Research Initiatives at the Naval Postgraduate School
🏛 Naval Supply Systems Command
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research conducted at or in partnership with the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). Eligible applicants typically include NPS faculty, researchers, and affiliated institutions working on defense-relevant research topics. Projects must align with Department of Defense and Naval priorities.
Research must support Naval operations, strategic priorities, or military capabilities. Geographic scope is not restricted, but research must have clear defense applications. Funding supports investigative and applied research projects that advance Naval capabilities or understanding.
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Program description
This FOA is intended for proposals related to basic and applied research in the STEM categories, and not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement.
The proposal submission process has two stages:
I. Applicants are encouraged to submit a white paper first to Grants@NPS.edu, ; and
II. Applicants must submit a full proposal through Grants.gov (do not submit white papers through Grants.gov, only full proposals)
Applicants are encouraged to submit a White Paper in advance of a Full Proposal to minimize the labor and other costs associated with the production of detailed full proposals that have little chance of being selected for funding. Based on an assessment of the white papers, the responsible Research Program Officer will provide informal feedback notification to the prospective awardees to encourage or discourage submission proposals. The Research Program Officer may also, on occasion, provide feedback encouraging re-work to strengthen a proposal.
White Papers may be submitted at any time during the open period of this FOA. A separate White Paper is required for each research proposal.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 or SF-424R (federal application form)
- Project Narrative with research objectives and methodology
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Qualifications and resumes of key personnel
- Letters of support from Naval Postgraduate School or Naval partners
- Technical approach document
- Research timeline and milestones
Program contact
- 👤 Christine Jordan Grantor
- 📧 christine.jordan@navy.mil
- 📞 619-556-6121
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 12.300 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$112,259,544
-
$75,985,619
-
$67,720,186
-
$41,951,229
-
$40,990,349
-
$38,763,049
-
$36,400,000
-
$35,252,372
-
$33,852,529
-
$30,000,001
Top States by Funding
- MA 7 awards $191.9M
- DC 8 awards $166.9M
- CA 9 awards $164.4M
- FL 7 awards $118.3M
- HI 7 awards $101.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 12.300). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $334,244,206 | |
| 2025 | $218,929,958 | |
| 2026 est. | $333,130,069 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Faculty and researchers at Naval Postgraduate School, along with affiliated researchers and institutions. Projects must have defense relevance and Naval applications.
What is the application deadline?
The fixed deadline is January 13, 2030. Applications open January 13, 2026.
What types of research activities are supported?
Investigative research, applied research, and development projects supporting Naval operations and strategic priorities.
How competitive is this funding?
This is a specialized grant with limited eligible applicants. Competition focuses on research quality and Naval relevance.
What is the typical funding range?
Amounts vary based on project scope and research complexity. Federal defense research grants typically range from $50,000 to $500,000+.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish clear connections between your research and current Naval strategic priorities or operational needs.
- Partner with Naval Postgraduate School faculty if you are from an outside institution to strengthen credibility.
- Use the Naval Supply Systems Command research roadmap to align your project with command priorities.
- Budget realistically for multi-year research timelines; defense research often requires 2-3 year execution periods.
- Include metrics for how your research will improve Naval capabilities or inform policy decisions.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to demonstrate direct Naval relevance or operational impact. Applications are rejected when research seems academic rather than defense-focused.
Underestimating budget or timeline complexity for defense research projects. Many applications lack sufficient detail on methodology or feasibility.
Not involving Naval Postgraduate School partnerships or expertise in project design.
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