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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Minerva Research Initiative (ONRBAA14-013)

1) What is the Minerva Research Initiative?

The Minerva Research Initiative is a Department of Defense (DoD) university-based social science research grant competition. It is administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR) but led by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). The program supports academically rigorous research tied to issues of strategic importance for U.S. national security policy.

2) Who administers the solicitation and who makes the final funding decisions?

ONR manages the solicitation process, but final funding decisions are made by OSD. The military Services provide technical input to inform those decisions.

3) What is the main purpose of the program?

The program is designed to strengthen DoD's social science knowledge base, improve the government's ability to anticipate and respond to future security challenges, and build longer-term, constructive relationships between the defense community and academic researchers.

4) What kinds of research does Minerva prioritize?

Minerva supports social science research that connects directly to national security policy and helps DoD better understand complex social, political, economic, cultural, and behavioral dynamics related to security, conflict, and cooperation.

5) Does the program encourage multidisciplinary or multi-institutional projects?

Yes. A central feature of Minerva is its emphasis on multidisciplinary, cross-institutional work. The initiative encourages collaboration across disciplines and organizations, especially when research questions are broad and interconnected.

6) Can proposals be submitted by a single investigator, or are teams required?

Proposals can be submitted by a single investigator or by larger research teams. Team submissions should clearly define leadership and how work is divided among members and institutions.

7) If a team applies, what leadership and organizational details must be included?

Team proposals must designate one Principal Investigator (PI) as the primary technical lead and identify one institution as the primary award recipient. The proposal must explain how work will be divided among team members and institutions, including any planned subawards, and those roles should be reflected in both the narrative and the budget.

8) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this competition?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this competition is ONRBAA14-013.

9) What research topic areas are included in this solicitation?

This competition solicited white papers and full proposals aligned to four main research topic areas (broken into ten subtopics):

• Identity, Influence, and Mobilization
• Contributors to Societal Resilience and Change
• Power and Deterrence
• Innovations in National Security, Conflict, and Cooperation

10) What is covered under "Identity, Influence, and Mobilization"?

This area includes research on how culture and identity relate to security, how beliefs form and can be influenced, and how groups mobilize for change.

11) What is covered under "Contributors to Societal Resilience and Change"?

This area seeks work on governance and rule of law, the security implications of resources and economic forces (including globalization), and other drivers that affect whether societies adapt, resist disruption, or experience instability.

12) What is covered under "Power and Deterrence"?

This area addresses how power is projected or diffuses across actors and systems, and explores approaches to deterrence that extend beyond traditional, conventional models.

13) What is covered under "Innovations in National Security, Conflict, and Cooperation"?

This area emphasizes improved analytical methods and metrics for security-related research and encourages exploration of emerging issues in conflict and security.

14) Are the topic descriptions strict, or is innovation allowed?

The solicitation states that the topic descriptions are intended to guide applicants without being overly restrictive. Innovative approaches are explicitly welcomed as long as they align with the stated themes.

15) What type of funding instrument is this?

This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the science and technology and other research and development area.

16) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 12.300 (Basic and Applied Scientific Research).

17) How much total funding is estimated, and how many awards are expected?

The estimated total funding listed is $8,000,000, with an expectation of approximately six awards.

18) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The solicitation states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

19) What were the submission deadlines for white papers and full proposals?

White papers were due November 10, 2014. Full proposals were due February 19, 2015 (the original full proposal due date was listed as January 30, 2015, and was later updated).

20) When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?

The opportunity was posted September 15, 2014, and archived March 12, 2015.

21) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open to responsible academic sources, including U.S. DoD institutions of higher education and foreign universities.

22) Can teams include nonprofits or commercial organizations?

Yes. University-led teams may include nonprofit organizations and commercial entities as subawardees.

23) Are HBCUs and Minority Institutions encouraged to participate?

Yes. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to apply or participate on teams, but no funding is specifically set aside for them.

24) Can Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) receive awards directly?

No. The solicitation states that FFRDCs, including Department of Energy national laboratories, cannot receive awards directly.

25) Can Navy labs, warfare centers, or other DoD/civilian government labs submit proposals directly?

No. Navy labs, warfare centers, and other DoD or civilian government labs may not submit proposals directly. However, they may participate through teaming arrangements with eligible proposers, consistent with applicable sponsoring agreements.

26) Can University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) apply?

Yes. UARCs may apply unless their DoD contracts prohibit it.

27) Does the program expect coordination across projects or sharing of materials?

Yes. Teams should be prepared to cooperate and exchange software, data, and other information as part of an integrated program structure involving other contractors and system integrators selected by ONR and Minerva leadership.

28) Are there export control considerations?

Yes. The solicitation notes that some research areas may involve export-controlled technologies. In those cases, participation is limited to U.S. persons as defined under ITAR regulations.

29) Are there FFATA reporting requirements for awardees and subrecipients?

Yes. Applicants (both prime and subrecipients) must be prepared to comply with Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting requirements for subawards and, in certain cases, executive compensation, as implemented in 2 CFR provisions.

30) What is the overall emphasis of this opportunity?

This opportunity supports academically rigorous social science research relevant to national security, encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration, and promotes closer engagement between defense stakeholders and the university research community.