DoD STEM Community College Consortium

Background
The Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Education Program (NDEP) is seeking to strategically fund science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at 2-year institutions and Community Colleges (2YI/CCs) through a consortium approach. The DoD STEM vision is a diverse and sustainable STEM talent pool ready to serve our Nation and extend the Department’s competitive edge. This NOFO aims to enhance the STEM workforce through regional consortia which will develop and encourage STEM ecosystems between 2YI/CCs and 4-Year Institutions (4YIs), industry, local education agencies, and others in STEM education. Each regional DoD STEM Community College Consortium should collaboratively work with members of their geographical area to promote partnerships that enhance STEM education at 2YI/CCs, while aligning to the DoD STEM mission to “inspire, cultivate, and develop exceptional STEM talent through a continuum of opportunities to enrich our current and future DoD workforce poised to tackle evolving defense technological challenges”.

Grant Details
The Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Education Program (NDEP) is seeking to strategically fund science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at 2-year institutions and Community Colleges (2YI/CCs) through a consortium approach. The DoD STEM vision is a diverse and sustainable STEM talent pool ready to serve our Nation and extend the Department’s competitive edge. This NOFO aims to enhance the STEM workforce through regional consortia which will develop and encourage STEM ecosystems between 2YI/CCs and 4-Year Institutions (4YIs), industry, local education agencies, and others in STEM education. Each regional DoD STEM Community College Consortium should collaboratively work with members of their geographical area to promote partnerships that enhance STEM education at 2YI/CCs, while aligning to the DoD STEM mission to “inspire, cultivate, and develop exceptional STEM talent through a continuum of opportunities to enrich our current and future DoD workforce poised to tackle evolving defense technological challenges”.

Eligibility Requirements
The cooperative agreements will be awarded to “eligible entities” as defined at 10 USC §2192(b)(3) which includes a State, a political subdivision of a State, an individual, and a not-for-profit or organization in the private sector. Applicants are reminded that formation of a Consortium is a requirement in order to be responsive to this NOFO, and the Consortium may be either already existing or new partnerships. All responsible sources from industry, non-profit institutions, institutions of higher education, state, and/or local educational agencies, or existing consortia of such institutions and/or industry may submit an application to this NOFO.

Period of Performance
Performance is limited to the United States and US territories. An award made as a result of this NOFO will provide potential funding for up to six (6) years. This award will be structured as a base agreement of a three (3) year duration, with three one (1) year options to be exercised based upon recipient performance.

Grant Value
This NOFO intends to fund approximately five (5) regional DoD STEM Community College Consortia Cooperative Agreements (CAs) at a not-to-exceed amount of $5,000,000 each over a three (3) year base period of performance. After the three (3) year base period, three one (1) year options at a not-to-exceed funding level of $2,000,000 per year may be exercised based upon recipient’s performance.

Place of Performance
Performance is limited to the United States and US territories.