Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000836
Apply for DE FOA 0000836
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FOA Advanced Biomass Feedstock Logistics Systems II" 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 Jan 25, 2013 and posted on Jan 25, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 22, 2013 Concept Paper due 2/15/13 at 500pm ET Full Application due 3/22/13 at 500pm ET. (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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FOA titled "Advanced Biomass Feedstock Logistics Systems II" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000836) is a U.S. Department of Energy solicitation focused on one of the biggest practical bottlenecks in scaling cellulosic biofuels: getting large, reliable, year-round volumes of biomass from where it is grown or collected to the biorefinery in a form that is consistent, affordable, and suitable for efficient processing. The opportunity is framed around the reality that even if conversion technology is strong, biorefineries still struggle when the incoming feedstock varies too much in physical and chemical properties. That variability can disrupt operations, drive up costs, and undermine the economics of commercial-scale facilities. In short, the FOA targets the supply chain problems that happen before the biomass ever reaches the reactor.
A central emphasis of the opportunity is feedstock quality management across the entire logistics chain. DOE is looking for approaches that do not treat quality as something to test only at the end, but as something that must be actively controlled from harvest through preprocessing, storage, handling, and transport. Proposals are expected to address how to manage parameters such as moisture, ash content, contamination, particle size, and overall consistency, because those factors strongly influence conversion yields, equipment wear, and operating stability at the biorefinery. The FOA highlights the need for strategies, enabling equipment, and rapid analytical methods that can assess and manage quality quickly enough to support industrial operations, while still staying within realistic economic constraints.
The main work required under this FOA is full-scale demonstration of integrated feedstock supply chain systems. That means DOE is not primarily seeking small laboratory studies or isolated component development. Instead, the core of each proposal should be a real-world demonstration that ties multiple steps together into a functioning logistics system capable of delivering high-quality, affordable, high-impact feedstocks at commercial-relevant tonnages. The demonstrations are expected to show performance over a significant geographic area in the United States, reflecting the practical challenges of aggregation, regional variability, and transportation distances that commercial biorefineries face. The goal is to prove that the system can reliably supply enough material, with controlled quality, to support sustained biorefinery operations rather than short, limited pilot runs.
DOE also signals flexibility in how applicants can meet these goals: proposals may design entirely new logistics systems or adapt and improve existing ones. However, the endpoint is clearly defined: systems must handle industrial-scale volumes of cellulosic feedstocks from the harvest point all the way to the "throat of the biorefinery reactor," meaning the feedstock should arrive in a form that is ready and suitable for conversion with minimal disruption and predictable performance. This makes the FOA particularly focused on bridging the gap between feedstock production and conversion by treating logistics and preprocessing as an integrated, engineered system rather than a series of loosely connected steps.
From an administrative standpoint, the award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means substantial DOE involvement during the project, such as technical oversight, milestone reviews, and active collaboration compared to a more hands-off grant. The FOA falls under the Energy funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). Cost sharing is required, so recipients are expected to contribute a portion of the total project costs, aligning with DOE's intent to support projects with strong industry commitment and a pathway to commercialization.
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, subject to any additional clarifications in the full FOA text. The issuing agency office is the DOE Golden Field Office. The posting date was January 25, 2013, and the application process included a concept paper due February 15, 2013 at 5:00 pm Eastern, followed by a full application due March 22, 2013 at 5:00 pm Eastern. The FOA directs applicants to submit through the EERE Exchange portal, which requires registration and account creation. It also points to a user guide available through the EERE Exchange site after login, and it specifies that questions about FOA content can be directed to the listed contact (Nicholas Oscarsson) via LogisticsFOA@go.doe.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and number of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Advanced Biomass Feedstock Logistics Systems II" and the Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000836.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This solicitation is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), issued through the DOE Golden Field Office.
What problem is DOE trying to solve with this FOA?
The FOA focuses on a key bottleneck for scaling cellulosic biofuels: moving large, reliable, year-round volumes of biomass from where it is produced or collected to a biorefinery in a consistent, affordable form that is ready for efficient processing. DOE emphasizes that variability in incoming biomass can disrupt biorefinery operations, increase costs, and weaken commercial economics even when conversion technology is strong.
What types of projects is DOE looking for?
DOE is seeking full-scale demonstrations of integrated feedstock supply chain systems. Projects should connect multiple logistics steps into a functioning real-world system that can deliver high-quality, affordable cellulosic feedstocks at commercial-relevant tonnages.
Is this FOA focused on lab research or real-world demonstrations?
The FOA is primarily focused on real-world, full-scale demonstrations rather than small laboratory studies or isolated component development. The core expectation is an integrated demonstration that proves performance at industrially relevant scale.
What does "integrated feedstock supply chain system" mean in this FOA?
In this context, "integrated" means treating the supply chain as an engineered system that links steps such as harvest, preprocessing, storage, handling, and transport, with a strong emphasis on managing feedstock quality throughout the chain rather than only testing at the end.
What does DOE mean by delivering feedstock to the "throat of the biorefinery reactor"?
It means the demonstrated logistics system must deliver biomass to the biorefinery in a form that is ready and suitable for conversion, with minimal disruption and predictable performance, all the way up to the point where the material enters the conversion process.
What feedstock quality issues are highlighted as important?
The FOA highlights the need to actively manage feedstock quality parameters such as moisture, ash content, contamination, particle size, and overall consistency because they influence conversion yields, equipment wear, and operating stability.
Does DOE want quality checked only at delivery, or managed throughout the chain?
DOE emphasizes quality management across the entire logistics chain, from harvest through preprocessing, storage, handling, and transport, rather than treating quality as an end-of-chain testing activity.
Are rapid measurement or analytical methods part of what DOE is looking for?
Yes. The FOA highlights the need for rapid analytical methods and enabling equipment that can assess and manage feedstock quality quickly enough for industrial operations, while staying within realistic economic constraints.
Do demonstrations need to be at commercial scale?
The FOA calls for demonstrations at commercial-relevant tonnages and industrial-scale volumes to show the system can reliably supply enough material with controlled quality to support sustained biorefinery operations (not just short, limited pilot runs).
Do demonstrations need to cover a geographic area?
Yes. DOE expects demonstrations to show performance over a significant geographic area in the United States, reflecting real-world aggregation, regional variability, and transportation distances that commercial biorefineries face.
Can applicants propose entirely new logistics systems, or must they build on existing ones?
DOE indicates flexibility: proposals may design entirely new logistics systems or adapt and improve existing ones, as long as the endpoint is an integrated system that handles industrial-scale volumes and delivers conversion-ready feedstock.
What kinds of feedstocks are in scope?
The FOA is focused on cellulosic feedstocks, within the broader goal of enabling commercial-scale cellulosic biofuels by improving the upstream logistics and preprocessing systems.
What is the award instrument for this FOA?
The award instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically involves substantial DOE involvement during the project, such as technical oversight, milestone reviews, and active collaboration, compared to a more hands-off grant structure.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required, meaning recipients are expected to contribute a portion of the total project costs.
Why does DOE require cost sharing for this FOA?
Based on the FOA description, cost sharing aligns with DOE's intent to support projects with strong industry commitment and a pathway to commercialization.
What is the funding activity category and CFDA number?
The FOA falls under the Energy funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, subject to any additional clarifications that may appear in the full FOA text.
When was the FOA posted?
The posting date was January 25, 2013.
Was a concept paper required?
Yes. The application process included a concept paper.
When was the concept paper due?
The concept paper was due February 15, 2013 at 5:00 pm Eastern.
When was the full application due?
The full application was due March 22, 2013 at 5:00 pm Eastern.
How do applicants submit an application?
Applications are submitted through the EERE Exchange portal. The FOA notes that EERE Exchange requires registration and account creation.
Is there guidance available for using EERE Exchange?
Yes. The FOA points to a user guide available through the EERE Exchange site after login.
Where can applicants send questions about the FOA?
Questions about FOA content can be directed to the listed contact, Nicholas Oscarsson, via email at LogisticsFOA@go.doe.gov.
What should a strong proposal emphasize, based on the FOA description?
Based on the information provided, proposals should emphasize (1) a full-scale, integrated demonstration, (2) active feedstock quality management across the logistics chain, (3) commercial-relevant tonnages and industrial-scale handling, (4) performance across a significant U.S. geographic area, and (5) delivery of consistent, conversion-ready material to the biorefinery.
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