The Mass Market Solutions for Leveraging Robotics and AI Technologies for Home Construction Demonstration (PDR-2600-DC-029Q) supports demonstration projects that test and scale the use of automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence in factory-built housing to help build homes faster, at lower cost, and in ways that can meaningfully increase housing supply. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through its Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), will award cooperative agreements to eligible applicants.

Overview

This opportunity funds demonstration projects that accelerate the development and deployment of advanced robotics and AI technologies in factory-built housing and offsite components. HUD is especially interested in projects that use automation, robotics, or AI at specific stages of the factory-built housing process, whether onsite or offsite. Eligible approaches may include panelized systems, modular construction, or fully volumetric homes. Projects must show that the proposed technology can produce housing components at a scale sufficient to deliver a defined number of homes and clearly explain how the technology improves construction speed, labor efficiency, quality, or cost.

The overall goal is to support technologies that can move beyond a single pilot and be scaled for wider use, contributing to long-term increases in housing supply. Applicants should explain how their project bridges the gap between early development and commercial use and should quantify expected affordability benefits, such as reduced construction time or labor needs. The program supports Administration priorities to lower housing costs and expand housing supply and requires projects to follow principles of Gold Standard Science.

PD&R will provide technical guidance and oversight throughout the project period to help ensure projects are well designed, aligned with program goals, and able to generate lessons that can be applied more broadly across the housing industry.

Funding and Benefits

• Total Available Funding: Approximately $10,000,000
• Maximum Award Amount: $10,000,000 per project period
• Minimum Award Amount: $3,000,000 per project period
• Estimated Number of Awards: 3
• Type of Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement (CA)
• Length of Performance Period: 36-month project period and budget period

Eligibility

Eligible Applicant Types:

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• For profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)

Additional Eligibility Information:

• Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for or receive awards.
• Faith-based organizations may apply like any other organization.
• Non-profit applicants will have their status confirmed using data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
• Applicants must meet current General Statutory and Regulatory Eligibility Requirements.

Application Process

Applicants must have an active and up-to-date account with SAM.gov at the time of application and throughout the life of any award. A valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov is required to apply for funding. Applicants must also have an active Grants.gov registration, which requires a Login.gov registration.

Applications are reviewed through a multi-stage process including a threshold review, merit review, and risk review. The merit review evaluates applications based on factors including project scope, approach, budget, and timeline. The budget must be submitted using the Grant Application Detailed Budget Worksheet (HUD Form 424-CBW) accompanied by a Budget Narrative explaining how each line item was estimated.

Applications must include identification of key personnel including at least one Principal Investigator, resumes or biosketches (maximum two pages each) for up to three identified key personnel, letters of commitment for consultants or subrecipients, and a separate appendix with at least two references from recent (within the past five years) relevant demonstration projects including contact information and a brief project description.

Deadline and Timeline

• Posted Date: May 29, 2026
• Application Deadline: July 13, 2026, at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time
• Project Period: 36 months

Contact Information

• Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research
• Email: researchpartnerships@hud.gov
• Phone: 202-402-2440
• Opportunity Number: PDR-2600-DC-029Q
• CFDA/ALN: 14.536