National Center for Narrative Intelligence (NCNI)

Under this FY26 grant agreement, academic partners will establish the National Center for Narrative Intelligence (NCNI) by executing RDT&E tasks across the following four pillars: workforce development, applied research infrastructure, collaborative networks, and strategic analysis for DoW leadership.

The only eligible applicant is the Mississippi State University; no other applications will be considered.

Proposals for funding will be evaluated based on a comprehensive set of criteria to ensure the selection of high-quality, viable, and impactful projects. Initially, applicants must meet all fundamental Eligibility requirements and demonstrate a strong history of Past Performance in managing grant funding, which establishes the institution's capacity and reliability. The core of the evaluation will then focus on the proposal's clarity and substance, requiring a clear articulation of the project's Objectives and a Sound Methodology for achieving them, including a reasonable timeline. Successful proposals must also specify plans for all required Deliverables and demonstrate the Quality & Experience of the proposed team, certifying their time commitments. If collaborators are involved, Identified Partners and their responsibilities must be clearly delineated. Where solicited, the project's degree of Project Innovation will also be assessed. Finally, the proposed Cost must be reasonable for the project's scope; in cases where proposals are evaluated as equal, cost will be a determining factor in the final selection.