Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000770
Apply for DE FOA 0000770
- 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 20, 2012 and posted on Nov 20, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 25, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- 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 0000770 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000770) was a joint grant announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, specifically the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its main purpose was to support genomics-driven, fundamental plant research that would make biomass and plant feedstocks better suited for producing biofuels (such as ethanol) and renewable chemical feedstocks. The emphasis was on research that strengthens the scientific foundation needed to improve how plants are developed and characterized as bioenergy crops, rather than on near-term product development alone.
A central theme of the announcement was improving plant traits that matter for bioenergy: biomass characteristics (for example, composition and properties that affect processing), biomass yield (how much usable plant material can be produced), and sustainability (traits that support stable production with responsible resource use). The opportunity encouraged applicants to use modern genomics and systems biology approaches to uncover the genetic and biological mechanisms underlying these traits. In practice, this meant generating or analyzing genomic data to identify genetic indicators, pathways, and regulatory networks that could help breeders and researchers more efficiently select, breed, or manipulate plants toward better performance as bioenergy feedstocks.
The agencies also explicitly encouraged research aimed at connecting genotype to phenotype, meaning projects that improve the ability to predict observable plant traits from underlying genetic information. That kind of predictive capability is important for speeding up crop improvement because it can reduce reliance on slow, expensive field trials by guiding selection decisions earlier and more accurately. The FOA highlighted that such genotype-to-phenotype research could also improve feedstock characterization, helping the bioenergy community understand which genetic features correspond to desirable processing or sustainability outcomes.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category, listed under CFDA 81.049 (Office of Science Financial Assistance Program). The total estimated funding available was $5,000,000, and the announcement stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement. It was posted on November 20, 2012, with an application closing date of February 25, 2013, and it was later archived on May 24, 2013. The listing did not specify an award floor or ceiling in the summarized fields (both were shown as 0), which typically means applicants needed to consult the full announcement for expected award sizes, project periods, and portfolio expectations.
Eligibility was broad but came with specific limits tied to DOE and USDA rules. 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 referencing the FOA, with additional submission instructions provided if a full application was invited. Under USDA criteria, eligible entities included state agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, university research foundations, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations or corporations, individuals, and collaborations among these groups. The USDA portion also specified that applications from scientists at non-U.S. organizations would not be accepted, although award recipients could subcontract to otherwise ineligible organizations if those partners were necessary to carry out the project.
The practical takeaway is that this FOA was designed to push forward the core plant genomics and systems-level biology needed to create better bioenergy crops and more reliable, sustainable biomass supply chains. It signaled interest in projects that produce broadly useful knowledge, datasets, tools, and predictive frameworks that can accelerate improvement of plant feedstocks, whether through breeding, biotechnology, or more informed selection based on genetic markers and phenotype prediction.
For access issues or official questions, the announcement provided DOE contacts: Kimberlie J. Laing (Grants Management Specialist, 301-903-3026, kim.laing@science.doe.gov) and Catherine M. Ronning (Program Manager, 301-903-9549, Catherine.Ronning@science.doe.gov), and pointed applicants to FedConnect for the full announcement materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy (DE-FOA-0000770)
What is the Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000770)?
DE-FOA-0000770 was a joint grant announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), and 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 for biofuels (such as ethanol) and renewable chemical feedstocks.
What was the main purpose of this FOA?
The main purpose was to strengthen the scientific foundation needed to improve how plants are developed and characterized as bioenergy crops, with an emphasis on fundamental genomics and systems biology research rather than near-term product development alone.
Which agencies sponsored this opportunity?
This was jointly sponsored by DOE Office of Science (BER) and USDA NIFA.
What type of grant program was this?
It was a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 81.049, the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The total estimated funding available was $5,000,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What research areas or themes did the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasized genomics-driven and systems biology approaches to improve plant traits important for bioenergy, particularly biomass characteristics, biomass yield, and sustainability.
What kinds of plant traits were considered important for bioenergy in this FOA?
Key trait areas included:
- Biomass characteristics (composition and properties that affect processing)
- Biomass yield (how much usable plant material can be produced)
- Sustainability (traits supporting stable production with responsible resource use)
What does "genomics-driven, fundamental plant research" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, it referred to research that generates or analyzes genomic data to uncover genetic indicators, biological pathways, and regulatory networks controlling traits relevant to bioenergy feedstocks, building broadly useful scientific knowledge rather than focusing only on immediate commercialization.
What is meant by "systems biology approaches" in this announcement?
The FOA encouraged using systems biology to identify mechanisms and networks (such as pathways and regulatory networks) underlying bioenergy-relevant traits, using genomics data and related analyses to understand how plant traits arise from biological systems.
What did the FOA mean by connecting genotype to phenotype?
Connecting genotype to phenotype referred to improving the ability to predict observable plant traits (phenotypes) based on underlying genetic information (genotypes), including identifying genetic features that correspond to desirable processing, yield, or sustainability outcomes.
Why was genotype-to-phenotype prediction considered important?
The FOA highlighted predictive genotype-to-phenotype capability as a way to speed up crop improvement by reducing reliance on slow and expensive field trials, enabling earlier and more accurate selection decisions.
Did this opportunity focus on near-term product development?
The emphasis was on strengthening the fundamental scientific foundation for improving bioenergy crops, rather than on near-term product development alone.
What practical outcomes was the FOA trying to enable for the bioenergy community?
The FOA signaled interest in research that produces broadly useful knowledge, datasets, tools, and predictive frameworks that can accelerate improvement of plant feedstocks through breeding, biotechnology, or informed selection using genetic markers and phenotype prediction.
When was the FOA posted and when did it close?
It was posted on November 20, 2012, and the application closing date was February 25, 2013.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. The listing indicates it was archived on May 24, 2013.
Were award minimums or maximums stated in the summary?
No. The summarized fields showed an award floor of 0 and an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that applicants needed to consult the full announcement for expected award sizes, project periods, and portfolio expectations.
Who was eligible to apply under DOE rules?
Under DOE criteria, eligible applicants included U.S. colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, state and local governments, and unaffiliated individuals, with specific exclusions noted for FFRDC contractors and certain 501(c)(4) nonprofits that engaged in lobbying after December 31, 1995.
Were Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors eligible?
No. The DOE eligibility information excluded FFRDC contractors.
Were any nonprofit organizations excluded from eligibility?
Yes. DOE eligibility excluded 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 referencing the FOA, with additional submission instructions provided if a full application was invited.
Who was eligible to apply under USDA NIFA rules?
Under USDA criteria, eligible entities included state agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, university research foundations, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations or corporations, individuals, and collaborations among these groups.
Could non-U.S. organizations apply directly?
No. The USDA portion specified that applications from scientists at non-U.S. organizations would not be accepted.
Could an award recipient subcontract to a non-eligible organization?
Yes. The USDA portion noted that award recipients could subcontract to otherwise ineligible organizations if those partners were necessary to carry out the project.
Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement materials?
Applicants were pointed to FedConnect for the full announcement materials.
Who were the DOE contacts listed for official questions or access issues?
The announcement provided these DOE contacts:
- Kimberlie J. Laing, Grants Management Specialist: 301-903-3026, kim.laing@science.doe.gov
- Catherine M. Ronning, Program Manager: 301-903-9549, Catherine.Ronning@science.doe.gov
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