FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2021-0008: FY21 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) – CAPACITY BUILDING (CB)
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: FY26 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) CAPACITY BUILDING (CB) (NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260003). Status: Closes April 5, 2027 (149 days left). It is in our archive of Air Force Office of Scientific Research notices from 2021.
Air Force Office of Scientific Research offered grants of up to $1.0 million (at least $500,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award. Applications closed on March 1, 2022.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed February 22, 2022. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$1.0 million
- Award floor$500,000
- Expected awards1
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260003 | August 10, 2026 | Closes April 5, 2027 (149 days left) | Open |
| FOAAFRLAFOSR20240006 | March 28, 2024 | Closed November 25, 2024 | Closed |
| FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2023-0007 | March 7, 2023 | Closed November 20, 2023 | Closed |
| FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2022-0007 | May 4, 2022 | Closed February 21, 2023 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | May 10, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | March 1, 2022 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | March 31, 2022 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
This funding opportunity aims to support the strategic objectives of IHEs (either individually or in partnership with others) in DEPSCoR States/Territories to achieve basic research excellence in areas of high relevance to the DoD. IHEs in the following States/Territories are eligible to apply for this DEPSCoR opportunity under this announcement: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Basic Scientific Research awards averaged $814,091; this notice allows up to $1.0 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (81% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the fiscal year 2021 (FY21) Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) – Capacity Building. 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 FY21 DEPSCoR appropriations through this announcement. The aim of DEPSCoR – Capacity Building is to improve the research capabilities at institutions of higher education (IHE) in eligible States/Territories to perform competitive basic research in science and engineering that is relevant to the DoD mission and reflect national security priorities. The DoD’s basic research program invests broadly in many scientific fields to ensure that it has early cognizance of new scientific knowledge. To address the program’s aim, DEPSCoR – Capacity Building (CB) objectives are to: Jumpstart capability development in the State/Territory through increased human, technical, and management resources. Achieve excellence in a DoD-relevant research area through funding to support equipment, education, research, and other relevant activities. Grants awarded under this program are intended to support the strategic objectives of IHEs (either individually or in partnership with others) in DEPSCoR States/Territories to achieve basic research excellence in areas of high relevance to the DoD. Proposals will vary depending on technical field and geographic region. The Basic Research Office anticipates approximately $1 million in total funding will be made available for this program to fully fund at award one grant up to $1 million (total cost). The award will be funded up to $500,000 (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 has won Basic Scientific Research grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Basic Scientific Research (12.431) awarded $2.8 billion across 3,478 grant awards, an average of $814,091 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland, College Park | Maryland | 65 | $147 million |
| General Dynamics Robotic Systems Inc | Maryland | 1 | $106 million |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts | 78 | $98.6 million |
| University of Southern California | California | 55 | $68.5 million |
| Research Triangle Institute | North Carolina | 1 | $59.2 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260003, which is open now.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2021-0008 still open?
No. It closed on March 1, 2022. A newer notice is open: NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260003, closes April 5, 2027 (149 days left).
Who can apply for FY21 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) – CAPACITY BUILDING (CB)?
Air Force Office of Scientific Research accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for FY21 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) – CAPACITY BUILDING (CB)?
Closed March 1, 2022. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $1.0 million each.
Who has won Basic Scientific Research grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were University of Maryland, College Park, General Dynamics Robotic Systems Inc, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The program made 3,478 awards worth $2.8 billion in that time.