Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000598
Apply for DE FOA 0000598
- The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy A Joint Research Funding Opportunity Announcement USDA, DOE" 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 Nov 17, 2011 and posted on Nov 17, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 24, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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.
- DOE Eligibility Criteria Applicants from U.S. Colleges and universities, non profit organizations, for profit commercial organizations, state and local governments, and unaffiliated individuals are eligible to apply, except 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. Researchers from other Federal agencies are encouraged to submit a pre application referencing DE FOA 0000598 if a formal application is encouraged, additional submission information will be provided. USDA Eligibility Criteria The Secretary may award grants to State agricultural experiment stations colleges and universities university research foundations other research institutions and organizations Federal agencies national laboratories private organizations or corporations individuals or any group consisting of two or more of the aforementioned entities. Applications from scientists at non U.S. organizations will not be accepted. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy joint funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000598) was a collaborative grant program run by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), together with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its core aim was to fund genomics-driven, fundamental plant research that makes biomass and plant feedstocks more useful for producing biofuels (such as ethanol) and renewable chemical feedstocks. The program focused on building the scientific foundation needed to improve plant materials used for bioenergy, especially lignocellulosic biomass (plant cell wall material) and agricultural residues, rather than continuing the historic emphasis of crop improvement programs that prioritize food and feed traits like starch accumulation.
From a research standpoint, the announcement emphasized work that would improve biomass characteristics, increase biomass yield, and strengthen sustainability. It encouraged systems biology and genomics approaches that can identify genetic indicators or biomarkers tied to desirable bioenergy traits, enabling more efficient breeding or targeted manipulation. A key theme was better connecting genotype to phenotype, meaning research that can predict plant performance and biomass quality from genetic information. The underlying motivation was practical: bioenergy can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower harmful emissions, but getting there requires both (1) high-yielding, sustainable biomass production systems and (2) conversion technologies that can efficiently turn biomass into usable fuels and industrial chemicals. By improving the plants themselves through genomics and predictive biology, the FOA sought to remove bottlenecks upstream of bioconversion and make feedstocks more consistent and easier to process.
A major rationale highlighted in the FOA was the strategic value of lignocellulosic energy crops. Compared with many food crops, lignocellulosic feedstocks can often be grown with less intensive management and on lower-quality land, helping reduce competition with food production that typically relies on higher-quality farmland. The program also implicitly recognized a tradeoff in earlier crop improvement: many advances in major crops were aimed at boosting edible components (seeds, roots, tubers) and increasing starch, sometimes at the expense of lignocellulosic biomass. This FOA positioned biomass genomics as a corrective and complementary research direction, supporting plant science that directly targets traits relevant to energy and industrial bioproduct pipelines.
In terms of award structure and funding levels, this was a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology / Research and Development category. DOE anticipated making around 10 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of about $6,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $200,000 (floor) to $500,000 (ceiling). No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed, lowering the barrier to entry for applicants who might not have non-federal funds available.
Eligibility was broadly open but with some agency-specific constraints. Under DOE criteria, eligible applicants included U.S. colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, state and local governments, and unaffiliated individuals, while excluding Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors and certain 501(c)(4) nonprofits that engaged in lobbying after December 31, 1995. Researchers from other federal agencies were encouraged to submit a pre-application, with the possibility of being invited to submit a full application. Under USDA criteria, eligibility covered state agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, university research foundations, other research institutions, federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations or corporations, individuals, and teams or consortia composed of multiple eligible entities. The announcement stated that applications from scientists at non-U.S. organizations would not be accepted, though awardees could subcontract to otherwise ineligible organizations if those partners were necessary to complete the project.
Key timeline details: the FOA was posted on November 17, 2011, with an original and final closing date of February 24, 2012, and it was archived on May 24, 2012. The CFDA number associated with the funding was 81.049 (Office of Science Financial Assistance Program). For access and administrative or program questions, the FOA listed contacts at DOE, including a grant analyst and a program manager, reflecting a typical separation between administrative submission support and scientific/programmatic guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000598)?
DE-FOA-0000598, titled "Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy," was a joint funding opportunity run collaboratively by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), together with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supported genomics-driven, fundamental plant research aimed at improving biomass and plant feedstocks used for biofuels (such as ethanol) and renewable chemical feedstocks.
What was the main goal of this program?
The core aim was to build the scientific foundation for improving plant materials used for bioenergy by funding fundamental, genomics-enabled research. The focus was on making biomass and plant feedstocks more useful, consistent, and easier to process for biofuels and renewable chemicals by addressing upstream plant traits that affect downstream conversion.
What types of plant material and feedstocks were emphasized?
The opportunity emphasized lignocellulosic biomass (plant cell wall material) and agricultural residues, highlighting their importance as bioenergy feedstocks and their potential to support sustainable bioenergy production systems.
How did this FOA differ from traditional crop improvement priorities?
The program intentionally shifted emphasis away from the historic priorities of many crop improvement programs that focus on food and feed traits, such as starch accumulation in edible plant parts (seeds, roots, tubers). Instead, it targeted traits directly relevant to lignocellulosic biomass and bioenergy/bioproduct pipelines, recognizing that past improvements sometimes favored edible components at the expense of lignocellulosic biomass.
What kinds of research approaches were encouraged?
The FOA encouraged systems biology and genomics approaches, particularly those that help identify genetic indicators or biomarkers linked to desirable bioenergy traits. A strong theme was connecting genotype to phenotype, meaning research that can predict plant performance and biomass quality from genetic information to enable more efficient breeding or targeted manipulation.
What research outcomes was the FOA trying to enable?
The announcement emphasized research intended to improve biomass characteristics, increase biomass yield, and strengthen sustainability. It also aimed to reduce bottlenecks upstream of bioconversion by making feedstocks more consistent and easier to process, supporting more efficient conversion to fuels and industrial chemicals.
Why did the FOA highlight lignocellulosic energy crops as strategically important?
The FOA highlighted that lignocellulosic feedstocks can often be grown with less intensive management and on lower-quality land compared with many food crops. This can help reduce competition with food production that typically relies on higher-quality farmland.
How does this program relate to reducing fossil fuel dependence and emissions?
The stated motivation was practical: bioenergy can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower harmful emissions. Achieving that requires both high-yielding, sustainable biomass production systems and conversion technologies that efficiently turn biomass into usable fuels and industrial chemicals. By improving plants through genomics and predictive biology, the FOA aimed to support the feedstock side of that equation.
How many awards were anticipated?
DOE anticipated making around 10 awards under this funding opportunity.
What was the estimated total funding level for the program?
The estimated total program funding level was about $6,000,000.
What was the expected award size (minimum and maximum)?
Individual awards were expected to range from $200,000 (floor) to $500,000 (ceiling).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed for this opportunity.
What funding category did this opportunity fall under?
It was a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology / Research and Development category.
Who was eligible to apply under DOE eligibility criteria?
Under DOE criteria, eligible applicants included U.S. colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, state and local governments, and unaffiliated individuals, with certain exclusions described in the FOA.
Were any applicants explicitly excluded under DOE rules?
Yes. The FOA excluded Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors and certain 501(c)(4) nonprofits that engaged in lobbying after December 31, 1995.
Could researchers from other federal agencies apply?
Researchers from other federal agencies were encouraged to submit a pre-application, with the possibility of being invited to submit a full application.
Who was eligible to apply under USDA NIFA eligibility criteria?
Under USDA criteria, eligibility included state agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, university research foundations, other research institutions, federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations or corporations, individuals, and teams or consortia composed of multiple eligible entities.
Were non-U.S. organizations allowed to apply directly?
No. The announcement stated that applications from scientists at non-U.S. organizations would not be accepted.
Could awardees work with otherwise ineligible organizations?
Yes. The FOA indicated that awardees could subcontract to otherwise ineligible organizations if those partners were necessary to complete the project.
When was the FOA posted, and what was the closing date?
The FOA was posted on November 17, 2011. The original and final closing date was February 24, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The FOA was archived on May 24, 2012.
What CFDA number was associated with this funding opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with this opportunity was 81.049 (Office of Science Financial Assistance Program).
Which DOE offices were involved on the DOE side?
On the DOE side, the program was run through the DOE Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER).
Which USDA office was involved on the USDA side?
On the USDA side, the partner agency was the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Who should applicants contact with administrative vs. program questions?
The FOA listed DOE contacts including a grant analyst and a program manager, reflecting a typical split where the grant analyst handles administrative or submission-related questions and the program manager addresses scientific or programmatic guidance.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Management of HIV Related Lung Disease and Cardiovascular Co Morbidity (R34)
Previous opportunity: Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (S10)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for DE FOA 0000598
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0000598) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Metal Direct Digital Manufacturing for Industrial Base Innovation Fund (IBIF) Program Apply for W15QKN 12 R D008 Funding Number: W15QKN 12 R D008 Agency: Dept of the Army Materiel Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Physical and Engineering Sciences in Oncology Apply for 12 514 Funding Number: 12 514 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry Apply for 12 513 Funding Number: 12 513 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing Health Services through System Modeling Research Apply for 12 515 Funding Number: 12 515 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY12 DoD High Energy Laser Multidisciplinary Research Initiative (HEL MRI) Apply for W911NF 12 R 0003 Funding Number: W911NF 12 R 0003 Agency: Dept of the Army Materiel Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program Apply for 12 516 Funding Number: 12 516 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Science Technology Fellow(s) Apply for MCC 11 0072 RFA 64 Funding Number: MCC 11 0072 RFA 64 Agency: Millennium Challenge Corporation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| 2012 X Stack Programming Challenges, Runtime Systems, and Tools Apply for DE FOA 0000619 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000619 Agency: Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| ROSES 2011 Living with a Star Targeted Research and Technology Apply for NNH11ZDA001N LWSTRT Funding Number: NNH11ZDA001N LWSTRT Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2011Living With a Star Targeted Research and Technology NASA/NSF Partnership For Collaborative Space Weather Modeling Apply for NNH11ZDA001N LWSCSW Funding Number: NNH11ZDA001N LWSCSW Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU Apply for G12AS20004 Funding Number: G12AS20004 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/ Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) FY 2012 Phase I (Release 2) Apply for DE FOA 0000628 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000628 Agency: Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Comprehensive Grant Program Apply for 2012 NIST NCNR 01 Funding Number: 2012 NIST NCNR 01 Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Precision Measurement Grant Program (PMGP) Apply for 2012 NIST PMGP 01 Funding Number: 2012 NIST PMGP 01 Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Long Term Resource Monitoring Program FY 2012 Apply for G12AS20001 Funding Number: G12AS20001 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROA 2011 A.2 Subsonic Fixed Wing (SFW1) Apply for NNH11ZEA001N SFW1 Funding Number: NNH11ZEA001N SFW1 Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Young Faculty Award (YFA) Apply for DARPA RA 12 12 Funding Number: DARPA RA 12 12 Agency: DARPA Defense Sciences Office Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Monitoring and Evaluations Apply for FWS R1 LSRCP NOI 2IE Funding Number: FWS R1 LSRCP NOI 2IE Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $851,175 |
| Monitoring and Evaluations Apply for FWS R1 LSRCP NOI 2PSIG Funding Number: FWS R1 LSRCP NOI 2PSIG Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $464,261 |
| Measurement Science and Engineering (MSE) Research Grant Programs Apply for 2012 NIST MSE 01 Funding Number: 2012 NIST MSE 01 Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DE FOA 0000598", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.