Opportunity Information: Apply for N00014 21 S F003
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) funding opportunity is a discretionary research grant competition run under the broader University Research Initiative (URI). It is sponsored and administered through the Department of Defense research offices, specifically the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Through this program, DoD supports university-led teams that can tackle ambitious, high-risk basic research questions, especially work aimed at understanding fundamental phenomena or achieving capabilities that have not been demonstrated before.
MURI is built around the idea that major scientific leaps often happen at the boundaries between disciplines, so proposals are expected to be genuinely multidisciplinary and structured as coordinated research efforts rather than isolated single-investigator projects. The program has been in place for more than 25 years and is described as having a strong track record of producing breakthrough science with spillover effects into broader scientific progress, economic growth, and long-term military-relevant technologies. A defining feature of MURI is hands-on technical stewardship: Service program officers actively manage awarded projects and provide research guidance throughout the period of performance, which signals an expectation of ongoing interaction, progress tracking, and alignment with the program's research goals.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity results in financial assistance awards rather than procurement contracts. Awards are primarily issued as grants, with an important exception noted for ARO submissions, where the Army may issue either grants or cooperative agreements depending on the nature of the effort and the level of expected government involvement. All awards made under the announcement follow DoD terms and conditions implementing federal assistance rules, including the Uniform Guidance found in 2 CFR Part 200 (covering administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements). In practical terms, applicants should be prepared to follow standard federal grant compliance expectations around budgeting, allowability of costs, reporting, and audits.
Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education, including public and state-controlled universities and private universities. The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the listing is associated with CFDA number 12.300. The opportunity was posted by ONR under Funding Opportunity Number N00014-21-S-F003, created on March 22, 2021, with an original closing date of September 27, 2021. The posted award ceiling is $1,500,000, indicating the maximum amount anticipated per award under this notice, although the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided data.
Several key procedural points are emphasized. DoD reserves full discretion to fund all, some, or none of the proposals submitted in response to the announcement, meaning submission does not imply any commitment to make awards. The government does not reimburse any proposal development costs, and submitted technical and cost proposals (and related materials) will not be returned. Proposals are treated as competition-sensitive information and are only shared internally as needed for evaluation, reflecting standard confidentiality handling during peer and programmatic review.
Overall, this MURI announcement is designed for university research teams ready to propose high-impact, multidisciplinary basic research with the potential to open new scientific directions. It combines competitive grant funding with active engagement from DoD program officers and requires adherence to the federal assistance framework that governs budgeting, performance, and reporting for federally funded research.Apply for N00014 21 S F003
- The Office of Naval Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-09-27. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FY 2022 DoD Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) - FAQs
What is the FY 2022 DoD Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI)?
The FY 2022 Department of Defense (DoD) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) is a discretionary research grant competition under the broader University Research Initiative (URI). It supports university-led research teams pursuing ambitious, high-risk basic research questions, particularly work aimed at understanding fundamental phenomena or achieving capabilities not previously demonstrated.
Which DoD organizations sponsor and administer this MURI opportunity?
This MURI opportunity is sponsored and administered through DoD research offices, specifically the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).
What type of research is MURI intended to fund?
MURI is intended to fund basic research that is high-impact, ambitious, and often high-risk. The focus is on fundamental science and early-stage research that can open new scientific directions, including research with long-term military-relevant potential.
What does "multidisciplinary" mean in the context of MURI proposals?
In MURI, "multidisciplinary" means proposals are expected to genuinely integrate multiple disciplines and be structured as coordinated team efforts. The intent is to tackle research questions that benefit from collaboration at the boundaries between disciplines, rather than assembling separate, loosely related tasks.
Are single-investigator projects appropriate for this program?
Based on the program description, MURI is designed for coordinated, multidisciplinary team research rather than isolated single-investigator projects. Proposals are expected to reflect integrated teamwork across disciplines.
How long has the MURI program been in place?
The MURI program has been in place for more than 25 years and is described as having a strong track record of producing breakthrough science with broader spillover effects.
What kinds of impacts does DoD expect from MURI-funded research?
The announcement describes MURI as producing breakthrough science with spillover effects into broader scientific progress, economic growth, and long-term military-relevant technologies. The emphasis is on fundamental advances that can enable future capabilities.
What is meant by "hands-on technical stewardship" in MURI?
A defining feature of MURI is active technical stewardship by Service program officers. Awarded projects are actively managed, and program officers provide research guidance throughout the period of performance. This implies ongoing interaction, progress tracking, and alignment with the program's research goals.
Is this opportunity a grant or a procurement contract?
This opportunity results in financial assistance awards rather than procurement contracts. Awards are primarily issued as grants.
Are cooperative agreements possible under this announcement?
Yes. While awards are primarily grants, the announcement notes an important exception for ARO submissions: the Army may issue either grants or cooperative agreements depending on the nature of the effort and the level of expected government involvement.
What federal rules and compliance requirements apply to awards?
All awards follow DoD terms and conditions implementing federal assistance rules, including the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Part 200. This covers administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements. Applicants should be prepared for standard federal grant compliance expectations related to budgeting, allowability of costs, reporting, and audits.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education. This includes public and state-controlled universities as well as private universities.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 12.300.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is N00014-21-S-F003.
Which agency posted the opportunity?
The opportunity was posted by the Office of Naval Research (ONR).
When was this funding opportunity created?
The announcement was created on March 22, 2021.
What was the original closing date listed for the opportunity?
The original closing date listed was September 27, 2021.
What is the award ceiling for this MURI notice?
The posted award ceiling is $1,500,000, which indicates the maximum amount anticipated per award under this notice.
How many awards will be made?
The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided information.
Does submitting a proposal guarantee funding?
No. DoD reserves full discretion to fund all, some, or none of the proposals submitted in response to the announcement. Submission does not imply a commitment to make awards.
Are proposal development costs reimbursed?
No. The government does not reimburse any proposal development costs.
Will submitted proposals be returned to applicants?
No. Submitted technical and cost proposals (and related materials) will not be returned.
How is proposal confidentiality handled during review?
Proposals are treated as competition-sensitive information and are shared only internally as needed for evaluation. This reflects standard confidentiality handling during peer and programmatic review.
What should applicants expect in terms of interaction after an award is made?
The program description emphasizes active involvement by Service program officers throughout the period of performance, including research guidance and progress tracking. Awardees should expect ongoing engagement and technical stewardship.
What is the overall goal of this MURI announcement?
The announcement is designed for university research teams prepared to propose high-impact, multidisciplinary basic research with the potential to open new scientific directions, combining competitive financial assistance funding with active DoD program officer engagement and federal assistance compliance requirements.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: NIDCD's Mentoring Networks to Enhance Clinician-Scientists' Participation in Research (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Previous opportunity: Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington Plant Conservation and Restoration Management
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for N00014 21 S F003
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (N00014 21 S F003) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Cooperative Agreement with a partner of the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. Apply for G21AS00416 Funding Number: G21AS00416 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $181,534 |
| Insider Threats in American Law Enforcement Apply for DHS ST 21 108 FR02 Funding Number: DHS ST 21 108 FR02 Agency: Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G21AS00438 Funding Number: G21AS00438 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $120,565 |
| Cooperative Agreement with partner of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. Apply for G21AS00439 Funding Number: G21AS00439 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| NIST Standards Services Curricula Development Cooperative Agreement Program (SSCD CAP) Apply for 2021 NIST SSCD CAP 01 Funding Number: 2021 NIST SSCD CAP 01 Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY 21 Office of Naval Research (ONR) Science, Technology,Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program Apply for N00014 21 S F005 Funding Number: N00014 21 S F005 Agency: Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G21AS00451 Funding Number: G21AS00451 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $105,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with– Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G21AS00452 Funding Number: G21AS00452 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $70,500 |
| Cooperative Agreement with Partner of the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G21AS00454 Funding Number: G21AS00454 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $42,047 |
| Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G21AS00450 Funding Number: G21AS00450 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| FY 2021 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase II Apply for 2021 NIST SBIR 02 Funding Number: 2021 NIST SBIR 02 Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G21AS00468 Funding Number: G21AS00468 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G21AS00477 Funding Number: G21AS00477 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with South Florida/Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G21AS00470 Funding Number: G21AS00470 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $44,850 |
| Cooperative Agreement with Participating Partner of the Great Lakes Northern Forests (CESU) Program. Apply for G21AS00469 Funding Number: G21AS00469 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Piedmont South Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G21AS00476 Funding Number: G21AS00476 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $44,850 |
| Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G21AS00475 Funding Number: G21AS00475 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $44,800 |
| Traineeship in Isotope Research & Development and Production Apply for DE FOA 0002508 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002508 Agency: Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Best Practices for Reintegration Programming for Returning Spouses and Children Apply for DHS ST 21 108 FR04 Funding Number: DHS ST 21 108 FR04 Agency: Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $850,000 |
| Desalination and Water Purification Research Program Pitch to Pilot Apply for R21AS00424 Funding Number: R21AS00424 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $200,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "N00014 21 S F003", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.