Fiscal Year 2021 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP)- ARMY SUBMISSION | W911NF 20 S 0006

Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 20 S 0006

The Fiscal Year 2021 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) - Army Submission is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the Department of Defense, specifically the Department of the Army under Army Materiel Command. The program sits within the broader University Research Initiative (URI) and is focused on strengthening the research capabilities of accredited U.S. universities. Its central purpose is to help universities purchase major research equipment or instrumentation that will directly improve their ability to conduct scientific and engineering research tied to national defense priorities, while also enhancing the training environment for the next generation of scientists and engineers.

This opportunity is strictly aimed at equipment acquisition rather than funding an entire research project. In practical terms, DURIP funding is meant to buy or upgrade high-value research instruments, systems, or specialized equipment that enable advanced experimentation, measurement, fabrication, testing, or analysis. The rationale is that modern defense-relevant research often depends on expensive, cutting-edge instrumentation that universities may not be able to obtain through typical research awards, and that shared equipment can support multiple research efforts and student training over many years.

Eligibility is limited to accredited institutions of higher education in the United States, including public and state-controlled universities as well as private universities. The notice also references an "Others" category with additional eligibility details to be clarified in the full announcement, but it makes one restriction unambiguous: for-profit organizations are not eligible for DURIP funding. The program is cataloged under CFDA number 12.431 and is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting its role in building durable research infrastructure rather than providing general educational support.

From an award structure standpoint, the listed maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $1,500,000, and the program anticipated making around 100 awards. That combination suggests a competitive environment where proposals are likely evaluated on the defense relevance of the instrument, the extent to which it strengthens research capability, the breadth of users who will benefit, and the plan to integrate the equipment into both research and education. Because the goal is to improve institutional capability, successful proposals commonly emphasize shared-use access, multi-investigator impact, and clear long-term utility beyond a single study.

Key administrative details in the opportunity listing include the Funding Opportunity Number W911NF-20-S-0006 and a submission timeline tied to the original closing date. Full proposals were due by May 15, 2020 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, and pre-proposal inquiries and questions had to be submitted no later than April 24, 2020. While these dates reflect the specific FY2021 cycle described in the notice, they also signal the typical structure of DURIP solicitations: a defined question period, a firm proposal deadline, and a grants-based mechanism for procurement of instrumentation supporting defense-relevant university research programs.

In short, this DURIP-Army competition provides grant funding to U.S. universities to purchase research equipment and instrumentation that expands or modernizes their ability to perform high-quality, defense-relevant research and to educate and train scientists and engineers in fields important to national security.

• 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 "Fiscal Year 2021 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP)- ARMY SUBMISSION" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.431.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 14, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 15, 2020 Full Proposals due on May 15, 2020 at 1159 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) Pre-Proposal inquires and questions must be submitted not later than Friday, 24 April 2020.. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for W911NF 20 S 0006

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