STARBASE Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 12.020
- Agency
-
Department of the Army
Department of Defense
- Grant awards
- 130 $94,802,600 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- STARBASE
- Assistance type
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 97-0100-2-2-220
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Army funds afterschool and middle-school STEM mentoring programs operated by National Guard units in partnership with local school districts under CFDA 12.020, with the most recent awards issued October 1, 2025.
The STARBASE Program is a non-discretionary, Congressionally directed assistance vehicle restricted to the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam National Guard units. Eligible applicants must work through their Adjutant General to obtain approval from the U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer. Awards support afterschool and summer STEM instruction for underserved youth at specific military installations and facilities, combining science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities with sustained mentoring relationships in school-based settings. The program aims to build workforce pipeline capacity in advanced technological competencies required by the Department of Defense.
All 130 awards in the recent portfolio are Cooperative Agreements. The National Guard Bureau distributes funding through multiple Department of Defense components: DOD Washington Headquarters Service led with 43 awards ($28.2 million federal), followed by the Department of the Air Force with 17 awards ($20.4 million federal), Air National Guard with 14 awards ($9.5 million federal), Office of the Secretary of Defense with 10 awards ($6.7 million federal), and Department of the Army Louisiana Army National Guard with 8 awards ($2.7 million federal). Combined federal obligated dollars total $94.8 million across the portfolio.
Award activity has accelerated: the program issued 12 awards in 2022, 38 in 2023, 37 in 2024, and 43 through October 2025. Individual awards range widely—recent FY26 awards include $219,632 (New Hampshire), $828,130 (Sacramento), $1,233,000 (Los Alamitos), $2,741,667 (a Youth Challenge award), and $3,227,500 (Kansas Air National Guard). Most awards carry annual periods of performance ending September 30, 2026, though some include multi-year extensions through 2030.
No open solicitation opportunities appear in the source. Renewals and extensions require bilateral modification agreements executed by the Grant Officer prior to award period expiration. Applicants must develop detailed implementation plans covering school district selection, student enrollment targets, staffing, curriculum, facilities, services, and budget before Congressional authorization and NGB approval trigger award execution.
Objective and description
- Objective
This is a non discretionary award. 1. STARBASE 2.0 is an afterschool, middle and high school mentoring initiative conducted in partnership with local school districts that combines STEM activities with a relationship-rich, school-based environment
- Description
This is a non-discretionary award. STARBASE Program, to raise the interest and improve the knowledge and skills of underserved youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), which will provide for a highly educated and skilled American workforce that can meet the advanced technological requirements of the Department of Defense.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
This is a non-discretionary award. Recipient must be one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, or Guam, and apply through the State Adjutant General's Office to the USPFO through National Guard.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Students from fifth grade to twelfth grade.
- Uses of assistance
This is a non discretionary award used to carry out the National Guard STARBASE Program in a State, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam or the District of Columbia, the Secretary of Defense shall enter into an agreement with the Governor of the State, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, or, in the case of the District of Columbia, with the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, under which the Governor or the commanding general will establish, organize, and administer the National Guard STARBASE Program in the State. The agreement may provide for the Secretary to provide funds to the recipient for costs associated with the management of the program to include but not limited to such costs as civilian personnel costs attributable to the use of civilian employees of the National Guard. facilities maintenance and upkeep. etc. in the conduct of the National Guard STARBASE Program. NGB STARBASE Cooperative Agreements are Congressionally directed assistance to the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam National Guard. Additional restrictions are listed in the terms and conditions of each specific Cooperative Agreement Award.
- Use restrictions
This is a non discretionary award used to carry out the National Guard STARBASE Program in a State, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam or the District of Columbia, the Secretary of Defense shall enter into an agreement with the Governor of the State, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, or, in the case of the District of Columbia, with the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, under which the Governor or the commanding general will establish, organize, and administer the National Guard STARBASE Program in the State. The agreement may provide for the Secretary to provide funds to the recipient for costs associated with the management of the program to include but not limited to such costs as civilian personnel costs attributable to the use of civilian employees of the National Guard. facilities maintenance and upkeep. etc. in the conduct of the National Guard STARBASE Program. NGB STARBASE Cooperative Agreements are Congressionally directed assistance to the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam National Guard. Additional restrictions are listed in the terms and conditions of each specific Cooperative Agreement Award.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Twelve month funding. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: NGB Cooperative Agreements for STARBASE are Congressionally directed assistance to the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam National Guard. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Recipient submits annual budget to the Program Managers. Program Managers either accept the budget request or negotiate it. Once budget is final, Cooperative Agreement for the work is created and executed by the Grants Officer.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. This is a non-discretionary program. NGB STARBASE Cooperative Agreements are Congressionally directed assistance to the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam National Guard. These are the only allowable applicants. The Recipient must work through their Adjutant General, who will work with the USPFO to obtain approval to have this program.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
This is a non-discretionary award. NGB STARBASE Cooperative Agreements are Congressionally directed assistance to the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam National Guard. These are the only allowable applicants. The Recipient must work through their Adjutant General, who will work with the USPFO to obtain approval to have this program.
- Award procedure
This is a non-discretionary award. Applicant must be one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, or Guam and shall develop a plan which includes details on school district application and selection procedures, number of students to be trained, staffing, curriculum, facilities and services, State public and private service to be provided and a detailed budget. After Congress authorizes, approves, and appropriates funds for the project and the National Guard Bureau reviews and approves all necessary plans, specifications, bidding documents, contracts and other documentation, the award will be executed by the Grant Officer.
- Time to approval or disapproval
This is a non-discretionary award. NGB STARBASE Cooperative Agreements are Congressionally directed assistance to the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam National Guard. These are the only allowable applicants. The Recipient must work through their Adjutant General, who will work with the USPFO to obtain approval to have this program.
- Renewals
This is a non-discretionary award. For Renewals, prior to the end of the initial award, work with the Grant Officer to establish the parameters that will meet the intent of Renewals per 2 CFR 200. For Extensions, the recipient must contact the Grant Officer 10 days prior to the end of the period of performance and provide documentation as to what projects/programs will not be completed during the award period along with reasons why they will not be completed, how they will meet the new proposed date, and a new proposed date. Both need bilaterally signed documentation, modification/renewal award, to be allowable.
- Appeals
This is a non-discretionary award. NGB STARBASE Cooperative Agreements are Congressionally directed assistance to the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam National Guard. These are the only allowable applicants. The Recipient must work through their Adjutant General, who will work with the USPFO to obtain approval to have this program.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 130 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Military Department | $11,779,769 | 12% |
| 2 | Military Nevada Office Of | $10,787,383 | 11% |
| 3 | Kansas Adjutant General Department | $8,647,516 | 9% |
| 4 | Military & Vet Affairs Dept | $8,165,886 | 9% |
| 5 | Adjutant General Indiana Office Of | $5,156,930 | 5% |
| 6 | North Carolina Department Of Public Safety | $5,052,185 | 5% |
| 7 | Department Of Military Affairs Montana | $5,043,399 | 5% |
| 8 | Department Of Military Oregon | $4,380,864 | 5% |
| 9 | Virginia Department Of Military Affairs | $4,179,930 | 4% |
| 10 | Military Department Of The State Of Oklahoma | $3,853,545 | 4% |
10 of 25 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $29,566,363 |
| FY2025 | $28,227,385 |
| FY2024 | $26,307,629 |
| FY2023 | $10,524,603 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 12.020?
Assistance Listing 12.020 is STARBASE Program, a federal grant program run by Department of the Army (Department of Defense).
What is the CFDA number for STARBASE Program?
Its CFDA number is 12.020: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 12.020 awarded?
130 grant awards under 12.020 have obligated $94,802,600 in federal funds to 25 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 12.020?
The recipients obligated the most under STARBASE Program are California Military Department ($11,779,769), Military Nevada Office Of ($10,787,383) and Kansas Adjutant General Department ($8,647,516).
How much did 12.020 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 12.020 obligated $28,227,385 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
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