Science & Research Grants for Schools & universities

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This U.S. Army Research Office broad agency announcement funds collaborative research and fellowships in quantum computing and qubit development through the LPS Qubit Collaboratory. Eligibility is broad, including individuals, universities, nonprofits, small businesses, other for-profits, and FFRDCs, with collaboration alongside a government laboratory. No award amount is listed.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF solicitation funds Antarctic research that requires logistical fieldwork support from the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP), spanning Earth systems, biological, geochemical, and physical sciences. Eligible applicants are limited to U.S.-based non-profit non-academic research organizations (such as museums, observatories, and research laboratories), accredited U.S. institutions of higher education, and federally recognized tribal nations; individuals and businesses are not among the listed eligible submitters. Available USAP logistical support is currently limited due to facility maintenance, so applicants should follow the solicitation's guidance. Award amounts are not specified.

Department of Housing and Urban Development · Amount varies

This HUD notice of intent previews a future opportunity inviting unsolicited research proposals on housing and community development priorities such as affordability, homelessness, and housing stability. Eligible applicants are philanthropic entities (including 501(c)(3) foundations and public charities), other federal agencies, state or local governments, Indian tribes, tribally-designated housing entities, and colleges or universities; individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships are not eligible, and no profit may be earned. Note a significant disqualifier: projects must include matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of total project cost. Award amounts are not specified in the notice.

USAF 347 Contracting Squadron · From $10K

This U.S. Army (DEVCOM) open broad agency announcement seeks fundamental research collaborations specifically in the Indo-Pacific region. A key restriction: the government supports engagements ONLY in the Indo-Pacific region and does not support work performed in the continental United States, so this is geographically narrow. The minimum award is around $10,000; the maximum is not specified. Eligibility terms are otherwise vague in the available text, so applicants should review the full announcement on SAM.gov to confirm who may apply and the geographic requirements.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · Amount varies

This Defense Health Agency broad agency announcement (BAA) solicits extramural basic and applied medical research and development proposals that benefit both military and civilian medical practice. Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, subject to clarifications in the notice. No award amount is specified. The selection process is highly competitive, and projects must focus on advancing scientific knowledge rather than developing a specific system or product.

Air Force -- Research Lab · Amount varies

This Air Force Research Laboratory opportunity (CHEERS) solicits white papers, and potentially later technical and cost proposals, on human performance research areas defined in attached statements of objectives. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to clarification in the full announcement, so a range of organizations including businesses, nonprofits, and universities may be able to apply. Applicants must reference the related Multiple Authority Announcement to obtain required attachments. Award amounts are not specified, and specific eligibility terms are somewhat vague, so review the full solicitation carefully.

Air Force -- Research Lab · Amount varies

This Air Force Research Laboratory solicitation (CHEERS) seeks white papers, and potentially later proposals, on human-effectiveness and aerospace-medicine research for experimental and test purposes in defense development. Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, subject to clarifications in the notice. No award amount is specified. Applicants must reference the related Multiple Authority Announcement to obtain required attachments, and the work is tied to specific defense research objectives.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This U.S. Army Research Laboratory Broad Agency Announcement solicits foundational (basic and applied) research proposals supporting Army modernization. Eligibility is broad, including universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, foreign organizations, and for-profit firms (large and small businesses). It uses a competitive merit-based process; no specific award amount is stated.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This U.S. Army DEVCOM Analysis Center Broad Agency Announcement solicits applied-research proposals supporting Army modernization, tool development, and data curation. Eligibility is broad, including universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, foreign organizations, and for-profit firms (large and small businesses). It uses a whitepaper-then-proposal process; no specific award amount is stated.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

Open to higher-education institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations, domestic or foreign (security restrictions may limit foreign participants; government labs, FFRDCs, and service academies can't be prime applicants). This Army Research Institute broad agency announcement funds basic, applied, and advanced research in the behavioral and social sciences tied to soldier performance and readiness. Applicants are encouraged to contact the listed technical point of contact first; funding varies by budget cycle.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $15K–$75K

Open to individuals (as legal entities), commercial organizations, state/local/tribal governments, universities, and nonprofits; federal agencies and employees can't apply, and projects must be conducted in Alaska. Funds marine workforce training, seafood-safety and management education, fishing innovation, and consumer outreach. Awards are small, roughly $15,000–$75,000.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · $750K–$50M

Open broadly to any type of entity — universities, nonprofits, businesses (including small businesses), and others. This Department of Defense / Defense Health Agency broad agency announcement funds extramural biomedical and human-performance research and development through FY28. Awards span a very wide range, from about $750,000 to $50 million.

Washington Headquarters Services · $2.5K–$800K

This Department of Defense program funds research on security cooperation and irregular warfare topics, open to individual researchers (with or without institutional affiliation), academic institutions, think tanks, and federally funded R&D centers; past awardees may reapply. Applicants can submit only one proposal at a time as principal investigator, and research products must be unclassified and made publicly accessible. Awards range from $2,500 to $800,000, and the deadline is not imminent.

Air Force -- Research Lab · Up to $99.9M

This is an Air Force Research Lab research-and-development opportunity (Foundations of Trusted Systems) for organizations working in defense-related science and technology. The total ceiling across the program is very large (up to roughly $99.9M), so awards typically go to established research institutions, universities, and contractors rather than small applicants. Full eligibility and requirements are only in the linked SAM.gov notice, so review that posting before applying.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $1.5M–$6.5M

This National Science Foundation program funds Mathematical Sciences Research Institutes as national resources that advance research in mathematics and statistics and broaden participation, with awards ranging roughly from $1.5 million to $6.5 million. Only U.S.-based non-profit non-academic research organizations and accredited institutions of higher education may apply; multi-institutional consortia are allowed but one entity must take overall management responsibility. Individuals and for-profit firms are not eligible.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

The Army Applications Lab Broad Agency Announcement funds basic and applied scientific research in defense-relevant areas described in the BAA. Eligibility is unusually broad: institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state and local governments, foreign organizations and public entities, and for-profit businesses (large and small) may all apply. No specific award amount is listed, and projects are selected through full and open competition, so applicants should review the BAA's stated research areas of interest.

Air Force -- Research Lab · Up to $49M

This Air Force Research Laboratory funding opportunity supports university research and development in directed energy, with a program cost ceiling of roughly $49 million and a mandatory letter of intent required before full proposals. The announcement is aimed at universities (university assistance instruments), but full eligibility details are in the FOA itself, which applicants must consult. Because it is defense-focused, expect a security risk review as part of the selection process.

National Institute of Standards and Technology · From $10M

This NIST CHIPS R&D Office Broad Agency Announcement funds research, prototyping, and commercial solutions that advance U.S. microelectronics technology, with a stated floor of about $10 million per award. Eligible applicants include for-profit and non-profit organizations, accredited universities, FFRDCs, and federal entities, but they must be domestic; individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not eligible. Some foreign partners may participate as subawardees, subject to restrictions (foreign adversaries excluded). Given the large award size, applicants should review the full BAA for compliance requirements.

Munitions Directorate · Up to $750M

This Air Force (Munitions Directorate) Broad Agency Announcement funds research and development supporting air dominance, with a program ceiling reported up to roughly $750 million. Eligibility is described as unrestricted and open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement, making it broadly accessible to businesses, universities, and nonprofits. Because it is defense-focused R&D, applicants should expect security and compliance requirements and should review the full BAA for specifics.

Naval Supply Systems Command · Amount varies

This Naval Postgraduate School opportunity funds basic and applied STEM research (not hardware procurement or development of a specific system). Eligible applicants are public and private institutions of higher education and 501(c)(3) nonprofits other than universities, so it is restricted to academic and nonprofit research organizations. Applicants are encouraged to first submit a white paper to NPS for feedback before submitting a full proposal through Grants.gov. No award amount is specified.