Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF26S0075
Apply for W911NF26S0075
- The Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pilot Program to Increase Research Capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority-Serving Institutions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-02-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-10. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Pilot Program to Increase Research Capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Department of the Army, Army Materiel Command, focused on helping eligible institutions strengthen their research enterprise and move toward "very high research activity" status on the Carnegie Classification scale (often referred to as R1). The core idea is capacity-building: proposals should lay out a credible plan to expand institutional research strength in ways that both advance Department of Warfighter (DoW) priorities (including interests associated with USW(RampE) and the Army Research Laboratory, ARL) and improve education and training for students in STEM fields tied to those research priorities. This is not framed as a narrow, single-project research award; it is designed to help institutions build the people, programs, and infrastructure needed to grow into a higher level of sustained research performance.
Eligibility is intentionally limited by law and by classification status. Under Section 223 of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), only "covered educational institutions" may apply, and the program is explicitly aimed at institutions that are not yet classified as very high research activity. If an institution is already listed as R1 (very high research activity) on the Carnegie Classification website, it is not eligible for this competition. Within the covered-institution concept, the funding opportunity further defines an "eligible institution" as an HBCU or another MSI that is classified as such at the time it participates. The definition of an HBCU follows the Higher Education Act of 1965, specifically the meaning of a "part B institution" under Section 322 (20 U.S.C. 1061). "Other minority-serving institution" is defined through the Higher Education Act categories listed in Section 371(a)(2) through (7) (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). Importantly, eligibility is not restricted to four-year institutions; community colleges and other two-year degree-granting institutions may apply as long as they meet the definition of an eligible institution under the announcement.
From a program design standpoint, strong proposals will directly connect institutional capacity-building activities to DoW-aligned research areas and to STEM student development. The solicitation emphasizes two linked outcomes: (1) building the institution's ability to compete and perform at a much higher research intensity level over time, and (2) strengthening STEM education and workforce pathways in fields that match Army/DoW research needs. While the notice does not list specific allowable activities in the text provided, the intent signals investments that typically move the needle on research capacity, such as expanding research programs and laboratories, improving research administration and compliance capabilities, growing faculty and student research participation, creating or strengthening partnerships that elevate the institution's research profile, and building pipelines that prepare students for advanced study and defense-relevant STEM careers. The key is that proposed activities should be clearly positioned as steps toward sustainable research growth and measurable progress toward the top Carnegie research activity tier, rather than isolated short-term outputs.
Administratively, this opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number W911NF26S0075 and falls under CFDA 12.630, within the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" activity category. The funding instrument type is a grant. The agency anticipates making around five awards, with an award ceiling of $10,000,000 per award. The posting (creation) date is February 5, 2026, and the original closing date is April 10, 2026. Applicants are expected to use the Carnegie Classification site as the reference point for determining whether they are currently classified as "very high research activity" and therefore ineligible. Overall, the program is best understood as a targeted defense-facing capacity accelerator for HBCUs and MSIs that are positioned to scale their research enterprise and want to align that growth with Army and broader DoW research priorities while expanding high-quality STEM education and research opportunities for students.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
The Pilot Program to Increase Research Capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Department of the Army, Army Materiel Command. It is designed to help eligible institutions strengthen their research enterprise and move toward "very high research activity" status on the Carnegie Classification scale (often referred to as R1).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is focused on capacity-building. Proposals are expected to present a credible plan to expand institutional research strength over time in ways that (1) align with Department of Warfighter (DoW) priorities and (2) improve education and training for students in STEM fields connected to those priorities.
Is this a standard single research project grant?
No. It is not framed as a narrow, single-project research award. The opportunity is intended to help institutions build the people, programs, and infrastructure needed to achieve sustained research performance at a higher level.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the Department of the Army, Army Materiel Command.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is W911NF26S0075.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.630.
What is the activity category for this funding?
The activity category is "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited by law under Section 223 of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to "covered educational institutions." The funding opportunity further defines an eligible institution as an HBCU or another MSI that is classified as such at the time it participates, and that is not already classified as "very high research activity" (R1) on the Carnegie Classification website.
Are R1 (very high research activity) institutions eligible?
No. If an institution is already listed as "very high research activity" (R1) on the Carnegie Classification website, it is not eligible for this competition.
How should an applicant confirm whether it is classified as R1?
Applicants are expected to use the Carnegie Classification website as the reference point for determining whether they are currently classified as "very high research activity" and therefore ineligible.
How does the opportunity define an HBCU for eligibility purposes?
An HBCU is defined using the Higher Education Act of 1965, specifically the meaning of a "part B institution" under Section 322 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
How does the opportunity define "other minority-serving institution" (MSI)?
"Other minority-serving institution" is defined through the Higher Education Act categories listed in Section 371(a)(2) through (7) (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
Does an institution have to be a four-year college or university to apply?
No. Eligibility is not restricted to four-year institutions. Community colleges and other two-year degree-granting institutions may apply as long as they meet the definition of an eligible institution under the announcement.
What outcomes does the solicitation emphasize?
The solicitation emphasizes two linked outcomes: (1) building the institution's ability to compete and perform at a much higher research intensity level over time, and (2) strengthening STEM education and workforce pathways in fields that match Army/DoW research needs.
How should a proposal align with Department of Warfighter (DoW) priorities?
Strong proposals are expected to directly connect institutional capacity-building activities to DoW-aligned research areas. The notice also references interests associated with USW(RampE) and the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), indicating proposals should be positioned to advance defense-relevant research priorities.
How should the proposal address student education and training?
The core idea is to improve education and training for students in STEM fields tied to DoW-aligned research priorities. Proposals should show how research capacity-building will also expand high-quality STEM education and research opportunities for students.
What kinds of activities fit the intent of this capacity-building program?
While the notice does not list specific allowable activities in the provided text, the intent signals investments that typically strengthen research capacity. Examples mentioned in the description include expanding research programs and laboratories, improving research administration and compliance capabilities, growing faculty and student research participation, creating or strengthening partnerships that elevate the institution's research profile, and building pipelines that prepare students for advanced study and defense-relevant STEM careers.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $10,000,000 per award.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipates making around five awards.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting (creation) date is February 5, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date is April 10, 2026.
What does it mean that this is a "pilot program"?
Based on the information provided, it is labeled as a pilot program intended to increase research capacity at eligible HBCUs and MSIs. The description emphasizes the program's role as a targeted capacity accelerator rather than a one-off research project award.
What does "moving toward R1" mean in the context of this program?
It means building institutional research capacity in a sustained way with measurable progress toward the Carnegie Classification's "very high research activity" tier over time, rather than producing only short-term or isolated outputs.
What is the overall theme of the program in plain terms?
The program is best understood as a defense-facing capacity-building initiative for HBCUs and MSIs that want to scale their research enterprise, align that growth to Army and broader DoW research priorities, and expand STEM education and research opportunities for students.
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