Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001572
Apply for DE FOA 0001572
- The PAMS-SC in the regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Building EPSCoR-State/National Laboratory Partnerships: Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 01, 2016 and posted on Apr 01, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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 Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) funding opportunity DE-FOA-0001572 supports basic, fundamental research aimed at enabling sustainable ammonia (NH3) synthesis from nitrogen (N2) using approaches that avoid greenhouse gas emissions. The core scientific focus is molecular-level understanding of nitrogen activation, including the discovery and interrogation of new catalytic concepts and reaction mechanisms that could ultimately lead to ammonia production routes that are more energy-efficient, compatible with renewable energy inputs, and free of byproducts such as CO2 and NOx. In other words, the program is looking for the kind of foundational chemistry and materials science that explains how N2 can be activated and converted under novel catalytic paradigms, rather than near-term engineering demonstrations.
The opportunity is explicitly limited to fundamental science and does not fund process development activities. Proposals centered on process or reactor design, optimization, scale-up, plant-level intensification, or similar engineering topics are excluded. The FOA also draws clear boundaries around what it will not support: projects where the primary challenge is hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, CO2 capture, or CO2 conversion are not responsive, and neither are projects that drift away from the specific emphasis on nitrogen activation as the main scientific bottleneck. Applicants are expected to align their research questions with the underlying science of N2 activation and catalytic ammonia formation, not adjacent electrochemical or carbon-management themes unless they are directly in service of that nitrogen activation focus.
This funding call is also structured as an EPSCoR-State/DOE National Laboratory partnership program. Its purpose is to strengthen energy-oriented research capacity and competitiveness in EPSCoR jurisdictions by pairing investigators at eligible universities with DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (the DOE National Laboratories). The collaboration aspect is central: the FOA is designed to encourage meaningful joint research between the EPSCoR-state institution and a national lab partner, leveraging the unique expertise, capabilities, and infrastructure available at the labs. The use of DOE Office of Science user facilities is encouraged as a way to access specialized tools and measurement capabilities that can accelerate molecular-level insight (for example, advanced characterization, scattering, spectroscopy, or high-performance computing resources, depending on the scientific approach).
Training and workforce development are built into the program requirements. Participation by graduate students and/or postdoctoral researchers is mandatory, reflecting an expectation that the awards will contribute to developing the next generation of scientists working at the intersection of catalysis, chemical physics, and materials chemistry relevant to sustainable ammonia synthesis. The FOA also encourages applications from junior faculty in EPSCoR jurisdictions, signaling that the program is intended not only to generate new fundamental knowledge but also to help build durable research trajectories and partnerships for early-career investigators in historically underfunded states and territories.
Eligibility is tied to the NSF EPSCoR eligibility determinations used for EPSCoR RII awards, and only institutions located in designated EPSCoR jurisdictions may apply. Eligible jurisdictions listed in the FOA are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Eligible applicants are U.S. public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education within those jurisdictions. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant under CFDA 81.049, categorized under regional development.
In terms of scale and competition, the FOA anticipated making about three awards, with an award ceiling of $600,000. The opportunity was posted April 1, 2016, with an application deadline of May 25, 2016. Overall, the grant call is best understood as a targeted basic research program: it aims to advance the fundamental science of nitrogen activation for greenhouse-gas-free ammonia synthesis while simultaneously strengthening EPSCoR-state research competitiveness through sustained collaboration with DOE national laboratories and the training of graduate and postdoctoral researchers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DOE BES DE-FOA-0001572 (Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis)
What is this funding opportunity?
DE-FOA-0001572 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) funding opportunity supporting basic, fundamental research aimed at enabling sustainable ammonia (NH3) synthesis from nitrogen (N2) using approaches that avoid greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the main scientific goal of the FOA?
The core goal is to develop molecular-level understanding of nitrogen activation and ammonia formation, including discovering and interrogating new catalytic concepts and reaction mechanisms that could ultimately enable ammonia production routes that are more energy-efficient, compatible with renewable energy inputs, and free of byproducts such as CO2 and NOx.
Is the program looking for applied engineering demonstrations or near-term deployment?
No. The FOA is explicitly focused on foundational chemistry and materials science that explains how N2 can be activated and converted under novel catalytic paradigms, rather than near-term engineering demonstrations.
Does the FOA fund process development or scale-up work?
No. The opportunity is explicitly limited to fundamental science and does not fund process development activities. Proposals centered on process or reactor design, optimization, scale-up, plant-level intensification, or similar engineering topics are excluded.
What research topics are considered non-responsive?
The FOA draws clear boundaries around topics it will not support. Projects where the primary challenge is hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, CO2 capture, or CO2 conversion are not responsive. Projects that drift away from the specific emphasis on nitrogen activation as the main scientific bottleneck are also not responsive.
Can a proposal include electrochemical or carbon-related themes?
Only if they are directly in service of the nitrogen activation focus. Applicants are expected to align research questions with the underlying science of N2 activation and catalytic ammonia formation, not adjacent electrochemical or carbon-management themes unless they directly support the nitrogen activation emphasis.
What type of partnership is required under this FOA?
This call is structured as an EPSCoR-State/DOE National Laboratory partnership program. It is designed to strengthen research capacity and competitiveness in EPSCoR jurisdictions by pairing investigators at eligible universities with DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (DOE National Laboratories). Meaningful joint research is a central feature of the FOA.
Are DOE Office of Science user facilities relevant to this opportunity?
Yes. The FOA encourages the use of DOE Office of Science user facilities to access specialized tools and measurement capabilities that can accelerate molecular-level insight (for example, advanced characterization, scattering, spectroscopy, or high-performance computing, depending on the approach).
Is training or workforce development required?
Yes. Participation by graduate students and/or postdoctoral researchers is mandatory. The awards are expected to contribute to training the next generation of scientists working in areas relevant to sustainable ammonia synthesis.
Are junior faculty encouraged to apply?
Yes. The FOA encourages applications from junior faculty in EPSCoR jurisdictions, reflecting an intent to help build durable research trajectories and partnerships for early-career investigators in historically underfunded states and territories.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is tied to the NSF EPSCoR eligibility determinations used for EPSCoR RII awards. Only institutions located in designated EPSCoR jurisdictions may apply, and eligible applicants are U.S. public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education within those jurisdictions.
Which jurisdictions are listed as eligible under the FOA?
The eligible jurisdictions listed are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
What DOE office is sponsoring this opportunity?
The opportunity is sponsored by the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES).
What is the funding instrument and program classification information?
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant under CFDA 81.049, categorized under regional development.
How many awards were anticipated and what is the maximum award size?
The FOA anticipated making about three awards, and the award ceiling is $600,000.
When was the opportunity posted and when was the application due?
The opportunity was posted on April 1, 2016, and the application deadline was May 25, 2016.
What is the program trying to accomplish beyond scientific results?
In addition to advancing fundamental science for greenhouse-gas-free ammonia synthesis, the program is intended to strengthen EPSCoR-state research competitiveness through sustained collaboration with DOE national laboratories and through training of graduate and postdoctoral researchers.
What is the simplest way to describe the best-fit project for this FOA?
A best-fit project is one that targets the molecular-level science of N2 activation and catalytic ammonia formation (including new catalytic concepts and mechanisms), is conducted as a genuine EPSCoR-state university and DOE national lab partnership, leverages lab capabilities and potentially DOE user facilities, and includes required graduate student and/or postdoctoral participation.
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