Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS 20 ST 062 001

The 2020 DHS SLA for Minority Serving Institutions is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), run through the Science and Technology Directorate's Office of University Programs (OUP). It is designed to support accredited U.S. colleges and universities that qualify as "minority institutions" under section 365(3) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3)). The core purpose is workforce and research pipeline development: DHS wants to help these institutions build or strengthen programs that give STEM students meaningful, hands-on experiences that connect directly to active DHS research efforts and homeland security mission needs.

Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement, which typically means DHS expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as coordination on activities, alignment with DHS research priorities, and ongoing communication about progress and outcomes. The program sits within a science, technology, and other research and development category (CFDA 97.062), signaling that the work should be grounded in STEM education and experiential learning that relates to homeland security research and innovation. The award ceiling is $470,000 per award, and DHS anticipated making about seven awards under this solicitation, indicating a competitive process with a limited number of funded projects.

The projects DHS is looking to fund focus on experiential learning for students who are already enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. In practical terms, this could include structured research experiences, applied projects, internships or internship-like placements, mentorship from researchers, lab-based learning, or other activities that move beyond classroom instruction and expose students to real-world R&D challenges tied to DHS. A key theme is building a clear bridge between students and ongoing DHS research programs, so applicants would be expected to design activities that are not generic STEM enrichment but are intentionally connected to homeland security-relevant research areas.

Another major requirement is collaboration with local community colleges. DHS expects recipients to engage with two-year institutions in their region to identify local community strengths and needs, and then use that understanding to encourage degree completion and smoother transfer pathways from community colleges to four-year programs. This emphasis suggests DHS is trying to widen participation in STEM and homeland security research careers by supporting students earlier in their academic journeys and by reducing barriers to completing a bachelor's degree. In a strong proposal, this would likely show concrete plans for recruitment, advising, mentoring, articulation or transfer supports, and coordinated programming between the community college and the four-year institution.

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education, as long as they meet the "minority institution" definition cited in the solicitation. The opportunity was published by DHS, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division, with an original posting date of August 10, 2020, and an original application deadline of October 9, 2020. The official opportunity number is DHS-20-ST-062-001, and the title is "2020 DHS SLA for Minority Serving Institutions."

  • The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2020 DHS SLA for Minority Serving Institutions" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.062.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Aug 10, 2020.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 09, 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 $470,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
Apply for DHS 20 ST 062 001

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FAQs: 2020 DHS SLA for Minority Serving Institutions (DHS-20-ST-062-001)

What is the "2020 DHS SLA for Minority Serving Institutions" grant?

It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), run through the Science and Technology Directorate's Office of University Programs (OUP). The program supports accredited U.S. colleges and universities that qualify as "minority institutions" under section 365(3) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3)).

What is the main purpose of this DHS funding opportunity?

The core purpose is workforce and research pipeline development. DHS is looking to help eligible institutions build or strengthen programs that provide STEM students with meaningful, hands-on experiences that connect to active DHS research efforts and homeland security mission needs.

Which DHS component is running this opportunity?

The opportunity is run through DHS's Science and Technology Directorate, Office of University Programs (OUP).

What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement. This typically means DHS expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as coordination on activities, alignment with DHS research priorities, and ongoing communication about progress and outcomes.

What CFDA number is associated with this program?

The program is listed under CFDA 97.062.

What kinds of projects is DHS looking to fund?

DHS is focused on experiential learning activities for students already enrolled in STEM fields. Examples mentioned include structured research experiences, applied projects, internships or internship-like placements, mentorship from researchers, lab-based learning, and other hands-on activities that go beyond classroom instruction and expose students to real-world R&D challenges tied to DHS.

Do projects need to be connected to DHS research and homeland security needs?

Yes. A key theme is creating a clear bridge between students and ongoing DHS research programs. Proposed activities are expected to be intentionally connected to homeland security-relevant research areas rather than generic STEM enrichment.

Who are the intended participants or beneficiaries (students)?

The opportunity targets students who are already enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and who would benefit from hands-on, research-connected experiences aligned with DHS mission needs.

Is collaboration with community colleges required?

Yes. A major requirement is collaboration with local community colleges. DHS expects recipients to engage with two-year institutions in their region to understand local strengths and needs and to support degree completion and smoother transfer pathways from community colleges to four-year programs.

What does DHS mean by strengthening transfer pathways from community colleges?

Based on the description, DHS is emphasizing coordinated efforts that encourage degree completion and make it easier for students to transfer from a two-year institution into a four-year program. The opportunity notes that strong proposals would likely include concrete plans for recruitment, advising, mentoring, and coordinated programming between institutions.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, as long as they qualify as a "minority institution" under section 365(3) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3)).

Does the institution need to be accredited?

Yes. The opportunity is designed to support accredited U.S. colleges and universities that meet the "minority institution" definition referenced in the solicitation.

How much funding is available per award?

The award ceiling is $470,000 per award.

How many awards did DHS expect to make?

DHS anticipated making about seven awards under this solicitation, indicating a competitive process with a limited number of funded projects.

Is this opportunity considered competitive?

Yes. The description indicates a limited number of anticipated awards (about seven) and an award ceiling, which signals a competitive discretionary funding process.

Who published this opportunity?

The opportunity was published by DHS, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division.

What is the official opportunity number?

The official opportunity number is DHS-20-ST-062-001.

What is the official title of the solicitation?

The title is "2020 DHS SLA for Minority Serving Institutions."

When was this opportunity originally posted?

The original posting date was August 10, 2020.

What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was October 9, 2020.

What topic area does this solicitation fall under?

It sits within a science, technology, and other research and development category, and the expected work is grounded in STEM education and experiential learning related to homeland security research and innovation.

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