ERBC NOFO
Agency: Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division
- 97.108 -- Homeland Security, Research, Testing, Evaluation, and Demonstration of Technologies
Archived opportunityLast Updated: May 13, 2026
View version history on Grants.gov
Description
Advances in the ability to design and engineer biological organisms for intended purposes, an ability commonly called synthetic biology, increase our understandings of natural systems. Improved understandings of natural systems can equate to improved performance of those (and other) systems. For instance, synthetic biology can be used to alter genetic information within cells to enable a range of outcomes, from simple things like changing the color of a plant to complex things like designing improved medicines that seek and eliminate diseased cells within a sick person. At the same time, improvements in engineering techniques, tools, and applications can be merged with biology to develop biological parts and systems that are working and sustainable. In addition, synthetic biology is unique among the basic sciences because it exists at the intersection of engineering, science and commercial impact – three valuable arenas. As a result of these advantages, synthetic biology is a field in which the U.S. cannot afford to lag.
To stay competitive in the search for answers through biology, the U.S. government needs to have close relationships with the bioengineering, or synthetic biology, community, including commercial companies and end users. Having a close relationship with the synthetic biology community would enable the government to keep abreast of the changes and impacts brought about by synthetic biology, so the government could assess the potential upsides and dangers resulting from synthetic biology processes. As a result, DHS proposes to bring together a community of scientists, engineering developers, commercial companies, and end users to enable DHS to both understand the possible directions the synthetic biology community may take in the future, and also influence those directions
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and state institutions of higher education
Nonprofit
- Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
- Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
Additional information
Grantor contact information
Description
janet.bailey@hq.dhs.gov
Documents
| File name | Description | Last updated |
|---|---|---|
| EBRC_NOFO.pdf | ERBC NOFO | Jun 24, 2019 04:31 PM UTC |
Link to additional information
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Archived: August 28, 2019
Award
$--
Program Funding
30
Expected awards
$--
Award Minimum
$--
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
DHS-ST-19-108-CBD-0001
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
Funding instrument type:
Cooperative agreement
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Category of Funding Activity:
Science technology and other research and development
Category Explanation:
History
Version:
2
Posted date:
June 24, 2019
Archive date:
August 28, 2019
