Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001010
Apply for DE FOA 0001010
- The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Energy Frontier Research Centers" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049 Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 21, 2014 and posted on Sep 30, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 9, 2014 Letters of intent are mandatory and must be submitted by 11/13/2013 in accordance with the instructions in the FOA. Formal applications received from an applicant who has not submitted a letter of intent will not be considered for an award.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are eligible to apply for funding as a prime recipient (lead organization) or subawardee (team member). For profit entities, educational institutions, and nonprofits that are incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular State or territory of the United States are eligible to apply for funding as a prime recipient or subawardee. Nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are not eligible to apply for funding. State, local, and tribal government entities are eligible to apply for funding as a prime recipient or subawardee. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories are eligible to apply for funding as a prime recipient or subawardee. Non DOE/NNSA FFRDCs and non DOE GOGOs are eligible to apply for funding as a subawardee, but are not eligible to apply as a prime recipient. Federal agencies and instrumentalities (other than DOE) are eligible to apply for funding as a subawardee, but are not eligible to apply as a prime recipient. Foreign entities, whether for profit or otherwise, are eligible to apply for funding under this FOA. Other than as provided in the Individuals or Domestic Entities sections above, all prime recipients receiving funding under this FOA must be incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a State or territory of the United States. If a foreign entity applies for funding as a prime recipient, it must designate in the Letter of Intent and full application a subsidiary or affiliate incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a State or territory of the United States to be the prime recipient. A foreign entity, with or without a subsidiary or affiliate incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a state or territory of the United States, may receive funding as a subawardee (team member).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, through the Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES), issued this grant opportunity to support Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs). EFRCs are team-based research centers designed to tackle fundamental scientific problems that sit at the core of future energy technologies. The program is aimed at both new centers and renewal applications for existing centers, with research topics expected to align with the "grand challenges" and "use-inspired basic research" needs that BES and the broader scientific community have identified through major planning efforts. In practical terms, the opportunity is meant to fund multi-investigator, collaborative research that advances the basic science needed to strengthen US energy security and help meet global demand for energy that is abundant, clean, and cost-effective.
The scientific purpose of the EFRC program is grounded in the BES mission: understanding, predicting, and ultimately controlling matter and energy at the electronic, atomic, and molecular levels. This is basic research, but it is intentionally connected to real-world energy outcomes. BES emphasizes the foundational knowledge that enables breakthroughs across areas like materials, chemistry, condensed matter physics, and related disciplines, ultimately supporting DOE mission priorities that include energy, environmental stewardship, and national security. EFRCs are structured to bring together a critical mass of expertise across disciplines and institutions, recognizing that many of the hardest energy-related science problems cannot be solved by a single investigator or a single field working in isolation.
A key administrative detail is that this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) was reopened specifically because some applicants faced extenuating circumstances tied to technical problems with Grants.gov. The reopened window was not a general extension for the public. Only applicants who contacted DOE Office of Science and were informed of the extended deadline were allowed to submit under this reopening, and DOE stated that submissions from other applicants would be rejected. This makes the reopening narrowly targeted: it exists to address documented submission barriers rather than to expand the competitive pool.
The opportunity is identified as a discretionary grant under the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 81.049), with the FOA number DE-FOA-0001010 and the title "Energy Frontier Research Centers." The FOA was posted on September 30, 2013, with an original closing date of January 9, 2014, and it was archived on September 30, 2014. Letters of intent were mandatory and had to be submitted by November 13, 2013, following the FOA instructions. Importantly, DOE indicated that any formal application from an applicant that did not submit a required letter of intent would not be considered for an award, making the letter of intent a strict gatekeeping step rather than a courtesy notification.
Eligibility is broadly described as "unrestricted" but with detailed conditions. US citizens and lawful permanent residents are eligible to participate as prime recipients (lead organizations) or as subawardees (team members). Eligible organizational types include for-profit entities, educational institutions, nonprofits, and state/local/tribal government entities, provided they are incorporated or otherwise formed under US state or territorial law when serving as prime recipients. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories may apply as prime recipients or subawardees. Some categories are limited to subaward roles: non-DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and non-DOE Government-Owned/Government-Operated (GOGO) organizations may participate only as subawardees, not as prime recipients. Similarly, federal agencies other than DOE may be subawardees but cannot be prime recipients.
Foreign entities are allowed under this FOA, but the prime recipient rules still require a US-incorporated entity to hold the award. If a foreign entity wants to function as the prime applicant, it must identify a US-incorporated subsidiary or affiliate in both the letter of intent and the full application to serve as the prime recipient. Foreign entities can also participate as subawardees with or without a US subsidiary. One explicit restriction is that certain nonprofit organizations described under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible to apply.
The FOA directs applicants to FedConnect for the full announcement and for the detailed application package instructions. For applicants who could not access the announcement electronically, DOE provided a point of contact: Michael D. Hill (630-252-2338, michael.hill@ch.doe.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DOE Office of Science (BES) Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science funding opportunity issued through the Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) to support Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs). EFRCs are team-based research centers intended to tackle fundamental scientific problems that are central to future energy technologies.
What is the FOA number and official title?
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number is DE-FOA-0001010, and the title is "Energy Frontier Research Centers."
What program and CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is a discretionary grant under the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program, CFDA 81.049.
Who is the sponsoring DOE office?
The opportunity is sponsored by DOE Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES).
What is the purpose of the EFRC program?
The EFRC program is designed to fund multi-investigator, collaborative basic research that advances the foundational science needed to strengthen US energy security and help meet global demand for energy that is abundant, clean, and cost-effective.
What kind of research does BES expect EFRCs to conduct?
EFRC research is grounded in the BES mission of understanding, predicting, and ultimately controlling matter and energy at the electronic, atomic, and molecular levels. While it is basic research, it is intended to connect to real-world energy outcomes and DOE mission priorities, including energy, environmental stewardship, and national security.
Are EFRCs intended to be single-investigator projects?
No. EFRCs are structured as team-based research centers that bring together a critical mass of expertise across disciplines and, where appropriate, across institutions. The program recognizes that many major energy-related scientific challenges cannot be solved by a single investigator or a single field working in isolation.
Is this opportunity for new centers, renewals, or both?
The FOA is aimed at both new EFRCs and renewal applications for existing centers.
How are expected research topics framed in this FOA?
Research topics are expected to align with "grand challenges" and "use-inspired basic research" needs identified by BES and the broader scientific community through major planning efforts.
When was the FOA posted, when did it close, and when was it archived?
The FOA was posted on September 30, 2013. The original closing date was January 9, 2014. The FOA was archived on September 30, 2014.
Was a letter of intent required?
Yes. Letters of intent were mandatory and had to be submitted by November 13, 2013, following the FOA instructions.
What happens if an applicant did not submit the required letter of intent?
DOE indicated that any formal application from an applicant that did not submit a required letter of intent would not be considered for an award. The letter of intent is a strict requirement, not an optional courtesy step.
Why was the FOA reopened?
The FOA was reopened specifically because some applicants experienced extenuating circumstances related to technical problems with Grants.gov.
Was the reopened window a general deadline extension for everyone?
No. DOE stated the reopening was not a general extension for the public and was narrowly targeted to address documented submission barriers rather than to expand the competitive pool.
Who was allowed to submit during the reopened window?
Only applicants who contacted the DOE Office of Science and were informed of the extended deadline were allowed to submit under the reopening.
What did DOE say about submissions from applicants who were not approved for the reopening?
DOE stated that submissions from other applicants would be rejected.
Is eligibility restricted or unrestricted?
Eligibility is broadly described as "unrestricted," but it includes detailed conditions on who may serve as a prime recipient (lead organization) versus who may participate only as a subawardee.
Who can participate as a prime recipient or subawardee?
US citizens and lawful permanent residents are eligible to participate as prime recipients (lead organizations) or as subawardees (team members), subject to the organizational eligibility rules described in the FOA.
What types of organizations are eligible as prime recipients?
Eligible prime recipient organization types include for-profit entities, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and state/local/tribal government entities, provided they are incorporated or otherwise formed under US state or territorial law when serving as prime recipients.
Can DOE/NNSA National Laboratories apply?
Yes. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories may apply as prime recipients or as subawardees.
Can non-DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) be prime recipients?
No. Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs may participate only as subawardees, not as prime recipients.
Can non-DOE Government-Owned/Government-Operated (GOGO) organizations be prime recipients?
No. Non-DOE GOGO organizations may participate only as subawardees, not as prime recipients.
Can federal agencies other than DOE apply as prime recipients?
No. Federal agencies other than DOE may be subawardees but cannot be prime recipients.
Are foreign entities allowed to participate?
Yes. Foreign entities are allowed under this FOA, but the prime recipient must still be a US-incorporated entity.
If a foreign entity wants to be the prime applicant, what must it do?
If a foreign entity wants to function as the prime applicant, it must identify a US-incorporated subsidiary or affiliate in both the letter of intent and the full application to serve as the prime recipient.
Can a foreign entity participate as a subawardee without a US subsidiary?
Yes. Foreign entities can participate as subawardees with or without a US subsidiary.
Are any organizations explicitly ineligible?
Yes. Certain nonprofit organizations described under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible to apply.
Where does the FOA direct applicants to find the full announcement and application package instructions?
The FOA directs applicants to FedConnect for the full announcement and for the detailed application package instructions.
Who can applicants contact if they cannot access the announcement electronically?
Applicants who could not access the announcement electronically were provided a point of contact: Michael D. Hill, 630-252-2338, michael.hill@ch.doe.gov.
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