FY26 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) CAPACITY BUILDING (CB)
Open Posted
- Opportunity number
- NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260003
- Agency
-
Air Force Research Laboratory
Air Force Materiel Command, Department of Defense
- Applications due
- Award size
- $750,000 to $1,500,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
-
- 12.431 Basic Scientific Research
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Ms. Nicole Thomas nicole.thomas.20@us.af.mil
- Ms. Denise Johnson denise.johnson.19@us.af.mil
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Defense is soliciting applications for the FY26 Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) - Capacity Building program with a full proposal deadline of April 5, 2027. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education located in 37 designated states and territories (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming); federal research and development centers and federal agencies are ineligible. Cost sharing is not required.
The program anticipates up to $6 million in total funding to award between one to four grants up to $1.5 million total cost each, structured as up to $750,000 per year for two years. Award start is projected for October 2027. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) administers the opportunity on behalf of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, with the Office of Naval Research providing program administration.
DEPSCoR objectives are to increase university researchers in eligible states capable of performing science and engineering research responsive to DoD needs, enhance institutional research capabilities in basic research areas relevant to the DoD mission, and grow long-term competitively awarded federal research funding at participating institutions. Applicants must demonstrate existing seed capacity in a DoD-relevant basic research area, identify specific capacity gaps, propose innovative multi-thrust strategies to fill gaps, establish regional partnerships and support, and develop long-term sustainment plans using non-DEPSCoR funding. The team lead must be a member of institutional executive staff. The primary institution must retain more than 50 percent of the total award allocation. Each institution may submit only one application.
The application process is three-staged: online registration via RunGrants by October 5, 2026; white paper submission by October 12, 2026 (notification January 8, 2027); and full proposal submission via Grants.gov by invitation only (notification July 23, 2027). Proposals must address one or more DoD-relevant basic research topics specified by the Army Research Office, Office of Naval Research, or AFOSR. Evaluation emphasizes demonstration of existing seed capability, potential for building academic research capacity, regional partnerships, and realistic long-term sustainment plans. All applicants must comply with Gold Standard Science principles, fundamental research security reviews, and federal compliance requirements including SAM.gov registration and conflict of interest disclosures.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) - Capacity Building opportunity. The program is sponsored and managed by the Basic Research Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD [R & E]), awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The DoD plans to award FY26 DEPSCoR appropriations through this announcement.
DEPSCoR's objectives are to:
(1) increase the number of university researchers in eligible States/Territories capable of performing science and engineering (S & E) research responsive to the needs of the DoD.
(2) enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education (IHEs) in eligible States/Territories (listed below) to develop, plan, and execute S & E research that is relevant to the mission of the DoD, and competitive under the peer-review systems used for awarding Federal research assistance; and
(3) increase the probability of long-term growth in the competitively awarded financial assistance that IHEs in eligible States/Territories receive from the Federal Government for S & E research.
The Basic Research Office anticipates up to $6 million in total funding will be made available for this program to fully fund and award between one to four grants up to $1.5 million (total cost) each. Each grant award will be funded up to $750,000 (total cost) per year for two (2) years.
The award is subject to funding availability. The Basic Research Office reserves the right to select and fund for award all, some, part, or none of the proposals received. There is no guarantee of an award.
Update #1 ·
The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) - Capacity Building opportunity. The program is sponsored and managed by the Basic Research Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD [R & E]), awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The DoD plans to award FY26 DEPSCoR appropriations through this announcement.
DEPSCoR's objectives are to:
(1) increase the number of university researchers in eligible States/Territories capable of performing science and engineering (S & E) research responsive to the needs of the DoD.
(2) enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education (IHEs) in eligible States/Territories (listed below) to develop, plan, and execute S & E research that is relevant to the mission of the DoD, and competitive under the peer-review systems used for awarding Federal research assistance; and
(3) increase the probability of long-term growth in the competitively awarded financial assistance that IHEs in eligible States/Territories receive from the Federal Government for S & E research.
The Basic Research Office anticipates up to $6 million in total funding will be made available for this program to fully fund and award between one to four grants up to $1.5 million (total cost) each. Each grant award will be funded up to $750,000 (total cost) per year for two (2) years.
The award is subject to funding availability. The Basic Research Office reserves the right to select and fund for award all, some, part, or none of the proposals received. There is no guarantee of an award.
Eligibility
This funding opportunity aims to support the strategic objectives of IHEs (either individually or in partnership with others) in DEPSCoR States/Territories to achieve basic research excellence in areas of high relevance to the DoD. IHEs in the following States/Territories are eligible to apply for this DEPSCoR opportunity under this announcement: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming see eligibility table in III A.
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