IC_CAE_ODNI_FOA_22_01_Amendment_1_29 April_2022.pdf

ODNI-FOA-22-01

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

FOR

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY

CENTERS FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

08 April 2022

Amendment 1: 29 April 2022

ISSUED BY:

Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Washington DC 20511

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. FOCUS AREAS

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

C. OTHER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

IV. APPLICATION & SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

VOLUME I: PROGRAM INTENT

VOLUME II: CURRICULUM VITAE/RESUME OF PI AND OTHER KEY

PERSONNEL

VOLUME III: BUDGET

C. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

(SAM)

D. SUBMISSION DEADLINES

E. INTERGOVERMENTAL REVIEW

F. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

G. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. EVALUATION CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

1. Applicant Inquiries and Submission Process

2. Evaluation and Selection

C. ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT AND FEDERAL AWARD DATES

VII. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

B. REPORTING

1. Interim Performance Progress Reporting

2. Interim Financial Reporting

3. Annual Grant Review

4. Final Reports

C. REPORTING SUB-AWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

D. FEDERAL AWARD NOTICE

E. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, PATENTS AND ROYALTIES

VIII. FEDERAL AWARD AGENCY CONTACTS

IX. ANNUAL REPORTING AND EVALUATION REFERENCES

X. APPENDICES

A. ACRONYMS

B. KEY REFERENCES

C. IC CAE KNOWLEDGE UNITS

The Eligibility Criteria Checklist (Appendix D) & Application Submission Checklist (Appendix E) referenced in this FOA were separately as fillable documents as part of the original FOA package provided in Grants.gov

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) serves as the head of the U.S.

Intelligence Community (IC), overseeing and directing the implementation of the National Intelligence Program and acting as the principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to national security.

ODNI’s Office of the Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Human Capital (ADNI/HC) houses the IC Centers for Academic Excellence (CAE) Program Office (IC CAE PO), responsible for developing and distributing this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), managing the application review process, and providing post-award grants program administration.

The design of the IC CAE Program was formulated and executed in accordance with:

• The Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 (updated/amended 18 July 2019);

• 50 U.S.C. 3224 (“Intelligence Officer Training Program”); and

• 50 U.S.C. 3024(n)(4) (“Acquisition and Other Authorities”)

The IC CAE Program is a congressionally mandated program designed to promote the acquisition of competitive talent in concert with the U. S. IC’s Human Capital Vision 2020. As background, the IC CAE Program began as a one-year pilot project directed by IAA for FY 2004 and initiated by the Director of Central Intelligence to meet the nation’s demand for a diverse cadre of professionals to carry out national security priorities and obligations. In 2005, following the establishment of ODNI, the program moved under ODNI management with the intent to increase the pool of applicants by expanding awareness of the IC mission and culture throughout ethnically and geographically diverse communities. From October 2011 through December 2019, the IC CAE Program was managed by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) with oversight from ODNI, experiencing continued growth and maturity. In December 2019, management of the IC CAE Program returned to the ODNI.

All accredited four-year colleges and universities in the United States are eligible. Institutions who previously received an IC CAE grant prior to 2019 may apply (current FY19 IC CAE grant receiving institutions are not eligible to apply). The legislation that established the program emphasized increasing the gender and ethnic diversity of the IC workforce, therefore, the IC CAE Program is especially interested in institutions with diverse populations of talent and in geographically diverse (rural) locations. Such institutions include Alaskan Native- or Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs), 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 (NASNIs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). Also included are underrepresented institutions or institutions with significant populations of minorities and/or women that possess credentials in disciplines and specializations that meet IC core mission requirements and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Directives.

The IC CAE Program’s purpose is to develop a cadre of qualified intelligence professionals to carry out America’s long-term national security initiatives by creating a competitive, knowledgeable, and diverse workforce through the provision of single and multi-year grants to colleges and universities. The program encourages eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to submit applications that support curricula and programs that will create, attract, and sustain a robust, knowledgeable, and diverse talent pool in multi-disciplinary areas of interest to the IC.

Schools selected as grant recipients are known as IC CAE Program Schools. Students that participate in IC CAE Program School-funded curricula and programs are made aware these efforts are funded by the IC and are given the opportunity to work towards becoming an IC CAE Scholar, an elite status obtained by achieving certain milestones and defined in the Key References, Appendix B. This association propels the students toward becoming an IC talent pool of choice.

The IC CAE PO encourages IHEs to submit applications with innovative ideas for establishing and enhancing the IC CAE Program in order to create, attract, and sustain a diverse, robust, and knowledgeable talent pool in multi-disciplinary areas of interest relevant to the IC. The IC CAE PO has found the most successful participants are those guided by personnel with knowledge of and experience in the IC; however, this is not a requirement. Further findings show that school programs are enhanced by partnerships with and outreach to IC installations (offices, bases, or other concentrations of personnel) and private industry in their regions supporting intelligence/national security work. This allows additional resources to provide Subject Matter Expert speakers, internship opportunities, and other interactions with intelligence professionals.

Schools applying for this grant are encouraged to obtain and become familiar with the information on the IC CAE Program by accessing the ODNI website at: https://www.odni.gov/iccae.

**NOTE: Applicants are advised to read this entire announcement carefully, as it explains the program needs, eligibility, and submission requirements as well as the terms, conditions, and the process for this competition. Carefully read all instructions below before beginning the application. **

A. FOCUS AREAS

The IC CAE Program focus areas are referred to as objectives throughout this FOA.

There are ten objectives which serve as the foundation of the program. All the objectives can be accomplished collectively by the prime applicant institution, hereinafter may also be referred to as the “lead institution,” and the consortium, hereinafter may also be referred to as “subrecipients.”

Objective 1: Curriculum Development

The IC CAE Program aims to strengthen academic programs in Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and underrepresented schools. The lead institution, either on its own, or through consortium agreements, shall demonstrate the ability or intent to develop, modify, and/or integrate courses into an undergraduate or graduate certificate, major, or minor degree program to be called the IC Centers for Academic Excellence (IC

CAE). The lead institution shall explain how it plans to creatively expand, upgrade, enrich, or integrate undergraduate or graduate course offerings to better prepare students for the future.

The lead institution shall select an area of focus for curriculum development, referred to as a Pathway. To fulfill Objective One, select one of four pathways. The Pathway options include:

• Pathway I: Intelligence/National Security

• Pathway II: Critical Technology Studies

• Pathway III: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

• Pathway IV: Integrated Approach: Intelligence/National Security & Critical

Studies or Intelligence/National Security & STEM

Pathway I: Intelligence/National Security

To build the future IC workforce, a fundamental understanding of the IC and the intelligence cycle serves as the foundation of this pathway in addition to research ability, critical and creative thinking, and effective written and oral communication.

Core intelligence/national security courses may include:

• History of U.S. Intelligence and National Security

• The U.S. Intelligence Community

• Intelligence Cycle

• Intelligence Collections

• Critical Thinking Skills for Intelligence Analysis

• Analytic Writing and Briefing

• Introduction to Structured Analytic Techniques

• Intelligence Reasoning and Analysis

• Intelligence and National Security Policy

• Global Strategic Environment

• Collection and Analysis

• Denial and Deception

Pathway II: Critical Technology Studies

A key IC mission is the analysis of all available data in uncertain conditions. This includes connecting disparate data sets in the appropriate context to infer meaning using rigorous methodologies. The speed of data analysis and fusion is critical for future mission success and efficiency. To assist in this endeavor, the future IC workforce needs skills in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and other methods of automation or data analytics to augment and improve traditional methods. To further accomplish its mission, the future IC workforce also needs skillsets in a variety of cutting-edge technology areas to launch or sustain operations.

Critical technology studies program courses may include:

• Critical Technology History & the IC

• Emerging Technologies & Applications in the IC (awareness of potential of disruptive digital developments)

• Data Literacy/Acumen (to include fluency of digital information input through a range of devices, manipulating data into more understandable forms)

• Artificial Intelligence

• Data Science, Machine Learning, Computational Statistics

• Data Engineering and Data Management

• Human-Computer Interaction and Visualization

• Algorithm Design and Software Engineering

• Assurance (responsible use and risk assessment of applied technology, design thinking, ethical AI, and testing tools and strategies for quality and security)

• Writing and Briefing (both technical and accessible)

• Cyber Threat Intelligence Studies

• Cybersecurity Policy and International Internet Regulation

• Denial and Deception in Technology

• Quantum Technologies (computing, information, engineering, sensors, and algorithms including ML and AI applications as well as cryptography)

• Robotics and Embodied AI, Swarming Technologies

• Blockchain Applications and Distributed Systems Technologies

• Internet of Things and Edge Device Technologies

• 5G and Cutting-Edge Mobile Networking Technologies

• Biotechnologies (including biometrics and public health applications)

• Cutting-Edge Materials Science, Nanotechnologies, and Manufacturing technologies (including overlaps with AI, robotics, and aerospace engineering)

Pathway III: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

The IC is vitally interested in a talent pool with STEM experience.

STEM studies program courses may include:

• Biosciences

• Chemistry

• Cognitive Neural and Behavioral Sciences

• Computer and Computational Sciences (includes Algorithm Design, AI, Computational Modeling Techniques, Computational Statistics, Computer Visioning, and ML)

• Engineering (includes Aeronautical and Astronautical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Materials Science, Mechanical and Nuclear)

• Geosciences

• Mathematical Sciences

• Oceanography

• Physics

• Technology Areas associated with the preceding disciplines

Pathway IV: Integrated Approach, Intelligence/National Security and Critical Technology Studies or Intelligence/National Security and STEM

The IC CAE PO recognizes the value of all described pathways. The lead institution shall demonstrate the ability or intent to develop, modify, and/or integrate courses into an undergraduate or graduate certificate, major, or minor degree program in an integrated approach of Intelligence/National Security and Critical Technology Studies, or Intelligence/National Security and STEM.

Objective 2: Language of Interest Courses Available

The IC’s foreign language analysts play a critical role in providing vital intelligence assessments to the President, National Security Council, cabinet-level officers, and military commanders around the world. The IC has a vested interest in building and retaining a highly skilled, agile, and diverse IC foreign language workforce that uses its language skills to deliver mission success. The IC recognizes and appreciates the diverse language programs that exist within IHEs and seeks institutions with the following language skills:

• Chinese (all dialects)

• Russian

• Arabic (all dialects)

• Persian (both Iranian and Afghan)

• Korean

• Spanish

The lead institution with the capability to provide studies in these languages and develop graduates with Interagency Level 3 skills in multiple modalities (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), either through its own institution or through consortium agreements, will be given increased merit and weight. (Interagency Level 3 refers to the Interagency Language Roundtable Scale; ref. ILR’s website, govtilr.org.) Language programs outside of the priority languages, especially those programs that include Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs), will be credited towards this criterion.

Objective 3: Mission of Ethnic, Cultural and Geographical Diversity

Ethnic, cultural and geographic diversity are a core tenet of this grant. The lead institution shall demonstrate its contribution to this objective, within its own institution and through the consortium. Additionally, for the lead institution and each consortium member, the lead institution shall provide the following information, broken out by school, to show how the consortium will contribute to the plan to increase the pool of ethnically, culturally, racially, and geographically diverse students:

• School category (PWI, HBCU, HSI, TCU, etc.)

• School ranking

• Size of student body

• Percentage of male and female students

• Percentage of Students of White, American Indian or Alaska

Native, Asian American, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and two or more races. (As per OMB

Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity, Revised 30 October 1997)

Objective 4: Consortium

The lead institution shall be an MSI or Underrepresented Institution -or- be part of a consortium model of subrecipients comprised of MSI/Underrepresented Institutions. The lead institution is not required to be an MSI or Underrepresented Institution. The lead institution whether an MSI/Underrepresented Institution or not, must be part of a consortium comprising a minimum of three entities (i.e., the lead institution and two subrecipients). The consortium partnership should promote the overall mission of the grant.

The lead institution shall be responsible for facilitating and managing all activities and accomplishments across the consortium. This section will describe the MSI or underrepresented schools, as defined in above sections, with which it intends to form a consortium. The description shall include a list of the IHEs, their minority or underrepresented population designation, and the specific ways the consortium will collaborate to achieve the diversity goals of the IC CAE Program.

Within six months of award, the lead institution shall provide copies of all contracts with subrecipients under the consortia model. Together, the lead institution and subrecipients, collectively, must include MSI or underrepresented schools (as defined herein) in a manner that promotes diversity. The lead institution shall also include all information for each subrecipient required by 2 CFR 200.332.

The lead institution shall demonstrate its commitment to the consortium by allocating a portion of its funds toward subrecipients and demonstrate how the consortium will cooperate and engage in curricula efforts, student participation, and faculty development.

Objective 5: Student Participation in Academic Programs and Professional Development Activities

The Principal Investigator (PI) and program staff shall work with faculty and staff across the lead institution’s appropriate colleges and degree programs, as well as subrecipients, to promote the benefits of involvement in the IC CAE Program. All IC CAE students shall be involved in the program and aware of the numerous benefits it provides, to include the ability to work towards becoming an IC CAE Scholar, defined in Appendix B, Key References. There shall be workshops, seminars, and other activities related to the selected pathway that encourage student engagement, as well as support for off-campus activities related to the selected pathway such as conferences, seminars, workshops, or simulations.

The lead institution or through the consortium shall demonstrate the ability to provide a virtual option for these programs and professional development opportunities to increase participation across the consortium and across the IC CAE Program Schools collectively.

The lead institution or through the consortium shall demonstrate an ability to provide broadband access, where possible, for those students with limited access across the consortia.

Objective 6: Cultural Immersion, Study Abroad, and Regional Studies

The lead institution or through the consortium shall offer opportunities for cultural immersion, study abroad, regional studies, and/or language instruction to all IC CAE Scholars. Opportunities range from four to eight weeks to sufficiently qualify as an IC CAE-funded study abroad program. All foreign travel shall be in accordance with U.S.

laws and regulations. The cultural immersion, regional studies, and/or language instruction requirement may be met in the form of student research over the course of a four-to-eight-week timespan. The lead institution able to provide these opportunities through subrecipients shall also be credited as meeting this criterion.

Objective 7: Faculty Research and Professional Development in Support of Teaching to Chosen Curriculum Pathway

The lead institution shall include a plan for faculty research and professional development across the consortium related to the selected curriculum pathway for its faculty, to include participation in classes, conferences, seminars, and similar activities. It shall support or enhance the faculty members’ ability to develop and present relevant curriculum and enrichment opportunities. Any papers or deliverables resulting from faculty research or conference and professional development attendance shall be submitted to the IC CAE Program Office within two weeks of publication via a Government-hosted platform.

Objective 8: Host an Annual Colloquium or Speaker Series, in Collaboration with Subrecipients

The lead institution shall include a plan to hold an annual colloquium or speaker series on Intelligence, National Security, Critical Technology Studies, or STEM issues with subrecipients, inviting rural and underrepresented regional colleges and universities, Government speakers, and industry partners with the primary goals of maximizing relationships and outreach and IC CAE student enrichment. A colloquium should be at least one (1) day in length. A speaker series may include shorter presentations scheduled over weeks or months which meet the intent to bring together a wider audience and speakers on intelligence or national security, which will total at least a similar number of hours as that of a daylong colloquium. Opportunities for display of student papers and presentations must be included as part of the event(s).

Objective 9: Use of Grant Funds to Create Scholarships for IC CAE Scholars

The lead institution and subrecipients shall use up to, but not to exceed, $50,000 U.S.

dollars of grant funding annually to create scholarship opportunities to award to high performing IC CAE Scholars who are juniors, seniors, or graduate students. Scholarships should be awarded based on need and achievement within the IC CAE program. An individual scholarship using grant funds should not exceed $5,000.00 dollars per person, per semester. It is highly recommended this scholarship funding be shared with consortia member institutions where appropriate. This funding must be specifically used for IC CAE scholars who are actively enrolled and participating in IC CAE programs. Scholarships can help cover the cost of tuition, books, and fees. Scholarships should generally not be used for travel, however may be acceptable in achieving Objective 6: Cultural Immersion, Study Abroad, and Regional Studies.

Objective 10: Establish and Maintain IC CAE Program Management, Marketing, and Sustainment Action Plans

The lead institution and subrecipients should collectively have program management, marketing, and sustainment action plans. Each plan shall detail the efforts determined necessary to execute a successful program and ultimately sustain a portion of those efforts post-grant. The lead institution shall demonstrate how it will develop and execute these plans to include the following:

The Program Management Plan shall detail the responsibilities of the lead institution to attain the IC CAE program objectives. The Plan shall explain the roles and responsibilities of the program staff including the PI and other Key Personnel and how the program will capture:

• milestones and high-level timelines

• comparison of planned results to actual results

• accomplishments

• status of progress made

• upcoming activities

• best practices

The lead institution shall collect and deliver specific metrics on behalf of the subrecipients to the IC CAE PO bi-annually in alignment with delivery of the SF- 298 Progress Report, to include metrics for all subrecipients. The IC CAE PO will provide a tool to respond with the requested information. Metrics to be collected by institutions, to include the lead institution and each subrecipient, shall include, but is not limited to, the following information:

• Number of students participating in the overall IC CAE Program, including metrics for gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, etc.

• Number of IC CAE Scholars participating in the program, including metrics for gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, etc. (according to the IC CAE Scholar definition in Appendix B – Key References)

• Number, duration, and type of immersive training experiences

• Number of IC Internships

• Number of IC Conditional Job Offers

• Number of Scholars Hired into the IC (including metrics for gender identity, ethnicity, race, etc.)

The Marketing Plan shall provide a comprehensive strategy to publicize and recruit a strong pool of qualified, diverse students from across the consortium. The definition of diverse includes, but is not limited to, ethnicity, race, gender, disability, religion, socio-economic status, and geographic location. Special attention should be given to the recruitment of eligible students from MSIs, underrepresented institutions, and community colleges (as noted in Section IV - Eligibility Information).

The application shall describe how the IC CAE Program will publicize its presence on campuses using diverse media outlets, including print, online, and broadcast, to reach the widest possible audience of qualified students. The proposed marketing plan should include campus visits and presentations; conference participation (presentations and exhibits); and other in-person or online recruitment activities. The Government may request that the lead institution collaborate with other programs on some outreach activities, including but not limited to, conference participation, campus visits, and advisor workshops.

The marketing plan shall explain how the lead institution intends to generate students, faculty, and administration awareness of the IC CAE program and how students can become IC CAE Scholars. The plan shall also enumerate steps the lead institution will take to ensure appropriate IC CAE ‘labeling,’ to include proper use of the IC CAE brand as created by the IC CAE PO by using the IC CAE logo on all program promotional material. The lead institution’s IC CAE Program must be publicized robustly on the institution’s website and the site kept current with relevant information that will attract interest. The lead institution shall use a Government-provided platform to engage with IC stakeholders, the IC CAE PO, and other IC CAE School PIs.

The Sustainment Action Plan shall explain efforts taken during the grant period to build program sustainability during the sustainment option years and after the grant expires and the Government funding ceases. Once the grant period of performance ends, the lead institution or the subrecipient intending to enter into legacy status—either individually or together as a consortium—is referred to as a Legacy Institution if they continue to meet the specified criteria by executing their Sustainment Action Plan. A Legacy Institution is defined as any IC CAE Program that continues to meet the following criteria after it has completed its grant period of performance, with the strategic intent to create diverse, skilled, and knowledgeable scholars ready for hiring into the IC.

IC CAE Sustainment Option Years, and Post-Grant Designation Requirement: To maintain IC CAE School designation, receive funds during the optional sustainment years, all IC CAE Schools, lead institutions as well as subrecipients, shall meet requirements pertaining to sustaining, including:

• Institutional Diversity,

• Hosting an Annual Colloquium or Speaker Series,

• Faculty Development Activities,

• Curriculum Maintenance, and

• Metrics (as described under Objective 10, Program Management Plan)

The IC CAE PO will provide these requirements in the last year of the base period of the grant. The institution will then use the information to update their sustainment Program Management, Marketing, and Sustainment Plans.

The following top benefits may be extended to institutions who create and maintain a Sustainment Action Plan:

• Maintain designation as an IC CAE Program School post-grant;

• Continued IC association post-grant;

• Student participation in the IC CAE federally sponsored events to include the IC

CAE Summer Seminar;

• University faculty and staff participation in the annual three-day PI Development

Summit sponsored by the IC CAE PO;

• Access to the IC CAE PO internal website and ability to receive all communications sent by the IC CAE PO.

The essentials of creating a sustainability action plan includes strategic planning, partnership, and communication. To that end:

• Strategic planning is the glue that holds sustainability efforts together. Without a strategic direction and long-term goals, programs find themselves only reacting to day-to-day demands. Strategic planning leads to an outcome-oriented plan.

• Partnership is cultivating connections between your program and its stakeholders. Partners, to include continued partnership within the consortium, if feasible, play an important role in sustainability in several ways:

o Partners can be connectors to greater resources or expertise;

o Partners can take over providing services if your program has to cut back;

and o Partners can advocate on behalf of your cause.

Building awareness and capacity for sustainability requires a strategic approach and partnerships across sectors, including alliances between private and public organizations.

• Communication counts. Stakeholders need to know the intent of the program, why it is important, and related Return on Investment. Communicating externally about your program's effectiveness helps the program gain greater visibility and builds support from stakeholders. Internally, evidence that a program works builds support from faculty, staff, and institutional leaders. The more people know and care about your program and mission, the more likely they are to support your efforts in the long term. Establishing and maintaining a robust, informative, and easy-to-locate website advertising your IC CAE Program is an important communication method in marketing your program.

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

• Federal Awarding Agency Name - Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)

Issuing Office – Intelligence Community Human Capital - Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) Program

• Funding Opportunity Title - FY22 Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) Program

• Announcement Type - Initial Announcement

• Funding Opportunity Number - ODNI-FOA-22-01

• Assistance Listing Number - 54.001

• Key Dates o Posting date: Friday, 8 April 2022 o Applications Due: Tuesday, 24 May 2022, before 4:00 PM EST o Estimated Award Date: Monday, 1 August 2022

• Anticipated individual awards - Multiple awards anticipated

• Type of Award: Discretionary Grant

• Fiscal Year Funds - 2022

• Approximate Total Funding - $7,500,000.00

• Approximate Number of Awards - 3

• Anticipated Length of Awards - One (1) year base, plus Eight (8) option years

• Total Amount of Funding per Federal Award - $2,500,000.00

• Anticipated Base Year Period of Performance - 15 August 2022 thru 14 August 2023

• Additional Information for Award(s) - This announcement anticipates awarding three

(3) discretionary grants with a one-year base, consisting of a twelve (12) month period of agreement, with an amount not to exceed $400,000.00; four (4) option periods, each consisting of a twelve (12) month period of agreement, with an amount not to exceed $400,000.00. Each grant will have four (4) additional option sustainment periods, consisting of four (4) twelve-month optional periods (referred to as “sustainment periods”), at a not to exceed amount of $125,000.00 per option period.

The Government reserves the right to make zero, one, or multiple awards based on available funding and the outcome of application review.

• Agency Points of Contact

ATTN: ODNI-FOA-22-01

Office of the Director of National Intelligence Intelligence Community Human Capital (IC HC) Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) Erskine Hall Washington DC 20511 Electronic mail: dni-iarpa-foa-22-01@iarpa.gov

• Type of Assistance Instrument: Grants. A grant is a legal instrument that is consistent with 31 U.S.C. 6304 and is used to enter into a relationship in which:

o The principal purpose is to transfer a thing of value to the recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by law of the United States instead of acquiring property or services for the direct benefit or use of the United States Government.

o Substantial involvement is not expected between ODNI and the recipient when carrying out the activity contemplated by the grant.

o No fee or profit is allowed.

o Grants for IHEs are governed by the Uniform Guidance, Title 2 Code of Federal

Regulation (CFR), Part 200.

• Questions - Submit questions on administrative or technical issues by email to dni-iarpa-foa-22-01@iarpa.gov. All questions must include the full name and affiliation of a point of contact. Question and answers will be posted on Grants.gov website. No answers will go directly to the submitter. The IC CAE PO will accept questions until 21 April 2022, 4:00 PM EST.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Applications are sought from IHEs for workforce development in Intelligence/National Security, Critical Technology Studies, and/or STEM-related curricula areas.

Current FY19 IC CAE grant receiving institutions are not eligible to apply as it would not address the IC CAE’s mission of expanding the program.

The lead institution shall be an MSI or Underrepresented Institution -or- be part of a consortium model comprised of MSI/Underrepresented Institutions, referred to as “subrecipients.” The lead institution is not required to be an MSI or Underrepresented Institution. The lead institution whether an MSI/Underrepresented Institution or not, must be part of a consortium comprising a minimum of three entities (i.e., the lead institution and two subrecipients). The consortium partnership should promote the overall mission of the grant.

The lead institution must be a regionally accredited college, university, or other four-year degree-granting institution in the U.S., its territories or possessions, that provides post-secondary courses of study. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is the body responsible for regional accreditation; its website is www.chea.org.

1. Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), as defined by the Department of Education: A minority institution that is consistent with Part E of the Higher Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1067(k), is an IHE whose enrollment of a single minority or a combination of minorities exceeds 50% of the total enrollment. Under part F of the Higher Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1067(q), the following institutions are eligible to receive funds under that section. Such institutions are encouraged to apply for IC CAE support as a public or private IHE.

a) Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs)

b) Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving

Institutions (AANAPISIs)

c) Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs)

d) Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)

e) Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNIs)

f) Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs)

g) Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs)

2. Underrepresented Institutions as defined by the Department of Education: Consistent with Part E of the Higher Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1067(k), an “institution underrepresented in science and engineering” means a minority group whose number of scientists and engineers per 10,000 population of that group is substantially below the comparable figure for scientists and engineers who are white and not of Hispanic origin.

An accredited community college can participate as a consortium member (subrecipient).

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

There is no required cost sharing, matching, or cost participation to be eligible under this FOA. This is consistent with 2 CFR 200.306, ‘Under Federal research proposals, voluntary committed cost sharing is not expected.’

C. OTHER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. Principal Investigator (PI): Name a PI for the lead institution. Under 2 CFR 200, the

PI is required for the successful implementation of an award. To be eligible, the PI shall meet the following requirements:

a) Be a U.S. citizen;

b) Be an employee of the lead institution;

c) Be on the faculty of the lead institution.

2. Other Key Personnel: The lead institution program administrator or program assistant assigned to conduct program management duties and subrecipient PIs, must also meet the following requirements to be eligible:

a) Be a U.S. citizen;

b) Be an employee of the lead or consortium institution.

3. An Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) in the lead institution’s administrative, grants, or contracting office authorized to apply for Federal grants on the institution’s behalf.

4. A signed letter in the application, on official letterhead, from the institution’s

President acknowledging the institution’s commitment to supporting the IC CAE program defined in this FOA.

5. Submission of a timely application by the date specified which complies with the

FOA instructions.

IV. APPLICATION & SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

The FOA will be made available on grants.gov.

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

1. Completeness of Information: Applications must include the information specified in this FOA. Be sure to specify the Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code, the Data Universal Number System (D-U-N-S) Number or the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) if this change has taken place in SAM.gov and the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) with your submission. Completion of the Representations and Certifications as well as registering with the System for Award Management (SAM) are prerequisites for submitting an application. Applicant is solely responsible for clearly marking any data that it considers to be proprietary information. Note: Non-Government personnel under contract to the ODNI may be assisting Government personnel with administrative and logistical tasks related to the grant application review. All Non-Government personnel will be required to sign a NDA as part of their involvement with the subsequent FOA.

2. Submission Dates and Times: To be considered and evaluated, the full application must be submitted and received by the Government, via e-mail, by 4:00 PM EST, Tuesday, 24 May 2022. It is the lead institution’s responsibility to confirm applications are accepted prior to suspense date and time. ODNI will not accept applications after the time and date specified in this announcement. The IC CAE PO will use the process and criteria described in the Merit Evaluation (Section V – Application Review Information), to evaluate each application submitted under this FOA. Lead institutions are encouraged to plan application submissions well before the FOA deadline to avoid missing an opportunity to submit an application. Monday, 15 August 2022 should be used for budget and application start date purposes.

3. Application Preparation Instructions: The application shall be clear, concise, and include sufficient detail for meaningful evaluation. Elaborate brochures or documentation, binding, detailed artwork, or other embellishments are unnecessary and will not be reviewed.

4. Three (3) Distinct Volumes:

A complete application shall be separated into three distinct volumes:

• Volume I: Application Intent (Not to exceed 40 pages) o Program Overview o Program Narrative

• Volume II: Curriculum Vitae of the Principal Investigator and Other Key Personnel (Shall be no more than two (2) pages per CV/resume)

• Volume III: Budget (No page limit)

Each volume will be a separate file with lead institution’s name and volume number as the file name. At the lead institution’s discretion, all three volumes can be compressed using a zip compression tool resulting in a single transport file. The single zipped file should be named [ODNI-22-FOA-01_Yourschoolname.zip]. It is not the Government’s responsibility to ensure the files can be expanded and/or data content readability of the expanded files. In the event any file is unable to be expanded and/or read, the applicant’s submission may be deemed unreadable, unacceptable, and disqualified for evaluation. No requests for alternate application submission will be allowed unless directed in advance of the due date by the Grants Officer (GO). SAMPLE FILE NAMES:

• FILE ONE name is:

o “ODNI-22-FOA-01_VolI_Yourschoolname.docx”;

• FILE TWO name is:

o “ODNI-22-FOA-01_VolII _Yourschoolname.docx”;

• FILE THREE name is:

o “ODNI-22-FOA-01_VolIII_Yourschoolname.docx;

• ZIP FILE name is:

o “ODNI-22-FOA-01_YourschoolnameMASTER.zip.

5. Format for Attachments: Documents should be typed, single-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11") with 1" margins on all sides. Use a clear font that is highly readable. Recommend using 12-point Times New Roman font.

• Allowable file formats are MS Word (.doc or .docx MS Word 2016 or earlier version), Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) searchable file with copy permission granted, and

MS Excel (.xls or .xlsx 2016 or earlier version). The single or zipped (.zip) file shall be less than 3.0 MB in size.

• Separate attachments, such as institutional brochures or reprints, will not be evaluated.

• Embedded links to external websites within any volume will not be activated or reviewed.

• Application information submitted shall be complete, concise, and self-contained within each respective volume.

• No submitted documents shall be locked or password protected.

The Government will retain copies of all electronic applications (which will be retained and disposed of under the records retention policy).

If a submitted application fails to meet requirements B.1 and B.2, above, it may not be further evaluated.

VOLUME I: PROGRAM INTENT

This volume is for non-budget focused application information detailing the approach and intent in addressing the Program Overview, Program Narrative, and Objectives 1 through 10 herein.

A complete application shall include a Program Overview section addressing the Eligibility Criteria and required components and a Program Narrative section addressing Objectives 1- 10 and other elements listed below. The total page limitation for Volume I is not to exceed forty (40) pages. The total page count does not include a cover page (not required), Table of Contents (not required), Appendix D, the Eligibility Checklist & Acknowledgement, Appendix E, the Application Submission Checklist and the signed letter from the Institution’s President (See Section III, Eligibility Information).

1. Program Overview. Provide a Program Overview with the Following Required Components:

Eligibility Criteria: Complete and include the Eligibility Checklist & Acknowledgement provided in Appendix D, including the signed letter from the Institution’s President.

Required Components:

a) The FOA #: ODNI-FOA-22-01;

b) An application title that includes ‘IC Centers for Academic Excellence;’

c) The legal name of the lead institution;

d) The names of the PI, the lead institution program administrator or program assistant, and an appropriate AOR in the lead institution’s administrative, grants, or contracting office, along with their contact information;

e) CAGE Number;

f) D-U-N-S Number (or the new UEI if SAM.gov has moved to its new identifier);

g) academic/functional title;

h) telephone number;

i) fax number;

j) postal mailing address and;

k) e-mail address.

l) Alternate contact information (name, title, phone, email) should also be included in the overview. If application clarifications are required during the receipt or evaluation, ODNI will contact the listed PI or AOR based on the information provided by the lead institution within the application.

2. Program Narrative

Provide a program narrative that details the lead institution’s understanding of the IC mission, goals, and objectives, while complementing the IC CAE Program Focus Areas as described in Section I, Part A, when constructing its application. The Program Narrative should include:

• The lead institution’s IC CAE Program mission statement.

• Synopsis of the lead institution’s vision of its operation as an IC CAE Program school, using all ten objectives as detailed below.

• Introduction of subrecipient institutions, which will form the lead institution’s consortium, including their roles and unique contributions specific to diversity and/or subject matter expertise.

VOLUME II: CURRICULUM VITAE/RESUME OF PI AND OTHER KEY

PERSONNEL

The complete application shall include CVs for the lead institution PI, and proposed Other Key Personnel. If the lead or subrecipient institutions do not yet have employees in the Key Personnel positions, a detailed plan of the Key Person’s duties, and a timeline for hiring and, if applicable, a letter of intent shall be included. Key Personnel are defined in 2 CFR 701.1 as those individuals identified for approval as part of substantial involvement in a grant agreement whose positions are essential to the successful implementation of an award. Key Personnel, for the lead institution and all subrecipients, must meet eligibility standards, as described in Section III, Other Eligibility Criteria.

Each CV/resume shall be no more than two (2) pages and shall demonstrate why the individual is qualified for the position.

The PI is designated as Key Personnel. Other Key Personnel include 1) an administrative or program assistant responsible for conducting lead institution program management duties in support of the lead institution PI and 2) subrecipient PIs.

VOLUME III: BUDGET

1. Program Budget and Cost

This volume shall be entitled VOLUME III – Budget and Costs, and represents the financial portion of the application. It shall contain budget as well as cost estimates in sufficient detail, including budget/cost details for proposed sub-awards for consortium members in a narrative form. A sample budget format is provided in order to develop identifiable budget/cost elements and show proposed allocations to budget/cost specific group(s) that can be analyzed in order to determine reasonableness and allow for specific discussions and clarification as required. There is no page limit for Volume III. An overall summary page shall have the proposed base year budget amount and option year amounts with a total proposed budget amount using the following format:

SUMMARY BUDGET/COST TABLE

Budget/Cost Table for Base Year and each Option Year table shall be incorporated in Volume III on individual page and after the Summary Budget/Cost Table page.

BASE YEAR ...............................................................................$400,000.00 OPTION YEAR 1 .......................................................................$400,000.00 OPTION YEAR 2 ........................................................................$400,000.00 OPTION YEAR 3 ........................................................................$400,000.00 OPTION YEAR 4 ........................................................................$400,000.00

OPTION SUSTAINMENT PERIOD YEAR 1 ...........................$125,000.00

OPTION SUSTAINMENT PERIOD YEAR 2 ...........................$125,000.00

OPTION SUSTAINMENT PERIOD YEAR 3 ...........................$125,000.00

OPTION SUSTAINMENT PERIOD YEAR 4 ...........................$125,000.00

TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET……..$2,500,000.00 (Summary of Base and all Option Years)

In Volume III, the lead institution shall provide a written, detailed budget/cost narrative that supports budget/cost allocations represented in budget/cost tables. The narrative shall identify and describe budget/cost elements in relationship to specific paragraph/section application reference(s) in Volume I. It is the responsibility of the lead institution to describe in detail and with clarity the relationship between proposed Volume III budget/costs and proposed Volume I approach/intent. The amounts shall clearly demonstrate costs for any sub-awards and allocations of their budget cost elements.

Descriptions shall reflect a phased approach to implementing the program components detailed in Volume I, with each year’s efforts building on the previous year. Cost elements and descriptions shall reflect program growth over the five-year base period and four-year optional sustainment period, moving from development to sustainment.

Planned activities and their associated costs shall demonstrate the program’s evolution, example such as:

• PHASE ONE – BASE YEAR: Development of IC CAE program components and trial implementation with student participation.

• PHASE TWO – OPTION YEAR 1: Start of each program component operations and student participation.

• PHASE THREE – OPTION YEAR 2: Continuation of each program component operations and improvements as well as student participation.

• PHASE FOUR – OPTION YEAR 3: Continuation of each program component operations and improvements, student participation, and development of a plan for the grant transition to sustainment.

• FINAL PHASE – OPTION YEAR 4: Program component operations and improvements, student participation, and implementation of the plan for grant transition to sustainment.

• OPTION SUSTAINMENT PERIOD YEAR 1: Program Sustainment

• OPTION SUSTAINMENT PERIOD YEAR 2: Program Sustainment

• OPTION SUSTAINMENT PERIOD YEAR 3: Program Sustainment

• OPTION SUSTAINMENT PERIOD YEAR 4: Program Sustainment

2. Budget and Cost Tables Templates

The lead institution is required to complete and incorporate in Volume III a summary representation of budget and costs in the format shown herein. The lead institution shall also provide in Volume III, on a separate page, detailed Budget/Cost Tables using the format as shown in the FOA Budget Template excel file. The lead institution will create the necessary additional worksheet tabs to represent each year of grant (10 tabs total to include a summary, base year, four option years and four option sustainment years).

The proposed annual budget for the base year and four option years shall not exceed the maximum award per year amount (no greater than $400,000.00). The proposed annual budget for the four option sustainment periods shall not exceed the maximum award per year amount (no greater than $125,000.00)

The budget application narrative shall include the total estimated cost of the program.

This section shall include complete statements regarding the basis of estimates for all proposed costs. It is expected that costs, and therefore, narratives for each year will be unique and separate. Descriptions shall reflect movement from initial program development, through program operations, to program sustainment.

Cost elements shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

a) Personnel and Fringe Benefits. The person(s) (i.e., the PI, other faculty and institutional staff, and graduate and undergraduate students) whose time will be charged to the program and commensurate salaries and fringe…