U.S. Army Research Office, AMXRO-AAA, P.O. Box 12211, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211

A -- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FY97 EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCOR) SOL DAAG55-97-R-GAA3 POC Mr. David W. Seitz, (919) 549-4207, Contracting Officer, Anna G. McLaughlin, (919) 549-4301. The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the availability of the FY 1997 Broad Agency Announcement for the Department of Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) program. DEPSCoR is designed to improve the capabilities of U.S. institutions of higher education in selected states, to conduct research and to educate scientists and engineers in areas important to national defense. The DEPSCoR eligible states and territory are: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. The FY 97 DEPSCoR BAA solicits research proposals in areas important to the national defense. Approximately $16 million in DoD funds will be awarded for FY 97 and an amount of $10 million is anticipated for FY 98 subject to availability of funds. These awards will be made via grants through the Army Research Office (ARO), Ballistic Missile Organization (BMDO), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) based on this announcement. Under the DEPSCoR program, university research grants will be made via EPSCoR State Committees which will have submitted proposals to the Government evaluation panels. Proposals not submitted through an EPSCoR State Committee will be rejected. The BAA solicitation will contain additional information along with instructions for proposal preparation and submission. Proposals from the EPSCoR State Committees must be received at ARO no later than 4:00 p.m. local (Eastern Standard) time on June 18, 1997. Individuals desiring a copy of the BAA may download it from the Research Opportunities topic at the following address: www.aro.ncren.net. (0105)

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