Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000728
Apply for DE FOA 0000728
- The NNSA in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Simulations and Computing Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program (PSAAP II)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.124 Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 5, 2012 and posted on Apr 17, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2012 Applications must be received on Grants.gov by Monday 06/11/2012, 115959 PM Eastern Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $100,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Advanced Simulations and Computing Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program (PSAAP II) is a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) funding opportunity run through the Department of Energy (DOE), specifically under the Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) Program in the Office of Stockpile Stewardship. The core purpose is to strengthen fundamental research at U.S. universities in predictive science, meaning the ability to use high performance computing (HPC) simulations that are rigorously verified and validated to predict how complex systems behave, and to do so with clearly quantified uncertainty. In other words, this program is not just about running large simulations; it is about building credible, defensible computational prediction capabilities where the accuracy, limitations, and uncertainty of the results are explicitly understood.
This funding announcement calls for proposals to establish academic centers under Cooperative Agreements, with the centers designed to tackle a specific, well-defined predictive simulation challenge. Applicants can propose one of two center types: a Multidisciplinary Simulation Center (MSC) or a Single Discipline Center (SDC). Both options are expected to push forward basic science and engineering while also advancing best practices in verification and validation (V and V) and uncertainty quantification (UQ). A major theme running through the opportunity is preparing simulation and computational approaches for the next major HPC shift often referred to in the announcement as "exascale computing." The FOA notes that true exascale performance is unlikely to be reached during the program period, but the work should address the practical scientific and computer-science barriers associated with moving toward that era, especially challenges linked to extreme parallelism, heterogeneous architectures, and many-core on-node computing. In this FOA, "exascale" is used more as a shorthand for that paradigm shift than as a requirement to run on a particular machine of a specific size.
The difference between MSCs and SDCs mainly comes down to breadth and integration. An MSC is meant to pursue an overarching problem that requires integrated, multidisciplinary predictive science, typically spanning multiple physical disciplines and involving multiscale behavior in both space and time. Because of the complexity, an MSC may need advances across several fronts at once: a key scientific component that benefits from exascale-era computing, integration science (including an explicit integration plan as referenced in the FOA), and/or new UQ methods, along with expanded use of modern V and V techniques. An SDC, by contrast, is focused within a single scientific discipline, but still must address a problem that is multiscale in space and time and expected to benefit from exascale-style computing. Even though the scope is narrower, the FOA emphasizes that the proposed technical advance must still be significant and compelling, and it must rely on state-of-the-art V and V and UQ methods rather than treating those as an add-on.
Regardless of center type, the deliverable expectation is essentially the same at the highest level: each funded center must demonstrate a predictive simulation capability that is verified and validated for a specific application, system, or problem, and the center must quantify uncertainty in a meaningful way. The FOA also highlights the expectation that V and V and UQ will be fully integrated into the research program, not handled as separate side tasks. Proposals are also expected to contribute to building predictive science as a recognized and sustained area of academic research within the broader computational science and engineering community, which implies workforce development, research culture-building, and creating methods and results that can influence the field beyond the immediate project.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using Cooperative Agreements, which typically means substantial programmatic involvement by the government compared with a standard grant. The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000728 and the program is listed under CFDA 81.124 (Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program). NNSA anticipated making about 6 awards with an estimated total funding level of $100,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $3,000,000 (floor) up to $20,000,000 (ceiling). Cost sharing or matching was required. Eligible applicants were U.S. public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, consistent with the program goal of building university-based centers.
Key dates in the archived notice show the FOA was posted April 17, 2012, with an original application deadline of June 4, 2012, later extended to June 11, 2012 (11:59:59 PM Eastern Time) via Grants.gov. The opportunity was archived September 30, 2012. Additional details and topical examples referenced by the FOA were provided through Sandia-hosted ASC predictive science materials and presentations, and the administrative contact listed for access issues and grant management questions was Delmeria M. Pacheco, Grants Management Specialist (Delmeria.Pacheco@nnsa.doe.gov, 505-845-4381).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the PSAAP II funding opportunity?
The Advanced Simulations and Computing Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program (PSAAP II) is a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) funding opportunity administered through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), under the Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) Program in the Office of Stockpile Stewardship. It supports university-based research centers focused on predictive science.
What is the main goal of PSAAP II?
The program aims to strengthen fundamental research at U.S. universities in predictive science: using high performance computing (HPC) simulations that are rigorously verified and validated to predict complex system behavior, with clearly quantified uncertainty. The emphasis is on credible, defensible prediction, not just running large simulations.
What does "predictive science" mean in this FOA?
In this announcement, predictive science means building computational simulation capabilities where results are supported by verification and validation (V and V) and uncertainty quantification (UQ), so that the accuracy, limitations, and uncertainty of predictions are explicitly understood and communicated.
What types of awards does PSAAP II use?
The FOA calls for establishing academic centers under Cooperative Agreements. Cooperative Agreements typically involve substantial programmatic involvement by the government compared with a standard grant.
What kinds of centers can applicants propose?
Applicants can propose one of two center types:
- Multidisciplinary Simulation Center (MSC)
- Single Discipline Center (SDC)
How is a Multidisciplinary Simulation Center (MSC) described in the FOA?
An MSC is designed to pursue an overarching predictive simulation challenge that requires integrated, multidisciplinary predictive science. It typically spans multiple physical disciplines and involves multiscale behavior in both space and time. MSC proposals may require advances in multiple areas, such as a key scientific component, integration science (including an explicit integration plan), uncertainty quantification methods, and expanded use of modern V and V techniques.
How is a Single Discipline Center (SDC) described in the FOA?
An SDC focuses within a single scientific discipline, but still must address a problem that is multiscale in space and time and is expected to benefit from exascale-style computing. Even with a narrower scope than an MSC, the proposed technical advance must be significant and compelling, and must use state-of-the-art V and V and UQ methods as an integral part of the work.
What is the major technical theme running through the opportunity?
A major theme is preparing simulation and computational approaches for the next major shift in HPC often referred to as "exascale computing." The FOA uses "exascale" as shorthand for the paradigm shift associated with extreme parallelism, heterogeneous architectures, and many-core on-node computing.
Does PSAAP II require achieving true exascale performance during the award period?
No. The FOA notes that true exascale performance is unlikely to be reached during the program period. The expectation is that proposed work addresses practical scientific and computer-science barriers tied to moving toward the exascale era.
Is "exascale" used as a strict machine requirement in this FOA?
No. In this FOA, "exascale" is used more as shorthand for the overall HPC paradigm shift rather than a requirement to run on a particular machine of a specific size.
What is the expected high-level deliverable for funded centers?
Each funded center is expected to demonstrate a predictive simulation capability that is verified and validated for a specific application, system, or problem, and that meaningfully quantifies uncertainty.
How important are verification and validation (V and V) and uncertainty quantification (UQ) in PSAAP II proposals?
They are central expectations of the program. The FOA emphasizes that V and V and UQ must be fully integrated into the research program and should not be treated as separate, add-on activities.
What is meant by an "integration plan," and when is it relevant?
The FOA references an explicit integration plan in the context of MSCs, reflecting the expectation that multidisciplinary components are integrated into a coherent predictive simulation capability rather than being pursued as disconnected subprojects.
Beyond technical results, what broader academic impact is PSAAP II trying to create?
The FOA highlights building predictive science as a recognized and sustained area of academic research within the broader computational science and engineering community. This implies workforce development, research culture-building, and producing methods and results that influence the field beyond the immediate project.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are U.S. public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, consistent with the program goal of building university-based centers.
How many awards were anticipated, and what was the estimated total funding?
NNSA anticipated making about 6 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $100,000,000.
What was the expected award size range?
Individual awards were expected to range from $3,000,000 (floor) up to $20,000,000 (ceiling).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The FOA stated that cost sharing or matching was required.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA listing for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000728. The program is listed under CFDA 81.124 (Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program).
When was the FOA posted, and what were the application deadlines?
The FOA was posted on April 17, 2012. The original application deadline was June 4, 2012, and it was later extended to June 11, 2012 (11:59:59 PM Eastern Time) via Grants.gov.
What is the status of this opportunity?
The opportunity was archived on September 30, 2012.
Where were additional topical details and examples referenced by the FOA hosted?
The FOA referenced additional details and topical examples through Sandia-hosted ASC predictive science materials and presentations.
Who was the administrative contact listed for access issues and grant management questions?
The administrative contact listed was Delmeria M. Pacheco, Grants Management Specialist: Delmeria.Pacheco@nnsa.doe.gov, 505-845-4381.
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