(CLOSED) DE-FOA-0003258: DOE SC - Energy Frontier Research Centers

Sponsor Name: 
US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences
Sponsor/Solicitation URL: 
https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/351908
Description of the Award: 

The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) announces a re-competition of the Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) program and encourages both new and renewal applications. Applications from multi-disciplinary teams will be required to propose discovery science and use-inspired basic research that addresses priority research directions and opportunities identified by a series of BES workshop and roundtable reports. The focus of the EFRC program is on fundamental scientific research, therefore applications to this FOA must not propose applied research and technology development activities. BES is soliciting renewal applications for basic science in three topical areas: 1) Transformative manufacturing, 2) Quantum information science (QIS), and 3) Environmental management. BES is soliciting new applications for basic science in two topical areas: 1) Co-design of materials and processes to revolutionize microelectronics and/or QIS fabrication, and 2) Environmental management.

This FOA solicits new and renewal applications for EFRCs that will perform fundamental discovery science while also addressing the Priority Research Directions (PRDs) and Priority Research Opportunities (PROs) identified in one or more of the following workshop and roundtable reports (see full FOA for links to reports):

Science Focus Areas
This FOA solicits new and renewal applications for EFRCs that will perform fundamental discovery science while also addressing the Priority Research Directions (PRDs) and Priority Research Opportunities (PROs) identified in one or more of the workshop and roundtable reports described below.

RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
This FOA solicits renewal applications for EFRCs that will perform basic science to address the PRDs/PROs identified in one or more of the following reports:

NEW APPLICATIONS
This FOA solicits new applications for EFRCs that will perform basic science to address the following two topics:

Applications submitted in response to this FOA must propose fundamental scientific research within the BES mission-space that addresses PRDs/PROs identified in this FOA in one or more of the topics listed above. Any new application on microelectronics or QIS must primarily address PRD 5 of the Transformative Manufacturing BRN Report.

The focus of the EFRC program is on fundamental scientific research, therefore applications to this FOA must not propose applied research and technology development activities. In addition, the purpose of the EFRC program does not include construction (including new buildings or additions to existing buildings), and costs for such activities will not be funded by awards resulting from this FOA.

Limit (Number of applicants permitted per institution): 
2
Sponsor LOI Deadline: 
Feb 28, 2024
Sponsor Final Deadline: 
May 08, 2024
OSVPR Application or NOI Instructions: 

Interested applicants should upload the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: Last name_EFRC_2024) no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:

Cover Page to include

  • Title of Pre-application (EFRC Name)
  • Principal Investigator Name (EFRC Director), Job Title
  • Lead Institution
  • PI Phone Number, PI Email Address
  • FOA Number: Include the FOA Number indicated on the cover of this FOA
  • New/Renewal Preapplication9
  • List of Partner Institutions [if applicable]
  • Include a list or table of all senior/key personnel at the applicant and team member institutions.
  • The science focus area, specified in Section I of the FOA, primarily addressed by the proposed work

Project Description - 5-page limit Figures and references, if included, must fit within the five-page limit

  • This information must be followed by a clear and concise description of the mission, scientific goals, research approaches, and potential scientific impact of the proposed EFRC, including at least the following elements:
    • A clear and concise statement of the scientific mission of the proposed EFRC;
    • An explicit set of four-year research goals designed to support that mission;
    • At least one scientific hypothesis whose investigation motivates the proposed work;
    • A description of the research methods and approaches that will be used to achieve the goals of the EFRC;
    • An explanation of the potential scientific impact of the proposed research and the need for an integrated, multi-disciplinary research team; and
    • A discussion of how the proposed research is responsive to the objectives of this FOA. Specifically, to be responsive the research must address the priority research directions or opportunities identified in one or more of the reports listed in Section I of this FOA.
  • Biosketch of PI (3 page limit)

Formatting Guidelines:

  • Font/size: No smaller than 11 pt.
  • Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
  • Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)
To be considered as a Penn State institutional nominee, please submit a notice of intent by the date provided directly below.
This limited submission is in downselect: 
Penn State may only submit a specific number of proposals to this funding opportunity. The number of NOIs received require that an internal competition take place, thus, a downselect process has commenced. No Penn State researchers may apply to this opportunity outside of this downselect process. To apply for this limited submission, please use this link:
OSVPR Downselect Deadline: 
Monday, February 5, 2024 - 4:00pm
For help or questions: 

Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.

Notes: 
Susan Trolier-McKinstry (E&MS); Mauricio Terrones (ECoS)