DoW Equipment and Instrumentation Grants for HBCUs and Minority-Serving Institutions

The Department of War funds research equipment and instrumentation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority-serving institutions through a program authorized by 10 U.S.C. 4144, which directs the Secretary to provide assistance to covered educational institutions in defense related research, development, testing and evaluation. The equipment competitions are funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering and administered through the Army Research Laboratory, the Office of Naval Research and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. I write the application, with large federal grants for universities among the more than $11.7M secured for clients.

Who this fits and who it does not

Eligibility is written in each announcement, and it changed with the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires separate solicitations for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities on one side and for other minority-serving institutions on the other. The fiscal year 2027 equipment and instrumentation announcement states that eligibility is open only to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as defined for a part B institution under section 322 of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1061), and Tribal Colleges and Universities, as defined in section 316(b) (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)). The previous announcement, for fiscal year 2025, was open to covered educational institutions under 10 U.S.C. 4144: institutions eligible for assistance under Title III or Title V of the Higher Education Act, including community colleges and other two year institutions, and accredited postsecondary minority institutions, with a Department of Education eligibility letter attached.

• It fits an HBCU or a Tribal College or University with a defined research or STEM education need that specific equipment would meet, and a plan to operate and maintain the equipment after the award ends.

• It fits other minority-serving institutions once the separate solicitation the law now requires is published.

• It does not fit a company or an individual. These are institutional awards, and the funds cannot be used for student support.

• General purpose equipment is not eligible; equipment must have an acquisition cost of $10,000 or more and a useful life of more than one year, without user fees, maintenance agreements or extended warranties.

What the grants fund and how the process works

The announcement states two objectives: to support the acquisition of equipment and instrumentation that augments existing capabilities or develops new capabilities in research areas of interest to the Department, and to attract students to pursue studies leading to STEM careers. Awards range from $200,000 to $1,500,000 with a 12 month performance period, an institution may submit no more than three applications, and cost sharing is neither required nor an evaluation factor.

The process is a single step: no white paper, a full application through Grants.gov with a 25 page technical section (project summary, project narrative, facilities and other resources) and three page biographical sketches. Applications are evaluated by Department subject matter experts on four primary criteria of equal weight: the impact of the equipment on the institution's ability to conduct research and research related education in areas of interest to the Department; its impact on the institution's STEM programs; its impact on student participation in STEM programs, including high school students; and the qualifications of the principal investigator and key personnel. Two secondary criteria follow: the institution's ability to operate and maintain the equipment after the support ends, and the realism and reasonableness of cost.

Current status: Closed, next cycle. FY2027 announcement closed October 9, 2026, 4 PM ET; award decisions expected in November 2026; no next announcement posted.

My read

• The strongest applications tie one instrument to named research in a Department area of interest and to named courses or labs where students will use it. A wish list of equipment does not score.

• Sustainment is a scored criterion. The narrative has to say who maintains the instrument, where the service budget comes from and what happens in year two.

• Three applications per institution means the research office should rank its proposals before anyone starts writing.

• The equipment quotes, the facilities statement and the biographical sketches should exist before the announcement posts.

Related instrumentation calls for universities

The Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) is the Department's other equipment route, open to accredited US institutions of higher education except for-profit institutions.

Frequently asked questions

Can a minority-serving institution that is not an HBCU apply?

Not under the fiscal year 2027 equipment announcement, which is limited to HBCUs and Tribal Colleges and Universities. The law now requires a separate solicitation for other minority-serving institutions.

How large are the awards?

The fiscal year 2027 announcement set individual awards from $200,000 to $1,500,000 for a 12 month period, with approximately $50 million intended under the announcement.

Is there a white paper or pre-application?

No. The announcement is a single step, full application through Grants.gov.

What does the consultant do on an equipment application?

The project narrative against the four primary criteria, the sustainment plan, the budget and justification with the equipment quotes, and the facilities statement.