DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) CAPACITY BUILDING (CB)
🏛 Air Force Office of Scientific Research
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for higher education institutions (individually or in partnerships) in designated DEPSCoR states and territories to build research capacity. Eligible institutions must be located in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, 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, or Wyoming.
Projects must focus on basic science and engineering research relevant to Department of Defense missions. The program aims to increase the number of competitive DoD researchers in these states and build institutional research capabilities.
Awards range from $750,000 to $1,500,000 total cost per two-year project. No cost-sharing is required. Projects must demonstrate strategic value for long-term growth in federal research funding.
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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) – Capacity Building 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.
(2) enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education (IHEs) 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; and
(3) increase the probability of long-term growth in the competitively awarded financial assistance that IHEs in eligible States/Territories receive from the Federal Government for S&E research.
The Basic Research Office anticipates up to $6 million in total funding will be made available for this program to fully fund and award between one to four grants up to $1.5 million (total cost) each. Each grant award will be funded up to $750,000 (total cost) per year for two (2) years.
The award is subject to funding availability. The Basic Research Office reserves the right to select and fund for award all, some, part, or none of the proposals received. There is no guarantee of an award.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Proposal narrative/technical plan
- Budget and budget narrative
- Institutional commitment letter(s)
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
- Facilities and resources documentation
- Statement of Work (SOW)
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
-
$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
What geographic areas are eligible for this grant?
IHEs in 34 designated DEPSCoR states and territories are eligible. See the full eligibility list in the official announcement for your specific state or territory.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is April 5, 2027. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
What research areas does DEPSCoR support?
Basic science and engineering research responsive to DoD mission needs. Proposals should demonstrate relevance to Department of Defense strategic objectives.
Do I need to provide matching funds?
No. Cost-sharing is not required for this program.
How much funding is available and how many awards will be made?
Up to $6 million is available. The program will award between one and four grants, each up to $1.5 million over two years.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Target your research to clear DoD mission relevance. Generic basic research proposals are less competitive without strategic alignment.
- Emphasize institutional capacity building. Show how the award will strengthen your institution's research infrastructure and faculty expertise long-term.
- Build partnerships strategically. Multi-institutional collaborations can strengthen proposals, but ensure clear roles and resource allocation.
- Develop a realistic two-year project plan. Include milestones, expected outcomes, and a credible timeline for execution.
- Address researcher development explicitly. Highlight how the project will train new competitive researchers in your institution or state.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals lack clear connection to DoD research priorities. Applicants underestimate the importance of demonstrating how funding will build lasting institutional capacity beyond the two-year award period. Weak or unclear budget justification for the $750,000-$1.5M request.
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