Opportunity Information: Apply for NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260004
The FY26 Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) - Research Collaboration (RC) opportunity is a Department of Defense basic research grant program designed to expand and strengthen defense-relevant research capacity at universities in designated DEPSCoR-eligible states and territories. The program is sponsored and managed by the DoD Basic Research Office within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), with awards made by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and administrative support handled through the Office of Naval Research (ONR). In practical terms, it is a DoD pathway for building long-term university research infrastructure and talent in places that historically receive a smaller share of federal R&D funding, while still focusing tightly on science and engineering topics that matter to the DoD mission and national security.
The opportunity centers on three connected goals. First, it seeks to increase the number of researchers at eligible institutions who can conduct science and engineering research that is responsive to DoD needs. Second, it aims to improve the ability of institutions of higher education (IHEs) in eligible locations to develop, plan, and execute competitive research programs that can succeed under rigorous peer review standards used across federal research funding. Third, it is meant to raise the odds that these institutions will see sustained, long-term growth in competitively awarded federal research funding. The emphasis is not only on producing publishable basic research results, but also on strengthening the people, collaborations, and institutional capacity that make future DoD-relevant research proposals more competitive.
A defining feature of this DEPSCoR RC competition is its mentorship-driven collaboration model. Proposals must be built around a pair of researchers: an Applicant/Principal Investigator (PI) and a Collaborator/co-PI. The Applicant is intended to be a newer DoD investigator: a full-time faculty member who has never previously served as a PI on a DoD directly funded research prime award. The Collaborator is the experienced DoD-funded researcher who provides mentorship and helps connect the Applicant to DoD research expectations and the broader defense research ecosystem. To qualify as the Collaborator, the investigator must have served as a PI on a DoD directly funded research prime award that was active at some point between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2026. This structure is explicitly meant to lower the barrier for first-time DoD prime PIs while still ensuring the proposed work is guided by someone familiar with DoD program priorities, culture, and proposal standards.
Funding is substantial for a basic research starter-to-growth award. The DoD anticipates up to $14.4 million total available under this announcement, with plans to make up to 24 grant awards. Each individual award can be up to $600,000 in total costs over a three-year period, funded at up to $200,000 total cost per year for three years. These are multi-year grants supported by FY26 appropriations, but all awards remain contingent on funding availability, and the announcement clearly states there is no guarantee of an award. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant in the science and technology / research and development category (CFDA 12.431).
Eligibility is limited both by geography and by faculty appointment type. Applicants must be tenured or tenure-track faculty members with appointments at institutions of higher education located in DEPSCoR-eligible states and territories listed in the announcement. The eligible locations are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The program references an eligibility table in Section III.A for applicants to confirm details.
Administratively, the opportunity is published as Funding Opportunity Number NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260004 through AFOSR. The original closing date shown in the source information is April 5, 2027, and the announcement was created on August 10, 2026. The headline takeaway is that this program is specifically set up to help a first-time DoD prime PI in an eligible state or territory launch a defense-relevant basic research effort with direct mentoring from an experienced DoD-funded collaborator, using a three-year, up-to-$600K grant designed to build lasting competitiveness and research capacity.Apply for NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260004
- The Air Force Office of Scientific Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY26 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) – RESEARCH COLLABORATION (RC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.431.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-04-05.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 24 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FY26 DEPSCoR Research Collaboration (RC) FAQ
What is the FY26 DEPSCoR - Research Collaboration (RC) opportunity?
The FY26 Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) - Research Collaboration (RC) opportunity is a Department of Defense (DoD) basic research grant program. Its purpose is to expand and strengthen defense-relevant research capacity at universities located in designated DEPSCoR-eligible states and territories, especially in places that have historically received a smaller share of federal R&D funding.
What does DEPSCoR RC focus on?
It focuses on basic research in science and engineering areas that matter to the DoD mission and national security, while also building long-term institutional capacity and researcher competitiveness for future DoD-relevant funding.
What are the main goals of this program?
The opportunity is centered on three connected goals: (1) increasing the number of researchers at eligible institutions who can conduct DoD-responsive science and engineering research; (2) improving the ability of eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop, plan, and execute competitive research programs under rigorous peer review; and (3) increasing the likelihood of sustained, long-term growth in competitively awarded federal research funding.
Who sponsors and manages the program?
The program is sponsored and managed by the DoD Basic Research Office within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)).
Which organizations make and support the awards?
Awards are made by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Administrative support is handled through the Office of Naval Research (ONR).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260004.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant in the science and technology / research and development category.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 12.431.
How much total funding is expected to be available under this announcement?
The DoD anticipates up to $14.4 million total available under this announcement.
How many awards does the DoD plan to make?
The DoD plans to make up to 24 grant awards.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
Each individual award can be up to $600,000 in total costs over a three-year period.
How is the award typically funded each year?
Funding can be up to $200,000 total cost per year for three years, for a three-year total of up to $600,000.
How long is the project period?
The project period is three years.
Is funding guaranteed if a proposal is submitted?
No. The announcement indicates there is no guarantee of an award, and all awards remain contingent on funding availability.
What makes the DEPSCoR RC model different from typical research grants?
A defining feature is the mentorship-driven collaboration model. Proposals must be built around a paired research team that includes an Applicant/Principal Investigator (PI) and a Collaborator/co-PI, with the Collaborator serving as an experienced DoD-funded mentor.
Who is the Applicant/Principal Investigator (PI) intended to be?
The Applicant/PI is intended to be a newer DoD investigator: a full-time faculty member who has never previously served as a PI on a DoD directly funded research prime award.
Who is the Collaborator/co-PI and what role do they play?
The Collaborator/co-PI is an experienced DoD-funded researcher who provides mentorship and helps connect the Applicant to DoD research expectations and the broader defense research ecosystem.
What are the Collaborator eligibility requirements related to prior DoD funding?
To qualify, the Collaborator must have served as a PI on a DoD directly funded research prime award that was active at some point between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2026.
Why does the program require an Applicant and a Collaborator?
This structure is meant to lower the barrier for first-time DoD prime PIs while ensuring the proposed work is guided by someone familiar with DoD program priorities, culture, and proposal standards.
Who is eligible to apply as an Applicant/PI?
Applicants must be tenured or tenure-track faculty members with appointments at institutions of higher education located in DEPSCoR-eligible states and territories listed in the announcement.
Are there geographic limitations on eligibility?
Yes. Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education located in DEPSCoR-eligible states and territories specified in the announcement.
Which states and territories are listed as DEPSCoR-eligible for this opportunity?
The listed eligible locations are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Does the opportunity provide a way to confirm eligibility details?
Yes. The program references an eligibility table in Section III.A for applicants to confirm details.
What is the primary purpose of the award beyond producing research results?
In addition to producing publishable basic research results, the program emphasizes strengthening people, collaborations, and institutional capacity so that future DoD-relevant research proposals from these institutions become more competitive over the long term.
Which fiscal year appropriations support these awards?
These are multi-year grants supported by FY26 appropriations, subject to funding availability.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on August 10, 2026.
What is the closing date shown in the source information?
The original closing date shown in the source information is April 5, 2027.
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| MPS Astronomical Sciences Research Programs (MPS Astro) Apply for 26 522 Funding Number: 26 522 Agency: U.S. National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Engineering (ENG): Chemical, Bioengineering, Energy, and Transport Systems (CBET) Apply for 26 518 Funding Number: 26 518 Agency: U.S. National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| MPS Materials Research Programs (MPS Materials) Apply for 26 521 Funding Number: 26 521 Agency: U.S. National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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