Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003285
The Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program (MSIPP) Consortia Grant Program (CGP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) designed to fund new or renewal awards to consortia made up of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). The central goal is to strengthen the talent pipeline and workforce readiness for the NNSA Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) by investing in education, training, research capacity, and direct engagement between participating institutions and NNSA/DOE sites. In practical terms, the program is meant to help more students at MSIs and TCUs move from STEM coursework into high-value national security careers, while also improving the long-term ability of these institutions to deliver cutting-edge STEM education and research.
The funded consortia are expected to focus their efforts in key technical areas that align with NSE mission needs, specifically Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity, Engineering, and Nuclear Security. The program emphasizes expanding students scientific and technical knowledge in these fields, not only through classroom learning but also through experiential opportunities that expose students to real-world applications. That experiential component is a core theme of the opportunity: projects should create hands-on pathways such as internships, research experiences, practicum-style learning, and other structured work-based learning that helps students build relevant skills and professional familiarity with NSE-related work environments.
Beyond student outcomes, MSIPP CGP places strong importance on institutional capacity building. That includes strengthening research and education infrastructure at participating MSIs and TCUs, improving curricula and lab capabilities, supporting faculty development, and expanding the ability of institutions to compete and contribute in STEM research and workforce development over time. A major objective is to build sustainable partnerships and deeper collaborations among the consortium members and with the DOE/NNSA ecosystem, including national laboratories, plants, and other NSE sites. By increasing interactions with these facilities and their personnel, the program aims to give students and faculty more direct access to specialized resources, mentorship, and mission-relevant STEM networks that can translate into employment and longer-term collaboration.
The opportunity frames its national impact around enhancing U.S. national security by increasing the number of MSI and TCU students who graduate with STEM degrees, increasing the number of those students who are hired into the NSE STEM workforce, and strengthening the research and educational capabilities of MSIs and TCUs. It also explicitly targets increased collaboration and interaction between participating institutions and DOE/NNSA laboratories and sites, with the idea that consistent, structured engagement helps demystify federal STEM career pathways and improves readiness for the technical and security-focused demands of NSE roles.
Administratively, this funding opportunity is listed as DE FOA 0003285 under CFDA 81.123, and it supports activities spanning education, energy, science and technology, and other research and development. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education, but the program is structured around consortia that include MSIs and TCUs. The agency anticipates making about five awards, with an award ceiling of $5,000,000. The original closing date is June 15, 2026, giving consortia a defined timeline to prepare a coordinated proposal that addresses workforce development, experiential learning, capacity building, and NSE collaboration in an integrated way.
Finally, there is an important amendment applicants need to pay attention to because it affects budget submission requirements. The notice states that an amendment was made to the original funding announcement (specifically pages 18 and 20) clarifying that applicants must use the RampR OMB Budget Forms for this NOFO and should disregard language instructing applicants to use SF 424A. Applicants are directed to review the amendment addendum in the attached documents to ensure the application package uses the correct forms and complies with the updated instructions.Apply for DE FOA 0003285
- The NNSA in the education, energy, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (MSIPP) CONSORTIA GRANT PROGRAM (CGP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.123.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-15. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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MSIPP Consortia Grant Program (CGP) FAQs (DE-FOA-0003285)
What is the MSIPP Consortia Grant Program (CGP)?
The Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program (MSIPP) Consortia Grant Program (CGP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). It funds new or renewal awards to consortia made up of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), with the goal of strengthening the talent pipeline and workforce readiness for the NNSA Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE).
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to increase workforce readiness for the NNSA Nuclear Security Enterprise by investing in education, training, research capacity, and direct engagement between participating institutions and NNSA/DOE sites. In practical terms, the program is intended to help more MSI and TCU students move from STEM coursework into national security careers, while also improving the long-term ability of these institutions to deliver high-quality STEM education and research.
Who is the funding agency?
The funding agency is the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ecosystem referenced throughout the opportunity.
What is the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) referenced in the program goals?
In this opportunity, the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) refers to the NNSA mission environment, including DOE/NNSA laboratories, plants, and other NSE sites. The program aims to prepare students for STEM roles connected to this national security mission and to strengthen institutional collaboration with these facilities.
What kinds of applicants are eligible?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. However, the program is structured around consortia that include MSIs and TCUs, and awards are intended for those consortium-based efforts.
Does an application need to be submitted as a consortium?
Yes. The opportunity is specifically described as a consortia grant program and is designed to fund awards to consortia made up of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
What types of projects and activities does MSIPP CGP support?
The program supports integrated efforts across education, training, research capacity, and engagement with NNSA/DOE sites. Expected activities include strengthening STEM education and workforce development, building institutional capacity (curriculum, labs, faculty development), and creating structured experiential learning pathways tied to NSE mission needs.
Which technical focus areas should a consortium address?
Funded consortia are expected to focus on key technical areas aligned with NSE mission needs: Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity, Engineering, and Nuclear Security.
How important is experiential learning in this program?
Experiential learning is a core theme. Projects should create hands-on pathways that expose students to real-world applications, such as internships, research experiences, practicum-style learning, and other structured work-based learning connected to NSE-related environments.
What student outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The opportunity emphasizes increasing the number of MSI and TCU students who graduate with STEM degrees and increasing the number of those students hired into the NSE STEM workforce. It also focuses on expanding students scientific and technical knowledge through both classroom and experiential learning.
What does "institutional capacity building" mean in the context of this grant?
Institutional capacity building includes strengthening research and education infrastructure at participating MSIs and TCUs, improving curricula and lab capabilities, supporting faculty development, and expanding the ability of institutions to compete and contribute in STEM research and workforce development over time.
How does the program encourage partnerships with DOE/NNSA labs and sites?
A major objective is to build sustainable partnerships and deeper collaboration among consortium members and with the DOE/NNSA ecosystem, including national laboratories, plants, and other NSE sites. The program emphasizes consistent, structured interaction with facilities and personnel to provide students and faculty access to specialized resources, mentorship, and mission-relevant STEM networks.
What is the anticipated national impact of the program?
The opportunity frames national impact around enhancing U.S. national security by strengthening the STEM pipeline from MSIs and TCUs into the NSE workforce, increasing STEM degree completion, increasing hiring into NSE STEM roles, and strengthening MSI/TCU research and educational capabilities. It also targets increased collaboration between participating institutions and DOE/NNSA laboratories and sites.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?
This funding opportunity is listed as DE-FOA-0003285 under CFDA 81.123.
What types of activities does the FOA indicate are supported?
The opportunity supports activities spanning education, energy, science and technology, and other research and development, as described in the administrative summary provided.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipates making about five awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $5,000,000.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date listed for the opportunity is June 15, 2026.
Are renewal awards allowed, or is it only for new projects?
The opportunity is designed to fund new or renewal awards to eligible consortia.
What is the amendment applicants should know about?
An amendment was made to the original funding announcement (noted as affecting pages 18 and 20) that clarifies budget submission requirements. Applicants are instructed to review the amendment addendum in the attached documents to ensure compliance with the updated instructions.
Which budget forms must applicants use?
Applicants must use the RampR OMB Budget Forms for this NOFO and should disregard language instructing applicants to use SF 424A.
What should applicants do if they previously planned to use SF 424A?
Applicants should follow the amendment and use the RampR OMB Budget Forms, disregarding the earlier instruction to use SF 424A, and confirm the correct approach by reviewing the amendment addendum in the attached documents.
What kinds of hands-on pathways are mentioned as examples of experiential learning?
The opportunity mentions internships, research experiences, practicum-style learning, and other structured work-based learning as examples of hands-on pathways that help students build relevant skills and familiarity with NSE-related work environments.
How does the program connect students to real-world NSE work environments?
By encouraging structured engagement with DOE/NNSA laboratories, plants, and other NSE sites, the program aims to expose students to real-world applications, provide mentorship and access to specialized resources, and help demystify federal STEM career pathways.
What is the expected focus of consortium collaboration?
The expected collaboration focus includes coordination among consortium members, deeper partnerships with DOE/NNSA labs and sites, and integrated planning that ties together workforce development, experiential learning, institutional capacity building, and NSE mission alignment.
What is the program trying to improve for participating institutions over the long term?
The program aims to improve long-term ability to deliver cutting-edge STEM education and research by strengthening curricula, lab capabilities, faculty development, research and education infrastructure, and sustained partnerships with the DOE/NNSA ecosystem.
Is the goal limited to education, or does it include research capacity too?
It includes both. The opportunity explicitly emphasizes investing in education and training as well as strengthening research capacity and institutional infrastructure to support sustained STEM contributions and workforce development.
What does the FOA say about why collaboration with DOE/NNSA sites matters?
It highlights that increased interactions with DOE/NNSA facilities and personnel can provide direct access to specialized resources, mentorship, and mission-relevant networks, which can translate into employment and longer-term collaboration while improving readiness for the technical and security-focused demands of NSE roles.
What should a consortium keep in mind when preparing its proposal?
Based on the program description, proposals should address workforce development, experiential learning, institutional capacity building, and collaboration with DOE/NNSA laboratories and sites in an integrated way, and they should also follow the updated budget form instructions in the amendment.
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