A -- INSTRUMENTATION AND RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS (HSIS)

Notice Date

October 26, 2000

Contracting Office

Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22217-5660

ZIP Code

22217-5660

Solicitation Number

00-003

Response Due

February 7, 2001

Point of Contact

Technical Point of Contract: Anthony Junior, ONR 363, (703) 696-4111, juniora@onr.navy.mil; Contract Negotiator: Vera M. Duberry, ONR 253, (703) 696-2610, duberrv@onr.navy.mil

Description

The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the Fiscal Year 2001 program to provide instrumentation and research support for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). The HSIs are defined in section 316(b)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(1)). This program aims to enhance education and research capabilities at HSIs in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to the national security functions of DoD and to increase the number of graduates, including underrepresented minorities, in the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics. Thus, awards under this solicitation will be limited to HSIs having an accredited, degree-granting program in science, engineering, or mathematics. In the case of two-year colleges, the associates degree in science, engineering, or mathematics is acceptable. Eligible HSIs are encouraged to submit proposals in the following areas: INSTRUMENTATION Component: Proposals are solicited for the acquisition of instrumentation and equipment to enhance education and/or research programs in science, engineering, and/or mathematics. Instrumentation grant awards will range from $20,000 to $200,000 (total cost to DoD). Emphasis is on instrumentation and equipment that will enhance the ability of the institution to improve the quality of education and to increase the number of students, including underrepresented minority students, in the fields of science, engineering, and/or mathematics and/or to perform research in areas important to national defense. Under the instrumentation component of this announcement, one instrumentation proposal per institution is allowed. This will help assure that each institution's highest priority needs get full consideration, it will reduce the cost of writing proposals, and it may enhance the number and range of institutions receiving awards. Instrumentation proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria, of equal weight: (1) Impact of requested equipment on the HSI's education and/or research programs; (2) Impact on students and the number of students, including underrepresented minority students, who will use or will benefit from use of such instrumentation in the science, engineering, and/or mathematics curricula and/or research activities; (3) Degree to which the requested instrumentation will interface with or upgrade other facilities and instruments and the impact relative to current capabilities; (4) Qualifications of the faculty to use and maintain the instrumentation proposed for purchase; and (5) Budgetary realism and cost effectiveness of the proposal. Cost sharing is not required; however, the sharing of costs through monetary support or in-kind contributions affects cost effectiveness and could be a factor when two proposals are considered of equal strength in other respects. RESEARCH Component: Proposals are solicited within research areas important to national defense. Under the research component of this announcement, an institution may submit more than one proposal. To increase the number of researchers at HSIs involved in DoD research, research awards will be limited to proposals from Principal Investigators who are not already Principal Investigators of DoD research awards in effect on January 1, 2001. Research proposals must address research areas of interest as listed on the ONR website http://www.onr.navy.mil (select "Science and Technology) or AFOSR website http://www.afosr.af.mil (select "Research Opportunities") or other research areas important to national defense. Research projects typically will have a performance period of three years. Total cost to the DoD over the three-year period will not exceed $300,000, except that additional funds can be requested in the first year to purchase instrumentation necessary to carry out the proposed research. Research proposals will be evaluated using the following evaluation criteria. The primary evaluation criteria (of equal importance) are: (1) The scientific and technical merits of the proposed research. (2) The potential contributions of the proposed research to the defense missions of the participating agencies. (3) The likelihood of the proposed research to develop new or enhance existing research capabilities and to broaden the university research base in support of national defense, and the potential to contribute to the education of future scientists and engineers in disciplines critical to the DoD mission. Other evaluation criteria (of less importance than 1, 2, and 3 but of equal importance to each other) are: (4) The qualifications, capabilities, experience, and past research accomplishments of the proposed Principal Investigator and any other key personnel who are critical to achieving the objectives of the proposal. (5) The expected impact of the proposed involvement of and interaction with DoD or other federal laboratories, industry, or other existing research centers of excellence. (6) Budgetary realism and cost effectiveness of the proposal. This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated in FAR 6:102(d)(2)(i). A full description of this program is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.onr.navy.mil (select "URI/Education/HBCU/MI"). The DoD will not issue paper copies of this program announcement. The program description on the Web provides general information, eligibility criteria, relevant dates, evaluation criteria, and instructions for submitting proposals. It is anticipated that about $4.8 million will be available to make awards under this solicitation. The awards will be made on behalf of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology (DUSD(S&T)) Basic Research Office by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Proposals are due at the addresses given in the program description on the Web by 4:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, 7 February 2001.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001030/ASOL004.HTM (W-300 SN5052O1)