Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 14 ST 061 COE CIRC 001A
Apply for DHS 14 ST 061 COE CIRC 001A
- The Office of Procurement Operations Grants Division in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DHS ST Critical Infrastructure Resilience Center of Excellence (CIRC) Center Lead" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.061 Centers for Homeland Security.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 19, 2014 and posted on Jun 27, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 26, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Industry and Non profits through Institutions of Higher Education
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity (FOA number DHS 14 ST 061 COE CIRC 001A, CFDA 97.061) is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) solicitation seeking a U.S. college or university to serve as the lead institution for a new Critical Infrastructure Resilience Center of Excellence (CIRC). The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically means DHS expects substantial programmatic involvement during the period of performance, with ongoing collaboration and coordination rather than a hands-off grant. DHS anticipates making one award under this specific Center Lead announcement, positioning the selected university to organize and manage a consortium focused on research, education, and technology transition tied directly to homeland security needs in critical infrastructure resilience.
The CIRC is intended to become part of the broader DHS Centers of Excellence (COE) network, a set of long-term university-led consortia that work closely with DHS to conduct mission-relevant research and development, help move innovations into operational use, and cultivate the next generation of homeland security technical experts. A key feature DHS highlights is the COE research management model: researchers do not work in isolation, but alongside operational personnel and decision-makers, so that projects stay anchored to real-world constraints, priorities, and deployment pathways. The Center Lead institution is expected to coordinate multiple partners and leverage the COE network to deliver an integrated set of capabilities, not just independent academic studies.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education, including both public/state-controlled and private universities. While the lead applicant must be an institution of higher education, the opportunity is structured to bring in a wider ecosystem through partnerships, including other academic institutions, private industry, DHS components, Department of Energy National Laboratories and other federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), other federal agencies with homeland security-related missions, and state, local, tribal, and first responder organizations. The announcement also notes that industry and nonprofits may participate through partnerships coordinated by the eligible university lead, reinforcing the consortium model rather than standalone applications from non-academic entities.
Funding details indicate an estimated total program funding level of $20,000,000, with individual award amounts expected to fall between $1,000,000 (floor) and $4,000,000 (ceiling). The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching. The funding activity category is science and technology and other research and development, reflecting DHS S&T’s emphasis on applied research with pathways to transition. The federal posting timeline shows the FOA was posted June 27, 2014, with a closing date that was updated to September 26, 2014 (originally September 23, 2014), and an archive date of October 23, 2014.
In parallel with the Center Lead competition, DHS also issued a separate companion FOA for organizations seeking to participate as single-project partners to the new Center (FOA number DHS 14 ST 061 COE CIRC 001B). Applicants interested in contributing a discrete project rather than leading the entire consortium were directed to that partner solicitation on Grants.gov under CFDA 97.061. DHS explicitly reserves the flexibility to add individual project partners to the CIRC based on submissions received under either the Center Lead FOA or the Center Partner FOA, which signals that even Center Lead proposals may influence the eventual partner mix and that DHS may shape the consortium composition during selection and startup.
Operationally, DHS planned an informational webinar and conference call roughly two weeks after the FOA posting to walk through the requirements and answer applicant questions, with access details to be provided via Grants.gov and the DHS university programs website. For administrative or access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact is Melanie Bales, Lead Grants Officer, at 202-447-5522.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): DHS Critical Infrastructure Resilience Center of Excellence (CIRC) - Center Lead FOA
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) solicitation to select a U.S. college or university to serve as the lead institution for a new Critical Infrastructure Resilience Center of Excellence (CIRC). It is issued under FOA number DHS 14 ST 061 COE CIRC 001A and CFDA 97.061.
2) What is the goal of the CIRC?
The CIRC is intended to support research, education, and technology transition activities tied directly to DHS homeland security needs related to critical infrastructure resilience.
3) What does it mean that this is a DHS Centers of Excellence (COE) award?
The selected Center Lead is expected to become part of the broader DHS Centers of Excellence network, which consists of long-term, university-led consortia that work closely with DHS on mission-relevant research and development, transition of innovations into operational use, and development of the next generation of homeland security technical experts.
4) What is the award mechanism?
The award is a cooperative agreement.
5) How is a cooperative agreement different from a typical grant in this FOA?
As described in the opportunity, a cooperative agreement typically means DHS expects substantial programmatic involvement during the period of performance, with ongoing collaboration and coordination rather than a hands-off grant.
6) How many awards does DHS expect to make under this Center Lead announcement?
DHS anticipates making one award under this specific Center Lead FOA.
7) Who is eligible to apply as the lead applicant?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education, including public/state-controlled and private universities.
8) Can non-university organizations apply as the lead?
No. The lead applicant must be a U.S. institution of higher education. Other organizations may participate through partnerships coordinated by the eligible university lead.
9) What types of partners can be included in the consortium?
The opportunity describes a consortium model and highlights partnerships that may include other academic institutions, private industry, DHS components, Department of Energy National Laboratories and other federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), other federal agencies with homeland security-related missions, and state, local, tribal, and first responder organizations.
10) Can industry or nonprofit organizations participate?
Yes. The announcement notes that industry and nonprofits may participate through partnerships coordinated by the eligible university lead, consistent with the consortium approach.
11) What is the “COE research management model” mentioned in the opportunity?
DHS emphasizes that COE research is intended to be conducted alongside operational personnel and decision-makers, so projects remain connected to real-world constraints, priorities, and practical deployment pathways.
12) What is expected of the Center Lead institution?
The Center Lead institution is expected to organize and manage the consortium and coordinate multiple partners to deliver an integrated set of capabilities (not just independent academic studies), while leveraging the broader COE network and maintaining close coordination with DHS.
13) What is the estimated total funding level for the program?
The estimated total program funding level is $20,000,000.
14) What is the expected award size?
Individual award amounts are expected to range from $1,000,000 (floor) to $4,000,000 (ceiling).
15) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
16) What is the funding activity/category?
The funding activity category is science and technology and other research and development, reflecting DHS S&T’s emphasis on applied research with pathways to transition.
17) When was the FOA posted, and what were the key dates?
The FOA was posted on June 27, 2014. The closing date was updated to September 26, 2014 (originally September 23, 2014). The archive date is October 23, 2014.
18) Is there a separate opportunity for organizations that want to contribute a single project rather than lead the Center?
Yes. DHS issued a companion FOA for organizations seeking to participate as single-project partners: FOA number DHS 14 ST 061 COE CIRC 001B (also under CFDA 97.061).
19) Where were applicants directed to find the partner solicitation?
Applicants interested in contributing a discrete project (instead of leading the consortium) were directed to the partner solicitation on Grants.gov under CFDA 97.061.
20) Can DHS add project partners beyond those proposed by the Center Lead?
Yes. DHS reserves the flexibility to add individual project partners to the CIRC based on submissions received under either the Center Lead FOA or the Center Partner FOA, indicating DHS may shape the consortium composition during selection and startup.
21) Was there an informational webinar or call planned for applicants?
Yes. DHS planned an informational webinar and conference call roughly two weeks after the FOA posting to walk through requirements and answer questions, with access details to be provided via Grants.gov and the DHS university programs website.
22) Who is the point of contact for administrative or announcement access issues?
The listed point of contact is Melanie Bales, Lead Grants Officer, at 202-447-5522.
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