MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (MSIPP) CONSORTIA GRANT PROGRAM (CGP) | DE FOA 0003285

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.

• 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.

Apply for DE FOA 0003285

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