Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Centers Aligned with Areas for National Need (CAANN) Program Assistance Listing Number: 84.015C

The Centers Aligned with Areas for National Need program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education in coordination with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. This federal discretionary grant program is designed to strengthen the nation’s capacity in foreign language and international studies education by supporting institutions of higher education. The program is rooted in the Higher Education Act and focuses on building academic centers that address critical global knowledge gaps tied to national security, economic competitiveness, and international engagement. The primary purpose of the program is to fund comprehensive or undergraduate centers that provide instruction in languages and world regions deemed strategically important to the United States. These include languages such as Arabic, Mandarin, Russian, Hindi, and others, as well as regions including Latin America, Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Funded projects are expected to integrate language instruction with area studies, research, and professional training to produce graduates equipped with deep regional expertise and language proficiency. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches and encourages partnerships across academic departments and external organizations. Funding supports a wide range of activities including curriculum development, faculty support, student training, research initiatives, and outreach programs. Institutions may also issue subgrants to eligible partner organizations such as nonprofits, professional associations, or businesses to carry out project activities. Costs must be necessary and reasonable, and indirect costs are capped at 8 percent of modified total direct costs. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this program, making it fully federally funded. The project period may extend up to 48 months, allowing for multi-year implementation and evaluation. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education or consortia of such institutions. Applicants must designate their project as either a comprehensive center, which includes graduate and undergraduate training, or an undergraduate center focused solely on undergraduate education. Applications must address absolute priorities related to national need areas and program linkages, and may optionally address competitive preference priorities such as state-level collaboration or the integration of artificial intelligence in education. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and adherence to the Department of Education’s common instructions for discretionary grants. Applicants are strongly encouraged, though not required, to submit an “Intent to Apply” email prior to submission. Required components include a project narrative, budget narrative, abstract, and supporting documentation such as letters of support and curriculum vitae. Applications are evaluated through a competitive peer review process based on criteria including project design, significance, need, management plan, and evaluation strategy, with a maximum score of 125 points plus up to 20 additional points for competitive priorities. The application timeline begins with availability on June 5, 2026, and closes on July 7, 2026. Intergovernmental review is required by September 4, 2026. Applicants must ensure timely submission and validation through Grants.gov systems. Registration with SAM.gov and Grants.gov is mandatory prior to submission. Awards are expected to be distributed based on ranking and available funding, with approximately 50 awards anticipated. Program oversight includes performance measurement and reporting requirements. Grantees must submit annual and final performance reports detailing outcomes such as student enrollment in advanced language courses, research participation, and workforce placement in areas of national need. Contact for the program is Margarita Meléndez, who can be reached via email at CAANN@ed.gov or by phone at 202-987-0408.

Ensure strong alignment with absolute priorities and national need areas; clearly define measurable outcomes and evaluation methods; demonstrate institutional capacity and partnerships; address selection criteria thoroughly across design, need, and significance