Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) Consortia Grant Program (CGP)

The Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) Consortia Grant Program (CGP), administered by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a bureau within the U.S. Department of Energy, aims to bolster national security through strategic academic partnerships. This grant initiative targets Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), empowering them to establish or renew consortia that can build capacity in areas critical to the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). These consortia are expected to expand research and technical knowledge in high-priority areas such as Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity, Engineering, and Nuclear Security. The ultimate purpose of the MSIPP CGP is to grow a pipeline of highly skilled professionals from historically underrepresented groups in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, contributing to the workforce needs of the NSE. The program is structured to support a range of activities that further this goal. These include not only enhancing research and education capacity at MSIs and TCUs but also offering experiential learning opportunities that connect students directly to real-world applications in the nuclear security sector. These experiential components may involve internships, collaborative research with national laboratories, or direct engagement with technical projects at DOE/NNSA sites. The grant program seeks to deepen institutional capabilities and cultivate an environment that promotes sustainable collaborations among MSIs, TCUs, and the broader NNSA infrastructure, including labs and plants. This emphasis on long-term partnerships is intended to provide consistent student access to technical resources, mentoring, and career pathways in nuclear security. Applications are limited to consortia composed of eligible MSIs and TCUs. Eligible applicants include both public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education that qualify as MSIs. Applicants are encouraged to propose activities that are aligned with the stated technical focus areas and that enhance the STEM pipeline into the NSE. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, thereby lowering the financial barrier to participation for smaller institutions or those with limited grant management infrastructure. The funding available under this opportunity totals approximately $25 million, with individual awards ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. The exact number of awards has not been predetermined. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) allows for both new and renewal applications, and it remains open for three years with six scheduled receipt dates. The current application cycle closes on March 3, 2026. Due to the multi-cycle structure, future deadlines and cycles are anticipated; however, specific dates beyond this closing window will be determined and posted by the funder. No pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers are identified for this round. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and applicants are encouraged to carefully follow submission guidelines to ensure timely and complete proposals. Review criteria are not detailed in the grant synopsis but are likely to include alignment with technical focus areas, potential for workforce development impact, and strength of proposed institutional collaboration. Technical questions regarding the program may be directed to Iralien Sainvilmar at 505-665-5491 or via email at [email protected]. An alternate contact is Kristee R. Hall at 202-205-0783 or [email protected]. The grant opportunity was last updated on March 5, 2026, and the archive date is set for July 15, 2026. Since the NOFO is open for three years with multiple receipt dates, the program is considered recurring. The expected next due date will follow the current cycle and is projected based on pattern recurrence. There is no PDF link provided directly in the grant synopsis, and applicants must rely on the Grants.gov or DOE NNSA websites for any additional documentation. This grant represents a significant opportunity for MSIs and TCUs to deepen their STEM capacity while directly contributing to the strategic workforce pipeline for the national nuclear security infrastructure.