Applied Drug Policy Research Experiences

The Office of National Drug Control Policy, within the Executive Office of the President, is offering the Applied Drug Policy Research Experiences funding opportunity as a federal cooperative agreement. The program is authorized by the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, 21 U.S.C. section 1703, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, Public Law 119-75. The purpose is to establish applied drug policy research experiences for graduate students and recent post-graduates who will conduct rigorous research studies and data analyses supporting priorities in the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy. The research is intended to examine dynamic shifts in and associations among illicit drug supply, drug use, and associated consequences so that public health and public safety officials can better anticipate drug outbreaks and prepare effective responses. ONDCP expects the recipient to establish learning experiences related to drug control policy for three to five graduate students and fellowships lasting six to twelve months for one to two recent post-graduates from masters or doctoral degree programs. Participants will collaborate with ONDCP on real-world drug control issues and contribute to policy research. Potential projects include analysis of clinical, public health, or public safety data; systematic literature reviews; meta-analyses; qualitative research; and evaluations of programs or policies that inform ONDCP decision-making. Activities will be supervised by an ONDCP preceptor, and graduate student learning experiences will also involve an academic advisor. The recipient will recruit qualified candidates from graduate programs across the country and manage the learning experiences and fellowships, including milestones, evaluations, deliverables, expenses, corrective actions, and transition planning when necessary. ONDCP plans to make one cooperative agreement award with an award ceiling of USD 100,000 for a one-year period of performance beginning in September 2026. No cost sharing or matching contribution is required. Proposed budgets must be complete, reasonable, allowable, cost-effective, and necessary for project activities. Applicants must provide an itemized budget and budget narrative addressing, at minimum, Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Overtime, Travel, Facilities, Services, Equipment, Supplies, and Other Costs. Pre-agreement costs are not typically approved and require prior written approval from ONDCP; costs incurred before award and approval are at the applicant's risk. Award activities and expenditures must comply with applicable federal laws, regulations, Executive Orders, public policies, and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Eligible applicants are public or private nonprofit institutions and organizations, including institutions of higher education and hospitals. Applicants must demonstrate expert knowledge and extensive experience conducting research and analysis, recruiting graduate students and recent post-graduates with research and data analysis experience from multiple institutions or departments, and managing policy-relevant research and analytical projects or equivalent post-graduate fellowships. Applicants must provide proof of nonprofit status through a current valid IRS tax exemption certificate or a reference to the organization's listing in the IRS list of tax-exempt organizations described in 26 U.S.C. section 501(c)(3). Applications must include a project narrative of no more than 20 pages, an itemized budget detail worksheet and budget narrative, required disclosures, and a clear statement committing to the principles and tenets of Gold Standard Science. The recipient will also be responsible for quarterly performance tracking and reporting. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and successfully validated by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 6, 2026. Applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration, a Unique Entity Identifier, and an active Grants.gov account before submission. The SF-424 is required, and applicants should indicate that the program is not covered by Executive Order 12372. Files must not be encrypted, zipped, or password protected. Initial review will screen for eligibility, required application content, timeliness, page limitations, the demonstrated ability to recruit and manage qualified participants, and the required Gold Standard Science commitment. Applications passing initial review proceed to peer review. Merit review totals 100 points: Technical Approach is worth 50 points, Key Personnel is worth 30 points, and Organizational Capability is worth 20 points. ONDCP will also conduct a risk review using information available through the OMB-designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM. The expected award and project start are both September 2026. The official Notice of Federal Award will be issued through GrantSolutions and will specify the award amount, important dates, and applicable terms and conditions; work may not begin until that notice is received. Awardees must submit quarterly progress reports through GrantSolutions and quarterly Federal Financial Reports through the HHS Payment Management System, with financial reports due within 30 days after each quarter and within 90 days after the end of the period of performance. Records related to the grant must be retained for three years. For solicitation requirements, applicants may contact Madeleine Steppel, Policy Analyst at ONDCP, by email at Madeleine.Steppel@ondcp.eop.gov or by telephone at 202-881-7902. Grants.gov support is available at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726. The notice provides a single September 6, 2026 application deadline and does not state that the opportunity recurs.

Address the scored criteria directly, with greatest emphasis on the 50-point Technical Approach. Demonstrate a detailed method for recruiting, screening, selecting, and matching qualified participants from multiple institutions or departments. Explain project monitoring, corrective action and transition planning, expense monitoring, rigorous evaluation, and quality improvement. Document key personnel experience and past organizational capability managing comparable learning experiences and fellowships. Ensure the budget demonstrates price reasonableness and realism, include the required Gold Standard Science commitment, comply with the 20-page project narrative limit, and obtain successful Grants.gov validation before the deadline.