DHS S&T Terrorism Prevention and Counterterrorism Research (TPCR) Center of Excellence (COE) - Lead | DHS 19 ST 061 TPCR LEAD

Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 19 ST 061 TPCR LEAD

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), through its Office of University Programs (OUP), announced a discretionary funding opportunity to establish a Terrorism Prevention and Counterterrorism Research (TPCR) Center of Excellence (COE) led by a U.S. university. The core purpose of this competition is to fund a university-led consortium model, where one accredited U.S. institution of higher education serves as the lead and coordinates a network of partner universities to carry out research and development that supports DHS priorities in terrorism prevention and counterterrorism. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial DHS involvement during execution (for example, ongoing coordination, shared planning, and active program management), rather than a more hands-off grant relationship.

This particular notice is for the Center Lead role. The lead institution is expected to propose how it will organize and manage the COE, build and govern the consortium, and deliver a coordinated research portfolio aligned to the TPCR mission space. While the details of the research topics and required components would normally be spelled out in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the headline intent is clear: DHS wants a structured, multi-university center that can sustain a pipeline of relevant research, translate results toward operational needs, and act as a focal point for academic engagement on terrorism prevention and counterterrorism challenges.

A key feature of the opportunity is that DHS ran this as a two-lane intake for research projects. Alongside the Center Lead NOFO, OUP posted a separate partner NOFO (DHS-19-ST-061-TPCR-Partner, associated with CFDA 97.061) that allowed eligible applicants to submit single project proposals to be considered as part of the COE research portfolio. Importantly, DHS stated that it would select qualified individual projects from applications received under either the Lead NOFO or the Partner NOFO, regardless of which institution ultimately becomes the center lead. In practical terms, that means the competitive process was designed to identify strong projects wherever they come from, not only from the lead applicant, and then assemble them into the final center portfolio once the lead award is made.

Eligibility for the Lead award is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education in the United States. The administering office is the DHS Office of Procurement Operations, Grants Division. The opportunity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development, reflecting its R&D orientation rather than direct service delivery. The funding opportunity number is DHS 19 ST 061 TPCR LEAD, and it is tied to CFDA number 97.061. The NOFO was created on July 10, 2019, with an original application closing date of September 13, 2019.

In terms of anticipated funding and scale, DHS expected to make one award for the Center Lead, with an award ceiling of $3,650,000. As a single expected award, the intent was to stand up one primary TPCR Center of Excellence lead institution that would function as the central hub for the broader consortium. Applicants considering the partner pathway were directed to submit under the separate Partner NOFO via Grants.gov, but DHS emphasized that project selection could draw from either submission track to shape the final COE research agenda.

• The Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DHS S&T Terrorism Prevention and Counterterrorism Research (TPCR) Center of Excellence (COE) - Lead" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.061.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-07-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-13. (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 $3,650,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for DHS 19 ST 061 TPCR LEAD

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