DHS S&T Critical Infrastructure Resilience Center of Excellence –(CIRC) Center Lead

Q&A Summary posted Fridays under "Full Announcement" tab. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Office of University Programs (OUP) requests applications from U.S. colleges and universities to serve as a lead institution for a Critical Infrastructure Resilience Center of Excellence (CIRC). OUP is also posting a separate FOA for eligible applicants to submit single project proposals for consideration as a partner to this Center of Excellence (COE). Please see FOA Number DHS-14-ST-061-COE-CIRC-001B or CDFA #97.061 on http://www.grants.gov for directions on how to submit single project proposals. DHS may add individual project partners from applications received for either the Center Lead FOA or the Center Partner FOA to the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Center. The DHS COEs are university consortia that work closely with DHS to conduct research, develop and transition mission-relevant science and technology, and educate the next generation of homeland security technical experts. DHS COEs operate using a unique research management approach where researchers work alongside operational and decision-making personnel to explore opportunities and enhance capabilities. Each COE is led by a U.S. college or university and has multiple partners. COE partners include other academic institutions, private industry, DHS components, DOE National Laboratories and other Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), other federal agencies that have homeland security-relevant missions, state/local/tribal governments, and first responder organizations. DHS envisions the COEs as long-term trusted academic partners that provide an array of resources to help DHS achieve its missions, and carry out its operations. The COEs that make up the COE network are listed at https://www.dhs.gov/st-centers-excellence. The new Critical Infrastructure Resilience Center will be a fully-integrated component of the COE network and will take advantage of the network's resources to develop mission-critical research, education, and technology transition programs. DHS will conduct an informational webinar and conference call for interested applicants approximately two weeks after this FOA is posted. During the call, DHS will discuss the FOA and provide an opportunity for interested applicants to ask questions. For the date and time of the webinar and information about how to access the webinar, please check Grants.gov and the hsuniversityprograms website.