EDA, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), is seeking applications from eligible parties to create a strategic nationwide network of organizations working to address disaster response and resiliency (R2) challenges with innovative technologies. The Accelerate R2 Network Challenge seeks to create a nationwide network or networks that will enable and support innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors to bring transformative technologies into the response and resiliency markets.
Deadlines:
EDA is not authorized to provide grants or cooperative agreements to individuals under this Program. Requests from individuals will not be considered for funding. Eligible applicants for EDA financial assistance under this NOFO include: • A State; • An Indian tribe; • A city or other political subdivision of a State; • An entity whose application is supported by a State or a political subdivision of a State and that is—
Subject to the availability of funding and based on applications, EDA expects to award up to $1,000,000. Of this total amount, EDA expects to award $750,000 from EDA, and another $250,000 on behalf of NIST to stimulate first responder technology innovation specifically. Therefore, applicants should clearly define in their Project Narrative how they expect to allocate funding in support of the advancement of technologies used by first responders to be eligible for the NIST portion of funding.
EDA expects to make either: • a single award up to $1 million for a nationwide R2 Network; or • two awards, one for a nationwide Response Network and one for a nationwide Resiliency Network, each of which may be up to $700,000.
