Research Office

The DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) announced a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs). The competition will be open both to proposals from existing EFRCs seeking renewal of support and to proposals from institutions seeking to establish new EFRCs under the program. Universities, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and private firms are eligible to compete and are encouraged to form multi-disciplinary research teams that may include partnerships with other institutions. Selection will be based on a rigorous peer review process. Research supported by this initiative will provide fundamental understanding to enable future advances in energy production and use. When making selections, DOE will emphasize emerging science priorities that have been highlighted in recent workshops, including quantum materials, catalysis science, synthesis science, instrumentation science, next-generation energy storage, future nuclear energy, and energy-water issues.

Awards are expected to range from $2 million per year to $4 million per year per center for each of four fiscal years. Total funding for the new investment, pending Congressional appropriations, is expected to be up to $99 million per year for the four-year awards.

Proposal Limit: 3 (as the lead organization)

Preproposal Limited Submission Selection Process -  Energy Frontier Research Centers – DE-FOA-0001810

Timeline:

• Letter of Intent due to Research Office:  December 14, 2017 5pm.
• Reviewed by internal selection committee – December 18 – 22, 2017.
• Proposers notified of internal selection on December TBD
• Mandatory pre-applications are due to DOE by January 31, 2018.
• Pre-applications will be evaluated, and applicants with the highest-rated pre-applications will be invited to submit full applications.
• Full applications are due by April 11, 2018.
• Award selection is expected by July 2018.

1. Cover Page with the following information: (1-2 pages)

Grant Competition: DOE Energy Frontier Research Centers

Proposal Title:

Submitting Unit: (Department, School, College, or Center)

Investigators:  Please complete Table 1. Include name(s), rank(s), and affiliations(s) of senior/key personnel, and clearly identify lead PI and co-PI(s)

Table 1: Senior/Key personnel on the application and institutional affiliations

Basic Research Needs Report(s) that will be targeted – refer to this document, pages 17-19

              Basic Research Needs Report

              Grand Challenges addressed by EFRC

              Transformative Opportunities

2. Project Description (3 page limit)

A brief description of the proposed effort written for a review panel composed to mirror the review panel of the agency/program. (See pre-application click on this LINK)

• • A clear and concise statement of the scientific mission of the proposed EFRC and a set of integrated four-year research goals designed to support that mission
  • A description of the research methods and approaches that will be used to achieve the goals of the EFRC
  • An explanation of the importance of the proposed research and its potential scientific impact
  • A discussion of how the proposed research is responsive to the objectives of this FOA
  • A short statement of competitiveness (i.e., what you think will discriminate your proposal from the competition, including anything you have done to pre-position yourself/your team for this funding opportunity)

3. CV and Current and Pending Support (3 pages - lead-PI only) – standard 2-page biosketch and 1 page for current and pending with explanations.  Describe overlap of current grants and proposed EFRC submission. If there is no overlap, this should be stated.  If this is a resubmission, attach reviews from previous submission.

PLEASE COMBINE SECTIONS A-C INTO A SINGLE PDF FILE BEFORE SENDING.

Email to research.development@oregonstate.edu