FY23 DoD Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) | N00014 22 S F002

Opportunity Information: Apply for N00014 22 S F002

The FY23 DoD Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) is a competitive federal funding opportunity run 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). It is designed to support high-risk, high-reward basic research led by university teams that bring together multiple disciplines to tackle hard problems and push beyond current scientific limits. The program emphasis is not incremental development, but fundamental research that aims to discover new principles, create entirely new capabilities, or explain phenomena that are not yet well understood. MURI has been in place for more than two decades and is positioned as a pathway to major scientific breakthroughs that can eventually influence national security, economic growth, and next-generation defense technologies.

A defining feature of MURI is that projects are actively managed by DoD Service program officers, who do more than process paperwork. These program officers provide ongoing technical oversight and research guidance, which signals that awardees should expect a hands-on relationship with the sponsoring office throughout the life of the project. This close management model is often described as one of the reasons MURI projects have a track record of producing influential results, because the research remains aligned with long-term DoD interests while still preserving the open-ended nature of fundamental science.

In terms of applicant eligibility, the opportunity is limited to institutions of higher education, including both public/state-controlled universities and private universities. The funding instrument type is primarily a grant, although proposals submitted through ARO may result in either a grant or a cooperative agreement, depending on the level of anticipated agency involvement and the structure of the work. Like other DoD assistance awards, the terms and conditions follow DoD implementation of federal financial assistance rules, including the Uniform Guidance framework in 2 CFR Part 200 covering administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit expectations.

Several administrative and procedural points are highlighted in the announcement. Applicants are expected to monitor Grants.gov for amendments, since changes to the funding opportunity will be posted there and can modify requirements or timelines. Applications must include a project abstract that is publicly releasable, meaning it should be written with the expectation that it can be shared openly without sensitive or restricted details. The application also requires completion of specified Certifications and Representations referenced in the FOA, which are standard compliance statements used across federal assistance programs. The DoD also notes that external subject-matter experts who are not U.S. government employees may be used as technical consultants during proposal evaluation, but only after signing non-disclosure agreements, reflecting the program's intent to protect proprietary or competition-sensitive information.

The DoD makes clear that it may choose to fund all, some, or none of the proposals submitted, reinforcing that submission does not guarantee an award even if proposals are strong. Proposal development costs are not reimbursed, and submitted proposal materials will not be returned. Proposals are treated as competition-sensitive and are disclosed only as needed for evaluation, which is an important assurance for university teams sharing novel concepts, unpublished approaches, or early-stage data.

From the source data provided, the funding opportunity title is "FY23 DoD Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)" with Funding Opportunity Number N00014-22-S-F002, administered by ONR. It is categorized as a discretionary opportunity within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity area, listed under CFDA 12.300. The posted closing date in the source information is 2022-09-09, and the award ceiling is listed as $1,500,000. Finally, the FOA notes special cases for international collaboration on certain topics: for Topic 6 and Topic 14, proposals that include Australian collaborators may be able to attract Australian co-funding, with details directed to the Australian MURI information page at business.gov.au/ausmuri.

• The Office of Naval Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY23 DoD 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 2022-02-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-09-09. (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.

Apply for N00014 22 S F002

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