Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and Biotechnology Education, Outreach, and Workforce Initiative Programs and Enhanced Civics Education

3/31/21 - Amendment 03 changes the due date of Technical Applications to 28 April 2021 at 11:59 EST

03/24/21 - Amendment 02 posted to provide additional instructions for submission of the full technical application and to provide IRB forms that may be required for some performers whose technical applications are selected for award.

03/18/21 - All applicants who submitted a white paper have been notified if their white paper was referred for a full technical application or not. Only those applicants whose white paper was referred may submit full technical applications by the date specified in this announcement. Due to the volume of white papers received, no debriefs will be provided.

1/15/21 - Amendment 01 to the FOA is being posted to provide answers to industry questions. The Q&A is embedded in the FOA document. The White Paper due date is changed to 1/29/2021 (from 1/25/2021) at 11:59pm EST.

12/14/20 - Adding Link to the Full FOA Package for convenience:

https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00264446-instructions.pdf

The Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Education Program (NDEP) seeks innovative applications on mechanisms to implement Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, outreach, and/or workforce initiative programs, here onto referred as STEM activities. NDEP also seeks innovative applications on mechanisms to specifically implement Biotechnology outreach and workforce development, which here onto will be referred as Biotech activities. Additional NDEP efforts also includes a pilot program in Enhanced Civics education.

The Department intends to award multiple grants in STEM activities, Biotech activities, and Enhanced Civics subject to the availability of funds. Applications for larger amounts may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

1.  For STEM activities, there will be two (2) award levels:

(i)  STEM activities with maximum award of $3,000,000 over 3 years;

(ii) Scalable STEM activities with maximum award of $6,000,000 over four (4) years. 

2.  For Biotech activities, awards will have a maximum award of $3,000,000 over three (3) years.

3.  For Enhanced Civics education, there will be one award, with a maximum of $2,000,000 for a period of two (2) years.

This FOA has a two-step application process, starting with a MANDATORY white paper submission. Selected applicants will be invited by the Government via email to submit a full technical application on Grants.gov for evaluation and possibly award consideration. White papers that fail to address the areas listed in the Funding Opportunity Description will not be evaluated and will not receive an invitation to submit a full technical application. 

NOTE: Respondents are not required to address all three focus areas, but should direct their responses to one of the areas, 1 (STEM), 2 (Biotech), or 3 (Enhanced Civics Education).

Miscellaneous

• Other