W911NF26S0105.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF WAR

Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Tribal

Colleges and Universities (TCU)

Equipment/Instrumentation

Fiscal Year 2027

Notification of Funding Opportunity

W911NF26S0105

Issued by

U.S. Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground

Research Triangle Park Division on behalf of the

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Command

Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM-ARL), and

The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering/Assistant Secretary of War

(Science and Technology)

(OUSW(R&E)/ASW(S&T)

Issued: 27 August 2026

Applications Inquiries and Questions (Deadline): 30 September 2026

Applications Due: 9 October 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Required Overview Content

B. Additional Overview Information

II. DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

A. Program Description

B. Federal Award Information

C. Eligibility Information

D. Application Preparation and Submission

E. Application Review Information

F. Federal Award Administration Information…………………………………………………………19

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact…………………………….……………………………………25

H. Other Submission Information………………………………………………………………………..26

I. OVERVIEW OF THE NOTIFICATION OF THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

(NOFO)

A. Required Overview Content

Federal Awarding Agency Name(s)

This Department of War (DoW) program is funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of

War for Research and Engineering/Assistant Secretary of War (Science and Technology)

(OUSW(R&E)/ASW(S&T)) and administered through the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities

Command Army Research Laboratory (ARL), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the

Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).

Funding Opportunity Title

Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 DoW Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) –

Equipment/Instrumentation

Announcement Type

This is the initial announcement.

Funding Opportunity Number

W911NF26S0105

Assistance Listing Number

12.630, Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering

Key Dates

Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, October 9, 2026, unless otherwise amended.

B. Additional Overview Information

Under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4144, in alignment with Section 223 of the FY 2026

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), funding in the FY 2026 defense appropriations, and, Presidential Executive Order 14332, Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking, the

DoW announces this funding opportunity for the acquisition of equipment/instrumentation at

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and

Universities (TCUs).

The program is executed under policy and guidance of the Office of the Under Secretary of

War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) and is administered by ARL, ONR, and

AFOSR, hereafter called “the Agencies.”

This Notification of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) aims to (a) enhance research and education programs and capabilities in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to the national security functions of DoW; (b) enhance the capacity of HBCUs and TCUs to participate in

DoW research programs and activities; and (c) increase the number of graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The DoW is announcing this research solicitation based on 10 U.S.C. § 4144 and Section 223 of the FY 2026 NDAA

(https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/s1071/BILLS-119s1071enr.pdf), which directs for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Defense to ensure that funding solicitations through the DoW HBCU/MI Program Element include separate funding solicitations each focused toward: (1) Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal

Colleges; and (2) Minority-Serving Institutions that are not HBCUs or TCUs. Also informing this solicitation is Section 262 of the NDAA for FY 2020

(https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ92/PLAW-116publ92.pdf), section 220 of the

NDAA for FY 2022 (https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ81/PLAW-117publ81.pdf), and the publication of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine titled

“Defense Research Capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other

Minority Institutions: Transitioning from Good Intentions to Measurable Outcomes” dated

April 28, 2022 (https://www.nationalacademies.org/publications/26399).

II. DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

A. Program Description

The DoW is soliciting applications (also referred to as “proposals”) for the acquisition of equipment/instrumentation under the Fiscal Year 2027 Research and Education Program for

HBCU/MI. The Research and Education Program is designed to enhance the research capabilities of HBCUs and MIs and to strengthen their STEM education programs. The purpose of the funding under this NOFO is to (1) support the acquisition of equipment/instrumentation to augment existing capabilities or to develop new capabilities in research areas of interest to

DoW, and (2) attract students to pursue studies leading to STEM careers. Although funding provided under this NOFO cannot be used for student support, in order to further DoW’s objective of attracting students to pursue studies leading to STEM careers, applicants must address the impact of the requested equipment/instrumentation on student participation in research.

The proposals must align with the research areas of interest to the DoW (which includes the

USW(R&E) and the Agencies) and enhance the education of students in areas of STEM that align with the DoW research interests. Information about these areas of interest (including websites) is discussed below.

The USW(R&E) Critical Technology Area descriptions are at https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CTA-One-Pager-Option-Nov2025.pdf. The critical technology priorities rely on innovation and workforce talent. The critical technology areas are:

- Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI)

- Biomanufacturing (BIO)

- Contested Logistics Technologies (LOG)

- Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID)

- Scaled Directed Energy (SCADE)

- Scaled Hypersonics (SHY)

Research areas of interest to the Agencies are presented in their respective Broad Agency

Announcements (BAAs), which are available as follows:

The Army Research Laboratory combined BAA is available at:

https://www.arl.army.mil/collaborate-with-us/opportunity/arl-baa/. This BAA may also be https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/s1071/BILLS-119s1071enr.pdf https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ92/PLAW-116publ92.pdf https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ81/PLAW-117publ81.pdf https://www.nationalacademies.org/publications/26399 https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CTA-One-Pager-Option-Nov2025.pdf https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CTA-One-Pager-Option-Nov2025.pdf https://www.arl.army.mil/collaborate-with-us/opportunity/arl-baa/ found on Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov) by entering the BAA number, W911NF-23-S-

0001, in the “Search Grants” keyword box.

The Office of Naval Research BAA is available at: https://www.onr.navy.mil/ Select “Work

With Us,” then “Funding Opportunities,” and then “BAAs, NOFOs and Special Program

Announcements” to see the FY25 Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Navy and

Marine Corps Science and Technology, BAA N00014-25-S-B001. This BAA may also be found on Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov) by entering the BAA number in the “Search

Grants” keyword box.

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research BAA is available at: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/362681.

In addition to providing details about the Agencies’ research interests, the above documents include names and contact information of technical program managers. Principal Investigator and a Co-Principal Investigator (PI/Co-PI) are encouraged to peruse the research interests of each Agency and to contact the respective program managers to discuss mutual research interests. Applications with relevance to the interests of multiple Agencies may receive multiple reviews.

Additional information and questions about the critical technology areas should be directed to

Agency Contacts identified in Section II.G. of this NOFO. Other research areas that are not aligned with the (OUSW(R&E)/ASW(S&T) critical technology priorities listed above will be considered. The Agencies’ BAA listed above provide other research areas of interest to the

DoW.

NOTE: Use the above-referenced Agency documents only to identify research areas of interest to the Agencies. Disregard instructions contained therein regarding application preparation, content, and submission requirements. Instead, follow the instructions in this NOFO.

B. Federal Award Information

DoW intends to award approximately $50 million under this NOFO, subject to the availability of funds. Awards will be in the form of grants, and all awards will be made by the U.S. Army

Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground-Research Triangle Park Division (ACC-APG-

RTP) on behalf of DEVCOM ARL/ARO. Individual awards will range from $200,000 to

$1,500,000. All awards will have a performance period of 12 months. Award decisions will be based on the results of a merit review by the scientists and engineers of the participating Agencies.

The DoW expects purchases to be completed within the 12-month performance period. Requests for no-cost extensions will not be automatically granted. Any such request must be fully justified and submitted sufficiently in advance of the end of the performance period for DoW to give it due consideration and determine whether to approve or deny the request. Applications for renewal or supplemental awards will not be considered under this NOFO.

Award decisions will be based on the results of a merit review by the scientists and engineers of the DoW aligned with Presidential Executive Order 14332, Improving Oversight of Federal

Grantmaking, dated August 7, 2025.

C. Eligibility Information https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.onr.navy.mil/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/362681 https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/362681

1. Eligible Applicants

As provided in Section 223 of the FY 2026 NDAA, eligibility for this competition is open only to “Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities” which are defined as:

a. The term ‘‘Historically Black College or University’’ has the meaning given the term

‘‘part B institution’’ under section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20

U.S.C. 1061).

b. The term ‘‘Tribal College or University” has the meaning given the term in section

316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching is not required and is not an evaluation factor.

3. Other

a. An institution may submit no more than three (3) applications under this NOFO. If a given

HBCU or TCU submits more than three applications, the institution will be required to withdraw applications that exceed this limit.

b. Amount and composition of requested funding.

i. An application may request DoW funding ranging in the aggregate from $200,000 to

$1,500,000. An application that requests less than $200,000 or more than $1,500,000 will be considered non-responsive and will not be accepted for review. Applicants that use a “modified total direct costs” base for reimbursement of indirect (facilities and administration) costs are reminded that the costs of equipment are excluded from the base for purposes of indirect cost calculation.

ii. An application may request a single item of equipment/instrumentation or multiple items, including items of equipment/instrumentation that comprise a “system” for a common research purpose.

iii. All requested items must meet the federal definition of equipment, i.e., an acquisition cost of $10,000 or more and a useful life of more than one year.

iv. General purpose equipment, i.e., equipment whose use is not limited to research/research education, including information technology equipment and equipment software, is not eligible for support under this NOFO. However, an application may include a request for computers (i.e., laptops, desktops, tablets, mobile devices, and computer software) to be used in research and research-related education programs, as long as they meet the criteria in paragraph 3.a.iii above. The purpose and use of such equipment must be fully justified, itemized, and listed under the equipment category, “material/supplies.”

v. All equipment/instrumentation proposed for acquisition must be intended for use in research or research-related education at the applicant institution. No costs may be requested for collaboration with other institutions or purchase of equipment/instrumentation at other institutions.

vi. No costs may be requested for user fees, maintenance agreements, or extended warranties.

vii. DoW, at its discretion, may consider an application that includes types of costs or proposed expenditures that do not conform to the limitations in paragraphs 3.b.iii, iv, v, and vi as non-responsive or may unilaterally remove such items from the budget.

See Section II.D.9. below for further information regarding funding restrictions.

c. DoW will not accept applications with a budget that exceeds $1.5 million.

d. Funding restrictions are described in Section II.D.9. below.

D. Application Preparation and Submission

1. Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

This section provides submission and receipt instructions for DoW program applications.

Please read the following completely and carefully follow instructions.

The DoW is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide a single site to find and apply for funding opportunities. Applications to this NOFO must be submitted through

Grants.gov. Registration at the web site is required, as described below. This funding opportunity may be found on Grants.gov by going to ‘Search Grants’ screen and entering the funding opportunity number for this NOFO, W911NF26S0105, in the Funding Opportunity search box. You can also search for the Assistance Listing Number 12.630, Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering.

2. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and assemble required information specific to the applicant institution before beginning the registration process. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), active registration in the System for Award Management

(SAM), and a Grants.gov account.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but an UEI and

SAM registrations may take several weeks. Complete instructions can be found here:

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration

a. Obtain an UEI: All entities applying for funding must have an UEI. Applicants must enter the UEI in the data entry field labeled "Unique Entity Identifier" on the

Standard Form (SF) 424 form. Instructions to obtain an UEI are available at:

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration

b. Register with SAM: Organizations applying through Grants.gov must register with the System for Award Management (SAM). SAM registration must be renewed annually. Instructions for registering with SAM are available at:

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration

c. Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration

Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the instructions at:

d. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all of your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the

UEI for the organization in the UEI field while adding a profile. Instructions are available at: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration

e. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After registering with Grants.gov and creating an Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for

Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the

Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) role, thereby giving permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. Applications may be submitted online at any time after establishing an AOR at the applicant institution. Instructions for creating a profile on Grants.gov are available at:

f. Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to:

g. Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role (Block #19 on the SF-424) is inserted into the signature line of the application; this is the electronic signature.

The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

3. How to Submit an Application in Grants.gov

Applicants can apply online using Workspace, which is a shared, online environment where members of an institution’s grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each notification of funding opportunity (NOFO), individual instances of a workspace can be created. Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov.

Complete instructions are available at:

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview.html

a. Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows the user to complete the application online and route it through the organization for review before submitting.

b. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete the required forms online or download PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview.html

1) Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out web forms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader. NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at:

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility

2) Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a background color. These fields are mandatory and must be completed to submit your application.

3) Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in other required fields in other forms, such as the applicant’s name, address, and UEI. Once completed, the information will transfer automatically to the other forms.

c. Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the

Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab.

d. Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a

Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANT XXXXXXXX) is assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the

Details tab in the submitted workspace. For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-training

e. Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number

1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the DoW with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

4. Timely Receipt Requirements

Online Submission: All applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on October

9, 2026. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from

Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the

AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving proof of their timely submission. Questions submitted after the September

30, 2026, deadline may not be answered.

When DoW successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgement of the receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by DoW.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-training mailto:support@grants.gov

Applications using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before Grants.gov receives your application. Again, Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the application. The

Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

5. Content of Application

DoW is interested in the research and related educational purposes that the equipment/instrumentation would facilitate. For this reason, the application narrative must clearly describe (1) the equipment to be acquired; (2) whether the equipment will augment existing capabilities or provide new capabilities; (3) the area(s) of research and education in which the equipment would be used; (4) how the equipment would advance research of interest to DoW; and (5) how it will enhance the ability of the institution to encourage students to pursue degrees in STEM fields, including how it will be used in research-related education.

Applicants must complete all forms and attachments. Follow the instructions on the forms and additional instructions below. To activate the “pop up” instructions on the forms, turn on the “Help Mode” (icon with the pointer and question mark at the top of the form). All attachments to Grants.gov forms must be in PDF format. NOTE: Ensure that attachments are not password protected. The following formatting rules apply for attachments:

• Paper size when printed – 8.5 x 11-inch paper, one-sided

• Margins – 1 inch

• Spacing – single

• Font – Times New Roman, 12-point (excluding mandatory forms)

• Number of pages – 25

The 25-page limit applies to the technical portion of the application, which includes the following: Project Summary/Abstract; Project Narrative; and Facilities and Other Resources.

Pages exceeding this limit will not be considered in the application evaluation. Letters of support should not be submitted.

FORM: SF-424 (R&R) (Mandatory) - The SF-424 (R&R) form is to be used as the cover page. Complete this form first to populate data in other forms. By submitting an application through Grants.gov, the AOR (identified by username and password) is providing an

“electronic signature.” By “signing” the SF-424 (R&R), an applicant is providing the certification required by 32 CFR Part 28 regarding lobbying as contained in Section II.F.2 of this NOFO, and the representations on tax delinquency and felony convictions and prohibition on using funds under grants and cooperative agreements with entities that require certain internal confidentiality agreements (see below regarding “Other Attachments,” Field 12). If you encounter problems, contact customer support at 1-800-518-4726 or at support@grants.gov. If you forget your username or password, follow the instructions provided in the Credential Provider tutorial. Tutorials may be printed by right-clicking on the tutorial and selecting “Print.”

mailto:support@grants.gov

FORM: SF-424 Research & Related Other Project Information (Mandatory) –

Complete questions 1 through 6 and attach a file for items 7, 8, and, as applicable, 12. Under this NOFO, applicants are not required to provide attachments for items 9, 10, and 11. The files must comply with the following instructions:

Project Summary/Abstract (Field 7 on the form) (Mandatory) – The Project

Summary/Abstract must be no longer than a single page (up to 4,000 characters). It must be marked to indicate that it is publicly releasable, as abstracts for all awarded applications will be placed on a DoW website(s) searchable by the public. Using terminology that the public can understand, the abstract should provide a concise description of the proposed activity and the research/research-related education that it will support. The header of the abstract should identify the PI, the institution, and the application title.

To attach a project summary/abstract, click “Add Attachment.”

Project Narrative (Field 8 on the form)

1. At the beginning of the project narrative, i.e., preceding the full text of the narrative, indicate the DoW Agency(ies) and research area(s) to which the proposed project is relevant, and provide suggested Agency assignment(s) information in the following format:

• DoW Agency(ies) to evaluate the application: ARL ONR, and/or AFOSR.

• Scientific Division(s) or Directorate(s), if known, and

• Technical Area(s)/Program Manager(s), if known.

2. The project narrative must clearly describe the requested equipment/instrumentation and explain how it will enhance the institution’s research/research-related education capabilities and the quality of the applicant institution’s STEM programs.

3. Indicate the academic departments that will use the equipment/instrumentation.

4. Describe how the requested equipment/instrumentation will interface with existing resources or how it will enhance current capabilities.

5. Describe any special circumstances regarding the acquisition or installation of the equipment/instrumentation, e.g., plumbing or electrical upgrades. These costs may be included in the budget if it is necessary to make the equipment fully operational and if they do not fall within the limitations specified in Section II.D.9 below.

6. Indicate the estimated useful life of the equipment/instrumentation. Describe how the institution plans to service and maintain the item(s) after the 12-month period of the award, including source(s) of funding for continued operation and maintenance.

7. Indicate if the PI will require training for optimal use of the requested equipment/instrumentation. If so, associated training costs and travel may be included in the budget and must be explained in the budget justification.

8. Describe how faculty and students are expected to use the equipment/instrumentation including, as applicable:

a. Will the equipment/instrumentation be used for instruction only or also for research? If used for research, describe its usage by students and faculty members.

b. Will there be opportunities for local high school teachers and/or students to be introduced to the equipment/instrument and to understand its usage? If so, will it be part of a broader outreach effort to interest students in pursuing STEM disciplines as undergraduates?

To attach the narrative, click “Add Attachment.”

Other Attachments (Field 12 on the form) – To include other relevant attachments, all of which must be in PDF format, click “Add Attachment.” This must include completed representations on tax delinquency and felony convictions (included as part of the application package for this NOFO). Each application must include the following two forms completed as indicated.

FORM: SF-424 Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) (Mandatory)

– The Degree Type and Degree Year fields on the Research and Related Senior/Key Person

Profile (Expanded) form will be used by DoW as the source for career information. In addition to the required fields on the form, applicants must complete these two fields for the Principal

Investigator and a Co-Principal Investigator (PI/Co-PI).

Biographical sketches are required for the PI and one Co-PI not to exceed three (3) pages each. These will not be included in the page count. Be sure to include education and the year in which each degree was received.

To attach biographical sketches, click “Add Attachment.”

FORM: SF-424 (R&R) Research & Related Budget (Mandatory) – Complete Sections A through H and attach a budget justification in Section L. Do not include any amount for fee under Section J. The budget must be consistent with a 12-month period of performance showing the total amount requested and a breakdown by cost element.

Assume a proposed start date of February 1, 2027. The budget justification should provide additional data (not included in Sections A through H) by element of cost, sufficient to meet the guidance provided below and allow for meaningful evaluation. DoW fully expects that the proposed equipment/instrumentation will be ordered and installed, and any training obtained, within the 12-month period of performance. The budget justification should indicate the time frames in which these activities would take place.

The budget justification should provide additional data by element of cost for entries included in

Sections A through H sufficient to meet the guidance provided below and ensure meaningful evaluation. Note that Section J should not be completed, as no fee will be paid to a recipient under these awards.

Additional guidance:

The following additional guidance is provided:

Within the equipment budget category, the applicant must separately identify each item of equipment/instrumentation to be purchased and indicate the cost per item as well as the total cost of all requested items. The budget justification must specify the proposed source(s) of the requested equipment/instrumentation and include a complete vendor (manufacturer or distributor) quotation dated no earlier than 90 days before submission of the application. A complete vendor quotation must include the following:

• Name, address, and telephone number (or website) of vendor

• Type of equipment/instrumentation

• Unit price and total price

• Catalog or part number

If quotations are not provided or do not meet the above requirements, the application may be rejected for non-compliance with program requirements.

If the budget includes costs for assembly or installation of the equipment/instrumentation, including any required utility upgrades, those costs must be separately identified in the budget and explained in the budget justification.

If the budget includes costs for support and training, e.g., costs of a vendor representative spending time on campus to train faculty on use of the equipment/instrumentation or time spent by the PI at the vendor’s site, those costs must be separately identified in the budget in the appropriate budget category, e.g., travel, and explained in the budget justification. DoW generally will consider up to 2 weeks to be adequate for training purposes.

To attach the budget justification at Section L, click “Add Attachment.”

Note: Be sure that the total amount requested in the budget agrees with the amount entered in Block #15 of the Cover Page (Form SF-424 (R&R)).

FORM: SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Optional) - This form is applicable if any funds other than federally appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of

Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the application for a grant under this NOFO. If the applicant has lobbying activity to disclose, complete this form and include it with the other Grants.gov forms in the application package.

FORM: CURRENT AND PENDING SUPPORT:

Not later than October 1, 2024, all Notices of Funding Opportunity for assistance awards for the purpose of R&D must require the use of the common forms located here https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/nstc_disclosure.jsp for the collection of biosketch and current and pending support information associated with the SF-424 R&R family of forms. Specifically, these common forms are to be used with the Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile

(Expanded) form (OMB Control Number 4040-0001). This form has inputs for both “biosketch” and “current and pending support”. These common forms are to be used to supply the inputs to the Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) form.

6. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management

Each eligible applicant under this NOFO is required to (a) be registered in SAM prior to submitting its application; (b) provide a valid UEI number in its application; and https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/nstc_disclosure.jsp

(c) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal agency.

ACC-APG-RTP Division, as the awarding office for awards under this NOFO, will not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time ACC-

APG-RTP Division is ready to make an award, the evaluation panel will determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

7. Submission Dates and Times

Applications will be considered until 4:00 PM Eastern Time October 9, 2026.

Applicants are responsible for submitting their applications in sufficient time to allow them to reach Grants.gov by the specified time. To minimize the possibility of a late submission due to unexpected network or equipment issues, DoW recommends that applications be submitted at least two days prior to the date and time indicated above. If the application is received by

Grants.gov after the exact time and date specified as the deadline for receipt, it will be considered

“late” and will not be considered for review. Acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt by Grants.gov includes documentary evidence of receipt maintained by Grants.gov.

If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal federal government processes so that applications cannot be received by Grants.gov by the exact time specified in this NOFO, and the situation precludes amendment of the NOFO closing date, the time specified for receipt of applications will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in this NOFO on the first work day on which normal federal government processes resume.

Application Receipt Notices - As indicated in Section II.D.4. above, Grants.gov will provide a series of emails to the applicant confirming submission and receipt of the application. Applicants can track the status of their applications at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/track-my-application

8. Intergovernmental Review

There is no requirement for intergovernmental review under this NOFO.

9. Funding Restrictions

The following will not be funded under this NOFO:

• Alteration or renovation of existing facilities

• Projects involving classified information

• Consultants and consultant services

• Operation and maintenance, including extended warranties, user fees, and maintenance agreements

• Postdoctoral associates or any form of student support (e.g., stipends, tuition, fees)

• Carrying out research. Funds may be used to pay salary costs of the PI, or other individuals identified in the application whose salaries would appropriately be considered as direct costs, associated with the time spent on learning how to operate the equipment, https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/track-my-application https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/track-my-application including any time spent at a vendor site for which travel is requested.

• Applicants may not request travel costs outside of the contiguous U.S.

• Payments to non-IHE collaborators

• Applications may not request funds for, and awards under this NOFO may not be used for subawards

• Any references to climate change, environment, environmental science, diverse, diversity, equity, inclusion, underserved, underrepresented and related terms

10. Other Submission Requirements

An applicant may withdraw an application at any time before award by written notice or by email.

Notice of withdrawal shall be sent to the Grants Officer identified in Section II.G of this NOFO.

Withdrawals are effective upon receipt of notice by the Grants Officer.

E. Application Review Information (as directed by USW(R&E) memo, Further

Designation of a Senior Appointee for Grant Review Pursuant to Executive Order 14332, dated January 6, 2026)

1. Criteria

Primary evaluation Criteria (of equal importance to each other) are:

a. Impact of the requested equipment/instrumentation on the institution’s ability to conduct research/research-related education in areas of interest to DoW, either by enhancing current capabilities or establishing new capabilities.

b. Impact of the requested equipment/instrumentation on STEM programs of the institution.

c. Impact of the requested equipment/instrumentation on student participation in STEM programs, including students at the applicant institution and high school students.

d. Qualifications of the PI and other key personnel to use the requested equipment/instrumentation.

Secondary evaluation criteria, of less importance than primary criteria but of equal importance to each other, are:

a. Ability of the institution to operate and maintain the equipment/instrumentation after the end of the DoW support.

b. Realism and reasonableness of cost.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated by DoW subject matter experts using the above criteria. The most meritorious applications will be recommended for award commensurate with available funding.

Approval of an award recommendation is the authority of the OUSW(R&E)/ASW(S&T).

Applications may be handled for administrative purposes by support contractors. These support contractors are prohibited from submitting or collaborating on applications submitted under this

NOFO and they are prohibited from collaborating with IHEs post-award. Support contractors are bound by non-disclosure and/or conflict of interest requirements.

3. Compliance with Presidential Executive Orders

The review, selection, and award process will comply with Presidential Executive Order (EO)

14332, Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking, dated August 7, 2025. Sections 3 and 4 of the EO 14332 are notable and included below for reference. For the purposes of this NOFO, the

“senior appointee,” as defined in EO 14332 and discussed in Sections 3 and 4 below, is the

Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology.

EO 14332, Sec. 3. Strengthening Accountability for Agency Grantmaking. (a) Each agency head shall promptly designate a senior appointee who shall be responsible for creating a process to review new funding opportunity announcements and to review discretionary grants to ensure that they are consistent with agency priorities and the national interest. For the avoidance of doubt, this process shall not guarantee any particular level of review or consideration to funding applicants except as consistent with applicable law. As consistent with applicable law, this review process shall incorporate, at a minimum:

(i) review and approval of agency funding opportunity announcements by one or more senior appointees or their designees;

(ii) continuation of existing coordination with OMB;

(iii) to the extent appropriate to the subject matter of the announcements, review by designated subject-matter experts as identified by the agency head or the agency head’s designee;

(iv) review of funding opportunity announcements and related forms to ensure that they include only such requirements as are necessary for an adequate evaluation of the application and are written in plain language with a goal of minimizing the need for legal or technical expertise in drafting an application;

(v) interagency coordination to determine whether the subject matter of a particular funding opportunity announcement has already been addressed by another agency announcement and, if so, whether one of the announcements should be modified or withdrawn to promote consistency and eliminate redundancy;

(vi) for scientific research discretionary grants, review by at least one subject matter expert in the field of the application, who may be a member of the grant review panel, the program officer, or an outside expert; and

(vii) pre-issuance review of discretionary awards to ensure that the awards are consistent with applicable law, agency priorities, and the national interest, which shall involve in-person or virtual discussion of applications by grant review panels or program offices with a senior appointee or that appointee’s designee.

(b) Agency heads shall designate one or more senior appointees to review discretionary awards on an annual basis for consistency with agency priorities and substantial progress. Such review shall include an accountability mechanism for officials responsible for selection and granting of the awards.

(c) Until such time as the process specified in subsection (a) of this section is in place, agencies shall not issue any new funding opportunity announcements without prior approval from the senior appointee designated under subsection (a) of this section, except as required by law.

EO 14332, Sec. 4. Considerations for Discretionary Awards. (a) Senior appointees and their designees shall not ministerially ratify or routinely defer to the recommendations of others in reviewing funding opportunity announcements or discretionary awards but shall instead use their independent judgment.

(b) In reviewing and approving funding opportunity announcements and discretionary awards, as well as in designing the review process described in section 3(a) of this order, senior appointees and their designees shall, as relevant and to the extent consistent with applicable law, apply the following principles, including in any scoring rubrics used to assess grant proposals:

(i) Discretionary awards must, where applicable, demonstrably advance the

President’s policy priorities.

(ii) Discretionary awards shall not be used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate:

A. racial preferences or other forms of racial discrimination by the grant recipient, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation;

B. denial by the grant recipient of the sex binary in humans or the notion that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic;

C. illegal immigration; or

D. any other initiatives that compromise public safety or promote anti-American values.

(iii) All else being equal, preference for discretionary awards should be given to institutions with lower indirect cost rates.

(iv) Discretionary grants should be given to a broad range of recipients rather than to a select group of repeat players. Research grants should be awarded to a mix of recipients likely to produce immediately demonstrable results and recipients with the potential for potentially longer-term, breakthrough results, in a manner consistent with the funding opportunity announcement.

(v) Applicants should commit to complying with administration policies, procedures, and guidance respecting Gold Standard Science (Executive Order (EO) 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science, signed on May 23, 2025--https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/restoring-gold-standard-science/).

(vi) Discretionary awards should include clear benchmarks for measuring success and progress towards relevant goals and, as relevant for awards pertaining to scientific research, a commitment to achieving Gold Standard Science.

(vii) To the extent institutional affiliation is considered in making discretionary awards, agencies should prioritize an institution’s commitment to rigorous, reproducible scholarship over its historical reputation or perceived prestige. As to science grants, agencies should prioritize institutions that have demonstrated success in implementing Gold Standard Science.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/restoring-gold-standard-science/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/restoring-gold-standard-science/

(c) Nothing in this order shall be construed to discourage or prevent the use of peer review methods to evaluate proposals for discretionary awards or otherwise inform agency decision making, provided that peer review recommendations remain advisory and are not ministerially ratified, routinely deferred to, or otherwise treated as de facto binding by senior appointees or their designees. Further, nothing in this order shall be construed to create any rights to any particular level of review or consideration for any funding applicant except as consistent with applicable law.

4. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

Award decisions are expected to be announced in November 2026. The PI and the AOR will receive a letter via e-mail indicating whether the application was accepted or declined. Grant awards are expected to be issued by mid-January 2027.

5. Recipient Qualification

The Grants Officer is responsible for determining a recipient’s qualification prior to award.

In general, the Grants Officer will award grants or cooperative agreements only to qualified recipients that meet the standards at 32 CFR 22.415. To be qualified, a potential recipient must:

a. Have the management capability and adequate financial and technical resources, including those that would be made available through the grant or cooperative agreement, to execute the program of activities envisioned under the grant or cooperative agreement;

b. Have a satisfactory record of executing such programs or activities (if applicant is a previous recipient of a DoW-funded award);

c. Have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics; and

d. Be otherwise qualified and eligible to receive a grant or cooperative agreement under applicable laws and regulations.

Applicants are requested to provide information to assist the Army Grants Officer’s evaluation of recipient qualifications. In accordance with Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) guidance in parts 180 and 200 of Title 2, CFR, it is DoW policy that

DoW Components must report and use integrity and performance information in the

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), or any successor system designated by OMB.

6. If the total Federal share of a grant or cooperative agreement will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $350,000), then:

a. The Army Grants Officer, prior to making an award, will review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).

b. An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.

c. The Army Grants Officer will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR 200.205, Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Award Notices

a. Applicants, both successful and unsuccessful, will be notified via e-mail. Feedback will be provided upon request. Any request for feedback on unsuccessful proposals must be submitted in writing within 30 calendar days of receipt of the notification.

b. The notification e-mail to successful applicants must not be regarded as a formal authorization to commit or expend funds. The Government is not obligated to provide any funding until the award document is signed by the Grants Officer.

c. Successful applicants may be contacted by the Grants Officer if supplemental information is necessary to finalize an award. This may involve representations, certifications, revised budgets or budget explanations, or other information required for award execution. The award start date will be determined at that time.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. An award issued under this NOFO will be governed by the general terms and conditions in effect at the time of the…