Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCU) Research and Development Infrastructure Grants Program

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCU) Research and Development Infrastructure Grants Program is sponsored by Office of Postsecondary Education. This grant program is designed to provide HBCUs and TCCUs with funds to implement transformational investments in research infrastructure, including research productivity, faculty expertise, graduate programs, physical infrastructure, human capital development, and partnerships leading to increases in external and sustained funding.

Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program (84. 116H) | U.S. Department of Education Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program (84.

116H) Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) 06/23/2026 - 11:59 PM EDT Applicant Info and Eligibility The Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) grant program is designed to provide Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) with funds to implement transformational investments in research infrastructure, including research productivity, faculty expertise, graduate programs, physical infrastructure, human capital development, and partnerships leading to increases in external and sustained funding.

ED is seeking individuals to serve as Peer Reviewers for the 2026 Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) grant competition.

Associated Federal Register Notice Providing for the improvement of infrastructure existing on the date of the grant award, including deferred maintenance, or the establishment of new physical infrastructure, including instructional program spaces, laboratories, and research facilities relating to the fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics, health, agriculture, education, medicine, law, and other disciplines, Hiring and retaining faculty, students, research-related staff, or other personnel, including research personnel skilled in operating, using, or applying technology, equipment, or devices to conduct or support research, Supporting research internships and fellowships for students, including undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral positions, which may include providing direct student financial assistance and other supports to such students.

Note : Under 20 U.S.C.

1138(d)(1), funds made available under FIPSE may not be used to provide direct financial assistance in the form of grants or scholarships to students who do not meet eligibility criteria under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), Creating new, or expanding existing, academic positions, including internships, fellowships, and post-doctoral positions, in fields of research for which research and development infrastructure funds have been awarded to the grantee under this program, Creating and supporting inter- and intra-institutional research centers (including formal and informal communities of practice) in fields of research for which research and development infrastructure funds have been awarded to the grantee under this program, including hiring staff, purchasing supplies and equipment, and funding travel to relevant conferences and seminars to support the work of such centers, Building new institutional support structures and departments that help faculty learn about, and increase faculty and student access to, Federal research and development grant funds and non-Federal academic research grants, Building data and collaboration infrastructure so that early findings and research can be securely shared to facilitate peer review and other appropriate collaboration, Providing programs of study and courses in fields of research for which research and development infrastructure funds have been awarded to the grantee under this program, Paying operating and administrative expenses for, and coordinating project partnerships with members of, the consortium on behalf of which the eligible institution has received a grant under this program, provided that grantees may not pay for the expenses of any R1 institutions that are members of the consortia, Installing or extending the life and usability of basic systems and components of campus facilities related to research, including high-speed broadband internet infrastructure sufficient to support digital and technology-based learning, Expanding, remodeling, renovating, or altering biomedical and behavioral research facilities existing on the date of the grant award that received support under section 404I of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.

283k), Acquiring and installing furniture, fixtures, and instructional research-related equipment and technology for academic instruction in campus facilities in fields of research for which research and development infrastructure funds have been awarded to the grantee under this program, Providing increased funding to programs that support research and development at the eligible institution that are funded by the National Institutes of Health, including through their Path to Excellence and Innovation program, Faculty professional development, and 20 U.S.C.

1138-1138d ; the Explanatory Statement accompanying Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. 119-75).

Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) , 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99 Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian Tribes. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only.

The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474. For the purposes of reporting to ED under 34 CFR 75.

110 , ED has developed the following performance measures to evaluate the overall effectiveness of this program: Absolute Priority 1 Program Performance Measure 1 The annual number of doctoral students enrolled at the lead applicant university. Program Performance Measure 2 The annual number of doctoral conferrals, disaggregated by low-income students. Program Performance Measure 3 Annual faculty development expenditures.

Program Performance Measure 4 The annual research and development expenditures in: (i) Science and engineering. (ii) Non-science and engineering. Absolute Priority 2 Performance Measure 1 The annual research and development expenditures in: (i) Science and engineering.

(ii) Non-science and engineering. Performance Measure 2 Annual faculty development expenditures. FY 2026 RDI Grant Program Application Notice and Instructions FY 2026 RDI Grant Federal Register Notice FY 2026 RDI Grant Program Application Timeline Application Available: May 21, 2026 Application Deadline: June 23, 2026 HBCUs (as defined in this notice) and TCCUs (as defined in this notice).

FY 2026 Competition Resources FY 2026 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) Competition Technical Assistance Webinar Recording Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions: FY 2026 Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program Competition Abstracts for Funded Projects: FY 2024 RDI Grant Competition Abstracts for Funded Projects: FY 2023 RDI Grant Competition The Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) grant program is designed to provide Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) with funds to implement transformational investments in research infrastructure, including research productivity, faculty expertise, graduate programs, physical infrastructure, human capital development, and partnerships leading to increases in external and sustained funding.

ED is seeking individuals to serve as Peer Reviewers for the 2026 Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) grant competition.

Associated Federal Register Notice Providing for the improvement of infrastructure existing on the date of the grant award, including deferred maintenance, or the establishment of new physical infrastructure, including instructional program spaces, laboratories, and research facilities relating to the fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics, health, agriculture, education, medicine, law, and other disciplines, Hiring and retaining faculty, students, research-related staff, or other personnel, including research personnel skilled in operating, using, or applying technology, equipment, or devices to conduct or support research, Supporting research internships and fellowships for students, including undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral positions, which may include providing direct student financial assistance and other supports to such students.

Note : Under 20 U.S.C.

1138(d)(1), funds made available under FIPSE may not be used to provide direct financial assistance in the form of grants or scholarships to students who do not meet eligibility criteria under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), Creating new, or expanding existing, academic positions, including internships, fellowships, and post-doctoral positions, in fields of research for which research and development infrastructure funds have been awarded to the grantee under this program, Creating and supporting inter- and intra-institutional research centers (including formal and informal communities of practice) in fields of research for which research and development infrastructure funds have been awarded to the grantee under this program, including hiring staff, purchasing supplies and equipment, and funding travel to relevant conferences and seminars to support the work of such centers, Building new institutional support structures and departments that help faculty learn about, and increase faculty and student access to, Federal research and development grant funds and non-Federal academic research grants, Building data and collaboration infrastructure so that early findings and research can be securely shared to facilitate peer review and other appropriate collaboration, Providing programs of study and courses in fields of research for which research and development infrastructure funds have been awarded to the grantee under this program, Paying operating and administrative expenses for, and coordinating project partnerships with members of, the consortium on behalf of which the eligible institution has received a grant under this program, provided that grantees may not pay for the expenses of any R1 institutions that are members of the consortia, Installing or extending the life and usability of basic systems and components of campus facilities related to research, including high-speed broadband internet infrastructure sufficient to support digital and technology-based learning, Expanding, remodeling, renovating, or altering biomedical and behavioral research facilities existing on the date of the grant award that received support under section 404I of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.

283k), Acquiring and installing furniture, fixtures, and instructional research-related equipment and technology for academic instruction in campus facilities in fields of research for which research and development infrastructure funds have been awarded to the grantee under this program, Providing increased funding to programs that support research and development at the eligible institution that are funded by the National Institutes of Health, including through their Path to Excellence and Innovation program, Faculty professional development, and 20 U.S.C.

1138-1138d ; the Explanatory Statement accompanying Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. 119-75).

Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) , 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99 Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian Tribes. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only.

The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474. For the purposes of reporting to ED under 34 CFR 75.

110 , ED has developed the following performance measures to evaluate the overall effectiveness of this program: Absolute Priority 1 Program Performance Measure 1 The annual number of doctoral students enrolled at the lead applicant university. Program Performance Measure 2 The annual number of doctoral conferrals, disaggregated by low-income students. Program Performance Measure 3 Annual faculty development expenditures.

Program Performance Measure 4 The annual research and development expenditures in: (i) Science and engineering. (ii) Non-science and engineering. Absolute Priority 2 Performance Measure 1 The annual research and development expenditures in: (i) Science and engineering.

(ii) Non-science and engineering. Performance Measure 2 Annual faculty development expenditures. Applicant Info and Eligibility FY 2026 RDI Grant Program Application Notice and Instructions FY 2026 RDI Grant Federal Register Notice FY 2026 RDI Grant Program Application Timeline Application Available: May 21, 2026 Application Deadline: June 23, 2026 HBCUs (as defined in this notice) and TCCUs (as defined in this notice).

FY 2026 Competition Resources FY 2026 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) Competition Technical Assistance Webinar Recording Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions: FY 2026 Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program Competition Abstracts for Funded Projects: FY 2024 RDI Grant Competition Abstracts for Funded Projects: FY 2023 RDI Grant Competition Grant Applicants / Grantees Higher Education Institutions FIPSE: Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) Program Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Page Last Reviewed: July 28, 2026