Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000743
Apply for DE FOA 0000743
- The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research, Development and Training in Isotope Production" 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 Aug 24, 2012 and posted on Aug 3, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 5, 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 $2,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 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.
- All types of domestic entities are eligible to apply, except other Federal agencies, 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Energy (DOE), through the Office of Science and specifically the Office of Nuclear Physics, released this funding opportunity to support research, development, and workforce training aimed at improving how the United States produces and supplies enriched stable isotopes and radioactive isotopes. The central focus is on practical, production-oriented innovation: applicants are expected to propose alternative or improved production, processing, purification, and distribution methods that either generate new data, demonstrate feasibility, or advance technology readiness in ways that could strengthen isotope availability. The opportunity is tied to DOE's Isotope Development and Production for Research and Applications Program, and it is framed around national needs for isotopes that underpin work in nuclear medicine, homeland security, physical sciences, biological and geological research, energy technologies, and industrial applications.
A key theme is that DOE is looking for projects that address isotopes that are in short supply or otherwise difficult to produce reliably, and that can realistically lead to better production capability. This can include entirely new production approaches as well as incremental but meaningful improvements to existing methods, such as higher yields, better enrichment efficiency, reduced waste, safer handling, faster chemical separation, improved targetry, more robust purification, or streamlined distribution logistics. In addition to technology development, the FOA explicitly encourages proposals that build human capacity in this specialized field. Training concepts can include hands-on workforce development pipelines, curriculum or apprenticeship-style programs, and other structured approaches that produce personnel who understand the end-to-end isotope lifecycle (production through processing, purification, and delivery), not just the underlying science.
The announcement also clarifies how collaborations with DOE national laboratories are handled. Proposals from DOE laboratories submitted under a companion announcement will be evaluated competitively alongside non-laboratory applicants responding to this FOA. If a non-lab applicant wants to collaborate with one or more DOE labs, each lab must submit its own separate proposal, and both proposals must clearly cross-reference each other and align on scope, schedule, and budget. The lab narrative must spell out exactly what the lab will do, when it will be done, and what it will cost, so reviewers can evaluate the partnership as a coherent set of linked efforts rather than a loosely defined collaboration.
There are two notable topic exclusions designed to avoid overlap with programs run by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). First, despite the recognized national importance of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), applications that are exclusively about new Mo-99 production modes are not allowed under this call because Mo-99 development is being pursued under NNSA-sponsored efforts. However, the FOA explicitly notes that technologies connected to producing and recovering other isotopes that come from uranium fission are still eligible, so the exclusion is narrow and specific to Mo-99-only production modalities. Second, proposals exclusively focused on producing helium-3 (He-3) are also excluded because DOE's He-3 supply is managed under NNSA. The practical takeaway is that applicants should ensure their core technical thrust is not solely Mo-99 production or solely He-3 production if they want to be responsive to this FOA.
In terms of funding and scale, DOE anticipated approximately $2.8 million total available for FY 2013, contingent on appropriations. The agency expected to make at least two awards to start in FY 2013, and indicated that if there were enough high-quality applications, additional projects could be selected to begin in FY 2014, again contingent on FY 2014 appropriations of about $2.8 million, with at least two additional awards possible. Individual award sizes were expected to fall between $250,000 (floor) and $1,500,000 (ceiling). The FOA states there is no cost sharing requirement. While the listing includes an "ExpectedAwards: 50" field, the narrative emphasis is on a smaller number of awards (at least two in FY 2013, with potential additional awards in FY 2014 depending on funding and application quality).
Applications are competed through a peer review process conducted under DOE financial assistance regulations (referenced as 10 CFR Part 605.10 in the announcement), with specific evaluation criteria provided in the full FOA. Program priorities are informed by Nuclear Science Advisory Committee guidance, particularly reports from the NSAC Isotopes Subcommittee that outline compelling research opportunities using isotopes and a long-range plan for meeting national isotope needs. Additional background references are provided to situate this opportunity within broader national planning for nuclear science, isotope supply, and nuclear medicine innovation.
Eligibility is broad for domestic applicants, described as "unrestricted" with some important exclusions. Eligible applicants include most types of U.S.-based entities, but the FOA excludes other federal agencies, Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors, and certain nonprofit 501(c)(4) organizations that have engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995. The funding instrument is a grant, categorized under science and technology and other research and development, with CFDA number 81.049 (Office of Science Financial Assistance Program). Key dates in the posted record show the opportunity was posted August 3, 2012, with a closing date that was extended to October 5, 2012, and an archive date of January 4, 2013. Contact points listed include DOE grants management and the program manager for scientific questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Office of Science, specifically the Office of Nuclear Physics.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to support research, development, and workforce training that improves how the United States produces and supplies enriched stable isotopes and radioactive isotopes, with an emphasis on practical, production-oriented innovation that strengthens isotope availability.
What program is this opportunity associated with?
The funding is tied to DOE's Isotope Development and Production for Research and Applications Program.
What kinds of impacts is DOE looking for from funded projects?
DOE is looking for proposals that advance real-world isotope production capability by generating new data, demonstrating feasibility, or improving technology readiness in ways that could improve the reliability, quantity, or accessibility of isotopes that are difficult to produce or currently in short supply.
What types of technical work are encouraged under this FOA?
Projects may include alternative or improved methods for isotope production, processing, purification, and distribution. The FOA emphasizes innovations that are practical and production-oriented rather than purely theoretical.
Are incremental improvements to existing production methods allowed, or does DOE only want entirely new approaches?
Both are encouraged. The FOA supports entirely new approaches as well as incremental but meaningful improvements to existing methods, as long as they realistically strengthen isotope production capability and availability.
What are examples of the kinds of improvements DOE highlights?
The FOA points to improvements such as higher yields, better enrichment efficiency, reduced waste, safer handling, faster chemical separation, improved targetry, more robust purification, and streamlined distribution logistics.
Does this opportunity support workforce development and training, or only technology R&D?
It supports both. In addition to technology development, the FOA explicitly encourages proposals that build human capacity in isotope production and supply.
What types of training activities does DOE describe as responsive?
Training concepts may include hands-on workforce development pipelines, curriculum-based efforts, apprenticeship-style programs, and other structured approaches that prepare personnel who understand the end-to-end isotope lifecycle (production through processing, purification, and delivery).
What national needs does DOE cite as motivation for this opportunity?
The FOA is framed around national needs for isotopes that support nuclear medicine, homeland security, physical sciences, biological and geological research, energy technologies, and industrial applications.
How does DOE treat proposals that focus on isotopes in short supply?
A key theme is that DOE is seeking projects that address isotopes that are in short supply or difficult to produce reliably, and that can realistically lead to better production capability.
Can applicants collaborate with DOE national laboratories?
Yes, collaboration is possible, but the FOA provides specific rules for how DOE national laboratory participation must be handled for review and award consideration.
If a non-lab applicant wants to work with a DOE national laboratory, can the lab be included as a simple partner on the same application?
No. If a non-lab applicant wants to collaborate with one or more DOE labs, each participating lab must submit its own separate proposal under a companion announcement, and the proposals must clearly cross-reference one another.
What does DOE expect to see in the laboratory proposal when collaborating with a non-lab applicant?
The lab narrative must clearly specify what the lab will do, when it will be done, and what it will cost. The lab and non-lab proposals also need to align on scope, schedule, and budget so reviewers can evaluate the linked efforts as a coherent partnership.
Are proposals from DOE laboratories evaluated differently than proposals from non-laboratory applicants?
DOE laboratory proposals submitted under the companion announcement are evaluated competitively alongside non-laboratory applicants responding to this FOA.
Are there any topic areas that are specifically excluded from this FOA?
Yes. There are two notable exclusions designed to avoid overlap with National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) programs: proposals exclusively about new molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) production modes are not allowed, and proposals exclusively focused on producing helium-3 (He-3) are also excluded.
Why is Mo-99 production excluded, even though it is nationally important?
The FOA states that Mo-99 development is being pursued under NNSA-sponsored efforts, so Mo-99-only production modes are excluded here to avoid duplicative support.
Is all work related to uranium fission products excluded because Mo-99 is excluded?
No. The FOA notes that technologies connected to producing and recovering other isotopes that come from uranium fission are still eligible. The exclusion is narrow and specific to applications exclusively about new Mo-99 production modes.
Why is He-3 production excluded?
The FOA indicates that DOE's helium-3 supply is managed under NNSA, so proposals exclusively focused on producing He-3 are excluded to avoid overlap.
What is the practical way to ensure a proposal is responsive with respect to Mo-99 and He-3?
The FOA's practical takeaway is that the core technical thrust should not be solely Mo-99 production or solely He-3 production.
How much funding does DOE expect to make available?
DOE anticipated approximately $2.8 million total available for FY 2013, contingent on appropriations. The FOA also indicates that additional projects could be selected to begin in FY 2014 if funding (about $2.8 million) and application quality support it.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
The narrative expectation is at least two awards starting in FY 2013, with at least two additional awards possible in FY 2014 if funding and high-quality applications support additional selections.
The listing shows an "ExpectedAwards: 50" field. Does that mean DOE plans to make 50 awards?
Based on the FOA narrative, DOE emphasizes a smaller number of awards (at least two in FY 2013, with potential additional awards in FY 2014). The "ExpectedAwards: 50" field appears inconsistent with the narrative description.
What is the expected award size range for individual projects?
Individual award sizes were expected to range from $250,000 (minimum) to $1,500,000 (maximum).
Is cost sharing required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing requirement.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 81.049 (Office of Science Financial Assistance Program).
How will applications be reviewed?
Applications are competed through a peer review process conducted under DOE financial assistance regulations referenced in the announcement (10 CFR Part 605.10). The specific evaluation criteria are provided in the full FOA.
What informs DOE program priorities for this opportunity?
Program priorities are informed by Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) guidance, particularly reports from the NSAC Isotopes Subcommittee describing compelling isotope-enabled research opportunities and long-range planning for national isotope needs.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad for domestic applicants and is described as "unrestricted," with specific exclusions identified in the FOA.
Which applicants are specifically excluded?
The FOA excludes other federal agencies, Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors, and certain nonprofit 501(c)(4) organizations that have engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The posted record indicates the opportunity was posted on August 3, 2012. The closing date was extended to October 5, 2012. The archive date is January 4, 2013.
Who should applicants contact with questions?
The record lists contact points for DOE grants management and a program manager for scientific questions.
What general fields or categories does this grant fall under?
The grant is categorized under science and technology and other research and development.
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