2026 Congressionally Identified Construction Grant Program Summary

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), under the Department of Commerce, is seeking applications for non-competitive extramural construction grants authorized by Public Law 119-74. This program funds congressionally designated construction projects at ten eligible research institutions and organizations focused on biomedical research, molecular biology, cancer research, bioprocessing innovation, and estuarine research facilities. Applicants must submit a comprehensive application package including SF-424 forms, detailed project narratives with construction timelines, historic preservation compliance documentation per the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106, and budget narratives with justification. Eligible applicants are limited to the ten congressionally identified entities listed in the Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, and projects will be evaluated on technical soundness and merit by qualified reviewers before final award decisions are made by the NIST Grants Officer. The application submission deadline is May 11, 2026, via Grants.gov, with NIST anticipating award processing by October 2026 and earliest project start dates in September 2026.

Total available funding amounts to $255,318,030 distributed across the eleven eligible recipients, with individual award amounts ranging from $880,030 (Maryland Institute College of Art Bio-Design Innovation Hub) to $69,300,000 (University of Louisville Center for Bioscience). Projects are limited to a maximum 36-month period of performance, with extensions to five years permitted only in exigent circumstances. Recipient institutions are geographically distributed across multiple states including Maryland, Kentucky, Maine, Ohio, Kansas, and Washington, with no non-federal cost share required. Recipients must comply with Uniform Administrative Requirements, DOC Financial Assistance General Terms and Conditions, NIST Standard Terms and Conditions for Construction Projects, and submit quarterly financial and performance reports throughout the project period.