Defense Security Cooperation University - Sponsored Research

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency's (DSCA) Defense Security Cooperation University's (DSCU) mission is to advance the knowledge and practice of security cooperation by producing research, analysis, and lessons learned that expand the intellectu

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency's (DSCA) Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) promotes access to and production of knowledge on security cooperation. Security cooperation refers to all "interactions with foreign security establishments that build and develop allied and partner security capabilities and capacity for self-defense and multinational operations, provide the Armed Forces of the United States with access to the foreign country during peacetime or a contingency operation, and build relationships that promote specific United States security interests" (Joint Publication 3-20, Security Cooperation, 1-2; see also 10 USC § 16, "Security Cooperation"). DSCU components sponsor evidence-, theory-, and data-building activities that contribute to the body of knowledge on security cooperation or irregular warfare, that meet standards of scientific rigor, and that results in lessons that can be applied to practice. DSCU-sponsored research is generally open to a broad range of researchers and research institutions anywhere in the world, although individual DSCU components may have restrictions on who may receive assistance.

DSCU-sponsored research is generally open to a broad range of researchers (with or without affiliation) and research institutions anywhere in the world. Researchers include those with or without formal affiliation with a research institution, U.S. interagency security cooperation communities of interest, and the security cooperation workforce (as defined by 10 USC 384(h)). Research institutions include professional military education (PME) and civilian academic institutions, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), and non-governmental research institutions. Individual DSCU components may have restrictions on who may receive assistance.

Assistance may be used to fund evidence-, theory-, and data-building activities that contribute to the body of knowledge on security cooperation or irregular warfare. Allowable costs are governed by DoDGARS (32 CFR 32.27), related laws, and associated Office of Management and Budget circulars, and must be reasonable to research scope and outcomes.

Allowable costs are governed by DoDGARS (32 CFR 32.27), related laws, and associated Office of Management and Budget circulars, and must be reasonable to research scope and outcomes.

There is no anticipated end date to the DSCU-sponsored research program, subject to the availability of funds. Funding must be spent within the period of performance, which will vary depending on the type of funding instrument and the requirements of the research project. Funding will be released over time. Depending on the funding instrument and the requirements of the research project, this may be spread out evenly over the period of performance or upon completion of specified research milestones.

Applicants must submit a white paper. White papers are a MANDATORY component of a two-part submission process. 2. Based on assessment of the white paper, the Grants Officer will invite selected applicants to submit a technical application. White papers must NOT be submitted through Grants.gov but via an online form (Young Institute: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/BcHgNy3QFe, IWC: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/WC4TCJghdJ).

Principal Criteria: -- Technical merits of the proposed research: The proposed approach to research, including theory development, data collection and analysis, as applicable, is rigorous and appropriate to the research question. -- Relevance of the proposed research: The proposed research seeks to fill a high-priority knowledge gap in security cooperation or irregular warfare -- Feasibility of the proposed research: The proposed research can be completed given the qualifications of, time commitment by, and resources available to applicant and any formal collaborators or sub-recipients. Other Criteria -- Cost sharing by the research team: The extent to which the recipient proposes to share in the cost of the project Note: The Principal Criteria are of equal importance and are more important than Other Criteria.

A project work plan is developed between the applicant and the DSCU component that is sponsoring the research. Depending on the funding instrument, sponsoring component, and funding amount, awards are approved either by the DSCU President or by the head of the DSCU component that is sponsoring the research. Assistance awards undergo policy and legal review. In the case of grants and cooperative agreements, the Grants Officer bilaterally executes the award with the assistance recipient. All assistance is provided to the applicant, who will, as necessary, distribute funds to formal collaborators and sub-recipients.

May be considered on a case-by-case basis