Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001526
Apply for DE FOA 0001526
- The DOE-GFO in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0001526: Biofuels & Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 12, 2016 and posted on Feb 12, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 04, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100.00 in funding.
- 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:
DE-FOA-0001526 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) focused on mapping out real, existing U.S. pilot and process-development scale facilities that can validate (or "verify") integrated biomass-to-fuels and biomass-to-bioproducts conversion processes. The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), within DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), is looking for facilities that can run more than bench-scale testing and instead operate multiple connected unit operations as a complete process train. The minimum scale DOE is interested in is about 0.5 tons of dry biomass input per day or larger, which signals an emphasis on pilot-scale data that is credible for techno-economic analysis, scale-up decisions, and independent comparison of pathway performance.
The motivation behind the RFI is both strategic and practical. BETO has a stated goal (referenced in the notice as a 2017 target) to verify at least one conversion pathway to a hydrocarbon "drop-in" biofuel at a modeled cost of about $3 per gallon gasoline equivalent (GGE). Reaching that kind of cost target requires confidence in real process yields, energy balances, catalyst/biological performance, separations efficiency, and reliability across an integrated system rather than isolated lab experiments. Historically, BETO has relied heavily on national laboratory assets, including the Integrated Biorefinery Facility (IBRF) and the Thermochemical User Facility (TCUF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to generate the kind of pilot-scale performance data used in DOE design cases and State of Technology assessments. This RFI is essentially DOE asking, "What other facilities exist in the U.S. that can do comparable or complementary pilot verification work, and what capabilities do they offer that we do not already have?"
Another driver is Congressional direction. The Omnibus Appropriations Bill of 2016 directed DOE to assemble a comprehensive list of existing demonstration and pilot-scale multi-user facilities for bio-based products, chemicals, and intermediates, and to report that inventory to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees within a tight timeframe. This RFI supports that requirement by collecting structured input from facility owners and stakeholders across industry, universities, national labs, and other organizations. The inventory is meant to cover facilities capable of supporting biofuels as well as bio-based chemicals and intermediates, reflecting BETO's broader deployment strategy where co-products and bioproduct revenue can improve the overall economics of biofuel production.
In terms of what DOE wants to catalog, the RFI targets pilot or process development scale, multi-user (or potentially multi-user) sites that can support verification of biomass conversion pathways producing fuels, bioproducts, or intermediates. The notice explicitly mentions intermediates and products such as synthesis gas (syngas), cellulosic sugars, bio-oil, hydrogen, biogas, and methane. That list spans thermochemical and biochemical routes and implies interest in facilities that can handle feedstock preparation and pretreatment, conversion reactors (for example gasifiers, pyrolyzers, fermenters, catalytic upgrading units), separations and purification, and potentially finishing/upgrading steps to final fuels or chemical products. The key point is integration: DOE is looking for places that can demonstrate multiple unit operations working together at meaningful throughput, not one-off equipment demonstrations.
It is also important to understand what this opportunity is not. This RFI is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), and DOE explicitly states it is not accepting applications, proposals, or requests for funding under this notice. The "award" fields in the listing effectively reflect that reality (expected awards are shown as zero, and there is no active grant competition associated with the RFI). DOE also emphasizes that responding does not give any competitive advantage or disadvantage should DOE later decide to issue a FOA related to this topic. Likewise, DOE is not committing to any follow-on action; it may issue a future FOA informed by the responses, or it may choose not to. Any future funding, if it occurs, would depend on Congressional appropriations and program direction.
From a respondent standpoint, DOE frames submissions as information-only and generally non-attributable for planning and strategy development. There is no reimbursement for the cost of preparing or submitting an RFI response, DOE does not promise to acknowledge receipt, and it does not promise individualized feedback. In other words, the value to respondents is indirect: contributing to a national capability inventory, increasing visibility of their facility's capabilities to DOE program planners, and helping DOE identify gaps where new infrastructure or expanded access might be needed.
Key administrative details from the posting include that it was issued by DOE-GFO under the energy funding activity category, with CFDA number 81.087, and eligibility described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications in the full text). The RFI opened and closed in early 2016 (posted February 12, 2016, with a response deadline of March 4, 2016). Overall, the RFI functions as a market and capability survey aimed at strengthening DOE's understanding of U.S. pilot-scale infrastructure for biofuels and bioproducts process verification at and above the 0.5 dry ton per day scale.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DOE RFI DE-FOA-0001526
What is DE-FOA-0001526?
DE-FOA-0001526 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) focused on identifying real, existing U.S. pilot and process-development scale facilities that can validate (or "verify") integrated biomass-to-fuels and biomass-to-bioproducts conversion processes.
Is this a funding opportunity or grant program?
No. This notice is an RFI, not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). DOE explicitly states it is not accepting applications, proposals, or requests for funding under this notice, and there is no active grant competition associated with it.
What is DOE trying to learn or accomplish with this RFI?
DOE is surveying and mapping U.S. pilot and process-development scale capabilities to understand what facilities exist beyond DOE's historic national laboratory assets, what integrated verification work they can perform, and what capabilities they offer that may be comparable or complementary.
Which DOE office is leading this RFI?
The RFI is associated with DOE's Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
What kinds of facilities is DOE looking for?
DOE is looking for pilot or process-development scale facilities (multi-user or potentially multi-user) that can support verification of integrated biomass conversion pathways that produce fuels, bioproducts, or intermediates. A key feature is the ability to operate multiple connected unit operations as a complete process train.
What does DOE mean by "integrated" verification?
DOE is emphasizing systems where multiple unit operations run together in sequence (a full process train), rather than isolated bench or lab experiments. The intent is to produce credible pilot-scale performance data across the integrated system.
What is the minimum scale of operation DOE is interested in?
The minimum scale highlighted is about 0.5 tons of dry biomass input per day or larger, indicating interest in pilot-scale throughput rather than bench-scale testing.
Why is the minimum scale important?
DOE is seeking pilot-scale data that is credible for techno-economic analysis, scale-up decisions, and independent comparison of pathway performance. Integrated operation at meaningful throughput can provide more realistic yields, energy balances, and reliability information than lab-scale work.
What products or intermediates are in scope for this RFI?
The notice explicitly mentions intermediates and products such as synthesis gas (syngas), cellulosic sugars, bio-oil, hydrogen, biogas, and methane. The scope also covers final fuels and bioproducts where integrated conversion processes are being verified.
Does the RFI cover both thermochemical and biochemical pathways?
Yes. The listed intermediates and example process elements imply interest across thermochemical and biochemical routes, including conversion and upgrading steps that can be run as part of an integrated process train.
What types of unit operations or capabilities appear relevant?
Based on the notice, relevant capabilities can include feedstock preparation and pretreatment, conversion reactors (for example gasifiers, pyrolyzers, fermenters, catalytic upgrading units), separations and purification, and potentially finishing or upgrading steps to final fuels or chemical products, as long as multiple operations can be integrated.
How does this relate to DOE's biofuel cost targets?
BETO references a goal (noted as a 2017 target in the notice) to verify at least one conversion pathway to a hydrocarbon "drop-in" biofuel at a modeled cost of about $3 per gallon gasoline equivalent (GGE). Achieving that modeled cost requires confidence in integrated process performance, not just isolated lab results.
Why does DOE want verification data from integrated pilot facilities?
DOE is looking for confidence in real process yields, energy balances, catalyst or biological performance, separations efficiency, and reliability across an integrated system. This type of data supports DOE design cases and State of Technology assessments and improves credibility for scale-up decisions.
What existing DOE or national lab facilities are referenced as examples of pilot-scale assets?
The notice references national laboratory assets DOE has historically relied on, including the Integrated Biorefinery Facility (IBRF) and the Thermochemical User Facility (TCUF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Is DOE only looking for national labs?
No. The RFI is intended to collect structured input from facility owners and stakeholders across industry, universities, national laboratories, and other organizations.
What does "multi-user" or "potentially multi-user" mean in this context?
The RFI is focused on facilities that can support verification work for more than a single internal program. The emphasis on multi-user (or potentially multi-user) suggests DOE is cataloging sites that can provide access or services to multiple external users or partners, consistent with broader national capability mapping.
Does responding to the RFI provide any advantage in a future DOE competition?
No. DOE states that responding does not give any competitive advantage or disadvantage if DOE later issues a related FOA.
Will DOE definitely issue a follow-on FOA based on this RFI?
No. DOE is not committing to any follow-on action. It may issue a future FOA informed by responses, or it may choose not to. Any future funding would depend on Congressional appropriations and program direction.
What prompted DOE to issue this RFI in 2016?
In addition to program strategy needs, the Omnibus Appropriations Bill of 2016 directed DOE to assemble a comprehensive list of existing demonstration and pilot-scale multi-user facilities for bio-based products, chemicals, and intermediates, and to report that inventory to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on a tight timeline. This RFI supports that requirement.
Does the inventory include bioproducts and chemical intermediates, or only biofuels?
It includes both. The inventory is intended to cover facilities capable of supporting biofuels as well as bio-based chemicals and intermediates, reflecting BETO's broader strategy where co-products and bioproduct revenue can improve overall biofuel economics.
Is DOE accepting proposals, project narratives, or budgets under this notice?
No. DOE states it is not accepting applications, proposals, or requests for funding under this RFI.
Is there any reimbursement for the cost of preparing an RFI response?
No. DOE indicates there is no reimbursement for the cost of preparing or submitting responses.
Will DOE confirm receipt or provide individualized feedback on responses?
DOE does not promise to acknowledge receipt of submissions and does not promise individualized feedback.
How will DOE use the information provided in responses?
DOE frames submissions as information-only and generally non-attributable for planning and strategy development, including building an inventory of U.S. pilot-scale infrastructure and identifying capability gaps.
Is eligibility restricted to certain entity types?
The posting describes eligibility as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the full text.
What is the CFDA number and funding activity category listed for this notice?
The notice lists CFDA number 81.087 and is under the energy funding activity category, issued by DOE-GFO.
When was the RFI open for responses?
The RFI was posted on February 12, 2016, and had a response deadline of March 4, 2016.
What is the practical value to an organization of responding to this RFI?
The value is indirect: contributing to a national capability inventory, increasing visibility of a facility's capabilities to DOE program planners, and helping DOE identify gaps where new infrastructure or expanded access might be needed.
Does the notice indicate any expected awards?
No. The listing reflects that expected awards are zero, consistent with the RFI being an information-gathering notice rather than a funding opportunity.
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