Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000408
Apply for DE FOA 0000408
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the education energy science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Support of Advanced Coal Research at U.S. Colleges and Universities" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.057 University Coal Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 26, 2010 and posted on Oct 26, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 9, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,125,242.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Support of Advanced Coal Research at U.S. Colleges and Universities" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000408) is a discretionary, grant-based funding program run through the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). It is part of the long-running University Coal Research (UCR) Program, which has been in place since fiscal year 1979. The overall purpose is to fund long-term, high-risk, and scientifically strong fundamental research at U.S. colleges and universities that can advance the underlying science behind coal technologies. In other words, it is aimed less at short-term product development and more at deep research that improves the knowledge base needed for future coal-related energy and environmental technologies.
A central theme of the announcement is improving coal conversion and utilization in ways that are environmentally acceptable. The program specifically emphasizes understanding the chemical and physical processes that occur when coal is converted or used, which can include work that helps clarify reaction pathways, material behavior, emissions formation, pollutant control mechanisms, and other core scientific questions tied to coal use. By focusing on fundamental science, the program supports research that may carry more technical uncertainty but has the potential to yield major breakthroughs or enable entirely new approaches over the long term.
Alongside the research goals, the FOA makes clear that the UCR Program is also designed to strengthen and sustain coal research capacity at universities. That includes maintaining and upgrading research capabilities and facilities, which helps ensure that academic institutions continue to have the equipment, infrastructure, and technical expertise needed to carry out advanced work in this field. This capacity-building objective is framed as something to be achieved at the same time as producing valuable research results, not as a separate or optional benefit.
The third major objective is workforce development. The program explicitly intends to support education and training for the next generation of scientists and engineers by funding research projects that involve students and early-career researchers. In practice, this typically means graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and sometimes undergraduates gaining hands-on research experience in advanced energy science and engineering topics related to coal technologies, thereby building specialized expertise that DOE and the broader energy sector may rely on in the future.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity anticipated making about 7 awards, with an estimated total program funding of $2,125,242. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed is $300,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for universities that may not have discretionary funds available to meet a cost-share obligation. The funding activity categories connected to the opportunity include education, energy, science and technology, and other research and development, reflecting the program's blend of fundamental research and training outcomes.
Eligibility is limited to higher education institutions in the United States, including both public/state-controlled institutions and private institutions of higher education. The CFDA number associated with the program is 81.057 (University Coal Research), which is helpful for institutions tracking federal assistance programs and aligning internal grant reporting.
Key dates show the FOA was posted and created on October 26, 2010, with an original and current closing date of December 9, 2010, and an archive date of March 9, 2011, indicating this specific announcement cycle is no longer open. Additional details and the full announcement were made available through FedConnect (https://www.fedconnect.net). For applicants who had trouble accessing the announcement electronically, the listed point of contact was Nicholas J. Anderson, Contract Specialist at NETL, reachable at 412-386-5266 and nicholas.anderson@netl.doe.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Support of Advanced Coal Research at U.S. Colleges and Universities."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000408.
Which federal agency runs this program?
This is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity through the Office of Fossil Energy, and it is administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
Is this funding a grant or a contract?
It is a discretionary, grant-based funding program.
What program is this opportunity part of?
This announcement is part of DOE's long-running University Coal Research (UCR) Program, which has been in place since fiscal year 1979.
What is the overall purpose of the University Coal Research (UCR) Program in this FOA?
The purpose is to fund long-term, high-risk, and scientifically strong fundamental research at U.S. colleges and universities to advance the underlying science behind coal technologies. The emphasis is on deep research that strengthens the knowledge base for future coal-related energy and environmental technologies rather than short-term product development.
What kinds of research does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes fundamental research to improve coal conversion and utilization in environmentally acceptable ways, with a strong focus on understanding the chemical and physical processes involved when coal is converted or used.
What specific scientific topics or process areas are mentioned as examples of interest?
Examples mentioned include clarifying reaction pathways, studying material behavior, understanding emissions formation, investigating pollutant control mechanisms, and addressing other core scientific questions tied to coal use.
Is the program geared toward short-term commercialization or long-term science?
The stated focus is long-term, fundamental science. It supports research that may have higher technical uncertainty but could yield major breakthroughs or enable new approaches over the long term.
Does the FOA include environmental considerations?
Yes. A central theme is improving coal conversion and utilization in ways that are environmentally acceptable.
Beyond research results, are there other stated objectives?
Yes. In addition to producing valuable research results, the FOA highlights two additional objectives: sustaining coal research capacity at universities (including maintaining and upgrading capabilities and facilities) and workforce development through education and training.
What does "capacity-building" mean in the context of this FOA?
Capacity-building refers to strengthening and sustaining coal research capability at universities, including maintaining and upgrading research capabilities and facilities so institutions retain the equipment, infrastructure, and technical expertise needed for advanced work in this field.
Is capacity-building described as optional?
No. The FOA frames capacity-building as something to be achieved alongside producing valuable research results, not as a separate or optional benefit.
How does the FOA address workforce development?
The FOA explicitly intends to support education and training for the next generation of scientists and engineers by funding research projects that involve students and early-career researchers.
Who typically benefits from the workforce development aspect?
The FOA describes involvement of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and sometimes undergraduates gaining hands-on research experience in advanced energy science and engineering topics related to coal technologies.
How many awards were anticipated under this announcement?
The opportunity anticipated making about 7 awards.
What was the estimated total program funding for this FOA?
The estimated total program funding was $2,125,242.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount listed (award ceiling) is $300,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What funding activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The funding activity categories connected to the opportunity include education, energy, science and technology, and other research and development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to higher education institutions in the United States, including public/state-controlled institutions and private institutions of higher education.
Are non-university organizations eligible to apply under this FOA?
Based on the provided information, eligibility is limited to U.S. higher education institutions (public and private). No other applicant types are listed as eligible in the summary provided.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number associated with the program is 81.057 (University Coal Research).
When was this FOA posted?
The FOA was posted/created on October 26, 2010.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date listed is December 9, 2010.
Is this specific announcement cycle still open?
No. The archive date is March 9, 2011, and the closing date was December 9, 2010, indicating this specific FOA cycle is no longer open.
Where were the full announcement details made available?
Additional details and the full announcement were made available through FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net.
Who was the point of contact for access issues or questions about the announcement?
The listed point of contact was Nicholas J. Anderson, Contract Specialist at NETL.
What contact information was provided for the point of contact?
The phone number provided was 412-386-5266 and the email address was nicholas.anderson@netl.doe.gov.
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