Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000096
Apply for DE FOA 0000096
- The Golden Field Office in the energy recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Act Demonstration of Integrated Biorefinery Operations" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087 Renewable Energy Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 11, 2009 and posted on May 6, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2009 In order for the Biomass Program to meet programmatic requirements.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $480,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Recovery Act Demonstration of Integrated Biorefinery Operations opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000096) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding announcement issued through DOE's Golden Field Office to accelerate the scale-up and real-world demonstration of integrated biorefinery projects. It was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which means the program was explicitly tied to near-term economic stimulus goals such as deploying "shovel-ready" projects quickly, creating jobs, and following additional federal reporting and accountability rules. Applicants were expected to show they understood and would comply with Recovery Act intentions and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines referenced through Recovery.gov and related federal guidance.
At its core, the FOA aimed to select biorefinery projects that were beyond early research and had solid technical and economic performance data proving they were ready for the next level of scale-up. DOE was not looking for purely conceptual proposals; it wanted integrated biorefinery demonstrations that could credibly validate performance at larger scale, reduce risk for future commercial deployment, and help speed the adoption of advanced biomass-based fuels and products. While the FOA encouraged "novel or breakthrough technologies," the emphasis was on projects that could demonstrate readiness supported by data, not just promising theory.
The FOA defines an "integrated biorefinery" as a facility using an acceptable biomass feedstock (as defined in the FOA itself) to produce a primary product that is either a biofuel or a bioproduct (also defined in the FOA). These facilities can also produce co-products such as additional fuels, chemicals or materials, and heat and power. Depending on the topic area, the primary output could be a liquid transportation fuel that helps meet the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard requirements (including advanced or renewable biofuels), or it could be a bioproduct intended to substitute for petroleum-based feedstocks and petroleum-derived products. In other words, DOE was supporting integrated systems that convert biomass into market-relevant fuels and/or products, with the broader goal of displacing petroleum and strengthening domestic renewable energy industries.
Collaboration was explicitly encouraged. DOE highlighted interest in applications that included appropriate partnerships across industry, universities, and DOE National Laboratories, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), or other government-supported facilities. This signals that DOE expected strong technical depth and credible execution capacity, and it also reflects the typical DOE model where national lab capabilities and industry deployment experience can complement each other in demonstration-scale projects.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the award mechanism was a cooperative agreement, which generally implies more substantial federal involvement and oversight than a standard grant. The opportunity anticipated up to about 15 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $480,000,000 and an award ceiling of $50,000,000 per project (with an award floor listed as $0). Cost sharing was required, so applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall project budget. The program was listed under CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). Eligibility was described as "unrestricted" (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications contained in the FOA text, which typically means applicants still needed to comply with any specific conditions stated in the full announcement.
The application process was tightly tied to FedConnect, and submission through FedConnect was mandatory to be considered for an award. Applicants had to register in FedConnect and also maintain a valid federal Central Contractor Registration (CCR) account (the predecessor to what is now SAM.gov). The registration requirements included having a DUNS number, an active CCR registration, and in some cases access to the CCR MPIN for initial organization setup in FedConnect. Because these steps could take time, DOE warned applicants to allow at least 21 days if they were not already registered. Applicants were also responsible for verifying successful transmission of their application before the deadline, which is a common federal requirement meant to prevent last-minute submission issues from becoming grounds for late acceptance.
The FOA was posted May 6, 2009, created June 11, 2009, and had an application closing date of June 30, 2009 (with notes indicating the date supported Biomass Program scheduling requirements). Questions about the FOA content had to be submitted through the FedConnect portal, and DOE indicated it would generally respond within about three business days unless the answer was already posted. Technical and submission support was available through FedConnect support channels and DOE contacts, including the IIPS HelpDesk for access issues and a named DOE contact (Hank Eggink) for opportunity-related communication.
In practical terms, this funding opportunity was designed to push biomass conversion technologies from promising pilot-stage results into integrated, demonstration-scale facilities that could prove out performance, economics, and operability under realistic conditions. Because it was Recovery Act-funded, it also carried the additional expectation that projects would move quickly, be ready to build and operate, and meet heightened transparency and compliance requirements associated with stimulus funding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Recovery Act Demonstration of Integrated Biorefinery Operations opportunity?
This funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000096) was a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announcement issued through DOE's Golden Field Office to accelerate the scale-up and real-world demonstration of integrated biorefinery projects.
Which DOE office issued this FOA?
The FOA was issued through DOE's Golden Field Office.
What was the main purpose of this FOA?
The FOA aimed to fund integrated biorefinery demonstration projects that were beyond early research and ready for the next level of scale-up, using strong technical and economic performance data to support readiness. The goal was to validate performance at larger scale, reduce risk for future commercial deployment, and speed adoption of advanced biomass-based fuels and products.
How did Recovery Act funding affect expectations for projects?
Because this FOA was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, it was explicitly tied to near-term economic stimulus objectives. That included deploying "shovel-ready" projects quickly, creating jobs, and complying with additional federal reporting and accountability requirements associated with Recovery Act funding.
What types of projects were not the focus of this FOA?
DOE was not looking for purely conceptual proposals. The emphasis was on integrated biorefinery demonstrations with credible readiness supported by data, rather than promising theory alone.
What does DOE mean by an "integrated biorefinery" in this FOA?
An integrated biorefinery was defined as a facility that uses an acceptable biomass feedstock (as defined in the FOA) to produce a primary product that is either a biofuel or a bioproduct (also defined in the FOA). The facility may also produce co-products such as additional fuels, chemicals or materials, and heat and power.
What could the primary product be under this FOA?
Depending on the topic area, the primary product could be a liquid transportation fuel that helps meet Renewable Fuel Standard requirements under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (including advanced or renewable biofuels), or a bioproduct intended to substitute for petroleum-based feedstocks and petroleum-derived products.
Were co-products allowed or encouraged?
Yes. The FOA described integrated biorefineries as facilities that can produce co-products such as additional fuels, chemicals or materials, and heat and power, alongside the primary biofuel or bioproduct.
Did DOE encourage partnerships or collaboration?
Yes. DOE explicitly encouraged applications that included appropriate partnerships across industry, universities, and DOE National Laboratories, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), or other government-supported facilities.
What was the award instrument for this opportunity?
The award mechanism was a cooperative agreement, which generally implies more substantial federal involvement and oversight than a standard grant.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated up to about 15 awards.
What was the estimated total funding amount for the FOA?
The estimated total funding level was $480,000,000.
What was the maximum award amount per project?
The award ceiling was $50,000,000 per project.
What was the minimum award amount per project?
The FOA listed an award floor of $0.
Was cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall project budget.
What CFDA number was associated with this program?
The program was listed under CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as "unrestricted" (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications or conditions contained in the FOA text.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Submission through FedConnect was mandatory to be considered for an award.
What registrations were required to apply?
Applicants were required to register in FedConnect and maintain a valid Central Contractor Registration (CCR) account (a predecessor to SAM.gov). Registration requirements included having a DUNS number, an active CCR registration, and in some cases access to the CCR MPIN for initial organization setup in FedConnect.
How much time did DOE advise for completing registrations?
DOE warned applicants to allow at least 21 days if they were not already registered.
What responsibility did applicants have regarding submission confirmation?
Applicants were responsible for verifying successful transmission of their application before the deadline.
When was the FOA posted and when did it close?
The FOA was posted on May 6, 2009, created on June 11, 2009, and had an application closing date of June 30, 2009.
How were questions about FOA content supposed to be submitted?
Questions about FOA content had to be submitted through the FedConnect portal.
How quickly did DOE expect to respond to questions?
DOE indicated it would generally respond within about three business days, unless the answer was already posted.
Where could applicants get technical or submission support?
Technical and submission support was available through FedConnect support channels and DOE contacts, including the IIPS HelpDesk for access issues.
Was there a named DOE contact for the opportunity?
Yes. The FOA referenced a named DOE contact: Hank Eggink.
What did "shovel-ready" imply in the context of this FOA?
Because this was a Recovery Act-funded program, the FOA emphasized near-term deployment and speed. "Shovel-ready" implied projects were expected to be ready to move quickly into building and operating, consistent with stimulus goals such as job creation and rapid execution.
What kinds of compliance expectations were highlighted due to the Recovery Act?
Applicants were expected to show that they understood and would comply with Recovery Act intentions and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines referenced through Recovery.gov and related federal guidance, along with heightened reporting and accountability expectations.
What was the overall practical intent of the FOA for biorefinery development?
In practical terms, the FOA was designed to push biomass conversion technologies from promising pilot-stage results into integrated, demonstration-scale facilities that could prove performance, economics, and operability under realistic conditions, while meeting Recovery Act expectations for speed, transparency, and compliance.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Energy Recovery Act
Next opportunity: Family Connection Discretionary Grants
Previous opportunity: Riparian and Upland Restoration
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 0000096
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0000096) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Recovery Act National Laboratory Call for FoundationalPhotovoltaics and Concentrating Solar Power Research andDevelopment Apply for DE FOA 0000087 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000087 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $4,500,000 |
| Recovery Act High Penetration Solar Deployment Apply for DE FOA 0000085 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000085 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Recovery Act Solar Market Transformation Apply for DE FOA 0000078 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000078 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
| Recovery Act Wind Energy Consortia between Institutions of Higher Learning and Industry Apply for DE FOA 0000090 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000090 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $12,000,000 |
| Recovery Act Advanced Energy Efficient Building Technologies Apply for DE FOA 0000115 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000115 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Recovery Act Community Renewable Energy Deployment Apply for DE FOA 0000122 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000122 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $21,450,000 |
| Recovery Act Development of Algal/Advanced BiofuelsConsortia Apply for DE FOA 0000123 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000123 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $50,000,000 |
| Recovery Act Geothermal TechnologiesProgram Apply for DE FOA 0000109 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000109 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Recovery Act Geothermal Technologies Program GroundSource Heat Pumps Apply for DE FOA 0000116 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000116 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Recovery Act Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
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 0000096", 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.