Opportunity Information: Apply for MDA 2014 DACV STEM 0001
Apply for MDA 2014 DACV STEM 0001
- The Department of Defense in the education other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Missile Defense Agency STEM Outreach B.E.S.T. Robotics Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 2, 2014 and posted on Apr 28, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $8,600.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Missile Defense Agency STEM Outreach B.E.S.T. Robotics Grant (Funding Opportunity Number MDA 2014 DACV STEM 0001) was a discretionary Department of Defense grant designed to strengthen STEM engagement by expanding participation in BEST Robotics competitions. The core idea was straightforward: provide targeted financial support so qualified local competition hubs could buy additional team robotics kits, which in turn would let more K-12 teams compete and gain hands-on experience with engineering design, problem solving, and technology concepts tied to real-world applications. The opportunity sat within an education-focused funding category, with an emphasis on science and technology and other research and development-related outreach, reflecting MDA's long-term workforce goal of increasing the number of U.S. scientists and engineers capable of addressing future missile defense challenges across government, industry, and academia.
Eligibility was narrowly defined to keep funds focused on local, education-based infrastructure rather than larger competition entities. Only official BEST Robotics Local Competition Hubs could apply, and those hubs had to be approved by BEST Robotics Inc.'s National Headquarters. In addition, each hub needed to be managed by a Higher Education Agency, meaning a junior college or a four-year college or university. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education were listed as eligible applicants, as long as they met the hub and management requirements. Importantly, BEST Robotics Regional and World Competition hubs were explicitly excluded, signaling that the program was meant to grow the pipeline at the local level where initial exposure and broader K-12 participation are most directly affected.
Financially, the grant was modest and purpose-driven, aimed at tangible equipment purchases rather than large program expansions. Individual awards ranged from an award floor of $830 up to an award ceiling of $8,600, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowered the barrier for institutions that might not have additional funds available. The posted date was April 28, 2014, with a creation date of May 2, 2014, and the application window closed in late May 2014 (originally May 19, later extended to May 21). The opportunity was later archived on June 18, 2014, indicating it was a time-limited solicitation rather than an open-ended program.
In practical terms, applicants were expected to be local BEST Robotics hubs operating through a college or university that wanted to increase the number of K-12 teams they could support by purchasing more robotics kits. The anticipated impact was increased competition capacity, more students participating locally, and stronger STEM awareness and engagement through a structured, team-based robotics program. For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Michelle Leger, Contract Specialist, reachable by phone at 256-450-4663.
Missile Defense Agency STEM Outreach B.E.S.T. Robotics Grant (MDA 2014 DACV STEM 0001) FAQs
What is the Missile Defense Agency STEM Outreach B.E.S.T. Robotics Grant?
It was a discretionary Department of Defense (DoD) grant opportunity from the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) intended to strengthen STEM engagement by expanding participation in BEST Robotics competitions. The grant focused on providing targeted financial support to qualified local BEST Robotics competition hubs so they could purchase additional team robotics kits and enable more K-12 teams to compete.
What was the main purpose of this grant?
The purpose was to increase local participation in BEST Robotics by funding additional robotics kits for K-12 teams. The goal was to give more students hands-on exposure to engineering design, problem solving, and technology concepts connected to real-world applications, while also supporting MDA's long-term workforce objective of growing the future U.S. science and engineering talent pipeline.
Which funding opportunity number identifies this grant?
Funding Opportunity Number: MDA 2014 DACV STEM 0001.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to official BEST Robotics Local Competition Hubs that were approved by BEST Robotics Inc.'s National Headquarters and managed by a Higher Education Agency (a junior college or a four-year college or university).
What types of colleges or universities could manage an eligible hub?
Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education were eligible, as long as the institution managed an official, National Headquarters-approved BEST Robotics Local Competition Hub.
Were BEST Robotics Regional or World Competition hubs eligible?
No. BEST Robotics Regional and World Competition hubs were explicitly excluded. The program was designed to grow participation at the local level, where initial exposure and broader K-12 access are most directly affected.
What did the grant funding support?
Funding was intended for tangible equipment purchases, specifically to buy additional team robotics kits so local hubs could support more K-12 teams participating in BEST Robotics competitions.
Was the grant intended for large program expansions?
No. The opportunity was described as modest and purpose-driven, aimed at equipment purchases rather than large-scale program expansions.
How much funding could an applicant receive?
Individual awards ranged from an award floor of $830 to an award ceiling of $8,600.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which reduced barriers for eligible institutions that might not have additional funds available.
What was the application timeline?
The opportunity was posted on April 28, 2014, with a creation date of May 2, 2014. The application window closed in late May 2014 (originally May 19, later extended to May 21).
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on June 18, 2014, indicating it was a time-limited solicitation rather than an ongoing or open-ended program.
What kind of applicants was this program designed to support in practical terms?
It was meant for local BEST Robotics hubs operating through a college or university that wanted to increase the number of K-12 teams they could support by purchasing additional robotics kits.
What outcomes or impacts were anticipated?
The anticipated impact included increased local competition capacity, more students participating in BEST Robotics at the local level, and stronger STEM awareness and engagement through a structured, team-based robotics program.
What broader workforce or mission goal did MDA associate with this outreach?
The outreach emphasis aligned with MDA's long-term workforce goal of increasing the number of U.S. scientists and engineers capable of addressing future missile defense challenges across government, industry, and academia.
What category or theme did this opportunity fall under?
It sat within an education-focused funding category, with an emphasis on science and technology and other research and development-related outreach.
Who was the point of contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
Michelle Leger, Contract Specialist. Phone: 256-450-4663.
What was the core idea behind limiting eligibility to local hubs?
The eligibility rules were designed to keep funding focused on local, education-based infrastructure rather than larger competition entities, concentrating support where broader K-12 participation can be increased most directly.
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