Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Department of Defense

The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program Cooperative Agreement

Open · Opportunity W911NF-27-R-A001 · Assistance Listing 12.631

Deadline: Due Dec 3, 2026 · 57 days left
Award size: Up to $1300M
Cost share / match ?: Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply: Other (see eligibility)
Where: Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Grant-ready checklist

How this fits you

Available in Hamilton County (nationwide program)
No cost share required
Tennessee recipients since 2023: 1

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

About this grant

The Department of War (DoW) seeks innovative applications to cooperatively partner with eligible entities in the implementation and execution of the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program. The Department intends to award ONE (1) CA award, with a maximum award of up to $1,300M over a ten-year period of performance. The National Defense Education Program (NDEP) supports the Department's priorities to improve lethality, warfighting, and readiness by developing America’s future technical workforce poised to create advanced technologies, tools, and capabilities necessary to ensure the United States (U.S.) military remains the most powerful and advanced, capable of deterring adversaries and protecting American interests at home and abroad. NDEP is executed by OUSW(R&E) and ensures the Department’s ability to develop and access high-quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent vital to addressing key areas of national defense and supporting the warfighter. NDEP activities provide authentic DoW-relevant learning experiences through a variety of DoW STEM initiatives in the form of scholarships, internships, enrichment activities, project/research-based competitions, and mentorships. One of the main NDEP efforts in addressing talent development and recruitment is through the SMART Program, pursuant to Section 4093 of Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.). The SMART Program enables the Department to transform its STEM workforce while addressing near-term workforce demands. Per 10 U.S.C. 4093, the SMART program awards highly competitive scholarships for undergraduate and graduate degrees in any of the 22 STEM academic disciplines critical to national security. Upon graduation, and subject to DoW component requirements, scholars may be considered for a one-for-one employment service commitment within the DoW Civilian workforce. SMART scholars perform many aspects of the national security mission including science and technology, research and development, manufacturing, test and evaluation, maintenance and in-service support, medical research, warfighter support, infrastructure and construction, material decommission and disposal, and intelligence gathering and analysis activities. The SMART program ensures the Department has a steady infusion of high-quality technical talent, prepared in areas of critical importance, and ready to apply...

Eligibility (from the notice)

To be qualified potential applicants must have the following: •Management capability and adequate financial and technical resources to administer the program of activities envisioned under the SMART Program, •A satisfactory record of administering such programs or activities (if a prior recipient of an award) •A satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics • Be otherwise qualified and eligible to receive a CA under applicable laws and regulation.

Should we apply? (2-minute check) Ask a partner for a letter

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov
Nov12
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters.
Nov26
Finish a complete draft for a final review
University grant offices require final versions about 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. Emory Office of Sponsored Programs
Dec1
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
Dec3
Deadline
From the funder.

Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.

Writing the need statement? Hamilton County facts with citations.

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the funding notice SMART_CA_2026_NFO.pdf (46 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words; open the page to read it in context. The notice itself always controls.

Award size and project length

Award amounts here are per year · p. 16

“Anticipated funding level for tuition and stipends and other academic expenses is $60 - $100 million per year, based on budget.” Open page 16

Registrations you need first

SAM.gov · p. 23

“In deciding whether a Recipient is otherwise qualified, the Grants Officer shall ensure that the potential Applicant is registered and in good standing in the System for Award Management (SAM).” Open page 23
Grants.gov · p. 23

“Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) Amendments to this NOFO, if any, will be posted to these websites when they occur.” Open page 23
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 26

“Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is exempt from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exemption approved by the Federal…” Open page 26

New to these? SAM.gov registration can take weeks, so start early: grant-ready checklist.

What to submit

Form SF-LLL · p. 24

“For compatible versions of Adobe Reader, please see the following link: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html Applicants must complete the mandatory forms and any optional forms (e.g., SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities)…” Open page 24
Project abstract or summary · p. 24

“The project summary must not exceed 5 pages.” Open page 24
Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 25

“Chapter 4 - Credentials - Credentials are limited to 8 pages to include the resumes or biographical sketches of individuals.” Open page 25
Budget narrative / justification · p. 25

“Provide budget justification.” Open page 25
Form SF-424 · p. 37

“By electronically signing SF-424, the applicant affirms its agreement with the following certification. i.” Open page 37

Length limits

5 pages max · p. 24

“The project summary must not exceed 5 pages.” Open page 24
Chapter: 15 pages max · p. 24

“Applicants are advised that Chapter 1 must not exceed 15 pages, utilizing one side of the” Open page 24
Chapter: 8 pages max · p. 25

“Applicants are advised that Chapter 2 of the proposal must not exceed 8 pages, utilizing one side of the page.” Open page 25
Chapter: 6 pages max · p. 25

“Applicants are advised that Chapter 3 of the proposal must not exceed 6 pages, utilizing one side of the page.” Open page 25
Credentials: 8 pages max · p. 25

“Chapter 4 - Credentials - Credentials are limited to 8 pages to include the resumes or biographical sketches of individuals.” Open page 25

Formatting rules

11-point font · p. 24

“Font – No smaller than Times New Roman, 11 point” Open page 24

Cost share or match

Cost share / match · p. 4

“Cost Share or Matching Cost sharing or matching is not required for this NOFO.” Open page 4

Mistakes that get applications rejected

Could get your application rejected · p. 24

“Pages in excess of this page limit will not be evaluated.” Open page 24
Could get your application rejected · p. 24

“Pages in excess of the noted page limits will not be evaluated.” Open page 24
Could get your application rejected · p. 26

“Proposals submitted after the closing date will not be considered or evaluated by the Government. b.” Open page 26

Who in Tennessee has won this program

1 award to Tennessee recipients in 1 county since federal FY2023 · 0 in Hamilton County. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee recipients
Recipient	Where	Amount	FY
Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Incorporated	Oak Ridge, Anderson County	$61K	2024

Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.

About the program (12.631)

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Program: Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) — SMART Scholarship Program

How applications are judged

Criteria for the review and selection of proposals will be published in the funding opportunity announcement.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. This program has no statutory formula. *Selected this option since a prompt to select no matching requirement does not exist. Per reference guide above, indicated on the description that this program has no statutory formula.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2024: The SMART Scholarship Program is executed under a five-year cooperative agreement award that was issued in FY22.

Program listing on SAM.gov

Something wrong with this listing? Tell us

Key facts