Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000470
Apply for DE FOA 0000470
- The Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Plants Engineered To Replace Oil (PETRO)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135 Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 29, 2011 and posted on Apr 20, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 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 $30,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15,000,000.00 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
Plants Engineered To Replace Oil (PETRO) is an ARPA-E funding opportunity (FOA number DE-FOA-0000470) focused on high-risk, high-reward research to engineer plants that can capture more energy from sunlight and convert that energy into fuels. In practical terms, the program is aimed at pushing beyond conventional bioenergy approaches by increasing the efficiency of photosynthetic energy capture and redirecting more of that captured energy into fuel-relevant molecules, with the long-term goal of producing plant-based fuels that can meaningfully displace petroleum.
This particular posting is a modification to the original FOA. The key change is that ARPA-E narrowed the "Other Sources of Funding" disclosure requirement in specific sections of the FOA (Sections IV.C.1 and VI.B.9). Instead of broadly requiring extensive disclosure, the revised requirement is targeted at the individuals actually involved in the proposed work, specifically Principal Investigators, Co-Principal Investigators, and other Key Participants. The modification also clarifies what must be disclosed by applicants who are selected to move into award negotiations, which matters because ARPA-E awards are made through a negotiation process typical of cooperative agreements, where the government expects substantial involvement during project execution.
The FOA also explains ARPA-E's down-selection process. Applicants first submit a Concept Paper, and based on that, ARPA-E may encourage some teams to submit a Full Application while discouraging others. Even if discouraged, an applicant is still allowed to submit a Full Application; however, a discouragement notice is ARPA-E signaling that it lacks programmatic interest in the proposed direction, not necessarily that the idea is scientifically weak. The intent of this two-step process is to save applicants the time and expense of preparing a full proposal that is unlikely to be selected for award negotiations.
In terms of award structure and funding levels, PETRO was offered as a discretionary funding opportunity using cooperative agreements. ARPA-E anticipated making about 8 awards, with an estimated total program funding of roughly $30 million. Individual awards were expected to range from $250,000 (award floor) up to $15 million (award ceiling). A cost sharing or matching requirement applied, meaning awardees would be expected to contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources, consistent with ARPA-E's typical model for accelerating technology development and shared commitment to commercialization or scale-up pathways.
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to a wide range of entity types (for example, universities, national labs where applicable, companies, nonprofits, and consortia), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the FOA text. The activity category is research and development within science and technology, aligning with ARPA-E's mission to fund transformational energy technologies that are too early or too risky for conventional funding sources.
Key dates included an original closing date of May 19, 2011, which was extended or modified to a current closing date of July 18, 2011, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time for Full Applications. ARPA-E strongly encouraged applicants to submit at least 24 hours before the deadline to avoid last-minute submission issues. The agency also set a cutoff for questions: ARPA-E would stop accepting questions 96 hours before the applicable deadline, with answers posted to the ARPA-E FAQ page.
For submission logistics, all full applications had to be submitted through the ARPA-E eXCHANGE system (the agency's online portal). Questions were directed to ARPA-E via the contracting officer email (ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov), and the announcement provided a specific point of contact for access issues: John T. Harris, Contracting Officer, reachable by phone at 202-287-1044 and by email at john.harris@hq.doe.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Plants Engineered To Replace Oil (PETRO) - ARPA-E
What is the PETRO funding opportunity?
PETRO (Plants Engineered To Replace Oil) is an ARPA-E funding opportunity focused on high-risk, high-reward research to engineer plants that capture more energy from sunlight and convert that energy into fuels, with the long-term goal of producing plant-based fuels that can meaningfully displace petroleum.
What is the FOA number for this opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number is DE-FOA-0000470.
What is the main technical objective of PETRO?
The program aims to push beyond conventional bioenergy approaches by (1) increasing the efficiency of photosynthetic energy capture and (2) redirecting more of the captured energy into fuel-relevant molecules.
What type of projects is ARPA-E looking to support under PETRO?
ARPA-E is targeting research and development efforts in science and technology that are transformational and considered too early-stage or too risky for conventional funding sources, specifically in the area of engineering plants for improved energy capture and fuel production.
Is this posting the original FOA or an update?
This posting is a modification to the original FOA.
What changed in the modified FOA?
The key change is that ARPA-E narrowed the "Other Sources of Funding" disclosure requirement in Sections IV.C.1 and VI.B.9. Instead of broadly requiring extensive disclosure, the revised requirement targets the individuals actually involved in the proposed work: Principal Investigators (PIs), Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs), and other Key Participants.
Who must disclose "Other Sources of Funding" under the modification?
The revised disclosure requirement is targeted to PIs, Co-PIs, and other Key Participants involved in the proposed work.
When do the clarified disclosure requirements matter most?
The modification clarifies what must be disclosed by applicants selected to move into award negotiations. This is important because ARPA-E awards are made through a negotiation process typical of cooperative agreements, where the government expects substantial involvement during project execution.
What award instrument does ARPA-E use for PETRO?
PETRO was offered as a discretionary funding opportunity using cooperative agreements.
Does ARPA-E expect substantial involvement after an award is made?
Yes. The FOA notes that cooperative agreements typically involve substantial government involvement during project execution.
How does ARPA-E's down-selection process work for PETRO?
Applicants first submit a Concept Paper. Based on the Concept Paper, ARPA-E may encourage some teams to submit a Full Application while discouraging others.
If ARPA-E discourages my Concept Paper, can I still submit a Full Application?
Yes. Even if discouraged, an applicant is still allowed to submit a Full Application.
What does a discouragement notice mean?
A discouragement notice indicates that ARPA-E lacks programmatic interest in the proposed direction. It is not necessarily a judgment that the idea is scientifically weak.
Why does ARPA-E use a Concept Paper first?
The two-step process is intended to save applicants the time and expense of preparing a full proposal that is unlikely to be selected for award negotiations.
How many awards did ARPA-E anticipate making under PETRO?
ARPA-E anticipated making about 8 awards.
What was the estimated total funding available for PETRO?
The estimated total program funding was roughly $30 million.
What is the expected award size range?
Individual awards were expected to range from $250,000 (award floor) up to $15 million (award ceiling).
Is cost sharing required for PETRO awards?
Yes. A cost sharing (matching) requirement applied, meaning awardees would be expected to contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to a wide range of entity types (including universities, national labs where applicable, companies, nonprofits, and consortia), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the FOA text.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is research and development within science and technology.
What was the original closing date, and what is the updated closing date?
The original closing date was May 19, 2011. The updated/current closing date for Full Applications was July 18, 2011 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
What time zone is the Full Application deadline?
The Full Application deadline is stated as 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
Does ARPA-E recommend submitting before the deadline?
Yes. ARPA-E strongly encouraged applicants to submit at least 24 hours before the deadline to avoid last-minute submission issues.
When does ARPA-E stop accepting questions about the FOA?
ARPA-E would stop accepting questions 96 hours before the applicable deadline.
Where are answers to applicant questions posted?
Answers were posted to the ARPA-E FAQ page.
How must Full Applications be submitted?
All Full Applications had to be submitted through the ARPA-E eXCHANGE system (ARPA-E's online portal).
What is the ARPA-E eXCHANGE system?
It is ARPA-E's online portal used for submitting Full Applications for this opportunity.
How do applicants submit questions to ARPA-E?
Questions were directed to ARPA-E via the contracting officer email: ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov.
Who should be contacted for eXCHANGE access issues?
The announcement listed John T. Harris, Contracting Officer, as the point of contact for access issues.
What are the contact details for the access issues point of contact?
John T. Harris can be reached by phone at 202-287-1044 and by email at john.harris@hq.doe.gov.
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