STARBASE Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Further demonstrating the program's growth, the Virginia National Guard broke ground on the Blackstone STARBASE Academy in late 2024, with the program beginning to serve students in early 2025.
STARBASE Montana also saw a successful year, bringing in $1,049,409 in federal funding and serving 2,276 students through its various programs.
However, the year also saw the temporary suspension of STARBASE Arkansas operations due to a gap in U.S. government funding.
The program's flagship 5-day sessions for fifth graders, along with STARBASE 2.0 and 3.0 for middle and high schoolers, are ongoing at numerous locations.
For instance, Peach State STARBASE has a full calendar of events scheduled for the fall of 2025, serving multiple elementary schools.
The program's core mission remains to provide hands-on, inquiry-based curriculum to at-risk youth, with the goal of increasing their interest and knowledge in STEM fields and encouraging them to set and achieve goals.
STARBASE continues to partner with local schools and communities to provide these valuable learning experiences.
Program Objective
This is a non discretionary award.
1. STARBASE 2.0 is an afterschool, middle and high school mentoring initiative conducted in partnership with local school districts that combines STEM activities with a relationship-rich, school-based environment to provide the missing link for youth making the transition from elementary to middle school, and from middle to high school. STEM clubs are expected to meet no less than four hours per month, for a minimum of 20 hours per school year.
2. STARBASE 3.0 provides extracurricular STEM instruction and projects to high school students and is typically offered after school or during the summer. The program is highly structured and helps support school goals, fosters ingenuity and creativity, builds confidence and resilience, encourages experimentation and teamwork, and teaches students how to solve problems using critical thinking skills to improve knowledge and skills of students from kindergarten through twelfth grade in STEM.
3. The Program is a non-combat, civil-military activity of the National Guard
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- U.S. State Government
- U.S. Territory Government
This is a non-discretionary award. Recipient must be one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, or Guam, and apply through the State Adjutant General's Office to the USPFO through National Guard.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
This is a non-discretionary award. Applicant must be one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, or Guam and shall develop a plan which includes details on school district application and selection procedures, number of students to be trained, staffing, curriculum, facilities and services, State public and private service to be provided and a detailed budget.
After Congress authorizes, approves, and appropriates funds for the project and the National Guard Bureau reviews and approves all necessary plans, specifications, bidding documents, contracts and other documentation, the award will be executed by the Grant Officer.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 90 to 120 days
This is a non-discretionary award. NGB STARBASE Cooperative Agreements are Congressionally directed assistance to the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam National Guard. These are the only allowable applicants. The Recipient must work through their Adjutant General, who will work with the USPFO to obtain approval to have this program.
Program details & compliance
Description
This is a non-discretionary award. STARBASE Program, to raise the interest and improve the knowledge and skills of underserved youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), which will provide for a highly educated and skilled American workforce that can meet the advanced technological requirements of the Department of Defense.
Mission Categories
Primary: STEM Education
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
This is a non discretionary award used to carry out the National Guard STARBASE Program in a State, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam or the District of Columbia, the Secretary of Defense shall enter into an agreement with the Governor of the State, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, or, in the case of the District of Columbia, with the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, under which the Governor or the commanding general will establish, organize, and administer the National Guard STARBASE Program in the State. The agreement may provide for the Secretary to provide funds to the recipient for costs associated with the management of the program to include but not limited to such costs as civilian personnel costs attributable to the use of civilian employees of the National Guard. facilities maintenance and upkeep. etc. in the conduct of the National Guard STARBASE Program. NGB STARBASE Cooperative Agreements are Congressionally directed assistance to the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam National Guard. Additional restrictions are listed in the terms and conditions of each specific Cooperative Agreement Award.
Required Documentation
This is a non-discretionary program. Must be one of the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, or Guam, and apply through the State Adjutant General's Office to the USPFO through National Guard.
Matching Requirements
This program has no matching requirements
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements