The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is offering this grant to develop academic excellence and expand talent for the U.S. Intelligence Community.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) serves as the head of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), overseeing and directing the implementation of the National Intelligence Program and acting as the principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to national security. 

ODNI’s Office of the Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Human Capital (ADNI/HC) houses the IC Centers for Academic Excellence (CAE) Program Office (IC CAE PO), responsible for developing and distributing this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), managing the application review process, and providing post-award grants program administration.

The design of the IC CAE Program was formulated and executed in accordance with:

·   The Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 (updated/amended 18 July 2019); 

·   50 U.S.C. 3224 (“Intelligence Officer Training Program”); and

·   50 U.S.C. 3024(n)(4) (“Acquisition and Other Authorities”)  

The IC CAE Program is a congressionally mandated program designed to promote the acquisition of competitive talent in concert with the U. S. IC’s Human Capital Vision 2020. As background, the IC CAE Program began as a one-year pilot project directed by IAA for FY 2004 and initiated by the Director of Central Intelligence to meet the nation’s demand for a diverse cadre of professionals to carry out national security priorities and obligations. In 2005, following the establishment of ODNI, the program moved under ODNI management with the intent to increase the pool of applicants by expanding awareness of the IC mission and culture throughout ethnically and geographically diverse communities.