Opportunity Information: Apply for 12 559
Apply for 12 559
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NSF/DOE PARTNERSHIP ON ADVANCED COMBUSTION ENGINES" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041 Engineering Grants 81.049 Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 5, 2014 and posted on May 14, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This opportunity has been archived.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- PI Limit Principal Investigators (PIs) must be at the faculty level as determined by the submitting organization. While participation from non engineering disciplines is encouraged and may be essential for some proposals, projects should fundamentally contribute to engineering research.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NSF/DOE Partnership on Advanced Combustion Engines (Funding Opportunity Number 12-559) was a discretionary federal grant program led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Program (VTP). Its central purpose was to push forward both fundamental and applied research needed to improve advanced internal combustion engine (ICE) technologies, with a strong emphasis on ideas that are genuinely transformative rather than incremental. The partnership was designed to combine DOE's strength in deployment and commercialization pathways with NSF's role in foundational research and education, so that breakthroughs in engine science and engineering could more effectively translate into national-level gains in efficiency and energy impact.
The opportunity fell under the broad category of science and technology research and development, and it used the standard grant funding instrument. The solicitation anticipated making about 20 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $800,000. It was listed under CFDA numbers 47.041 (Engineering Grants) and 81.049 (Office of Science Financial Assistance Program). Importantly, there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which typically lowers the barrier for academic-led teams to propose ambitious work without needing to secure separate mandatory matching funds.
In terms of who could apply, eligibility was framed around having a qualified Principal Investigator at the faculty level, as determined by the submitting organization. While the program sat within NSF Engineering and expected projects to fundamentally advance engineering research, it also explicitly encouraged participation from non-engineering disciplines when that expertise would be necessary to solve the underlying challenges. In practice, this kind of language signals that multidisciplinary proposals were welcome, as long as the core contributions advanced engineering knowledge relevant to advanced combustion engines.
The timeline for the competition was clearly defined. The program was posted on May 14, 2012. A required letter of intent was due June 18, 2012 (by 5 p.m. local time for the proposer), and full proposals were due August 8, 2012. The opportunity has since been archived, with an archive date of August 5, 2014, meaning it is no longer accepting submissions and serves mainly as a historical reference point for the type of research NSF and DOE sought to stimulate during that period.
From a research-focus standpoint, the solicitation targeted the key scientific and engineering barriers that limit ICE efficiency and performance, particularly those tied to advanced combustion concepts. While the summary text does not list specific topic areas, the emphasis on "critical fundamental and applied research challenges" and "transformative ideas" indicates the program aimed at high-impact work such as new combustion regimes, better understanding of in-cylinder processes, improved modeling and diagnostics, innovative control strategies, and other enabling technologies that could materially change how combustion engines are designed and operated. The national-importance framing reflects broader goals like reducing fuel consumption, improving energy security, and lowering environmental impacts through higher efficiency engine operation.
Administrative details in the announcement included a reference to NSF Publication 12-559 for the full requirements and instructions. For technical access issues, the notice directed applicants to NSF's Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, which is consistent with NSF's standard process for addressing electronic submission or announcement access problems.
FAQs: NSF/DOE Partnership on Advanced Combustion Engines (Funding Opportunity Number 12-559)
What is this funding opportunity?
The NSF/DOE Partnership on Advanced Combustion Engines (Funding Opportunity Number 12-559) was a discretionary federal grant program led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Program (VTP). It supported research and development aimed at advancing advanced internal combustion engine (ICE) technologies.
Which agencies were involved?
The program was led by NSF (Directorate for Engineering) and conducted in partnership with DOE through its Vehicle Technologies Program (VTP). The structure was intended to link NSF's strength in foundational research and education with DOE's strength in deployment and commercialization pathways.
What was the main purpose of the program?
The central purpose was to push forward both fundamental and applied research needed to improve advanced internal combustion engine technologies, with a strong emphasis on ideas that are transformative rather than incremental. The partnership aimed to help breakthroughs in engine science and engineering translate into national-level gains in efficiency and energy impact.
What type of grant category did this fall under?
The opportunity fell under the broad category of science and technology research and development, and it used the standard grant funding instrument.
How many awards were expected and what was the total funding level?
The solicitation anticipated making about 20 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $800,000.
What were the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants) and CFDA 81.049 (Office of Science Financial Assistance Program).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was framed around having a qualified Principal Investigator (PI) at the faculty level, as determined by the submitting organization.
Did proposals have to be strictly within engineering?
The program sat within NSF Engineering and expected projects to advance engineering research, but it explicitly encouraged participation from non-engineering disciplines when that expertise was necessary to solve the underlying challenges. This indicates multidisciplinary proposals were welcome as long as the core contributions advanced engineering knowledge relevant to advanced combustion engines.
What kind of research was this program trying to fund?
The solicitation targeted key scientific and engineering barriers limiting internal combustion engine efficiency and performance, particularly those tied to advanced combustion concepts. The summary emphasized addressing "critical fundamental and applied research challenges" and advancing "transformative ideas."
What are examples of research directions implied by the announcement?
While specific topic areas were not listed in the provided summary, the emphasis suggests interest in high-impact work such as new combustion regimes, improved understanding of in-cylinder processes, better modeling and diagnostics, innovative control strategies, and other enabling technologies that could materially change how combustion engines are designed and operated.
How did NSF and DOE intend to complement each other in this partnership?
The partnership was designed to combine DOE's strength in deployment and commercialization pathways with NSF's role in foundational research and education, helping move breakthroughs from fundamental discovery toward broader energy and efficiency impact.
What national goals or impacts were associated with the program?
The program framed its importance in national terms, reflecting goals such as reducing fuel consumption, improving energy security, and lowering environmental impacts through higher-efficiency engine operation.
What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The program was posted on May 14, 2012. A required letter of intent was due June 18, 2012 (by 5 p.m. local time for the proposer), and full proposals were due August 8, 2012.
Was a letter of intent required?
Yes. A letter of intent was required and was due on June 18, 2012 (by 5 p.m. local time for the proposer).
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity has been archived. The archive date was August 5, 2014, and it is no longer accepting submissions.
Where were applicants directed to find the full requirements and instructions?
The announcement referenced NSF Publication 12-559 for the full requirements and instructions.
Who should be contacted for technical access issues related to submission or access?
For technical access issues, applicants were directed to NSF's Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
What does it mean that this was a discretionary federal grant program?
Based on the provided description, the program is identified as a discretionary federal grant program, meaning it was a competitively awarded grant opportunity rather than an entitlement-style program.
What does the focus on "transformative" ideas imply about the expected project approach?
The solicitation highlighted a preference for genuinely transformative concepts rather than incremental improvements, indicating the program sought high-risk, high-reward advances capable of materially shifting advanced combustion engine science and engineering.
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