Opportunity Information: Apply for N00014 20 S F007
The FY2021 Department of the Navy (DON) Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to strengthen minority-serving institutions and grow the pipeline of minority STEM talent for the U.S. defense community, with particular relevance to the Navy and Marine Corps. The program is designed to build both people and capability: it supports basic, naval-relevant science and technology research while also aiming to deepen faculty and student engagement in STEM discovery and expand long-term research capacity at participating institutions. Proposed work is expected to connect clearly to the DON science and technology (S and T) mission, align with the Naval Research Development Framework, and address problems or knowledge gaps that matter to naval needs.
A central emphasis of this funding announcement is capacity building through meaningful research at minority-serving institutions (MSIs). The DON HBCU/MI Program explicitly seeks to enhance research and educational capabilities in scientific and engineering disciplines that are critical to Navy and Marine Corps missions. It also encourages collaborative, cross-institutional approaches that bring new perspectives to naval S and T challenges, and it places strong value on student involvement, including underrepresented minority students, in STEM areas relevant to naval priorities. Applicants are expected to communicate, in a clear and succinct way, how their research advances basic naval-relevant S and T, how it integrates faculty and students into the work, and how it leaves the institution better positioned for future research and education.
Eligibility is narrow and institution-specific. Awards can only go to U.S.-based MSIs of higher education that have degree-granting STEM programs. Under the governing statutory authority referenced in the announcement, eligible applicants must either be institutions of higher education that qualify for assistance under Title III or Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, or be accredited post-secondary MSIs. Institutions that are not formally designated as an HBCU or a Tribal College or University (TCU) have an added documentation requirement: they must include, with the initial white paper submission, a current-year Department of Education letter certifying eligibility for Title III or Title V assistance. If that letter is missing at the white paper stage for an institution that is neither an HBCU nor a TCU, the institution is treated as ineligible and the white paper is not reviewed, making this a strict, up-front compliance item.
The funding opportunity also imposes personnel and team-structure constraints that shape how projects must be proposed. The Principal Investigator and all proposed personnel are required to be U.S. citizens as of September 15, 2020, which is identified as the white paper due date. The award structure is single-PI only: co-PIs are not allowed, and sub-awards are not permitted, meaning the proposing institution must plan to execute the work internally rather than distributing portions of the project to other organizations through subcontracts or subgrants. While collaboration is encouraged in concept, these rules mean any collaboration must be structured in a way that still complies with the single-PI and no-subaward restrictions.
From a budgeting standpoint, cost sharing is explicitly not expected and is not used as an evaluation factor, so applicants are not rewarded for offering to cover costs outside the grant. However, the announcement does cap how much of the total budget can be used for PI support (salary plus fringe benefits): this category may not exceed 15 percent of the total budget. In addition, faculty salary support is limited to no more than three months per year of funding, which is a common federal research constraint intended to keep the focus on the research and student engagement rather than primarily funding faculty compensation.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number N00014-20-S-F007, categorized as a grant in the science and technology and other research and development activity area, with CFDA number 12.300. The original closing date is shown as December 8, 2020, and the listed award ceiling is $450,000. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as ONR using targeted research funding to help MSIs build durable STEM research strength and produce more highly trained minority scientists and engineers who can contribute to Navy and Marine Corps mission needs, while requiring tight compliance with citizenship, institutional eligibility documentation, and project structure rules.Apply for N00014 20 S F007
- The Office of Naval Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Funding Opportunity Announcement FY2021 Department of the Navy (DON) Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-08-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-12-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $450,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FY2021 DON HBCU/MI Program (ONR) - Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY2021 Department of the Navy (DON) Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program, a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). It supports basic, naval-relevant science and technology (S and T) research while also strengthening long-term STEM research and education capacity at minority-serving institutions (MSIs).
2) What is the main goal of the program?
The program is designed to build both people and capability. It aims to (a) support basic, DON-relevant S and T research and (b) deepen faculty and student engagement in STEM discovery, expand institutional research capacity, and grow the pipeline of minority STEM talent for the U.S. defense community, especially for Navy and Marine Corps needs.
3) What kinds of projects are a good fit?
Projects are expected to clearly connect to the DON S and T mission, align with the Naval Research Development Framework, and address problems or knowledge gaps that matter to naval needs. The announcement emphasizes meaningful research that also builds institutional capacity and student involvement in Navy-relevant STEM areas.
4) What does "capacity building" mean in this program?
Capacity building refers to strengthening the research and educational capabilities of MSIs in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to Navy and Marine Corps missions. Proposals should explain how the work leaves the institution better positioned for future research and education, not just how it produces near-term research results.
5) Who is eligible to apply?
Only U.S.-based MSIs of higher education with degree-granting STEM programs may receive awards. Under the cited statutory authority, eligible applicants must either (a) qualify for assistance under Title III or Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, or (b) be accredited post-secondary MSIs.
6) Are there additional requirements for institutions that are not HBCUs or TCUs?
Yes. If an institution is not formally designated as an HBCU or a Tribal College or University (TCU), it must include a current-year Department of Education letter certifying eligibility for Title III or Title V assistance with the initial white paper submission.
7) What happens if the Department of Education Title III/Title V letter is not included with the white paper?
If the institution is neither an HBCU nor a TCU and does not include the required current-year Department of Education eligibility letter at the white paper stage, the institution is treated as ineligible and the white paper is not reviewed. This is a strict up-front compliance requirement.
8) Is this opportunity limited to STEM-focused institutions or programs?
Eligibility includes the requirement that the MSI be a higher education institution with degree-granting STEM programs. The program also prioritizes scientific and engineering disciplines tied to Navy and Marine Corps missions.
9) What are the citizenship requirements for the project team?
The Principal Investigator (PI) and all proposed personnel must be U.S. citizens as of September 15, 2020, which is identified as the white paper due date in the announcement.
10) Are co-PIs allowed?
No. The award structure is single-PI only. Co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs) are not permitted under this funding opportunity.
11) Are sub-awards or subcontracts permitted?
No. Sub-awards are not permitted. The proposing institution must plan to execute the work internally rather than distributing portions of the project to other organizations through subawards/subgrants.
12) If collaboration is encouraged, how can collaboration happen with no sub-awards and a single PI?
The announcement encourages collaborative, cross-institutional approaches in concept, but the project must still comply with the single-PI and no-subaward restrictions. Any collaboration would need to be structured in a way that does not involve sub-awards and remains consistent with the program rules.
13) Is cost sharing required or encouraged?
No. Cost sharing is explicitly not expected and is not used as an evaluation factor. Applicants are not rewarded for offering to cover costs outside the grant.
14) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $450,000.
15) Is there a limit on how much of the budget can go to PI salary and fringe benefits?
Yes. PI support (salary plus fringe benefits) may not exceed 15 percent of the total budget.
16) Is there a limit on faculty salary support?
Yes. Faculty salary support is limited to no more than three months per year of funding.
17) What is the focus on student involvement?
The program places strong value on student involvement in STEM areas relevant to naval priorities, including participation by underrepresented minority students. Proposals are expected to explain how faculty and students are integrated into the research.
18) What should applicants clearly communicate in their proposal materials?
Applicants are expected to communicate clearly and succinctly: (a) how the research advances basic naval-relevant S and T, (b) how faculty and students are integrated into the work, and (c) how the project strengthens long-term institutional research and education capacity.
19) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is N00014-20-S-F007. The CFDA number is 12.300.
20) What type of award is this and what is the activity area?
This opportunity is categorized as a grant. The activity area is science and technology and other research and development.
21) What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date shown in the opportunity information is December 8, 2020.
22) Why does the program emphasize Navy and Marine Corps relevance?
The program is intended to support research that matters to DON needs and to strengthen a STEM talent pipeline for the U.S. defense community, with particular relevance to the Navy and Marine Corps. Proposed work is expected to address problems or knowledge gaps with clear naval mission importance.
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