FY 2014 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DOE Office of Science Financial Assistance (DE-FOA-0000995)

1) What is DE-FOA-0000995?

DE-FOA-0000995 is a standing, continuing solicitation from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science for research support. It is designed to accept competitive applications on an ongoing basis within the Office of Science mission areas, rather than focusing on a single, narrowly defined research topic.

2) Is this a one-time grant competition or an ongoing solicitation?

This is an ongoing (standing, continuing) solicitation. It reflects DOE Office of Science's continuing interest in receiving applications that align with its mission and program areas during the open application period listed in the notice.

3) What research areas does this solicitation cover?

The solicitation spans six broad DOE Office of Science program areas:

• Advanced Scientific Computing Research
• Basic Energy Sciences
• Biological and Environmental Research
• Fusion Energy Sciences
• High Energy Physics
• Nuclear Physics

4) What types of financial assistance mechanisms are used under this opportunity?

This opportunity uses two assistance mechanisms: grants and cooperative agreements.

5) What is the CFDA number for this funding opportunity?

The CFDA listing associated with this opportunity is CFDA 81.049, titled the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.

6) What kind of funding category is this opportunity?

It is categorized as discretionary funding for science and technology and other research and development activities.

7) What regulations govern eligibility, submission requirements, and the review process?

Application preparation, submission requirements, eligibility rules, restrictions, and the evaluation and selection process are governed by DOE regulations at 10 CFR 605, as referenced in the solicitation.

8) Why does the solicitation reference a framework going back to 1992?

The notice traces its roots to a long-running DOE framework originally published as a Final Rule on September 3, 1992, in the Federal Register under the former Office of Energy Research Financial Assistance Program. That program is now called the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.

9) How much total funding is associated with this opportunity?

The estimated total funding listed for this continuation notice is $400,000,000. This figure reflects the scale of the Office of Science research portfolio supported under this umbrella solicitation, rather than a guaranteed amount reserved for a single project.

10) Is the $400,000,000 amount guaranteed for applicants under this notice?

No. The notice indicates this amount reflects the broader Office of Science research portfolio supported under the umbrella solicitation and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed set-aside for one specific project.

11) Is there a minimum (floor) or maximum (ceiling) award amount?

No formal award floor or ceiling is specified (both are listed as 0). This typically indicates award sizes can vary widely depending on the program area, scope of work, DOE program priorities, and available appropriations.

12) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted in terms of entity type, subject to the specific exclusions listed in the announcement and the requirements in 10 CFR 605 and the full announcement materials.

13) Who is not eligible to apply?

Two explicit exclusions are stated:

• Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors are not eligible to apply under this announcement.
• 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded.

14) Are universities, nonprofits, governments, and companies allowed to apply?

The notice indicates the opportunity is intended to be accessible to a wide range of applicants (for example, universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, and private sector organizations), as long as they meet DOE requirements in the governing regulations and the full announcement materials, and are not within the stated exclusions.

15) Are national laboratories eligible to apply?

The notice suggests national laboratory partners may be involved where appropriate, but it also states that FFRDC contractors are not eligible to apply under this announcement. Applicants should rely on the exclusions and the governing requirements referenced in the solicitation.

16) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is identified in the notice. Applicants generally are not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of award, although the notice notes that specific programs or project circumstances can sometimes impose other budgetary expectations described in the full solicitation or program guidance.

17) What are the key dates for this opportunity?

• Posting date: October 1, 2013
• Creation date: October 1, 2013
• Application window closes: September 30, 2014 (original and current closing dates are the same)
• Archive date: December 31, 2014

18) Where can applicants find the complete announcement and submission details?

The notice directs applicants to FedConnect as the additional information link for the complete announcement and submission details.

19) Who is the contact person for administrative questions or access issues?

The listed contact is Kimberlie J. Laing, Grants Analyst at the DOE Office of Science.

20) How can the contact person be reached?

Kimberlie J. Laing can be reached by phone at 301-903-3026 or by email at kim.laing@science.doe.gov.

21) What does it mean that this is an "umbrella" Office of Science solicitation?

It means the solicitation is broad and supports research across multiple Office of Science program areas under a continuing framework. It is not limited to one narrowly defined topic, and award sizes and projects may vary depending on program area priorities and available appropriations.

22) What determines whether an application is competitive under this solicitation?

The notice states that evaluation and selection are governed by DOE regulations at 10 CFR 605 and the established Office of Science procedures and policies described in those regulations, including how proposals are reviewed and how funding decisions are made.