FY25 Department of the Navy (DoN) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education and Workforce Program

Overview

The Naval STEM Coordination Office (NSCO) is inviting a wide range of applications aimed at enhancing existing solutions or developing innovative approaches to maintain and cultivate a world-class Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. This workforce is essential for preserving the technological superiority of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The proposed projects should focus on creating, enhancing, or sustaining educational pathways and workforce opportunities in STEM fields for U.S. citizens, particularly in areas relevant to Department of the Navy (DON) science and technology.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages initiatives that strengthen the capacity of educational systems and local communities to provide impactful STEM learning experiences for students of all ages, as well as for the naval-related workforce.

This NOFO is for STEM education programs and activities vital to the Department of the Navy, which is formal or informal education that is primarily focused on physical and natural sciences, technology, engineering, social sciences, and mathematics disciplines.

 STEM education programs and activities that could be supported by this NOFO include one or more of the following as the primary objective:

• Develop learners’ knowledge, skill, or interest in STEM.                                              
• Attract students to pursue certifications, licenses, or degrees (two-year degrees through post-doctoral degrees) or careers in STEM fields.                                                                                          
• Provide growth and research opportunities for post-secondary, college and graduate students in STEM fields, such as working with researchers or conducting research that is primarily intended to further education.
• Improve mentor/educator (K-12 pre-service or in-service, post-secondary, and informal) quality in STEM areas.
• Improve or expand the capacity of institutions to promote or foster STEM fields. 

This NOFO will not consider applications for research, with the exception of those whose primary purpose is intended to further education (as described in third bullet above) and that are not expected to generate intellectual property. Efforts for research, including those supporting STEM, should be submitted under the current fiscal year Long Range BAA.

Program Description: 
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is interested in receiving a broad range of proposals for augmenting existing and/or developing innovative solutions that directly maintain, and/or cultivate an innovative, world-class Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to maintain the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ technological superiority. The goal of proposed efforts must provide solutions that establish, build, and/or maintain STEM educational pathways of U.S. citizens directly relevant to the needs of Department of Navy’s (DON) current and future workforce.

As the capacity of the DON Science and Technology (S&T) workforce is interconnected with the STEM education system, DON recognizes the need to support efforts that can jointly improve STEM student outcomes and align educational and outreach efforts with Naval S&T current and future workforce needs, including skilled technical workforce. This announcement explicitly encourages programs that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students of all ages and the naval related workforce. Programs must aim to increase engagement in naval relevant STEM, and enhance the corresponding skills, knowledge, and abilities of participants. ONR encourages applicants to utilize current STEM educational research for informing program design and advancing STEM careers and opportunities of naval relevance.

While this announcement is relevant for any stage of the STEM educational system, funding efforts will primarily target projects addressing the below communities or any combination of these communities:

• Secondary education communities;
• Post-Secondary communities;
• Informal science communities; and/or
• Current Naval STEM workforce communities.

Project scope may range in size and complexity. Projects that are already established with prior funding sources or have established stakeholder partnerships are especially encouraged to consider the following scope areas:

• Develop and implement exploratory pilot projects that seek to create new educational experiences within educational and training communities.
• Develop larger cohesive STEM education and training activities that strengthen the capacity of regional communities and stakeholders to improve STEM education and training.
• Establish meetings with stakeholders that must seek to connect relevant people and organizations to explicitly develop broader projects for affecting entire The technical content of any idea must establish naval relevance, such as, but not limited to, the science

The technical content of any idea must establish naval relevance, such as but not limited to, the science and technology areas listed here: https://www.nre.navy.mil/our-research/onr-technology-and-research

Proposal submission is by invitation only. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: White Papers are MANDATORY and are Due 4/11/25
White papers are required and should:

• Align with DONs Mission;
• Have scientific and technical merit; and
• Show program viability during and after the period of performance.

White Paper Submission Instructions are available on page 22 of the NOFO.

Anticipated Number of Awards: 8

Anticipated Range of Individual Award Amounts: $200,000 per year for no more than 3 years

Previous Year(s) Average Individual Award Amounts: $600,000 for 3 years

Anticipated Period of Performance: 3 years