MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (MSIPP) AND TRIBAL EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (TEPP)

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has a vital national security mission to protect the American people by maintaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear weapons stockpile. This mission could not be accomplished without a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strategies to build capacity, drive innovation, and ensure we have a world class workforce to meet the security demands of the present and future. As quoted from the White House’s report, Charting A Course For Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education,[1][i] “The pace of innovation is accelerating globally, and with it the competition for scientific and technical talent. Now more than ever the innovation capacity of the United States—and its prosperity and security—depends on an effective and inclusive STEM education ecosystem.”

...

In accordance with 2 CFR 910.126(b), eligibility for award is restricted to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) as educational entities recognized by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education, and identified on the OCR's Department of Education U.S. accredited postsecondary minorities institution list https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html. For the purpose of this announcement “a minority serving U.S. university/academic institution of higher learning” is defined as an educational institution in any State, Federal District, or U.S. territory that: (1) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate;(2) is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;(3) provides an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree or provides not less than a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree; and(4) is accredited by a nationally or regionally recognized accrediting agency or association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been granted reaccreditation status by such an agency or association that has been recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education for the granting of reaccreditation status, and the U.S. Secretary of Education has determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time.Application submitted by TCUs will be evaluated separately through the TEPP program.For prospective applicants who are submitting financial assistance applications to this FOA, the individual(s) selected as the PI and Co-PI(s) for the grant must be a U.S. Person(s) and be:(1) an active member of the teaching/research faculty of a U.S. university or academic institution of higher learningA “U.S. Person” is defined as an individual that is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Adjunct professors, visiting professors, and post-doctoral fellows are ineligible to be PIs. Investigators from foreign universities or academic institutions or foreign-based not-for-profit, non-degree-granting organizations, irrespective of citizenship, are ineligible to be PIs. Such individuals may receive funding under a subaward if the Principal Investigator requests and receives written permission for such funding from the MSIPP Program Manager. There may be security restrictions on participation by foreign nationals at certain facilities and conferences, in accordance with applicable U.S. Department of Energy Security Policy, Directives, Regulations, or Requirements.Nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are eligible to apply only as a sub-applicant (team member) and will need to follow the application and submittal requirements for subawardees as discussed in Section IV – Application and Submission Information.