Completed

Limit1: // G. Davidowitz (Entomology)

Through this umbrella APS, USAID aims to provide broad flexibility for the research and higher education community and connected organizations to collaborate with USAID, each other, and local institutions to build partnerships and support an enabling environment for addressing key development challenges in a sustainable manner. This umbrella APS: (A) describes the types of activities for which Applications will be considered under any forthcoming Addenda; (B)

describes the funding available and the process and requirements for submitting Applications; (C) explains the overall criteria for evaluating Applications; and (D) refers prospective applicants to relevant documentation available on the internet.

USAID/ITR anticipates awarding multiple grants and/or cooperative agreements as a result of this APS through the use of published subsequent Addenda (specific calls for Concept Notes). However, publishing this APS does not commit USAID to publish any specific Addenda or make any awards.

The EXPLORE APS is not a Request for Applications (RFA) or a Request for Proposals (RFP). Rather, the EXPLORE APS requests Concept Notes in response to Addenda published to this APS. Based on Concept Note(s) submitted in response to specific Addenda opportunities, USAID will determine whether to request a Full Application from an appropriate partner.

No Applicants // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 2

1. J.M. Roveda (Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences) -- TA Pending
2. J.M. Roveda (Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences) -- TA Pending
3. S.  Adhikari (Emergency Medicine) -- TA5: Intelligent Task Guidance.

An organization may submit up to two abstracts per technical area (TA) but may only submit one proposal for each technical area per section 1.3.1 of the Solicitation. All abstracts will be evaluated independently regardless of their affiliation.

The Platform Accelerating Rural Access to Distributed and InteGrated Medical Care (PARADIGM) program aims to address the current challenges in rural health by creating a scalable vehicle platform that can provide advanced medical services outside of a hospital setting. Building on recent developments in fields ranging from satellite communication to medical device miniaturization, this mobile care platform will allow health providers to meet rural patients where they are.  

In order to create a platform that can bring sophisticated medical services to the doorstep of rural populations, PARADIGM will focus on five technical areas: 1) designing distributed hospital-level care, 2) producing an integrated care delivery platform, 3) harmonizing diverse medical device data within a single system, 4) building a miniaturized, ruggedized CT scanner, and 5) creating intelligent task guidance software to help health workers perform activities beyond their usual training.  

If successful, PARADIGM hopes to develop a mobile platform capable of delivering many different types of cutting-edge services – including multi-cancer screenings, hemodialysis, perinatal care, and much more. With medical technology no longer tied to a specific place – but instead available on a platform that can travel to even the most remote locations – rural patients will thus be able to access the care that they need within their own communities. 

Technical Areas (TAs):

• TA1: Decentralized Approach to Hospital-Level Care. Provide clinical care in a CDP that is currently only available in a hospital, and evaluate the clinical effectiveness, financial sustainability, and patient/staff user acceptability of CDP-based care.
• TA2: Care Delivery Platform Integration. Develop a multipurpose scalable CDP to deliver advanced care outside the walls of a hospital.
• TA3: Medical Internet of Things (IoT) Platform. Develop a low-cost software platform that enables seamless data ingestion, normalization, and translation between common medical devices and commercial or open-source EHR.
• TA4: Rugged & Miniaturized CT Scanner. Fundamentally redesign and miniaturize a CT scanner for use in out-of-hospital settings to enable utilization of this essential imaging modality in remote rural populations.
• TA5: Intelligent Task Guidance. Develop and equip CDP staff with an easy-to-use and interactive intelligent task guidance system that will provide real-time task guidance and decision support and turn a generalist into a just-in-time specialist

UArizona is not eligible for this opportunity. 
For more information, please contact RDS. 

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 1 // R. Buchan (Molecular and Cellular Biology)

The purpose of the Beckman Scholars Program is to provide an in-depth, sustained undergraduate research experience in chemistry, biochemistry, biological, and medical sciences, or some interdisciplinary combination of these subjects, for exceptionally talented, full-time undergraduate students at accredited U.S. four-year colleges and universities; young people who ultimately will become prominent leaders in their scientific and professional pursuits. The Program’s financial support for a student and mentor over 15 continuous months of research, in conjunction with the Annual Beckman Symposium, offers an academically stimulating and unique educational experience.

Since 1998, more than 148 different universities or colleges have received Institutional Beckman Scholar awards supporting over 1,778 student and mentor teams. Each Institutional Award spans a three-year period, with 2 student/mentor teams selected by the institution each year, regardless of Carnegie Classification (this is an update to the program which applies only to institutions awarded in 2022-forward).

Institutional 2025 Beckman Scholars Awards will be made to support approximately 14 universities and colleges, for an anticipated total of 84 undergraduate students over the three-year period. The Foundation plans to notify awardees in late December 2024 and formally announce awards the following January.

We encourage you to share this information with appropriate individuals at your institution.

Invited institutions that have not applied for two or more consecutive years will be removed from the invitation list for a minimum of two years.

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation is an independent, private foundation established by Dr. and Mrs. Beckman in 1977. The mission of the Foundation is to make grants to non-profit U.S. research institutions to promote research in chemistry and the life sciences, broadly interpreted, and particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments, and materials that will open up new avenues of research in science.

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 1 // A. Anani (Mining and Geological Engineering)

Partners/collaborators shall submit only one (1) proposal by the primary (lead) institution with any other institution(s) identified as a subcontractor.

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is issued on behalf of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) pursuant to the authority of FAR 35.016 and FAR 6.102(d)(2) which provide for the competitive selection of research proposals.  Contracts awarded based on responses to this BAA are considered the result of full and open competition and are therefore in full compliance with the requirements of PL 98-369, "The Competition in Contracting Act of 1984."

Only Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) accredited educational institutions eligible under this BAA.

Within the meaning of FAR 6.102 and 35.016, this announcement constitutes the Government’s only solicitation and the Government will not issue any other formal solicitation for the requirement(s) outlined herein.  Offerors are advised that solicitation amendments may be issued via www.sam.gov and that proposal submissions shall comply with the most current amended solicitation documents and/or attachments.

This announcement is an opportunity for the award of contracts to universities for mining systems health and safety research. 

No Applicants  // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1 

Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. 

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces the American Music Mentorship Program (AMMP) open competition for one cooperative agreement to support a mentorship residency for music industry professionals from around the world. AMMP is a two-to-three-week U.S.-based mentorship residency for approximately 20 mid-career music industry professionals (“mentees”) from three to five countries. AMMP is ECA’s Global Music Diplomacy Initiative’s (GMDI) mentorship program, first announced by U.S. Secretary of State Blinken in September 2023 in response to the PEACE through Music Diplomacy Act. The program seeks to bolster music ecosystems, which play a vital role in fostering diverse and inclusive societies, championing innovation, protecting free expression, promoting economic opportunity, and contributing to the vitality of a civil society. AMMP is facilitated by a partnership between ECA and a private sector partner. With ECA input, the private sector partner will lead the recruitment and selection process and secure American professionals from its membership to serve as “mentors,” who will volunteer their time. Mentors will be available four days during the in-person program and meet virtually monthly with the mentees for up to a year following the residency. Mentors will provide behind-the-scenes access, bolster the mentees’ technical skills and build the foundations for lasting professional networks.

No Applicants // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2'

Only two applications per institution (normally identified by having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number or NIH IPF number) are allowed.

The NIH Director's Early Independence Award supports rigorous and promising investigators who wish to pursue independent research soon after completion of their terminal doctoral degree or post-graduate clinical training, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career. To support innovative and novel research across the vast NIH mission, individuals from diverse backgrounds (including those from underrepresented groups; see Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity) and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are encouraged to apply. Applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. The NIH Director's Early Independence Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program of the NIH Common Fund.

Requirements:

• Single PD/PI: Only single PD/PI applications are allowed. Multiple PD/PIs applications will not be accepted. Only the PD/PI may be listed as a Senior/Key Person and provide a Biographical Sketch.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizenship is not required. For non-U.S. citizens, the applicant institution is responsible for ensuring the PD/PI's U.S. visa status will allow them to conduct the proposed research at the applicant institution for the entire project period.
• Degree Receipt Date: The receipt date of the PD/PI’s terminal doctoral degree or end of post-graduate clinical training must be between May 1, 2023, and September 30, 2025. The degree receipt date is that which appears on the official transcript for the degree. The end of post-graduate clinical training includes residency and fellowship periods. At the time of award, either:

1. The PD/PI must have received a PhD, MD, DO, DC, DDS, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, DrPH, DNSc, ND (Doctor of Naturopathy), PharmD, DSW, PsyD, or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution (it is the responsibility of the sponsoring institution to determine if a foreign doctoral degree is equivalent).
2. Or an authorized official of the degree-granting or training institution must certify that all degree requirements have been met and that the receipt date of the degree (as will appear on the transcript) will be before September 30, 2025. An authorized official of the host institution must certify that the PD/PI will be able to conduct independent research at the institution at the time of the project start date.

• Post-doctoral Experience: The PD/PI must not have served as a post-doctoral fellow for more than 12 months following a previous, non-terminal doctoral degree (this only applies to PD/PIs with multiple doctoral degrees who served in a 12+ month post-doctoral fellowship before their terminal degree).
• Level of Effort: In the first and second years of the project period, the PD/PI must commit at least 9.6 person-months of effort to the Early Independence Award project each year (80% effort per year). In years 3-5 of the project period, the PD/PI may reduce their effort on the Early Independence Award project but must still conduct at least 9.6 person-months of general independent research each year (80% effort per year). General independent research includes the effort spent on the Early Independence Award project and any other independent research projects the PD/PI is working on.
• Non-independence at Time of Application: Individuals are eligible only if they do not have research independence at the time of application submission. Research non-independence is defined functionally rather than by position title and must have all the following characteristics:
  1. The PD/PI's current research agenda is set through concurrence with mentors.
  2. The PD/PI's research is funded primarily through support to other investigators (mentored fellowships such as NIH F31 or F32 Fellowships or NSF Graduate Research Fellowships do not preclude eligibility).
  3. The PD/PI does not have any space assigned directly by the institution for the conduct of their research.
  4. The PD/PI cannot apply for an NIH R01 grant without a special waiver or exemption from the institution according to institutional policy.

Though PD/PIs must not be functionally independent at the time of application submission, they may become functionally independent prior to time of award and still retain eligibility.

• Independent Research Position: An independent research position at a host institution is required, and the PD/PI must be able to begin independent research by the project start date. The position need not be permanent or tenure-track and may be contingent upon receipt of the Early Independence Award. Prospective PD/PIs should contact appropriate institutional leaders to seek an appointment to an independent research position. Alternatively, institutions may actively recruit eligible scientists to apply for support through this initiative. In either case, the institution is expected to provide substantial support to the PD/PI as detailed in the Facilities & Other Resources section. To foster independence, PD/PIs may benefit from being hosted by an institution at which they have not previously studied or trained.
• Career Awards: PD/PIs may apply for a research career development (K) award and DP5 at the same time, but NIH policy prohibits scientific overlap. A PD/PI may not hold a DP5 and career development award concurrently: The career development award must be relinquished to receive the DP5.
• Site Visit: NIH staff will conduct a one-time site visit at the end of the first year to assess the PD/PI's progress and to ensure they are receiving the institutional resources and support outlined in the application. NIH staff will meet with the PD/PI, lab personnel, mentors, faculty, and institutional leadership. Failure to provide independence and/or support may lead to NIH actions, including reduction of funds.

Awards will be for up to $250,000 in direct costs per year, plus applicable Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs.

The project period is limited to five years.

.

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 1 // M. Franco (HSI Initiatives)

The Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) Program provides grants to: (1) expand postbaccalaureate educational opportunities for, and improve the academic attainment of, Hispanic students; and (2) expand the postbaccalaureate academic offerings as well as enhance the program quality in the institutions of higher education that are educating the majority of Hispanic college students and helping large numbers of Hispanic and low-income students complete postsecondary degrees.

Limit: 1// S. Salehi (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

To ensure countries have the necessary measures in place to safeguard chips and related technology from diversion and misuse. Under this NOFO, ITSI Funds may benefit countries in the Americas, initially in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama, and countries in the Indo-Pacific region, initially in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and others as identified by ISN/ECC. ISN/ECC has identified crucial areas in which we can work with partners in enhancing their capacity to safeguard semiconductor-related technologies.

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 2

An eligible organization may submit only two (2) proposals. FORECAST does not accept separately submitted collaborative proposals. Any collaboration among organizations should be through a subaward.

The Focus on Recruiting Emerging Climate and Adaptation Scientists and Transformers (FORECAST) grant opportunity seeks proposals for three tracks. Track 1 supports a coordination hub for rising seniors from emerging research institutions or historically excluded groups. Track 2 supports master's student cohorts at emerging research institutions with mentorship and capacity building. Planning grants will build capacity for future cohort programs. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. Proposals will be evaluated based on meeting the objectives of building a workforce ready to address climate challenges through engagement and resilience efforts. Deadlines are June 11, 2024 for receipt of proposals.

Awards will support senior undergraduate and master's students through intentional professional development activities. Track 1 will coordinate a national cohort while Track 2 focuses on individual institution cohorts. Work is expected to be performed at emerging research institutions in order to build capacity and support diverse groups that have been historically underrepresented in STEM fields. Places of performance will include research institutions partnering to establish future cohort programs through FORECAST planning grants.

proposals that exceed the organizational eligibility limit will be returned without review. Potential PIs are advised to contact their institutional office of research regarding processes used to select proposals for submission.

Organizations participating only as evaluators or subawardees on projects are excluded from this limitation.