Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000576
Apply for DE FOA 0000576
- The Chicago Service Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Spherical Torus Experiment Diagnostic Measurements of Spherical Torus Plasmas" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049 Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 1, 2011 and posted on Aug 1, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 18, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $375,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- 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.
- All types of domestic entities are eligible to apply, except other Federal agencies, Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) Contractors, and nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through its Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program, is soliciting grant applications for collaborative research that uses innovative diagnostic instruments on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The main purpose of the opportunity is to strengthen the NSTX research program by funding teams that will implement and operate plasma diagnostics, and then analyze the resulting measurements to address high-priority spherical torus and magnetically confined plasma physics questions. The announcement is explicit that proposals should be centered on diagnostics work and the data they produce; projects that are not mainly about deploying/operating a diagnostic and analyzing NSTX data are not considered responsive to this funding opportunity.
From a scientific standpoint, the call ties directly to two broader FES goals: improving predictive understanding of magnetically confined plasmas and exploring the unique physics and potential advantages of the spherical torus configuration as a pathway toward future fusion facilities. In practical terms, applicants are expected to propose measurement campaigns that help NSTX answer key questions about how these plasmas behave, how they can be controlled, and how they might be operated in more reactor-relevant ways. The FOA lists specific NSTX-aligned research themes that a diagnostics-driven proposal must support. These include macroscopic stability (large-scale plasma instabilities and control), multi-scale transport physics (how heat, particles, and momentum move across different turbulence scales), plasma boundary interfaces (edge and scrape-off-layer behavior and plasma-material interaction issues), energetic particles (fast ion behavior and related instabilities), and topics associated with non-inductive or solenoid-free operation such as start-up, ramp-up, and sustainment without a solenoid. It also includes advanced operating scenarios, which generally refers to developing and validating improved regimes of operation that enhance performance, stability, and control.
The funding mechanism is a discretionary DOE grant under the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 81.049). DOE anticipated making about eight awards with an estimated total program funding level around $2,000,000. Individual awards were expected to fall roughly between $100,000 (floor) and $375,000 (ceiling). Cost sharing is not required. The opportunity was posted August 1, 2011, with an application deadline of October 18, 2011, and it was archived February 1, 2012 (meaning it was tied to the FY 2012 cycle referenced in the text).
Eligibility is broadly open to domestic entities, with some standard federal restrictions. Other federal agencies are not eligible, nor are Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors. In addition, certain nonprofit organizations described under IRS 501(c)(4) that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded. Otherwise, the FOA indicates an unrestricted applicant pool, subject to those clarifications.
A key procedural requirement is coordination with the NSTX program leadership. To be considered for funding, applicants must have discussed the proposed work with the NSTX National Research Program Leaders and must include a “Record of Discussion†in the application. That record needs to spell out how the proposed diagnostic work benefits the NSTX program and what interface support is required from NSTX/PPPL to execute the work (for example, access needs, integration needs, operational support, or data/analysis coordination). For renewal applications, DOE also requires accountability to prior work: applicants must include the goals from the previous project period and a summary of what was actually accomplished.
Administrative points in the source data indicate the sponsoring organization as the DOE Chicago Service Center, with points of contact including a grants analyst (Marilyn M. Oyler) and the program manager (Stephen A. Eckstrand). The full announcement and submission logistics were associated with FedConnect, as referenced by the additional information link.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this DOE funding opportunity about?
This Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science opportunity, offered through the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program, solicits grant applications for collaborative research on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The emphasis is on teams that will implement and operate innovative plasma diagnostic instruments on NSTX and analyze the measurements to address high-priority spherical torus and magnetically confined plasma physics questions.
What is the primary purpose of the awards?
The purpose is to strengthen the NSTX research program by funding diagnostics-centered projects that (1) deploy and/or operate plasma diagnostics on NSTX and (2) analyze NSTX diagnostic data to answer key scientific and operational questions relevant to spherical torus plasmas and magnetically confined plasmas more broadly.
What kinds of projects are considered responsive to this opportunity?
Projects are considered responsive when they are centered on diagnostic work and the NSTX data produced by that diagnostic work. This includes implementing and operating diagnostic instruments and then performing analysis of the resulting NSTX measurements to address NSTX-aligned research questions.
What kinds of projects are not considered responsive?
The announcement is explicit that proposals that are not mainly about deploying/operating a diagnostic and analyzing NSTX data are not considered responsive to this funding opportunity. In other words, if diagnostics implementation/operation and NSTX data analysis are not the core of the project, the proposal would fall outside the stated scope.
Which DOE program is sponsoring this call?
The sponsor is the DOE Office of Science, Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program.
How does this opportunity connect to broader FES goals?
The call ties directly to two broader FES goals described in the opportunity: improving predictive understanding of magnetically confined plasmas, and exploring the unique physics and potential advantages of the spherical torus configuration as a pathway toward future fusion facilities.
What research themes should a diagnostics-driven proposal support?
The FOA lists NSTX-aligned themes that a diagnostics-centered project must support. These themes include:
- Macroscopic stability (large-scale plasma instabilities and control)
- Multi-scale transport physics (heat, particle, and momentum transport across turbulence scales)
- Plasma boundary interfaces (edge and scrape-off-layer behavior and plasma-material interaction issues)
- Energetic particles (fast-ion behavior and related instabilities)
- Non-inductive or solenoid-free operation topics (start-up, ramp-up, and sustainment without a solenoid)
- Advanced operating scenarios (developing/validating improved regimes that enhance performance, stability, and control)
Where must the proposed diagnostics work be performed?
The opportunity is specifically focused on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and the projects are expected to implement and operate diagnostics on NSTX and analyze NSTX measurements.
Is collaboration required?
The opportunity solicits applications for collaborative research teams. It is framed around teams implementing and operating diagnostics and analyzing the resulting NSTX measurements.
What funding mechanism is used?
The mechanism is a discretionary DOE grant under the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 81.049).
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about eight awards under this opportunity.
What was the estimated total funding level?
The estimated total program funding level was around $2,000,000.
What was the expected size of individual awards?
Individual awards were expected to range roughly from $100,000 (floor) to $375,000 (ceiling).
Is cost sharing required?
No. Cost sharing is not required under this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly open to domestic entities, subject to specific federal restrictions described in the opportunity.
Which organizations are explicitly not eligible?
The opportunity states that other federal agencies are not eligible, and Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors are not eligible. In addition, certain nonprofit organizations described under IRS 501(c)(4) that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded.
Are there special coordination requirements with NSTX leadership?
Yes. Applicants must have discussed the proposed work with the NSTX National Research Program Leaders and must include a required "Record of Discussion" in the application.
What must be included in the "Record of Discussion"?
The Record of Discussion needs to describe how the proposed diagnostic work benefits the NSTX program and what interface support is required from NSTX/PPPL to execute the work. Examples of interface needs mentioned include access needs, integration needs, operational support, and data/analysis coordination.
What additional requirement applies to renewal applications?
For renewal applications, DOE requires applicants to include the goals from the previous project period and a summary of what was actually accomplished.
When was the opportunity posted and when was the application due?
The opportunity was posted on August 1, 2011, and the application deadline was October 18, 2011.
What does it mean that the opportunity was archived on February 1, 2012?
Archiving indicates the opportunity was tied to the FY 2012 cycle referenced in the announcement and is no longer active in the original posting context.
Which DOE office handled administrative sponsorship for this opportunity?
Administrative points in the source information list the sponsoring organization as the DOE Chicago Service Center.
Who were the points of contact listed for this opportunity?
The source information lists a grants analyst, Marilyn M. Oyler, and a program manager, Stephen A. Eckstrand, as points of contact.
Where were the full announcement and submission logistics hosted?
The full announcement and submission logistics were associated with FedConnect, as referenced by the additional information link in the source data.
What is the key takeaway for applicants deciding whether to apply?
The key deciding factor is whether the proposed project is truly diagnostics-centered on NSTX: implementing and/or operating an innovative diagnostic instrument and analyzing NSTX measurements in support of the NSTX-aligned research themes listed in the opportunity, along with completing the required NSTX leadership coordination and documentation.
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