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

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FY98 DOD INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND MINORITY INSTITUTIONS SOL DAAG55-97-R-BAA5 DUE 103097 POC Contact Point, Jenny Haire, 919/549-4205, Contracting Officer, Janet Lockhart, 919/549-4267 WEB: ARO Web Site, http://www.aro.ncren.net. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contracting officer via e-mail, lockhart@aro-emh1.army.mil. The U.S. Army Research Office announces the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the FY98 Department of Defense Infrastructure Support Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI). This program, offered by the Army Research Office (ARO), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), provides grants in two program areas, namely, instrumentation and education. The instrumentation program will provide grants in the range of $40,000 to $400,000 (total cost to DoD) for the acquisition of science and technology instrumentation for educational and/or research use. Emphasis is on instrumentation or equipment which will enhance the ability of HBCU/MI to increase the quality of education and the number of graduates, including underrepresented minority graduates, in the fields of science, engineering, and/or mathematics, and/or to conduct research of interest to the DoD. The education program will provide grants aimed atstrengthening academic programs in the fields of science, engineering, and/or mathematics, with particular emphasis on attracting precollege students, nurturing and retaining undergraduate students, and encouraging outstanding undergraduates to pursue related graduate degrees. This solicitation is open only to HBCU/MI. Institutions submitting proposals must have an accredited, degree-granting program in science, engineering, or mathematics. Eligible institutions may submit one instrumentation proposal and one education proposal. Approximately $8 million is expected to be available for awards under this competition. The BAA contains additional information on the program and instructions for proposal preparation and submission. Proposals must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. local time, October 30, 1997. To receive a copy of the BAA, send written requests to: U.S Army Research Office, ATTN: AMXRO-AAA (HBCU/MI 98), P.O. Box 12211, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211, or by FAX to 919-549-4388. The BAA will be available on or before August 4, 1997 on the ARO Home Page at http://www.aro.ncren.net. It may also be downloaded from the Federal Information Exchange (FEDIX), an on-line information system accessible via computer and modem, by calling the FEDIX computer at 301-258-0953 or 800-783-3349. There is no charge to the user for accessing the information. The FEDIX helpline is 301-975-0103. Also, FEDIX is accessible via Internet at the following address: "fedix.fie.com"; at login, type "fedix". World Wide Web (WWW) users can access the system by using the following address: http://web.fie.com. Users accessing this information should continue to monitor the FEDIX system until the closing date of this Broad Agency Announcement in order to obtain any modifications thereto which may be issued. (0209)

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