The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program Cooperative Agreement | W911NF 27 R A001

Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 27 R A001

The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program Cooperative Agreement is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command (CFDA 12.631) that seeks a single cooperative partner to help implement and run the SMART Scholarship-for-Service program over a long period of performance. The government plans to make ONE cooperative agreement award, with a total ceiling of up to $1.3 billion across a ten-year term. Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement (rather than a standard grant), the intent is an active partnership where the Department and the awardee coordinate closely on execution, rather than the awardee operating fully independently.

At its core, the opportunity supports the National Defense Education Program (NDEP), which is positioned as a pipeline-building effort to strengthen the nations technical workforce in ways that directly support defense readiness and capability. NDEP is described as aligning to priorities like improving lethality, warfighting, and readiness by developing future STEM talent who can help create advanced tools, technologies, and capabilities. The program is executed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and its activities span multiple STEM engagement pathways, including scholarships, internships, enrichment activities, research or project-based competitions, and mentorships, all framed around authentic, defense-relevant learning experiences.

The SMART program is highlighted as a central NDEP effort focused on talent development and recruitment, authorized under 10 U.S.C. 4093. SMART provides competitive scholarships for undergraduate and graduate degrees across 22 STEM disciplines identified as critical to national security. A defining feature of SMART is its scholarship-for-service model: after graduation, scholars may be considered for employment in the Departments civilian workforce, with a one-for-one service commitment tied to the period of scholarship support, subject to component requirements. The opportunity emphasizes that SMART scholars ultimately contribute across a wide range of mission areas, including research and development, manufacturing, test and evaluation, maintenance and in-service support, medical research, warfighter support, infrastructure and construction, material decommissioning and disposal, and intelligence-related analysis activities. The stated goal is a steady, reliable influx of high-quality technical professionals who can apply their skills quickly in roles that matter to the defense mission.

The notice also provides program scale and history to illustrate maturity and impact. Since FY 2005, SMART has awarded more than 8,000 scholarships, and more than 4,900 participants have completed their degrees and transitioned into the DoW workforce. That context signals that the cooperative agreement awardee is expected to manage an established, high-volume national program that already has significant throughput and stakeholder expectations, rather than building a small pilot from scratch.

Important dates and engagement details are included. An online Opportunity Day is scheduled for 29 October 2026 from 1300 to 1600 EST. Registration is handled by email to osw.smart@mail.mil, using the subject line "W911NF-27-R-A001 Opportunity Day," and additional event details are expected closer to the session. The application closing date listed is 2026-12-03, and the Funding Opportunity Number is W911NF-27-R-A001.

Eligibility is broadly listed as "Others," but the notice is clear about the threshold qualities expected of any potential applicant. To be considered qualified, an applicant must demonstrate management capability and sufficient financial and technical resources to administer the SMART program activities at the required scale; show a satisfactory performance record administering similar programs (especially relevant if the organization has held prior awards); maintain a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics; and otherwise meet legal and regulatory requirements for receiving a cooperative agreement. In practical terms, the government is signaling it wants an organization that can handle complex national program operations, steward very large funds responsibly over many years, and coordinate effectively with the Department on both day-to-day administration and strategic outcomes.

• The Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program Cooperative Agreement" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.631.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-12-03. (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 $1,300,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for W911NF 27 R A001

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