# Defense Innovation OnRamp

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/hq003425nfoeasd04-defense-innovation-onramp/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/357839

> Washington Headquarters Services offered grants of up to $40.0 million to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award. Applications closed on January 27, 2025.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | HQ003425NFOEASD04 |
| Agency | Washington Headquarters Services |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | January 27, 2025 |
| Award ceiling | $40.0 million |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | 1 |
| Total funding | not stated |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 12.599 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Only U.S. organizations are eligible.

## What the grant funds

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Office of the Secretary of Defense, is interested in receiving proposals for its Defense Innovation OnRamp. DIU is building a unified Defense Innovation OnRamp, which will include Flagship DIU offices, physical presence via a distributed team, physical and digital OnRamp Hubs, and other relationships with the academic, startup, and commercial sectors to enable non-traditional, dual-use, and/or commercial technology companies to work with the Department of Defense to rapidly support warfighter needs. The Defense Innovation Unit is focused on strengthening the national security innovation base by lowering the barriers to entry for talent and non-traditional companies to work with DoD. The Defense Innovation OnRamp is a core part of DIU’s strategy to develop a robust regional presence in order to tap into the extant commercial technology ecosystems and innovation base. This strategy includes distributed DIU offices, a regional team, OnRamp Hubs, and other relationships with the academic, startup and commercial sectors. At present, DIU operates out of 5 regional offices, has approximately 30 regionally focused representatives, and partners with over 100 universities. In the last year, DIU, with extensive support from Congress, established five OnRamp Hubs in Phoenix, Arizona; Dayton, Ohio; Honolulu, Hawaii; Seattle, Washington, and Wichita, Kansas. The recipient(s) will design, develop and manage a network of offices, physical and digital hubs, and other collaborative partnerships and projects designed to lower the barriers for entry for commercial and dual-use technology into the DoD. This will involve collaboration between a diverse set of stakeholders including private industry, private capital, research organizations, government stakeholders, academia, regional economic development organizations, DoD mission partners, other government entities, and others, with the intent of sourcing, developing, and executing viable solutions that lower entry barriers while attracting and helping scale new commercial technology and talent into the national security innovation base. The recipient(s) sought for this NFO will provide direction to improve the ways in which non-traditional companies and talent can work with the Department of Defense and grow regional defense innovation ecosystems, and oversee the execution.

## Questions people ask

### Is HQ003425NFOEASD04 still open?

No. It closed on January 27, 2025.

### Who can apply for Defense Innovation OnRamp?

Washington Headquarters Services accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Defense Innovation OnRamp?

Closed January 27, 2025. 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 $40.0 million each.

### Who has won Congressionally Directed Assistance grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were The American National Red Cross, United Service Organizations, Inc., Point Stratford Renewal LLC. The program made 28 awards worth $473 million in that time.