The Project Narrative page limit is 28 pages, and is broken out as follows. Descriptions of each section are outlined in the NFO (Section IV.F.b.).

• Cover Page – 1 page

• Table of Contents – 1 page mailto:osd.dodstem@mail.mil

• Technical Approach and Justification – no more than 8 pages

• Project Schedule and Milestones – no more than 2 pages

• Financial Breakdown – no more than 2 pages

• Reports – no more than 1 page

• Management Approach – no more than 1 page

• Metrics and Evaluation – no more than 2 pages

• Qualifications – no more than 1 page

• Responsibility – no more than 2 pages

• Facilities & Equipment – 1 page

• Work Plan – no more than 6 pages

IV. EVALUATION CRITERIA

Awards under this NFO will be made to Applicants on the basis of the evaluation criteria listed below. The weight or relative importance of each criterion is included in parentheses.

1) Overall technical merits (60%):

Overall technical merits of the applicant’s proposal shall clearly describe its creativity, innovation, feasibility, and efficacy to achieve the NFO objectives. Also considered is:

a) The quality of the program’s plan to execute proposed activity and assess effectiveness of the program and participant outcomes;

b) The Applicant’s capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations of these which are integral factors for achieving the application objectives; and

c) The qualifications, capabilities and experience of the proposed Project Director /

Principal Investigator, team leader and key personnel who are critical to achieving the application objectives.

2) Relevance and Alignment (20%):

Application must address overall impact on STEM education, how it aligns to the

DoD STEM Strategic Plan and to the Federal STEM Strategic Plan, and consider the

Topic of Interest in Section 1.C.6. of the NFO.

3) Cost Analysis (20%):

A cost analysis will be performed to determine reasonableness of the proposed budget. Long-term sustainability plan will also be evaluated under this criterion. The availability of funds to support the effort and long term sustainability of the project will also be considered.