Operations Engineering
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 17, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers and institutions seeking to support operations research and engineering research activities. Primary applicants typically include academic institutions, research universities, and independent research organizations. The program funds fundamental research in operations engineering, including optimization, systems engineering, logistics, and related computational methods. Eligible activities include basic research projects, graduate student support, curriculum development in operations engineering, and collaborative research efforts. Both theoretical and applied research projects are supported. Geographic scope is nationwide, and the program is open to U.S. institutions and U.S. citizens or permanent residents conducting research within the United States.
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Program description
The Operations Engineering (OE) program supports fundamental research on advanced analytical methods for improving operations in complex decision-driven environments. Analytical methods include, but are not limited to, deterministic and stochastic modeling, optimization, decision and risk analysis, data science, and simulation. Methodological research is highly encouraged but must be motivated by problems that have potential for high impact in engineering applications. Application domains of particular interest to the program arise in commercial enterprises (e.g., production/manufacturing systems and distribution of goods, delivery of services), the public sector/government (e.g., public safety and security), and public/private partnerships (e.g., health care, environment and energy). The program also welcomes operations research in new and emerging domains and addressing systemic societal or technological problems. The OE program particularly values cross-disciplinary proposals that leverage application-specific expertise with strong quantitative analysis in a decision-making context. Proposals for methodological research that are not strongly motivated by high-potential engineering applications are not appropriate for this program.
PIs are encouraged to send any program inquiries to both Program Directors.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSF Form 1207 (Biographical Sketches for senior personnel, typically 2-page limit each)
- NSF Form 1223 (Project Summary: research overview and broader impacts, 1 page maximum)
- NSF Form 1224 (Facilities, Equipment & Other Resources)
- Project Narrative (typically 15 pages for standard proposals, detailed technical description and methodology)
- Current and Pending Support documentation
- Letters of Collaboration (if applicable, from partner organizations)
- Institutional Certification and Assurance documents
- Proposal Budget and Budget Justification (NSF Form 1030 or equivalent)
- Cost Sharing documentation (if proposed)
Program contact
- 👤 National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4261
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.041 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$41,946,862
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$39,155,237
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$38,277,956
-
$37,936,436
-
$36,940,111
-
$36,277,271
-
$36,183,087
-
$32,471,912
-
$32,414,114
-
$31,561,058
Top States by Funding
- TX 3 awards $90.6M
- CA 7 awards $85.0M
- IL 5 awards $83.9M
- AZ 2 awards $68.7M
- NC 2 awards $63.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.041). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $752,230,000 | |
| 2025 | $727,730,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $181,990,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for NSF Operations Engineering grants?
Primarily universities, colleges, and other research institutions. Individual researchers must typically be affiliated with an eligible institution. Proposals must include at least one researcher who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
What is the typical funding range for an Operations Engineering award?
NSF awards in this program typically range from $150,000 to $500,000 for standard research projects, though amounts vary based on project scope and institutional type. Multi-year projects are common.
What types of research activities are eligible?
Fundamental and applied research in operations engineering, including optimization, systems design, logistics, supply chains, healthcare operations, manufacturing processes, and computational methods. Educational projects and workforce development in these areas are also supported.
When are the application deadlines?
This program typically operates on a rolling deadline basis, meaning proposals can be submitted throughout the year. Check the NSF website for any specific target dates or proposal review windows.
How competitive is this program?
NSF programs are highly competitive, with success rates typically between 20-30%. Strong technical merit, clear research significance, and well-documented broader impacts are essential for competitiveness.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate the intellectual merit of your research and how it advances the operations engineering field. Be specific about novel methodologies or theoretical contributions.
- Develop a strong broader impacts section explaining how your research will benefit society, contribute to education, or enhance infrastructure. NSF places significant weight on this component.
- Identify and engage collaborators from industry or other sectors when applicable—demonstrating real-world relevance strengthens competitiveness and shows potential for research translation.
- Request appropriate personnel: include graduate student support in your budget to strengthen workforce development aspects, which NSF values highly.
- Allow 4-6 weeks for institutional review and approval of your proposal before submission, as NSF requires institutional signatures and compliance certifications that can delay submission if rushed.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail to adequately explain the broader impacts of the research beyond academic publication. NSF expects clear connections between the research and societal benefits, workforce development, or educational advancement. Additionally, many proposals underestimate the required level of detail in methodology and preliminary results—reviewers need sufficient evidence that the proposed approach is feasible and that the team has the expertise to execute it successfully.
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