The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program Cooperative Agreement

The Department of War (DoW) seeks innovative applications to cooperatively partner with eligible entities in the implementation and execution of the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program. The Department intends to award ONE (1) CA award, with a maximum award of up to $1,300M over a ten-year period of performance.

The National Defense Education Program (NDEP) supports the Department's priorities to improve lethality, warfighting, and readiness by developing America’s future technical workforce poised to create advanced technologies, tools, and capabilities necessary to ensure the United States (U.S.) military remains the most powerful and advanced, capable of deterring adversaries and protecting American interests at home and abroad. NDEP is executed by OUSW(R&E) and ensures the Department’s ability to develop and access high-quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent vital to addressing key areas of national defense and supporting the warfighter.

NDEP activities provide authentic DoW-relevant learning experiences through a variety of DoW STEM initiatives in the form of scholarships, internships, enrichment activities, project/research-based competitions, and mentorships. One of the main NDEP efforts in addressing talent development and recruitment is through the SMART Program, pursuant to Section 4093 of Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.).

The SMART Program enables the Department to transform its STEM workforce while addressing near-term workforce demands. Per 10 U.S.C. 4093, the SMART program awards highly competitive scholarships for undergraduate and graduate degrees in any of the 22 STEM academic disciplines critical to national security. Upon graduation, and subject to DoW component requirements, scholars may be considered for a one-for-one employment service commitment within the DoW Civilian workforce. SMART scholars perform many aspects of the national security mission including science and technology, research and develo