Alabama State University

Alabama State University's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Division, operating as A S U, is a historically black college and university and state government entity that acts as a federal grant recipient and, to a limited extent, a federal contract subcontractor. The institution pursues federal research, education, and infrastructure grants across multiple science and engineering disciplines, with no direct federal contract vehicle participation but occasional subcontracting work on defense and engineering projects.

A S U is structured as a U.S. state government entity and minority institution headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. As a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and minority-serving institution, the university qualifies as an eligible recipient for federal grant programs designed to strengthen research capacity and educational outcomes at underrepresented institutions. The institution does not hold awarded federal contract vehicles and does not operate as a prime federal contractor; its federal engagement centers on grant recipients roles across research and education portfolios.

A S U's grant footprint spans diverse federal sponsors and programs. The Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education represents the largest customer by award count (37 awards) through Title III institutional strengthening programs for HBCUs, TRIO student support services, and teacher preparation initiatives such as Upward Bound and Talent Search. The National Science Foundation follows with 31 awards across STEM Education (CFDA 47.076), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CFDA 47.070), Integrative Activities (CFDA 47.083), and Human Resource Development (CFDA 47.076) programs. Representative prime grant work includes a $1 million Department of Defense Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering award (CFDA 12.630) for transmission electron microscope acquisition (May 2026–April 2027), a $969,721 DoD grant for high-performance AI computing infrastructure (May 2026–April 2027), a $674,160 NSF CISE award for machine learning research addressing confounding errors in decision support systems (October 2025–September 2028), a $1.2 million NSF CREST HBCU-RISE grant for AI-driven design of renal tissue engineering scaffolds (September 2023–August 2026), and a $255,702.82 Department of Education Rehabilitation Long-Term Training grant for vocational rehabilitation counselor training (October 2025–September 2026). A S U also holds grants supporting K-12 STEM teacher development, particularly through the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program, and hosts regional research capacity-building initiatives such as the HERO-ASU workshop for HBCUs in EPSCoR states.

Research awards emphasize biomedical engineering, materials science, artificial intelligence, education, and workforce development aligned with the institution's HBCU mission. A S U receives grants for faculty development, student research opportunities, infrastructure acquisition, and educational curriculum enhancement designed to increase diversity in STEM fields and serve underrepresented minority populations. Grant programs including the National Endowment for the Humanities (archival preservation and digital humanities, $312 thousand), the Institute of Museum and Library Services (archives disaster preparedness and collection management), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (school violence prevention training) round out the portfolio.

A S U's subcontract engagement is minimal. In federal service contracts captured under the Service Contract Inventory, A S U appears on only one SCI record as a named subcontractor in FY2024 with 1.7 FTEs reported. Federal contract subwork includes engineering services roles under Teledyne Brown Engineering's Marshall Operations Systems, Services, and Integration II (MOSSI II) contract and participation in the Department of Defense Mentor-Protege Program year 1 services under Parsons Government Services Inc. Federal grant sub-recipient activity shows partnerships with Auburn University, the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Washington University in St. Louis, and Georgia Tech Research Corporation, primarily for STEM research collaboration, broadband infrastructure, cyanobacteria research, and laser-plasma physics advancement.

Recent activity shows consistent grant receipt across 2022–2025 (12 to 18 awards annually) with 22 awards approaching completion within the next twenty-four months, representing significant recompete exposure. The institution operates within the collegiate and research grant ecosystem rather than the federal services contracting market, positioning itself as a recipient institution advancing research and education at an HBCU rather than as a federal contractor or prime integrator.