Centers for Homeland Security
Active
- Assistance listing
- 97.061
- Agency
-
Science and Technology Directorate
Department of Homeland Security
- Grant awards
- 160 $496,184,001 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- (COE)
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 70-0803-0-1-999
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate funds university-led multidisciplinary research consortia that conduct strategic research and workforce development in support of homeland security mission goals under CFDA 97.061, with the most recent grant award dated January 12, 2024.
The program funds Centers of Excellence (COEs)—university-led consortia that conduct rigorous, innovative research on threats facing the homeland and educate the current and next generation of homeland security professionals. Recent COE awards support Arctic domain awareness, counterterrorism innovation and technology, soft target engineering, critical infrastructure resilience, coastal resilience, maritime security, criminal investigations and network analysis, cross-border threat screening and supply chain defense, and food protection and defense. COEs conduct mission-relevant research in partnership with DHS Components, state and local governments, tribal authorities, other federal agencies, industry, non-profits, and first responder organizations. Awards are renewed based on performance, program plan, and fund availability.
The program is dominated by Cooperative Agreements, which account for 87 percent of 160 recent grants totaling $496.2 million in federal dollars obligated; the remaining 13 percent are Project Grants. DHS Science and Technology Directorate is the sole funding agency for all awards under this listing. Over the past five years, award frequency has slowed significantly: 15 awards in 2017, followed by single awards in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2024, reflecting the structure of a mature network of established centers rather than an expanding portfolio. The program extends back to 2004.
Recent mega-awards include the National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology and Education (NCITE) Center at $35.3 million, the Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis (CINA) Center at $34.6 million, the Center for Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense at $34.1 million, the Coastal Resilience Center at $31.9 million, and the Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC) at $9.2 million (awarded January 2024). Individual award sizes range widely from under one million dollars to multi-million-dollar investments with ten-year performance periods.
No current grant opportunities are open. The most recent opportunity posted in July 2023 (DHS-23-061-COE-SUPP) closed May 24, 2024 and solicited supplemental funding applications exclusively from eight existing COE recipients: NCITE, SENTRY, Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute, Coastal Resilience Center, CINA, Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency, and Center for Cross-Border Threats Screening and Supply Chain Defense. Prior NOFOs targeted either new COE leads through competitive solicitation or continuation and extension applications from established centers. Eligible applicants are accredited U.S. institutions of higher education; some recent opportunities restricted applicant type to public institutions only.
Objective and description
- Objective
The goal of the DHS Centers of Excellence (COE) program is to engage the academic community to conduct strategic and innovative research and education in support of DHS's strategic mission goals. The overarching objectives of the COE program are to:
- Description
DHS COEs are multidisciplinary, university-led consortia that engage leading experts to conduct groundbreaking research on threats facing the Homeland. The DHS COEs work closely with DHS Components, as well as other homeland security operators at state, local, and tribal levels to research, develop and transition mission-relevant science and technology solutions. Additionally, the DHS COEs also work to educate the current and next generation of highly skilled homeland security science and engineering professionals.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Eligible applicants are accredited U.S. institutions of higher education.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Public and private colleges and universities.
- Uses of assistance
The funds may be used for research and educational purposes. Per program authorization within the Homeland Security Act.
- Use restrictions
Proposals must be submitted by an accredited U.S. institution of higher education that, along with its chosen partners, has the ability and capacity to conduct the required research. An accredited public and private institution of higher education in the United States must be identified as the official lead for proposal submission and subsequent negotiations. COEs can continue to partner with other academic institutions, including institutions in states that are part of the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and with public- or private-sector or non-profit organizations, including any organizations that meet the definition of nonprofit in OMB Circular A-122, relocated to 2 CFR Part 230. However, nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply. Partnering entities will generally be funded through subawards from the lead institutions. Refer to Program Guidance for specific limitations other types of subrecipients.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Refer to program guidance. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Refer to the program guidance for information on criteria for selecting proposals.
- Award procedure
Applications or plans are reviewed by DHS program and administrative staff for eligibility and responsiveness. Applications will undergo merit review by a panel of subject matter experts which may include federal and non-federal reviewers. Any issues or concerns noted in the application will be negotiated with the successful applicant prior to the award being issued.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Refer to announcement or program guidance document.
- Renewals
Renewals of grant awards are based on performance, program plan, and availability of funds.
Grant opportunities
Show all 14
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 160 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill | $49,290,921 | 10% |
| 2 | Northeastern University | $45,682,866 | 9% |
| 3 | University Of Illinois | $40,107,000 | 8% |
| 4 | Regents Of The University Of Minnesota | $35,091,044 | 7% |
| 5 | Arizona State University | $30,050,417 | 6% |
| 6 | George Mason University | $30,026,108 | 6% |
| 7 | Texas A & M University | $29,535,604 | 6% |
| 8 | University Of Maryland, College Park | $28,032,438 | 6% |
| 9 | University Of Alaska Anchorage | $27,685,091 | 6% |
| 10 | University Of Nebraska | $25,943,000 | 5% |
10 of 32 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $250,000 |
| FY2024 | $43,576,883 |
| FY2023 | $36,637,964 |
| FY2022 | $35,087,174 |
| FY2021 | $26,056,000 |
| FY2020 | $30,158,961 |
| FY2019 | $27,695,511 |
| FY2018 | $11,453,502 |
| FY2017 | $23,297,878 |
| FY2016 | $34,690,665 |
| FY2015 | $42,061,649 |
| FY2014 | $32,772,945 |
| FY2013 | $35,317,409 |
| FY2012 | $18,981,791 |
| FY2011 | $56,312,908 |
| FY2010 | $31,000,103 |
| FY2007 | $1,456,000 |
| FY2004 | $4,000,000 |
Show all 18
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 97.061?
Assistance Listing 97.061 is Centers for Homeland Security, a federal grant program run by Science and Technology Directorate (Department of Homeland Security).
What is the CFDA number for Centers for Homeland Security?
Its CFDA number is 97.061: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 97.061 awarded?
160 grant awards under 97.061 have obligated $496,184,001 in federal funds to 32 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 97.061?
The recipients obligated the most under Centers for Homeland Security are University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ($49,290,921), Northeastern University ($45,682,866) and University Of Illinois ($40,107,000).
How much did 97.061 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 97.061 obligated $250,000 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 97.061?
No opportunity listed under 97.061 is open now. The latest, DHS S & T Center of Excellence Supplement Applications, was posted on July 1, 2023.
On GovTribe
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