U.S. Army Research Office, AMXRO-AAA, P.O. Box 12211, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FY 1997 DOD INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITITIES AND MINORITY INSTITUTIONS (HBCU/MI) SOL DAAH04-96-R-BAA8 DUE 080196 POC Technical Point of Contact, Jenny Haire, 919-549-4205, Contracting Officer, Janet Lockhart, 919-549-4267. The U.S. Army Research Office announces the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the FY97 competition for the Department of Defense Infrastructure Support Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI). This program, offered by the Army Research Office, the Office of Naval Research, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, provides grants for the acquisition of science and technology equipment/instrumentation for educational and/or research use in the range of $40,000 to $400,000 (total cost to DoD). This program is designed to enhance or expand academic and research capabilities in undergraduate and graduate programs. Emphasis is on instrumentation which will enhance the ability of HBCU/MIs to increase the number of graduates, including underrepresented minority graduates, in the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics, and to conduct research of interest to the Department of Defense. This solicitation is open only to HBCU/MI. Institutions submitting proposals must have an accredited, degree-granting program in science, engineering, or mathematics. Only one proposal seeking instrumentation can be submitted by each HBCU/MI. Approximately $8 million of Congressionally approved funds are expected to be available for this competition. The BAA solicitation contains additional information on the program and instructions for proposal preparation and submission. Proposals must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, October 31, 1996. To receive a copy of the BAA, send written requests to: U.S. Army Research Office, ATTN: AMXRO-RT (HBCU/MI 97), 4300 S. Miami Blvd., P.O. Box 12211, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211, or by FAX to 919-549-4248. The BAA may also be downloaded from the Federal Information Exchange (FEDIX), an on-line information system accessible via computer and modem, by calling the FEDIX Computer at 301-258-0953 or 800-783-3349. There is no charge to the user for accessing the information. The FEDIX helpline is 301-975-0103. Also, FEDIX is accessible via Internet at the following address: ''fedix.fie.com''; at login, type ''fedix''. World Wide Web (WWW) users can acess the system by using the following address: http://web.fie.com. Users accessing this information should continue to monitor the FEDIX system until the closing date of this Broad Agency Announcement in order to obtain any modifications thereto which may be issued. See Note(s): 5. (0213)

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