Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative | N00014 18 S F006

FY 2019 DoD MURI (N00014-18-S-F006) FAQs

What is the FY 2019 DoD Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)?

MURI is a competitive Department of Defense (DoD) grant program that funds basic research in science and engineering at U.S. universities when the research is likely to matter to long-term national security needs. For this opportunity, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is the issuing agency under Funding Opportunity Number N00014-18-S-F006.

What is the main purpose of MURI funding?

The program is designed to support farsighted, high-payoff basic research that builds fundamental understanding of phenomena. It is not focused on proposing a specific product, system, or near-term application. The broader intent is to seed foundational discoveries that can enable future defense-relevant technologies and help the DoD stay aware of emerging scientific knowledge.

How does the solicitation define "basic research" for this program?

The solicitation aligns with DoD basic research as defined in the DoD Financial Management Regulation (DoD 7000.14-R): systematic study and experimentation to increase foundational knowledge across the physical, engineering, environmental, and life sciences.

Is this opportunity topic-driven or open-topic?

This FY 2019 competition is topic-driven. Applicants must align their research plan to one of the specific MURI topics announced for that year.

Where are the specific MURI topics described?

The opportunity indicates that detailed topic descriptions and the designated Topic Chiefs are provided in the full announcement in Section II.I, titled "Specific MURI Topics."

Do the topic descriptions limit what applicants can propose?

No. The solicitation states that the topic descriptions are intended to provide a frame of reference, but they are not meant to limit creativity. Innovative approaches that address the goals of the topic and the broader intent of the program are explicitly encouraged.

What is a defining feature of MURI compared to other DoD basic research programs?

A defining feature is the emphasis on multidisciplinary teams. MURI is designed for problems where progress depends on multiple traditional disciplines interacting, with the expectation that integrated expertise accelerates advances beyond what a single investigator or single discipline could accomplish.

Can a MURI team include multiple universities?

Yes. Teams may be formed across different departments within the same university or across multiple universities, depending on where the required expertise resides.

Does MURI fund single-investigator projects?

The program is described as complementary to other DoD basic research efforts that more commonly fund single-investigator projects. MURI specifically emphasizes multidisciplinary teams rather than single-investigator work.

Is a Principal Investigator (PI) required, and what role do they play?

Yes. Each submission must identify one Principal Investigator (PI) who serves as the responsible technical point of contact for the proposal.

Must the PI be from the lead institution?

Yes. The PI must be from the primary (lead) institution.

Is a lead institution required, and what responsibilities does it have?

Yes. One institution must be designated as the primary awardee responsible for executing the grant.

What needs to be explained when multiple institutions participate?

The proposal and budget must describe the relationships among partners, define their roles, and explain how funds will be divided, including any subawards.

Who is eligible to apply as the primary awardee?

Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education with degree-granting programs in science and/or engineering, including DoD institutions of higher education.

Are university-connected entities eligible to apply?

Certain university-connected entities may be eligible if they are part of a U.S. university and are not classified as an FFRDC, a UARC, or another University Affiliated Laboratory (UAL) treated as ineligible under the solicitation.

Which organizations may collaborate but cannot receive MURI funding?

The solicitation states that organizations such as industry, DoD laboratories, FFRDCs, foreign entities, and other ineligible organizations may participate as collaborators but cannot receive MURI funding directly or indirectly through a subaward.

Can an ineligible collaborator receive funding through a subaward from the university?

No. The opportunity specifies that ineligible organizations cannot receive MURI funding directly or indirectly through a subaward.

What if an ineligible collaborator needs funding for the collaboration to work?

The solicitation anticipates this situation. The ineligible organization may submit a separate supplemental proposal attached to the main university-led MURI proposal. The supplemental request is reviewed using the same MURI criteria by the appropriate Research Topic Chief, but if approved it would be funded using non-MURI or non-government sources rather than MURI dollars.

How is the supplemental proposal for an ineligible collaborator reviewed?

It is reviewed using the same MURI criteria by the appropriate Research Topic Chief, according to the solicitation.

Are awards under this program considered discretionary grants?

Yes. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant for science and technology research and development.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity references CFDA 12.300.

What is the funding opportunity number (FON) for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is N00014-18-S-F006.

What are the key dates mentioned in the opportunity excerpt?

The posting indicates a creation date of March 22, 2018, and an original closing date of October 16, 2018.

Does the excerpt provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The excerpted information states that it does not provide a specific award ceiling or a stated number of expected awards.

Why does the DoD invest in MURI-type university research?

The opportunity frames MURI as a competitive, topic-specific university research investment intended to keep the DoD aware of emerging scientific knowledge and to seed foundational discoveries that can enable future defense-relevant technologies.