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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science discretionary grant opportunity for research proposals under the Atmospheric System Research Program (ASR). ASR sits within the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD) in the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER).

2) What is the main purpose of the ASR opportunity?

The purpose is to fund scientific work that improves how clouds, aerosols, precipitation, and radiative transfer are understood and represented in regional and global climate models. The emphasis is on reducing uncertainties in climate projections by improving the physical realism of model parameterizations and process representations.

3) What kinds of scientific topics are especially emphasized?

The opportunity highlights areas where current models often struggle, including cloud microphysics, convection, aerosol interactions, and how radiation moves through the atmosphere (atmospheric radiative transfer).

4) What types of projects are allowed (observational, modeling, etc.)?

Projects may be observational, focused on data analysis, and/or modeling-based. Regardless of approach, proposals must make substantive use of CESD-supported datasets and resources, particularly those associated with the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility and related ASR program data.

5) Is using ARM data required?

Yes. The opportunity states that projects must make substantive use of CESD-supported datasets and resources, with particular emphasis on ARM user facility datasets and related ASR program data.

6) What does "substantive use" of CESD/ARM resources mean in this call?

Based on the description provided, the expectation is that applicants leverage established measurement platforms and archives (especially ARM and ASR-related data) to answer process-level questions and to translate findings into improved model behavior, refined model assumptions, or evaluation of model performance.

7) What makes an application competitive according to the synopsis?

Competitive applications will typically (a) connect detailed measurements or analyses to specific mechanisms controlling cloud formation and evolution, aerosol effects on clouds and precipitation, convective processes, and atmospheric radiative transfer, and (b) demonstrate how those insights can be used to refine climate model assumptions/parameterizations or evaluate model performance.

8) What is the overall research goal in practical terms?

In practical terms, the call seeks studies that reduce uncertainty in climate projections by improving how key atmospheric processes (clouds, aerosols, precipitation, radiation) are represented in regional and global climate models.

9) How many awards does DOE expect to make, and what is the total funding level?

DOE anticipates making around 20 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $8,750,000.

10) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The funding notice explicitly lists no cost sharing or matching requirement.

11) Are there minimum or maximum award amounts?

The award floor and ceiling are both listed as $0. This generally indicates the synopsis does not express fixed caps, and applicants should follow the detailed instructions and budget justification expectations in the full funding opportunity announcement.

12) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broadly open to most applicant types, with several explicit exclusions. Aside from those restrictions, the opportunity is described as unrestricted, subject to any additional clarifications in the full funding opportunity announcement.

13) Who is not eligible to apply as a prime applicant?

The synopsis lists these exclusions: (a) Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors are not eligible to apply, and (b) certain nonprofit organizations, specifically 501(c)(4) entities that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are excluded.

14) Can DOE or NNSA National Laboratories participate on the project team?

No. DOE and NNSA National Laboratories are not permitted to participate as either the prime recipient or as a subawardee under this call, meaning they cannot be included as part of the funded project team.

15) Can an FFRDC participate as a subawardee?

The information provided states that FFRDC contractors are not eligible to apply. It does not provide additional detail about subaward participation for FFRDC contractors, so applicants should rely on the full funding opportunity announcement for any clarifications beyond the stated ineligibility to apply.

16) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is DE FOA 0001174.

17) What are the key dates listed?

The opportunity was posted on August 6, 2014. The application closing date is November 7, 2014. The archive date is February 7, 2015.

18) What is the CFDA number for this program?

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

19) What agency and office are sponsoring this opportunity?

The sponsor is the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. The opportunity is within the Atmospheric System Research Program (ASR), housed in the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD) within the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER).

20) What should applicants do if they have trouble accessing the full announcement or have administrative questions?

The listed Grant Specialist contact is Kimberlie J. Laing at 301-903-3026 or kim.laing@science.doe.gov.

21) Who is the program contact for scientific or programmatic questions?

The listed Program Manager contact is Ashley D. Williamson at 301-903-3120 or ashley.williamson@science.doe.gov.

22) What category of funding is this?

This is described as a discretionary grant funding opportunity in the science and technology research and development category.