FY2018 Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program | N00014 17 S F017

FY2018 DoN ONR HBCU/MI Program (N00014-17-S-F017) - FAQs

1) What is the FY2018 HBCU/MI Program?

The FY2018 Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program is a Department of the Navy (DoN) research grant opportunity administered by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). It is designed to strengthen the STEM pipeline and expand the presence of minority professionals in the defense research community by funding basic, naval-relevant research at eligible Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) while also building research and education capacity.

2) What is the main purpose of this grant program?

The program supports basic research that is relevant to U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps missions and aims to create meaningful hands-on research experiences for students, including underrepresented minorities, in high-need STEM areas tied to national defense.

3) What are the three primary goals of the program?

The FOA describes three main goals: (1) improve research and educational capabilities at HBCUs and other eligible MSIs in fields important to the Navy, (2) encourage collaboration across institutions (including cross-institutional teams) in naval research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E), and (3) increase student involvement in defense-relevant STEM research.

4) Who administers and sponsors the opportunity?

The opportunity is sponsored by the Department of the Navy (DoN) and administered by the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

5) What kind of funding opportunity is this?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity. The CFDA number listed is 12.300.

6) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is N00014-17-S-F017.

7) What is the closing date shown for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed in the opportunity metadata is April 30, 2018.

8) Does the FOA require a white paper before a full proposal?

Yes. The FOA is geared toward white paper submissions first. Full proposals are submitted by invitation only, meaning ONR screens white papers and selectively invites full proposals that align tightly with Navy priorities.

9) What is the intent behind the white paper first approach?

The intent is to identify promising ideas early and then invite more developed, full proposals only for concepts that demonstrate strong fit, relevance, and promise relative to Navy priorities.

10) What types of research does the program fund?

The program funds basic research performed at HBCUs and other eligible MSIs, with an emphasis on naval relevance and alignment to research priorities described in the Naval Research Development Framework.

11) What major mission areas does the FOA highlight?

The FOA highlights three large mission areas: (1) Information, Cyber, and Spectrum Superiority, (2) Mission Capable, Persistent, and Survivable Sea Platforms, and (3) Aviation, Force Projection, and Integrated Defense.

12) What is included in the Information, Cyber, and Spectrum Superiority mission area?

This mission area targets the Navy need to sense, communicate, and decide faster in contested environments. Topics include Assured Command and Control (C2), Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW), and Full Spectrum Cyber technologies.

13) What is Assured Command and Control (C2) in this FOA?

Assured C2 focuses on protected data transport, resilient networks, trusted applications, and decision support that shortens the "data to decisions" timeline.

14) What is Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW) in this FOA?

EMW covers advanced spectrum management and ways to blend communications, sensing, and electronic warfare to shape the battlespace, including wideband monitoring and more efficient spectrum use.

15) What does "Full Spectrum Cyber" refer to in this FOA?

Full Spectrum Cyber technologies focus on protecting networks, data, and control systems through resilient architectures, automated defenses, host hardening, and data assurance for operations in degraded or adversarial conditions.

16) What example research interests are named under Information, Cyber, and Spectrum Superiority?

Examples listed include advanced RF electronics and materials, communications and networking, decision-making computation, data science and analytics, electronic warfare, sensors and sensor processing, machine learning and reasoning, resource optimization, and precision navigation and timekeeping.

17) What is the focus of the Mission Capable, Persistent, and Survivable Sea Platforms mission area?

This mission area centers on improving the performance, endurance, maintainability, and survivability of ships and submarines operating in more distributed and contested settings.

18) What sea platform technology needs does the FOA call out?

The FOA calls out needs such as power and energy technologies for surface ships (including energy management and pulsed power driven by electric weapons and high-power sensors), modeling and computational tools for platform-environment-threat interactions, integrated protection concepts (including stealth and counter-directed-energy approaches), and tactical decision aids.

19) How does the FOA address undersea dominance?

Undersea dominance is explicitly highlighted, reflecting concerns about increasingly quiet submarines fielded by competitors and the need for advances in materials, acoustics, intelligent control, and countermeasures.

20) Does the FOA emphasize sustainment and affordability for sea platforms?

Yes. The FOA encourages modularity, improved interface standards, reduced maintenance burden, and validated design tools that can rapidly assess novel platform concepts.

21) What are representative research topics for the sea platforms mission area?

Representative topics listed include naval engineering, advanced naval power systems, survivable sea platform concepts, unmanned sea platforms and autonomy (including their power needs), advanced naval materials, undersea weapons and energetics, environmental quality, and corrosion control.

22) What is the focus of the Aviation, Force Projection, and Integrated Defense mission area?

This mission area focuses on future naval aviation and weapon systems that can operate at longer ranges and higher speeds and against sophisticated threats. It emphasizes integrated defense, force projection, and advanced capabilities such as directed energy, networked weapons, and autonomy.

23) What weapon and defense technology themes are mentioned for aviation and force projection?

The FOA mentions layered defense and force projection enabled by directed energy and counter-directed-energy systems, networked weapons to improve probability of kill while reducing redundant targeting, and advanced energetic and warhead materials that can reduce size while maintaining effectiveness.

24) What other aviation and strike concepts are referenced?

The FOA points to electromagnetic launch concepts, precision strike and decision support for naval fires across domains (air, surface, undersea, expeditionary), improved aerodynamic control for unconventional aircraft designs, next-generation propulsion (including variable-cycle technologies), and improved structures/materials to reduce life-cycle cost and improve strength-to-weight performance.

25) How is autonomy positioned in this FOA?

Autonomy is framed as a way to reduce risk, improve mission performance, and enable persistent and responsive capabilities that may be impractical with traditional approaches.

26) What research interests are listed under Aviation, Force Projection, and Integrated Defense?

Research interests listed include directed energy and counter-directed-energy, aerodynamics, flight dynamics and control, propulsion, structures and materials, energetic materials, hypersonics, and autonomy.

27) Who is eligible to apply?

Awards are limited to U.S.-based Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) that are degree-granting institutions in STEM.

28) What MSI eligibility standard does the FOA reference?

The FOA states eligibility is open to institutions eligible for assistance under Title III or Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, or other accredited post-secondary MSIs, consistent with the relevant statutory authority.

29) What if an applicant is an MSI but not formally designated as an HBCU or Tribal College or University (TCU)?

If the institution is an MSI but not formally designated as an HBCU or TCU, it must provide a current academic year letter from the U.S. Department of Education verifying Title III or Title V eligibility.

30) When must the Title III/Title V eligibility verification letter be provided?

The letter must be provided at the white paper stage. Without the letter at the white paper stage, the submission is deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.

31) Are there citizenship requirements for the PI and project personnel?

Yes. The Principal Investigator and all proposed personnel must be U.S. citizens as of the white paper due date.

32) How does the citizenship requirement affect team composition?

Because the FOA requires the PI and all proposed personnel to be U.S. citizens as of the white paper due date, teams must be structured to meet this compliance constraint before submitting the white paper.

33) Are collaborations and cross-institutional teams encouraged?

Yes. The program specifically aims to encourage collaboration across institutions, including cross-institutional teams, in naval RDT&E.

34) Is the number of expected awards provided in the excerpt?

No. In the provided text excerpt, the number of expected awards is not specified.

35) Is there an award ceiling stated in the excerpt?

No. The provided text excerpt notes that the FOA does not clearly state an award ceiling.

36) What signals that the process is competitive?

The opportunity structure indicates a competitive process: white papers are screened for fit and promise, and only select applicants are invited to submit full proposals.

37) What framework must proposed work align with?

Proposed work must fit within research priorities described in the Naval Research Development Framework.

38) What kinds of student experiences does the program emphasize?

The program emphasizes meaningful hands-on research experiences that engage students, including underrepresented minorities, in high-need STEM areas tied to national defense.