Genomic Science Biosystems Design to Enable Next Generation Biofuels | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The funding opportunity titled "Genomic Science Biosystems Design to Enable Next Generation Biofuels" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000640) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science solicitation issued through the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) under the Genomics Science Program. Its core aim is to accelerate next-generation biofuel development by supporting research that uses modern genomics and systems biology to design and engineer biological systems, while staying aligned with DOEs broader missions in energy security and environmental stewardship. The program is framed around moving beyond discovery science into "biosystems design," meaning intentional, predictive redesign of microbes and plants to create practical, scalable routes to biofuel production.

The opportunity is organized around two main research thrusts. The first focus area is microbial systems design for biofuels, spanning work from computational modeling through experimental validation. DOE is looking for projects that develop new modeling algorithms and design approaches that can define, build, and deploy functional biological modules. In practice, that means creating or improving the computational and engineering toolkit needed to assemble genetic and metabolic parts into novel microbial systems that can perform useful fuel-related tasks more effectively than existing organisms. A key theme is the tight coupling of in silico design with wet-lab testing, so models are not just theoretical but are used to guide construction of engineered microbes and then refined based on measured outcomes. The end goal is progress toward microbes that can help produce biofuels or biofuel precursors in more efficient, predictable, and controllable ways.

The second focus area is plant systems design for bioenergy. Here the intent is to develop technologies that enable the redesign of bioenergy crops so they can thrive in marginal environments while still producing high biomass yields, and so that the resulting plant material can be converted to biofuels more readily. This points to two practical barriers DOE wants to overcome at once: land constraints (by targeting crops that can grow on less productive land) and conversion constraints (by making biomass easier and cheaper to process into fuels). Projects in this area would typically involve advanced genomic tools, new trait engineering strategies, or innovative approaches to modify plant growth, stress tolerance, cell wall composition, or other characteristics tied directly to biomass productivity and conversion efficiency.

Across both topic areas, applicants are expected to address potential societal implications of engineered organisms. This emphasis signals that DOE is not only interested in technical performance, but also in responsible innovation, including consideration of broader impacts such as safety, governance, public acceptance, ethical issues, and potential environmental effects associated with deploying engineered microbes or redesigned crops. The solicitation makes this an explicit element of a competitive application rather than an optional add-on.

From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity within the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" activity category, under CFDA 81.049 (Office of Science Financial Assistance Program). The opportunity had an estimated total funding amount of $20,000,000, with anticipated award sizes ranging from $1,000,000 (floor) to $5,000,000 (ceiling). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which typically lowers barriers for university and nonprofit applicants and allows projects to be structured around scientific need rather than required cost contributions. The posted date was January 17, 2012, with an application due date of April 2, 2012, and the opportunity was later archived on July 2, 2012.

Eligibility is broadly open to most types of entities, with specific exclusions. Other federal agencies are not eligible to apply, and neither are Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors as applicants. In addition, certain nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded. Even with those limitations, the FOA encourages synergistic collaborations with federal laboratories and FFRDCs, including DOE National Laboratories, as long as those collaborations are targeted to fill critical gaps in expertise and do not exceed 50 percent of the total project budget. This structure supports multi-institution teams while keeping the lead role and majority of funding with eligible non-federal applicants.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted DOE BER investment in the science and engineering foundations needed for predictable biological design, aimed specifically at enabling biofuels through engineered microbes and improved bioenergy crops. Competitive proposals would likely be those that present a credible design-build-test-learn style workflow, show clear relevance to biofuel production challenges, and integrate technical innovation with thoughtful consideration of societal implications tied to engineered biological systems. For submission logistics or access issues, the listed contacts included Kimberlie J. Laing (Grant Analyst) and Pablo Rabinowicz (Program Manager) at DOE Office of Science.

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