Washington Headquarters Services · Department of Defense
NDEP STEM Open NFO
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Feb 8, 2028 · 488 days left
- Award size
- $100K – $10M
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Set by the official notice: see Who can apply below
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Available in Hamilton County (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 1
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/93773e78-8e58-490e-92c4-9452254b56fd · Printed from grantme.click/grants/629d5d26-a0e0-46b2-bca4-e16ff20b5fd2
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About this grant
This is an open NFO, applicants may apply to this posting or subsequent amendments for specific STEM activities. See the Related Documents tab for the full NFO, and amendments announcing new funding opportunities.
The Department of War (DoW) Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) seeks innovative applications on mechanisms to implement and research the effectiveness of STEM education, outreach, and/or workforce initiative programs, here onto referred as STEM activities.
In response to this NFO, the Department intends to release amendments and solicitations, such as Industry Days, Opportunity Days, etc., detailing funding opportunities through award(s) in STEM activities. These activities include, but are not limited to:
• STEM Education and Outreach
• Support for STEM Education at Two-Year Institutions/Community Colleges (2YI/CCs)
• Manufacturing Engineering Education Program
• Education and Workforce Development aligned to the DoW Critical Technology Areas
• STEM Scholarship Programs
• Strategic Partnerships
• Program Evaluations, Assessments, Data Analytics and Visualizations
• Other NDEP Congressional Initiatives and Programs
As funding becomes available, NFO amendments or Industry Day/Opportunity Day announcements detailing opening and closing dates for topics of interest will be posted. In response, applicants may be asked for a mandatory white paper submission, emailed to osw.ndep.dowstem@mail.mil. Refer to the amendment for formatting the email subject line. Use of the white paper is intended to determine which efforts are of merit preparatory to submission of a full application as described in Section IV. Applicants will be selected from the white paper submissions to be invited by the Government via email to submit a full application on Grants.gov for evaluation and possible award consideration. White papers that fail to address the areas listed in the Program Description of the NFO amendment or Industry Day/Opportunity Day announcement will not be evaluated and will not receive an invitation to submit a full technical application.
White paper submissions will only be accepted in response to active NFO amendments or Industry Day/Opportunity Day announcements. In addition to the submission requirements outlined in Section IV, all responses should address items in the specific NFO amendment or...
Who can apply, from the official notice
Eligible applicants include: industry, non-profit institutions, institutions of higher education, state and/or local educational agencies, or consortia of such institutions and/or industry. Foreign entities will not be considered.
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct8
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 - Jan18
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Feb1
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Feb6
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Feb8
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Hamilton County facts with citations.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice H08_HQ003423NFOEASD01_STEM_NFO_20260323.pdf (45 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.
Registrations you need first (3)
Grants.gov · p. 1
“Amendments to this NFO will be posted to Grants.gov if they occur.” Open page 1
SAM.gov · p. 14
“To apply for grants and other funding opportunities the applicant entity must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM).” Open page 14
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 15
“Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for grants.” Open page 15
Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
What to submit
Project abstract or summary · p. 12
“White papers should follow the designated template (Section XII) and include a project summary, technical concept, rough order of magnitude cost, and relevance to topic(s) of interest (additional information on white paper content is outlined in Section…” Open page 12
Form SF-LLL · p. 14
“The Federal Assistance Certifications Report is an attestation that the entity will abide by the requirements of the various laws and regulations; therefore, as applicable, the applicant is still required to submit any documentation, including the SF-LLL…” Open page 14
Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 18
“Files that are attached to the forms must be in PDF format, except for the Initial Work Plan, and unless otherwise specified in this announcement.” Open page 18
Form SF-424 · p. 18
“Attachments to Required forms (See Attachment B for detailed instructions on filling out the SF424 Forms for DoW grants) The chart below specifies which forms and attachments required and specifies the maximum page lengths for attachments to be submitted…” Open page 18
Budget narrative / justification · p. 20
“Period of performance for the other research projects. *** Submit Budget Justification using the following format:” Open page 20
Indirect cost rate agreement · p. 22
“A Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) may be required in order for an awardee to invoice for indirect costs.” Open page 22
Audit or financial statements · p. 22
“If subject to Federal Single Audit coverage requirements, the offeror must submit the latest Single Audit with the application.” Open page 22
Letters of support or commitment · p. 23
“Letters of support are required for submission of Technical Application.” Open page 23
Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 24
“Include resumes or curricula vitae for the Project Director/Principal Investigator and other key personnel.” Open page 24
Data management plan · p. 26
“In instances where this is not possible, The Data Management Plan must explain why it is not possible or scientifically appropriate.” Open page 26
Length limits
Cover: 1 page max · p. 17
“Sections required: o Cover page (1 page maximum):” Open page 17
Summary: 1 page max · p. 17
“The Cover Page shall be labeled “White Paper,” and shall include the Funding Opportunity Number, project title, applicant’s institution, technical and administrative Points of Contact (POCs), proposed title, Topic of Interest(s) addressed (as specified in…” Open page 17
Technical Concept: 3 pages max · p. 17
“Proposed public benefit must be expressly addressed. o Technical Concept (3 page maximum):” Open page 17
Opportunity Day: 1 page max · p. 18
“o Relevance to Topic(s) of Interest specified in the NFO amendment or Industry Day/Opportunity Day (1 page maximum):” Open page 18
Cost: 1 page max · p. 18
“How does it meet the goals of the Topic of Interest, as outlined in the NFO Amendment or Industry Day/Opportunity Day? o Rough Order of Magnitude Cost (1 page maximum):” Open page 18
Resume and References: 2 pages max · p. 18
“Also describe a strategy for program sustainability, such that following the completion of DoW STEM’s investment under this funding opportunity, the effort will have a clear financial path and leave enduring organization capability. o Resume and References…” Open page 18
White Paper Sections Summary: 1 page max · p. 44
“White Paper Sections Summary (1 Page Maximum) [A summary of the proposed effort.” Open page 44
Formatting rules
12-point font · p. 16
“Font: 12 point, Times New Roman” Open page 16
single-spaced · p. 20
“Spacing – single spaced” Open page 20
Mistakes that get applications rejected (6)
Sent the wrong way or format: White papers that fail to address the areas listed in the Program Description of the NFO amendment or... · p. 4
“White papers that fail to address the areas listed in the Program Description of the NFO amendment or Industry Day/Opportunity Day announcement will not be evaluated and will not receive an invitation to submit a full technical application.” Open page 4
Could get your application rejected: Foreign entities will not be considered. · p. 12
“Foreign entities will not be considered.” Open page 12
Not registered in time: Applications will not be accepted through Grants.gov or other methods unless the entity is registered in SAM. · p. 14
“Applications will not be accepted through Grants.gov or other methods unless the entity is registered in SAM.” Open page 14
Could get your application rejected: Applications that fail to address the areas listed in the Topics of Interest will be rejected and not... · p. 15
“Applications that fail to address the areas listed in the Topics of Interest will be rejected and not considered further.” Open page 15
Late or not validated: White papers received after the due date and time specified in the NFO amendment or Industry... · p. 15
“White papers received after the due date and time specified in the NFO amendment or Industry Day/Opportunity Day announcement will not be considered under any circumstance.” Open page 15
Late or not validated: White papers received after the published deadline will not be considered under any circumstance. · p. 17
“White papers received after the published deadline will not be considered under any circumstance.” Open page 17
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 1 pass-through grant on file · 0 in Hamilton County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tennessee | Tullahoma, Franklin County | Kansas State University | $486K | 2024 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
About the federal program
National Defense Education Program, also called “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education, Outreach, and Workforce Development Programs”
Program number 12.006 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Defense, Immediate Office of the Secretary of Defense · Cooperative agreement (a grant with close agency involvement)
How applications are judged
Criteria for the review and selection of proposals will be published in the funding opportunity announcement.
Match
None required (federal program listing).
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal year 2021: NDEP STEM Grant Recipient Project Abstracts can be found on DoD STEM website: https://www.dodstem.us/meet/blog/entries/national-defense-education-program-stem-awardees/.
Funded projects range from providing educational opportunities to students across the K-20 education continuum, to providing teacher professional development at the K-12. Sample activities include web-based portal where students can interact for free with virtual STEM professionals in DoD priority areas; transforming early childhood science teaching based upon DoDEA College and Career Ready Standards for Science to measurably increase student science, literacy, and math achievement through high-impact STEM educational experiences for students and teachers; introducing undergraduates to restricted research initiative; build-up the effectiveness of teachers while providing innovative student engagement as levers of change in the STARward STEM program that is purposefully designed to ignite students� passion for STEM while illuminating new and exciting STEM career paths by starting early, incorporating technology, and using innovative partnerships to fuel this mission; and leveraging existing...