FY23 DEPSCoR Webinar.pdf

CUI

Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) – FY23 Funding Opportunity Announcements

Dr. Jennifer Becker DEPSCoR Program Manager Basic Research Office DEPSCoR Webinar

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

5 April 2023

Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) Team

Dr. Bindu Nair Director for the Basic Research Office (BRO)

Dr. Jennifer Becker Dr. Betsy Melenbrink

BRO

Ms. Patricia Gorski Grants Officer for Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)

Drs. Michael Finnin and Allison King Scientific Advisors

Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA)

How does DoD define Basic Research?

DoD policy states that basic research is the “systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts…”

Why DoD Funds Basic Research

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Quest for fundamental understanding

Consideration for use

DoD 6.1

Basic Research

Donald Stokes: ‘Pasteur's Quadrant’

Email preferred for most POs Phone (hit or miss due to travel)

Ways To Engage with tri-Service Program Officers

AFOSR - Current broad agency announcement (Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research)

ARO – current

Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Army Research Office (ARO) Office of Naval Research (ONR) https://www.wpafb.af.mil/afrl/afosr/

On grants.gov search using keyword(s) “Research Interests of the Air Force Office of

Scientific Research” to see the latest core announcement. The current funding opportunity number for general research interests is FA9550-23-S-0001.

https://www.aro.army.mil/

Select “Collaborate with Us”; then “Funded Research”; then “Learn More”; and then “ARL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)” to see the most recent ARO Core Broad Agency Announcement for Fundamental Research for

21 November 2022 - 20 November 2027, W911NF-23-S-0001.

https://www.onr.navy.mil/

Select “Work With Us” and then “Funding Opportunities/Announcements” and then select FY23 Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Navy and Marine Corps

Science and Technology, N00014-23-S-B001.

Navigate to https://www.nre.navy.mil/our-research/onr-technology-and-research for a list of ONR-sponsored research. Select a technology area which will provide program officer and specific program details.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

https://www.wpafb.af.mil/afrl/afosr/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=345653 https://www.aro.army.mil/ https://www.arl.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Combined-DEVCOM-ARL-BAA-Solicitation-W911NF-23-S-0001.pdf https://www.arl.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Combined-DEVCOM-ARL-BAA-Solicitation-W911NF-23-S-0001.pdf https://www.arl.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Combined-DEVCOM-ARL-BAA-Solicitation-W911NF-23-S-0001.pdf https://www.onr.navy.mil/ https://www.nre.navy.mil/assets/2022-09/N00014-23-S-B001.pdf https://www.nre.navy.mil/assets/2022-09/N00014-23-S-B001.pdf https://www.nre.navy.mil/assets/2022-09/N00014-23-S-B001.pdf https://www.nre.navy.mil/our-research/onr-technology-and-research https://www.nre.navy.mil/our-research/onr-technology-and-research

Basic Research Investments Across DoD

Pre-doctoral Fellowships

•NDSEG

•SMART

•Minerva

Training Grants

Research Funding to University Laboratories

•VBFF

•Minerva projects

•MURI

•Single-

Investigator Awards

•Young Investigator Program

Expanding the Research Base •DEPSCoR

•HBCU/MI

Equipment and Facility Funding

•DURIP

Transition to DoD •Minerva transition to Professional Military Schools

•LUCI

•UARCS

Technology Transfer

•SBIR/STTR

•Manufacturing

Institutes

Service Programs green Cross- Service Programs orangeOSD Programs purple

Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) was created by Congress in FY91 DoD appropriation, and legislatively authorized in 1994

Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) was reauthorized in 2017

Appropriations ($20M): FY23 Defense Appropriations Congressional supplement to the Basic Research Initiatives program line dedicated to DEPSCoR

DEPSCoR Program Overview

Program Goals

DEPSCoR Objectives as mandated by Congress:

1. Enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education (IHE) in eligible State/Territories to develop, plan, and execute science and engineering (S&E) research that is relevant to the mission of the DoD and competitive under the peer-review systems used for awarding Federal research assistance

2. Increase the number of university researchers in eligible States/Territories capable of performing S&E research responsive to the needs of the DoD

3. Increase the probability of long-term growth in the competitively awarded financial assistance that IHE in eligible States/Territories receive from the Federal Government for S&E research

DEPSCoR: Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Program Goal To increase the number of university researchers and improve the capabilities of institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions to perform competitive basic research in science & engineering relevant to the DoD mission & reflect national security priorities.

Outreach & Education

Capacity Building DEPSCoR

Competition

Research Collaboration DEPSCoR

Competition

Key Components a a

Congressionally-directed eligibility criteria: “States or territories that received less than 60% of 1/50th of the total DoD S&E research obligations to U.S. IHE are eligible if a commitment to developing S&E research is demonstrated.”

FY23 Program Eligibility

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

*Eligible territories include Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Program Goal To increase the number of university researchers and improve the capabilities of institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions to perform competitive basic research in science & engineering relevant to the DoD mission & reflect national security priorities.

Outreach & Education

Key Components

Capacity Building DEPSCoR

Competition

Research Collaboration DEPSCoR

Competition a

DEPSCoR Outreach Events

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

*Eligible territories include Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands

Montana State University* May 18, 2023

* Register by April 18 and submit research menu by April 21

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Program Goal To increase the number of university researchers and improve the capabilities of institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions to perform competitive basic research in science & engineering relevant to the DoD mission & reflect national security priorities.

Key Components

Outreach & Education

Capacity Building DEPSCoR

Competition

Research Collaboration DEPSCoR

Competition a

Research Collaboration (RC) DEPSCoR Competition

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Program Structure:

2-person team from DEPSCoR-eligible States/Territories can apply

– $200K/year (total cost) for three years

FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2023-0008

Integrate new researchers from DEPSCoR-eligible states/territories into the DoD Research Enterprise through mentoring

Mentee/ Applicant

(New)

Mentor/ Collaborator

(Experienced)

PO

DoD Research

Enterprise

DoD Research Enterprise

Collaborative research grants

Strongly encouraged to flesh out proposal idea with a tri- Service Program Officer listed in the FOA

One white paper submission per Applicant

Collaborator may partner with more than one Applicant

Security clearance is not required to receive award

U.S. citizenship is not required

Approximately 25 proposals will be selected for funding

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

DEPSCoR – RC Competition

FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2023-0008

DEPSCoR – RC Competition

FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2023-0008

• Both Applicant and Collaborator must be tenured or tenure-track faculty members with appointments at an IHE in a DEPSCoR eligible State/Territory

• Applicant must be a full-time faculty member who has never served as a PI on a prior DoD-funded award

• Collaborator will collaborate on research AND provide mentorship to the Applicant. Collaborator must have served as a PI on a DoD-funded research award actively between 1 October 2016 and 30 September 2023.

DEPSCoR – RC Applicant Eligibility

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

ELIGIBLE

Is the Applicant faculty at an IHE* in a DEPSCoR state?

Does the Applicant’s choice for Collaborator meet all DEPSCoR eligibility requirements?

Has the Applicant served as a Principal Investigator on a prior DoD directly funded research Prime award?

Is the Applicant in a tenured or tenure-track position?

Is there a qualifying letter from IHE* stating the Applicant will be considered for a tenured or tenure-track position?

NOT ELIGIBLENo

Yes

Start

* Institution of Higher Education (IHE) must be in a DEPSCOR eligible State/Territory and with an advanced degree granting program in science, mathematics, and/or engineering

DEPSCoR – RC Collaborator Eligibility

DEPSCoR – RC Collaborator Eligibility

DoD Offices & Agencies* Non-DoD Government*

*These are examples and do not represent comprehensive lists

Topics in FY23 Research Collaboration FOA

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Topic Number SERVICE TOPIC AREA PROGRAM OFFICER

1 Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)

Energy, Combustion, and Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics Dr. Chiping Li

2 AFOSR Agile Science of Test and Evaluation Dr. Brett Pokines

3 AFOSR Molecular Dynamics and Theoretical Chemistry Dr. Michael Berman

4 AFOSR Electromagnetics Dr. Arje Nachman

5 Army Research Office (ARO) Modern Optics Dr. James Joseph

6 ARO Neurophysiology and Cognitive Neuroscience Dr. Chou Hung

7 ARO Information Assurance Dr. Paul Yu

8 ARO Intelligent Cyber-Physical Systems Dr. MaryAnne Fields

9 Office of Naval Research

(ONR)

Electronic Devices, RF Semiconductors and Amplifiers Dr. Paul Maki

10 ONR

Interplay of Thermal, Mechanical, and

Electrochemical Processes on Degradation Mechanisms of Energy Storage Materials

Dr. Joseph Parker

11 ONR Aerodynamics for Sea-Based Aviation Dr. David Gonzalez

12 ONR Sustained Adaptability through Noise Dr. Meredith Hutchinson

Establishing a Collaboration

Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) - non-comprehensive repository of government-funded scientific, technical, and engineering information for the DoD.

https://discover.dtic.mil/products-services/

Connect and Collaborate - site where prospective Applicants and Collaborators, seeking collaboration in this DEPSCoR opportunity can post their interest. https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor

Discussing proposed research with the Program Officer could identify possible networking leads.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

https://discover.dtic.mil/products-services/ https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Program Goal To increase the number of university researchers and improve the capabilities of institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions to perform competitive basic research in science & engineering relevant to the DoD mission & reflect national security priorities.

Capacity Building DEPSCoR

Competition

Key Components a a a

Outreach & Education

Research Collaboration DEPSCoR

Competition

Capacity Building (CB) DEPSCoR Competition

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Program Structure:

IHE’s executive office, such as Vice-President of Research, in DEPSCoR-eligible States/Territories can apply

– $750K/year (total cost) for 2 years

FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2023-0007

Support the strategic objectives of IHEs to achieve basic research excellence in areas of high relevance to the DoD research education infrastructure

• Jumpstart capability development in the

State/Territory through increased human, technical, and management resources

• Achieve excellence in a DoD-relevant research area through funding to support equipment, education, research, and other relevant activities

DEPSCoR – CB Competition

FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2023-0007

• Applications must present the opportunities for enhanced academic research and development competitiveness and, if appropriate, industrial or economic competitiveness, for the State/Territory. A strategic plan to sustain the investment after the DEPSCoR award period of performance must be discussed.

• Applications must identify basic research gaps currently at the IHE and the required capabilities that need to be developed at the applicant IHE to achieve full and competitive basic research capability in a DoD-relevant research area.

• Applications must present a management plan for coordinating multiple thrusts working on a common basic research theme that will fill the research gaps and develop new basic research capabilities. These thrusts could include, but are not limited to, purchasing new equipment, supporting new hires, and support for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Adequate provision for substantive commitment by the IHE’s executive offices and appropriate administrative support is an important factor contributing to the success of this Capacity Building effort.

DEPSCoR – CB Competition

FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2023-0007

• Applicant institutions are limited to no more than one application under this FOA

• The proposal must be led by a member of the IHE’s executive staff such as the Vice-President for Research who will serve as the Team Lead

• Letters of Recommendation for Commitment / Endorsement are required at the FULL PROPOSAL stage only

Important Dates for FY23 Competitions

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Event Date Eastern Time RunGrants website open for White Paper submission

(https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor) Wednesday, 5 April 2023 9:00 AM

DEPSCoR Webinar For details and registration, please visit

(https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor) Wednesday, 5 April 2023 1:00 - 3:00 PM

RunGrants Registration (strongly suggested by)

Cut-off date for Q&As with Program Officers Thursday, 8 June 2023 NLT 11:59 PM

White Paper and Supporting Documentation submission on RunGrants website

(https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor) (required by)

Monday, 12 June 2023 NLT 11:59 PM

Notification of White Paper Selection Friday, 25 August 2023 NLT 11:59 PM Full Proposal Submission (by invitation only) electronically on

Grants.gov website (submitted by)

Monday, 20 November 2023 NLT 11:59 PM

Notification of Selection for Award Monday, 29 January 2024 NLT 11:59 PM https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor https://www.grants.gov/

Questions

Thank you

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

https://basicresearch.defense.gov/Pilots/DEPSCoR-Defense- Established-Program-to-Stimulate-Competitive-Research/ https://basicresearch.defense.gov/Pilots/DEPSCoR-Defense-Established-Program-to-Stimulate-Competitive-Research/ https://basicresearch.defense.gov/Pilots/DEPSCoR-Defense-Established-Program-to-Stimulate-Competitive-Research/