DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) – RESEARCH COLLABORATION (RC)
🏛 Air Force Office of Scientific Research
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for faculty researchers at higher education institutions in eligible states/territories who want to conduct DoD-relevant basic research. Applicants must be full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty members who have never been a PI on a prior DoD-funded research award. Each application requires a Collaborator who is an experienced DoD researcher willing to mentor. Eligible geographic areas include 37 states, territories, and the District of Columbia (see the list: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, 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, US Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming).
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Program description
The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) – Research Collaboration (RC) opportunity. The program is sponsored and managed by the Basic Research Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD [R&E]), awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The DoD plans to award FY26 DEPSCoR appropriations through this announcement.
DEPSCoR’s objectives are to:
(1) increase the number of university researchers in eligible States/Territories capable of performing science and engineering (S&E research responsive to the needs of the DoD; and
(2) enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education (IHE) in eligible States/Territories (listed below) to develop, plan, and execute (S&E) research that is relevant to the mission of the DoD, and competitive under the peer-review systems used for awarding Federal research assistance;
(3) increase the probability of long-term growth in the competitively awarded financial assistance that IHE in eligible States receive from the Federal Government for S&E research.
Consistent with these long term objectives of building research infrastructure, the DoD intends to competitively make, and fund from fiscal year 2026 appropriations, multiyear awards for S&E research in areas relevant to the DoD’s mission and important to national security.
The Basic Research Office anticipates up to $14.4 million in total funding will be made available for this program to fully fund and award up to twenty four (24) grants up to $600,000 (total cost) each. Each grant award will be funded up to $200,000 (total cost) per year for three (3) years.
Awards are subject to funding availability. There is no guarantee of an award.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 (R&R)
- Project Narrative/Research Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (Applicant and Collaborator)
- Current and Pending Support (Applicant and Collaborator)
- Letters of Commitment from Collaborator and Institution
Program contact
- 👤 Denise M Johnson Grantor
- 📧 denise.johnson.19@us.af.mil
- 📞 7036965968
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 12.431 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$213,594,079
-
$88,655,689
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$54,356,555
-
$49,736,421
-
$48,908,501
-
$44,245,583
-
$38,292,265
-
$34,850,000
-
$31,526,562
-
$27,457,336
Top States by Funding
- MD 10 awards $367.6M
- MA 14 awards $215.1M
- CA 11 awards $194.0M
- TX 7 awards $139.0M
- PA 10 awards $133.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 12.431). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $764,057,529 | |
| 2025 | $750,782,726 | |
| 2026 est. | $800,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can serve as the Applicant/Principal Investigator?
A full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty member at an eligible institution who has never been a PI on a prior DoD-funded research Prime award.
What is the role of the Collaborator/co-PI?
The Collaborator must be an experienced DoD researcher who will mentor the Applicant. They must have actively served as a PI on a DoD-funded award between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2026.
What is the funding amount and duration?
Awards up to $600,000 total, typically distributed as $200,000 per year for three years. Actual funding depends on availability and competition.
What research topics are supported?
Basic research relevant to DoD's mission and national security priorities. Research areas must address DoD research needs.
Can I apply if my institution is not in an eligible state?
No. Your faculty appointment must be at an institution in one of the 37 listed eligible states and territories.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Form a strong mentoring partnership early. The Collaborator's experience and commitment to mentoring significantly strengthens your proposal.
- Clearly articulate how your research aligns with DoD priorities and national security. Use DoD research strategy documents to guide your framing.
- Demonstrate that your institution will build lasting research capacity. Show how this award supports long-term research infrastructure growth.
- Build a detailed three-year timeline. Explain how you'll progress from year one through year three with clear milestones.
- Address the mentoring relationship explicitly. Describe how the Collaborator will support your transition to future DoD funding.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants without an established Collaborator/co-PI relationship often submit weak proposals; identify a mentor early. Proposals that fail to connect research to DoD mission needs or national security are typically rejected regardless of scientific merit. Institutions outside eligible states submit ineligible applications; verify your faculty appointment location before applying.
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