Eligibility
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
Program Overview
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.
Call for Peer Reviewers
ED is seeking individuals to serve as Peer Reviewers for the 2026 Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) grant competition.
Federal Register Notice
Funding
Use of Funds
- 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
- Planning purposes.
Legislation
- 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d; the Explanatory Statement accompanying Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. 119-75).
Regulations
- 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.
- The Program NFP.
Performance Measures
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 Information
- 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
Match Requirement
This program requires cost sharing or matching for all applicants. Grantees will need to provide a 1:1 match, which can include in-kind donations. The goal of the match is to promote sustainability and alignment to the institution's strategic plan.
Eligibility
Who May Apply:
HBCUs (as defined in this notice) and TCCUs (as defined in this notice).
FY 2026 Competition Resources
Webinar Materials
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Overview
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.
Call for Peer Reviewers
ED is seeking individuals to serve as Peer Reviewers for the 2026 Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) grant competition.
Federal Register Notice
Funding
Use of Funds
- 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
- Planning purposes.
Legislation
- 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d; the Explanatory Statement accompanying Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. 119-75).
Regulations
- 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.
- The Program NFP.
Performance Measures
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 Information
- 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
Match Requirement
This program requires cost sharing or matching for all applicants. Grantees will need to provide a 1:1 match, which can include in-kind donations. The goal of the match is to promote sustainability and alignment to the institution's strategic plan.
Eligibility
Who May Apply:
HBCUs (as defined in this notice) and TCCUs (as defined in this notice).