Leveraging Isotope Program Resources and Enhancing Facilities for Isotope Production and Research | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DOE Isotope Supply FOA (DE-FOA-0001136)

1) What is this funding opportunity about?

This Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0001136) supports efforts to improve the availability of certain isotopes that are both in short supply and considered critical to the United States. The overall emphasis is on practical initiatives that strengthen the domestic isotope supply chain by improving isotope production capability, access to isotope program resources, and/or facilities and research infrastructure used for isotope production and related science.

2) Which DOE offices are sponsoring and administering the work?

The opportunity is issued by DOE through the Office of Science and its Office of Nuclear Physics. The work is administered under the Isotope Development and Production for Research and Applications (IDPRA) program, commonly called the DOE Isotope Program.

3) What is the DOE Isotope Program (IDPRA) in the context of this FOA?

In this announcement, the IDPRA/DOE Isotope Program is described as the program that manages federal investments and partnerships aimed at ensuring reliable isotope supply for research, medicine, industry, and national needs. This FOA is positioned as part of those investments and partnerships.

4) How is this FOA structured?

The announcement is structured around two distinct tracks. Applicants are expected to read the full announcement closely and select the track that fits their proposed work. The tracks are described as very different in scope and intent.

5) Do I have to choose one track, or can I apply to both?

Based on the summary provided, applicants are expected to select the track that fits their proposed work. The summary does not state whether multiple-track submissions are allowed, so the governing direction would be in the full FOA text.

6) What types of projects does this FOA emphasize?

The summary emphasizes practical initiatives that either expand isotope production capability, improve access to isotope program resources, or enhance facilities and research infrastructure used for isotope production and related science.

7) Does the short description define the technical boundaries of each track?

No. The short description does not spell out the technical boundaries of each track, beyond stating that they are different in scope and intent and are tied to practical isotope availability and capability-building goals.

8) What program or assistance listing does this FOA fall under?

The opportunity falls under the DOE Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 81.049).

9) What kinds of activities are supported?

The FOA supports science and technology and other research and development activities, with a focus on improving isotope availability and strengthening related production and research capabilities.

10) What funding instruments are used under this FOA?

The summary lists grants and cooperative agreements. That means DOE may fund some projects as traditional assistance awards (grants), while other projects may involve more substantial federal involvement and coordination typical of cooperative agreements.

11) Is cost sharing or matching required?

The summary information provided does not state a cost sharing or matching requirement.

12) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, indicating applications were open to a broad range of entity types, subject to any additional eligibility conditions contained in the full announcement text.

13) What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The posting date was June 13, 2014. The application deadline was August 1, 2014. The opportunity was archived on November 1, 2014.

14) What does it mean that the FOA is archived?

The summary states the opportunity was archived on November 1, 2014. Based on the information provided, that indicates the solicitation is no longer active as a current open opportunity.

15) Who should be contacted with scientific or technical questions, or issues accessing the solicitation?

DOE listed Dr. Marc Garland as the scientific and technical point of contact for questions or issues accessing the full solicitation, with both phone and email provided in the announcement.

16) What is the main goal of DOE in issuing this FOA?

The FOA is best understood as a targeted R&D and capability-building solicitation designed to strengthen the domestic isotope supply chain by leveraging DOE isotope program assets and improving the facilities and processes needed to produce and research high-need isotopes.

17) Why does the FOA highlight isotopes that are "in short supply" and "critical"?

The summary frames the need as improving availability of isotopes that are both scarce and important to the United States, aligning the funded work with national needs across research, medicine, industry, and other applications supported by the DOE Isotope Program.

18) Where should applicants look for the most authoritative details?

The summary repeatedly points applicants to the full announcement text, especially for understanding the two-track structure and any additional eligibility or scope details that are not spelled out in the short description.