Department of Defense/National Defense Education Program/Department of Defense Ordinance Technology Consortium Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (DoD/NDEP/DOTC STEM) Professional Development Grant | Apply Online

FAQs: DoD/NDEP/DOTC STEM Professional Development Grant (W15QKN-13-R-0103)

What is the DoD/NDEP/DOTC STEM Professional Development Grant?

It was a Department of the Army (Army Materiel Command) discretionary grant opportunity under the Department of Defense National Defense Education Program (NDEP), associated with the Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC). The grant was designed to strengthen K-12 STEM education as part of the DoD's long-term workforce pipeline.

What problem or need was this grant intended to address?

The solicitation was rooted in the idea that the DoD is the largest federal employer of scientists, engineers, and technical professionals, and that sustaining this talent base depends on K-12 students developing the skills, confidence, and interest to pursue STEM coursework in college and ultimately enter STEM careers aligned with defense needs.

What is NDEP in practical terms?

NDEP was described as a national program that connects federal-level STEM priorities to local implementation. The work often occurs in communities near DoD laboratories, bases, and other installations where DoD subject matter experts can directly engage with students and teachers.

What kinds of STEM learning activities did the opportunity emphasize?

A central feature of the NDEP approach was hands-on STEM learning supported by DoD scientists and engineers, delivered in both formal and informal settings. The announcement cited examples such as after-school programs and other local STEM engagements.

What roles could DoD scientists and engineers play in supported projects?

The opportunity emphasized that DoD technical professionals were not limited to being guest speakers. They could serve as mentors, role models, content experts, and competition judges, and help expose students and educators to real-world defense-related science and technology applications.

How many award sites did NDEP historically fund, and what did this cycle expect?

Historically, roughly 50 sites had received NDEP K-12 funding across the K-12 continuum. This funding cycle anticipated fewer award sites while still aiming for nationwide geographic distribution, with an intent to deepen quality and consistency rather than simply increase the number of locations.

What made this solicitation distinct compared with other STEM grants?

This solicitation was described as distinct for its strong focus on professional development and, especially, on assessment and evaluation. The DoD sought an organization to provide training, technical support, assessment services, and rigorous program evaluation for both new and existing DoD-sponsored STEM projects.

Who was the DoD looking for to carry out the work?

The DoD sought an organization capable of delivering training, technical support, assessment services, and rigorous program evaluation for DoD-sponsored STEM projects conducted with local DoD labs, STEM education organizations, professional societies, and local education entities.

What was the role of professional development under this grant?

Professional development was meant to help partners improve existing projects and potentially design new ones that better aligned with the program's objectives. The intent was to use data and evaluation findings to guide improvements rather than relying on anecdotal success.

Why was evaluation treated as a core requirement?

The solicitation made evaluation central to decision-making, framing it as how the DoD determines whether STEM investments are efficiently executed, producing measurable outcomes, and meeting program objectives. Evaluation was presented as integral, not an add-on.

How did the announcement define program evaluation?

It referenced Government Accountability Office (GAO) standards, describing evaluation as a systematic, research-based effort to collect and analyze data to determine how well a program is working and why.

What GAO evaluation types were explicitly referenced?

The announcement noted GAO's four evaluation types: process evaluation (how implementation works), outcome evaluation (whether intended results occur), impact evaluation (causal effects attributable to the program), and cost-benefit/cost-effectiveness analyses (whether results justify costs).

What were the high-level outcomes the work was tied to?

The work supported by the grant was tied to three broad outcomes: (1) building student interest in STEM disciplines and DoD-relevant careers, (2) developing science/engineering/math skills that matter to the defense enterprise, and (3) helping meet the DoD's future demand for a highly skilled STEM workforce.

Was the grant aimed at K-12 students, teachers, or both?

Based on the description, it targeted K-12 STEM education broadly, with activities and supports involving students and educators. It also emphasized professional development and technical support for projects, which implies a strong educator and program-implementation focus alongside student engagement.

Did the solicitation focus on creating new local programs or improving existing ones?

It focused on both. The DoD sought evaluation and support services for new and existing DoD-sponsored STEM projects, with the support intended to improve existing efforts and potentially inform the design of new ones.

How was local implementation expected to connect to federal priorities?

NDEP was described as connecting federal-level STEM priorities to local implementation, often near DoD installations, leveraging the involvement of DoD subject matter experts in local hands-on STEM learning experiences.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number was W15QKN-13-R-0103.

When was the opportunity posted, and when did it close?

It was posted on June 11, 2013, and had a closing date of July 11, 2013.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on August 10, 2013.

How many awards were anticipated?

The solicitation anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1).

What was the estimated total funding amount and award ceiling?

The estimated total funding amount was up to $25,000,000, and this also served as the award ceiling.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement was listed.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants were described as U.S. institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations (with the listing category shown as "Others" and clarified by the eligibility text).

What CFDA number was associated with the opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with the opportunity was 12.431 (Basic Scientific Research).

What was the overall structure or intent of the award?

The solicitation read like a large, centralized award intended to build a coherent support and evaluation backbone for DoD-connected K-12 STEM efforts nationwide, ensuring projects are well-run, evidence-driven, and demonstrably contributing to future DoD technical workforce needs.

Did the opportunity emphasize nationwide reach?

Yes. While anticipating fewer award sites than in some prior efforts, it still aimed for nationwide geographic distribution and emphasized improving quality and consistency across local engagements.

What kinds of partner entities were mentioned in connection with the supported STEM projects?

The announcement referenced local DoD labs, STEM education organizations, professional societies, and local education entities as partners involved in DoD-sponsored STEM projects that would benefit from training, technical support, assessment, and evaluation.

How was success expected to be demonstrated?

Success was expected to be demonstrated through systematic, research-based data collection and analysis aligned with GAO evaluation approaches, enabling the DoD to judge efficiency, measurable outcomes, and progress toward stated objectives.