Advancing Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) in Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis of Complex Systems | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the purpose of this DOE funding opportunity?

This opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, under the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program, solicits research proposals aimed at advancing uncertainty quantification (UQ) methods for modeling, simulation, and analysis of complex natural and engineered systems. The emphasis is on strengthening the mathematical and computational foundations of UQ so that large-scale simulations can produce results that are more trustworthy, comparable, and useful for decision-making.

2) What research areas or topics does the opportunity focus on?

The central focus is on mathematical and computational challenges involved in rigorously representing, propagating, and reducing uncertainty in large-scale computational models. The opportunity targets foundational and enabling research that improves UQ theory, algorithms, and scalable computational approaches for complex simulations.

3) What types of systems are in scope for the research?

The solicitation describes complex natural systems and engineered systems as in scope, specifically in the context of computational modeling and simulation where uncertainty must be quantified and managed.

4) Why is uncertainty quantification (UQ) important in DOE-supported simulation research?

DOE is looking for work that improves how uncertainty is handled so that simulation predictions can be trusted, compared, and used more effectively. In practical terms, the goal is not only to produce predictions from computational models, but also to quantify confidence in those predictions.

5) Which DOE office and program are issuing this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by the DOE Office of Science under the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program.

6) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0000315.

7) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The CFDA number listed is 81.049, associated with the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.

8) What funding instrument is being used?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a grant mechanism.

9) How is this opportunity categorized?

It is categorized under science and technology and other research and development.

10) How many awards did DOE anticipate making?

DOE anticipated making about six awards.

11) What was the estimated total funding level for the program?

The estimated total program funding level was $3,000,000.

12) What was the expected funding range for individual awards?

Individual awards were expected to range from a minimum (floor) of $150,000 up to a maximum (ceiling) of $1,000,000.

13) Is cost-sharing or matching required?

No. The information provided indicates there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to contribute non-federal funds to be considered.

14) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broadly open to domestic applicants and listed as "unrestricted" across entity types, subject to specific exclusions described in the announcement summary.

15) Which applicants were explicitly not eligible?

The following were listed as not eligible: other federal agencies; Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs); and certain nonprofit organizations, specifically 501(c)(4) nonprofits that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995.

16) Are U.S.-based organizations generally the intended applicant pool?

Yes. The opportunity is described as broadly open to domestic applicants and designed to be accessible to a wide range of U.S.-based organizations capable of performing the proposed research, except for the excluded categories.

17) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on March 16, 2010.

18) What was the application closing date?

The application closing date was April 26, 2010.

19) Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was archived on June 16, 2010, which indicates it is no longer open for applications.

20) What does it mean that the opportunity is archived?

Based on the information provided, "archived" means the solicitation is no longer active or accepting applications, although the description still reflects DOE ASCR priorities and the kinds of UQ research the program has historically supported.

21) Which DOE office location or service center is listed as the issuing office?

The issuing office is listed as the Chicago Service Center.

22) Who were the points of contact for applicant assistance?

DOE provided the following contacts: Marilyn M. Oyler (Grant Analyst, 301-903-3604, marilyn.oyler@science.doe.gov); Alexandra M. Landsberg (technical/scientific contact, 301-903-8507, sandy.landsberg@science.doe.gov); and Karen I. Pao (technical/scientific contact, 301-903-5384, karen.pao@science.doe.gov).

23) Where could applicants find the full announcement and related materials?

An additional information link was provided through FedConnect for the full announcement and related materials.

24) What kind of outcomes was DOE trying to enable through this solicitation?

The opportunity targets research that improves how uncertainty is managed in computational science, including better theory, improved algorithms, and scalable computational approaches, so that simulations can deliver predictions along with quantified confidence in those predictions.