Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000657
Apply for DE FOA 0000657
- The Golden Field Office in the agriculture energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087 Renewable Energy Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 2, 2012 and posted on Mar 22, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 24, 2012 Issue Date 03/22/2012 Pre Application Due Date 04/24/2012, 500 PM Eastern Time Invited Full Application Due Date 08/03/2012, 500 PM Eastern Time. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- (A) an institution of higher education (B) a National Laboratory (C) a Federal research agency (D) a State research agency (E) a private sector entity (F) a nonprofit organization or (G) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000657) is a discretionary grant program administered through the Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, and associated with the Renewable Energy Research and Development CFDA (81.087). The opportunity is categorized under agriculture and energy and supports research and development activities tied to biomass and bioenergy. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants are expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the total project cost in addition to the requested federal funds.
This notice is a modification to the original announcement rather than a brand-new solicitation. The main change is how the award size limits are evaluated. Previously, the announcement emphasized that the proposed total project cost (federal funds plus all committed cost share and any other required resources, including direct funding of any federally funded research and development center) had to fall between the stated ceiling and floor to be eligible for review. Under the modification, that requirement is narrowed to focus specifically on the amount of federal funding requested. In other words, the ceiling and floor now apply only to the federal share being requested, not the entire project budget. Applications and pre-applications requesting federal funding outside those limits will not be reviewed or considered for award. This clarification matters for budgeting because it separates eligibility based on the federal request from the overall scale of the project, which can include significant cost share.
The second change affects pre-application formatting requirements for the Project Summary/Abstract file. The announcement continues to stress that the summary must not include proprietary or sensitive business information because DOE and/or USDA NIFA may make it publicly available. The modification removes the explicit 1-inch margin requirement. The updated instruction is that the pre-application project summary must not exceed one page when printed on standard 8.5 x 11 paper using a font no smaller than 10 point, saved as a single PDF file named Summary.pdf, and uploaded as an optional other attachment. Everything else about the submission approach remains the same.
Key dates listed for this opportunity reflect a two-step process. The solicitation was posted March 22, 2012, with a pre-application due date of April 24, 2012 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Only applicants invited after the pre-application stage were expected to submit full applications, which were due August 3, 2012 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The opportunity later moved to archive status (archived July 23, 2012), which generally indicates the competitive window has closed, but the record remains useful for understanding requirements and program structure.
Eligibility is broad and includes institutions of higher education, national laboratories, federal and state research agencies, private sector entities (including for-profit organizations and small businesses), nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), and consortia made up of two or more eligible entity types. The listing in the announcement explicitly allows consortia, which can be important for biomass projects that often combine feedstock expertise, conversion technology, and commercialization pathways.
Administrative details in the posted record show estimated total funding, award ceiling, and award floor fields as 0, which is likely a placeholder in the summary record rather than a statement that no funding is available; the controlling figures would normally be in the full text of the FOA. For applicants or stakeholders needing the official announcement package, the notice points to FedConnect for full documentation and provides a contact for access issues: Geoffrey I. Walker at FY12BRDI@go.doe.gov. All other terms and conditions of the original announcement remain unchanged under this modification.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) funding opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) DE-FOA-0000657. It is a discretionary grant program administered through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Golden Field Office, and is associated with the Renewable Energy Research and Development CFDA (81.087).
What topics or fields does BRDI support?
The opportunity is categorized under agriculture and energy. It supports research and development activities tied to biomass and bioenergy.
Is this a new solicitation?
No. This notice is a modification to the original announcement rather than a brand-new solicitation. The modification changes how certain requirements are interpreted, while leaving the rest of the original terms and conditions unchanged.
What is the most important change made by this modification?
The primary change is how the award size limits (ceiling and floor) are evaluated for eligibility. Under this modification, the ceiling and floor apply only to the amount of federal funding requested (the federal share), not to the proposed total project cost.
How were award ceiling and floor limits interpreted before the modification?
Previously, eligibility was tied to the proposed total project cost, meaning the total of federal funds plus all committed cost share and any other required resources (including direct funding of any federally funded research and development center) had to fall between the stated ceiling and floor in order to be eligible for review.
How are award ceiling and floor limits interpreted after the modification?
After the modification, the ceiling and floor apply only to the federal funding request amount. Applications and pre-applications that request federal funding outside those limits will not be reviewed or considered for award.
Does the change affect how applicants should think about budgeting?
Yes. The clarification separates eligibility (based on the federal request) from the overall scale of the project (which can be larger due to cost share). This matters for planning because applicants may propose a large total budget as long as the federal share requested falls within the FOA's stated floor and ceiling.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies. Applicants are expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the total project cost in addition to the requested federal funds.
What does "cost share" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the information provided, cost share refers to non-federal resources that the applicant (and/or partners) contributes toward the total project cost, in addition to the federal funds requested.
What is the second change described in the modification?
The second change affects pre-application formatting requirements for the Project Summary/Abstract file. Specifically, the modification removes the explicit 1-inch margin requirement.
What are the current formatting rules for the pre-application project summary?
The pre-application project summary must not exceed one page when printed on standard 8.5 x 11 paper, must use a font no smaller than 10 point, must be saved as a single PDF file named Summary.pdf, and must be uploaded as an optional other attachment.
Do applicants need to follow a 1-inch margin requirement for the project summary?
No. The modification removes the explicit 1-inch margin requirement. The controlling constraints described are page length (one page printed on 8.5 x 11) and minimum font size (10 point), along with the PDF naming and upload instructions.
Can the project summary include proprietary or sensitive business information?
No. The announcement stresses that the summary must not include proprietary or sensitive business information because DOE and/or USDA NIFA may make it publicly available.
Which agencies are involved in this opportunity?
The program is administered through DOE (Golden Field Office). The notice also references USDA NIFA in connection with potential public availability of the project summary.
What is the application process described here?
The opportunity uses a two-step process: (1) a pre-application stage, and (2) a full application stage that is only for applicants invited after the pre-application stage.
What were the key dates for the pre-application and full application?
- Solicitation posted: March 22, 2012
- Pre-application due: April 24, 2012 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time
- Full application due (invited applicants only): August 3, 2012 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Who could submit a full application?
Only applicants invited after the pre-application stage were expected to submit full applications.
What does it mean that the opportunity is in "archive" status?
The record later moved to archive status (archived July 23, 2012). Archive status generally indicates the competitive window has closed, but the record remains useful for understanding requirements and program structure.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes institutions of higher education, national laboratories, federal and state research agencies, private sector entities (including for-profit organizations and small businesses), nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), and consortia made up of two or more eligible entity types.
Are consortia allowed to apply?
Yes. The announcement explicitly allows consortia made up of two or more eligible entity types. This can be important for biomass projects that may combine feedstock expertise, conversion technology, and commercialization pathways.
Where can applicants find the official full announcement package?
The notice points to FedConnect for full documentation. The summary record may not contain all controlling details, so the full FOA documentation referenced via FedConnect is the place to confirm official requirements.
Why do the posted administrative fields show estimated total funding, award ceiling, and award floor as 0?
The posted record shows these fields as 0, which is described as likely a placeholder in the summary record rather than an indication that no funding is available. The controlling figures would normally be in the full text of the FOA.
Who should be contacted for access issues related to the announcement package?
The notice provides a contact for access issues: Geoffrey I. Walker at FY12BRDI@go.doe.gov.
Did the modification change other terms and conditions of the original announcement?
No. The notice states that all other terms and conditions of the original announcement remain unchanged under this modification.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture Energy
Next opportunity: Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship (AENT) Program
Previous opportunity: Serving Adult and Youth Ex Offenders through Strategies Targeted to Characteristics Common to Female Ex Offenders
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for DE FOA 0000657
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0000657) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Rural Energy for America Program Apply for RDRBS 2013 REAP Funding Number: RDRBS 2013 REAP Agency: Business and Cooperative Programs Category: Agriculture Energy Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Renewable Energy for America Program Apply for RDBCP REAP 2014 Funding Number: RDBCP REAP 2014 Agency: Business and Cooperative Programs Category: Agriculture Energy Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans Apply for RBCP 08 REEEP Funding Number: RBCP 08 REEEP Agency: Business and Cooperative Programs Category: Agriculture Energy Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| FOA Biomass Research and Development Initiative Apply for DE FOA 0000510 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000510 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Agriculture Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DE FOA 0000657", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.