FY2016 Research Opportunities in Accelerator Stewardship | DE FOA 0001438

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001438

The FY2016 Research Opportunities in Accelerator Stewardship grant (DE-FOA-0001438) is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science funding opportunity designed to advance accelerator science and technology in ways that benefit many areas beyond high energy physics. The program emphasizes long-term stewardship of accelerator research and development (R&D), with an explicit goal of building and maintaining U.S. capability in accelerator innovation while also spreading accelerator expertise and training to a broader community of users and developers. In practical terms, it is meant to push accelerator technology forward for a wide range of national needs, including discovery science, medical applications, industrial uses, energy and environmental work, and security-related technologies.

A defining feature of this opportunity is that it is split into two separate tracks, and applicants must choose one track only. The DOE is clear that proposals cannot blend topics across tracks because the required proposal structure, who is allowed to apply, and how applications are judged differ substantially between the two. Track 1 focuses on applied R&D tied to well-defined topical areas and is oriented toward tackling a specific technical challenge with the aim of producing a prototype or prototype-like outcome. Track 2 is aimed at longer-term, more generic accelerator R&D, centered on basic research advances that can broadly impact many accelerator applications rather than solving a single narrowly scoped engineering problem.

Eligibility depends strongly on the track. For Track 1 (Accelerator Stewardship Topical Areas), applications are accepted from responsible domestic organizations that can meet the FOA objectives, but U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories are excluded from applying under this particular announcement because DOE labs have a separate companion solicitation (LAB-16-1438). For Track 2 (Long-Term Generic Accelerator R&D), eligibility is narrower: only regionally accredited U.S. academic institutions and domestic nonprofit organizations that qualify under IRS section 501(c)(3) may apply. Across both tracks, certain nonprofits are explicitly barred: 501(c)(4) organizations that have engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible for funding under either track.

The FOA also cautions that non-domestic organizations and individual applicants are unlikely to have the breadth of skills, facilities, and resources needed to deliver on the program’s objectives. Individuals are not outright prohibited by that statement, but they are warned that they will need to make a convincing case in their application for how they will marshal sufficient capability to successfully complete the work. Overall, the opportunity is structured to support either near- to mid-term applied development leading to tangible prototype outcomes (Track 1) or foundational, broadly enabling accelerator research with cross-cutting benefits (Track 2), while reinforcing U.S. leadership and workforce development in accelerator science and technology.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category under CFDA 81.049. It was created on October 13, 2015, with an original closing date of December 21, 2015. The listed award ceiling is $4,000,000, indicating DOE anticipated funding projects that could be substantial in scale, depending on technical scope and track-specific expectations.

• The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2016 Research Opportunities in Accelerator Stewardship" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-10-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2015-12-21. (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 $4,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for DE FOA 0001438

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: