Fiscal Year 2023 Lending Library - Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (LL-DURIP) | FOA AFRL AFOSR 2023 0002

Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA AFRL AFOSR 2023 0002

The Fiscal Year 2023 Lending Library - Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (LL-DURIP) is a Department of Defense funding opportunity administered by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) that supports universities in building a structured "lending library" model around research instrumentation previously purchased through DURIP awards. The basic idea is to take existing DURIP-funded equipment that is already on a campus and create a program that makes that equipment more broadly usable for education and outreach, especially hands-on, research-connected learning experiences. While the original instrumentation may have been funded through DURIP by AFOSR, the Army Research Office (ARO), or the Office of Naval Research (ONR), this particular lending library initiative is a stand-alone STEM supplement offered only by AFOSR.

Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education, including public/state-controlled and private universities, that have already received a DURIP grant in the past and still have access to the DURIP-funded instrumentation they plan to use in the lending library. Proposals are expected to focus on creating, marketing, and implementing the lending library program, which implies more than simply making the equipment available on request. Applicants should describe how the program will be organized and managed, how borrowers will learn to use the equipment safely and effectively, what scheduling or reservation processes will be used, what support and supervision will be provided, and how the institution will promote the program so the intended audiences actually participate.

A central requirement of LL-DURIP is that the lending library must directly strengthen hands-on experiential learning tied to research and education in disciplines aligned with Department of Defense mission priorities. In particular, proposals must address K-12 educational impact: the application should explain how access to the equipment or instrumentation will improve the institution's ability to educate K-12 students through research experiences or research-related activities in fields important to DoD missions. This emphasis on K-12 means applicants should clearly identify the age groups and communities they intend to serve, what kinds of activities will be delivered (for example, lab demonstrations, guided experiments, summer research experiences, teacher training that leverages instrumentation, or mobile/on-site workshops), and how the instrumentation meaningfully enables those experiences rather than being peripheral.

The program is framed around the DoD STEM education goals, so strong proposals should map their activities to those outcomes. The goals include inspiring community engagement through meaningful STEM learning opportunities for students and educators; attracting current and future STEM talent into educational and career pathways relevant to the nation and the DoD; increasing participation by underserved and underrepresented groups in STEM; and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of STEM programming through evaluation and assessment. In practice, that means applicants should describe outreach strategies and partnerships (such as school districts, community organizations, museums, STEM nonprofits, or teacher networks), recruitment plans that broaden participation, and concrete evaluation methods for tracking results (such as participation numbers, demographics reached, pre/post learning measures, student or teacher feedback, and longer-term indicators like continued STEM course enrollment or participation in follow-on programs, when feasible).

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology/research and development category (CFDA 12.800). The opportunity number is FOA AFRL AFOSR 2023 0002. The announcement was created on January 17, 2023, with an original closing date of April 14, 2023. The award ceiling is $50,000, and the agency anticipated making around 50 awards, indicating relatively modest, implementation-focused grants meant to activate existing instrumentation for broader educational use rather than to purchase major new equipment.

Applicants are also expected to address the overall funding picture for the proposed STEM outreach and education work. Proposals should include relevant information about any other federal funds that will support the effort and any non-federal contributions (such as university cost share, philanthropic support, state funding, in-kind contributions, staff time, or partner resources). This helps AFOSR understand how the lending library will be sustained and how the LL-DURIP funds will be used to produce measurable outreach and educational impact anchored by DURIP-funded instrumentation.

• The Department of Defense, Air Force Office of Scientific Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2023 Lending Library - Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (LL-DURIP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 17, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 14, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for FOA AFRL AFOSR 2023 0002

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