Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 18 S 0008
The Defense Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Consortium (DSEC) Cooperative Agreement is a Department of Defense funding opportunity designed to strengthen and better coordinate K-16 STEM education and outreach efforts that connect directly to the DoD workforce needs. Grounded in the authority of 10 USC 2192 (improvement of education in technical fields), the opportunity positions DSEC as a central "vehicle" to help identify, standardize, and promote stronger guidelines and proven practices for STEM programs spanning kindergarten through undergraduate education. The larger intent is to expand and diversify DoD's approach to STEM engagement in ways that support the "Force of the Future" and align with both Federal STEM priorities and the DoD STEM Strategic Plan.
At its core, the opportunity is about building a more reliable pipeline of STEM talent while making DoD a more attractive and durable career destination for that talent. The DoD describes its STEM mission as attracting, inspiring, and developing exceptional STEM talent across the education continuum to address defense technology challenges. DSEC is expected to work collaboratively with the Government to deliver a cohesive strategy that supports the DoD STEM Strategic Plan's major outcomes: strengthening the national and DoD STEM pipeline, reducing the loss of STEM professionals from DoD over time, and keeping DoD competitive with industry and other nations that are also aggressively pursuing STEM expertise. A key theme is improving the "permeability of ideas" into the DoD workforce, meaning the consortium should help ideas, innovations, and people move more smoothly between education, industry, and defense-related work through partnerships that are scalable and sustainable.
The cooperative agreement is structured around five fundamental elements that define what the consortium must be able to do. First is consortium management, which includes the organizational backbone for coordinating multiple stakeholders and activities under a unified framework. Second is program evaluation and data collection, analysis, and reporting, emphasizing that DoD wants evidence-based decision-making, measurable outcomes, and consistent reporting that can guide improvements across programs. Third is outreach and communications, reflecting the need for clear messaging, broader awareness, and coordinated engagement with target audiences. Fourth is STEM alumni management, which points to maintaining long-term relationships with program participants and tracking educational and career trajectories, including potential pathways into DoD opportunities. Fifth is strategic outreach initiatives, which covers the targeted efforts and partnerships intended to expand reach, fill gaps, and align outreach activities with DoD workforce priorities and the strategic plan.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army - Materiel Command, under Funding Opportunity Number W911NF-18-S-0008 and CFDA 12.560. The instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the Government in the execution of the project compared with a standard grant. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), and other eligible entities as described in the full announcement. The opportunity was created on May 22, 2018, with an original closing date of June 25, 2018. The listed award ceiling is $82,000,000, and the announcement anticipated up to 20 awards, indicating an intent to support multiple efforts under the consortium framework rather than a single stand-alone project.
Overall, DSEC is presented less as a single program and more as an enabling structure that DoD can use to coordinate, assess, and scale K-16 STEM education and outreach activities. The emphasis on evaluation, communications, alumni tracking, and strategic partnerships signals that DoD is seeking an integrated ecosystem approach: recruiting and inspiring students early, supporting them through key transitions in the education continuum, and maintaining connections that can lead to sustained participation in the defense STEM workforce.Apply for W911NF 18 S 0008
- The Department of Defense, Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Defense Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Consortium (DSEC) Cooperative Agreement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 22, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $82,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Defense Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Consortium (DSEC) Cooperative Agreement?
DSEC is a Department of Defense (DoD) funding opportunity structured as a cooperative agreement to strengthen and better coordinate K-16 STEM education and outreach efforts that connect directly to DoD workforce needs. It is positioned as a central vehicle to identify, standardize, and promote stronger guidelines and proven practices across STEM programs from kindergarten through undergraduate education.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The main purpose is to build a more reliable pipeline of STEM talent and make DoD a more attractive, durable career destination for that talent. The opportunity emphasizes coordinating STEM education and outreach to support defense technology challenges and long-term workforce needs.
Which age or education levels does DSEC focus on?
DSEC focuses on K-16, meaning programs spanning kindergarten through undergraduate education.
What legal authority is this opportunity grounded in?
The opportunity is grounded in 10 USC 2192, which relates to improvement of education in technical fields.
How does DSEC align with DoD and federal STEM priorities?
DSEC is intended to align with Federal STEM priorities and the DoD STEM Strategic Plan, supporting the broader goal often described as the "Force of the Future" by expanding and diversifying DoD's approach to STEM engagement.
What does DoD describe as its STEM mission in this announcement?
DoD describes its STEM mission as attracting, inspiring, and developing exceptional STEM talent across the education continuum to address defense technology challenges.
What major outcomes is DSEC expected to support under the DoD STEM Strategic Plan?
DSEC is expected to support the plan's major outcomes by: (1) strengthening the national and DoD STEM pipeline, (2) reducing the loss of STEM professionals from DoD over time, and (3) keeping DoD competitive with industry and other nations pursuing STEM expertise.
What does "permeability of ideas" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this context, "permeability of ideas" refers to helping ideas, innovations, and people move more smoothly between education, industry, and defense-related work through partnerships that are scalable and sustainable.
What type of funding instrument is DSEC?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates substantial involvement by the Government in the execution of the project compared with a standard grant.
Who is the issuing agency for this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army - Materiel Command.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is W911NF-18-S-0008.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 12.560.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $82,000,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated up to 20 awards, suggesting support for multiple efforts under the consortium framework rather than a single stand-alone project.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on May 22, 2018, with an original closing date of June 25, 2018.
Who is eligible to apply for DSEC funding based on the information provided?
Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), and other eligible entities as described in the full announcement.
Is DSEC described as a single program or something broader?
DSEC is presented less as a single program and more as an enabling structure that DoD can use to coordinate, assess, and scale K-16 STEM education and outreach activities.
What are the five fundamental elements the consortium must be able to do?
The cooperative agreement is structured around five elements: (1) consortium management, (2) program evaluation and data collection, analysis, and reporting, (3) outreach and communications, (4) STEM alumni management, and (5) strategic outreach initiatives.
What is meant by "consortium management" in this opportunity?
Consortium management refers to the organizational backbone needed to coordinate multiple stakeholders and activities under a unified framework.
What is emphasized under program evaluation and data collection, analysis, and reporting?
The opportunity emphasizes evidence-based decision-making, measurable outcomes, and consistent reporting that can guide improvements across programs.
Why are outreach and communications included as a core element?
Outreach and communications are included to support clear messaging, broader awareness, and coordinated engagement with target audiences.
What is STEM alumni management expected to involve?
STEM alumni management involves maintaining long-term relationships with program participants and tracking educational and career trajectories, including potential pathways into DoD opportunities.
What are strategic outreach initiatives in the DSEC framework?
Strategic outreach initiatives cover targeted efforts and partnerships to expand reach, fill gaps, and align outreach activities with DoD workforce priorities and the DoD STEM Strategic Plan.
How is collaboration with the Government described in this cooperative agreement?
DSEC is expected to work collaboratively with the Government to deliver a cohesive strategy that supports the DoD STEM Strategic Plan and its major outcomes.
What is the broader ecosystem approach described in the announcement?
The announcement signals an integrated ecosystem approach that recruits and inspires students early, supports them through key transitions in the education continuum, and maintains connections that can lead to sustained participation in the defense STEM workforce.
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