MPS Materials Research Programs (MPS Materials)

The close date moved from October 5, 2076 to October 7, 2076—a 2-day extension, giving applicants more time to prepare and submit their applications.

Application Deadline Extended

The close date moved from September 25, 2076 to October 5, 2076—a 10-day extension.

Applicants now have an additional 10 days to prepare and submit their proposals for this funding opportunity.

Deadline changed from close_date: 2076-09-10 to close_date: 2076-09-25.

MAJOR CHANGE: Expanded eligible applicant types

The previous version only referenced PI limitations without specifying who could submit proposals. The updated version now explicitly defines three eligible applicant categories:

1. Non-profit, non-academic organizations (museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies)
2. Institutions of Higher Education (2- and 4-year colleges, including community colleges)
3. Tribal Nations (federally recognized tribes)

Why it matters: This represents a significant expansion of eligibility. Applicants can now determine if their organization qualifies based on concrete criteria. The addition of Tribal Nations eligibility is particularly notable as a new category. The IHE provision about international branch campuses adds a compliance requirement: if international campus involvement is proposed, applicants must justify the benefit and explain why work cannot occur at a US campus.

Major expansion of eligible applicant types. Previous version only referenced PI qualifications. Updated version now explicitly defines three categories of eligible proposers: (1) Non-profit, non-academic organizations (museums, observatories, labs, professional societies), (2) Institutions of Higher Education including community colleges, and (3) Tribal Nations. New guidance also adds requirements for international branch campus activities—applicants must justify benefits and explain why work cannot occur at US campuses.

Close Date changed from 2076-08-24 to 2076-09-10

MAJOR REDUCTION IN ELIGIBILITY SCOPE

The previous version explicitly listed three eligible applicant categories:

• Non-profit, non-academic organizations
• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
• Tribal Nations

The updated version removes all these eligibility categories entirely, retaining only the PI qualification reference.

Why This Matters: Applicants from non-profits, academic institutions, and tribal nations have lost explicit confirmation of their eligibility. This is a significant narrowing that could exclude entire organization types previously eligible, unless eligibility is defined elsewhere in the opportunity. Organizations should seek clarification before submitting, as the funding opportunity now provides no guidance on who can propose.

Significant content removal: The detailed "Who May Submit Proposals" section was entirely deleted. Previously listed eligible entities—non-profit/non-academic organizations, institutions of higher education, and tribal nations—are no longer specified in the eligibility requirements field. Only the PI eligibility statement remains.

Impact: Applicants have lost explicit guidance on organizational eligibility, including specific criteria for non-profits, IHE accreditation requirements, international branch campus rules, and tribal nation definitions. This creates ambiguity about who can actually submit proposals.

Close Date changed from 2076-08-17 to 2076-08-24

New Grants.gov opportunity: MPS Materials Research Programs (MPS Materials)