FY2016 Research Opportunities in Accelerator Stewardship | DE FOA 0001438

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the FY2016 Research Opportunities in Accelerator Stewardship grant (DE-FOA-0001438)?

DE-FOA-0001438 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding opportunity (FY2016) focused on advancing accelerator science and technology. It emphasizes long-term stewardship of accelerator research and development (R&D), with the intent to maintain and build U.S. capability in accelerator innovation while expanding accelerator expertise and training to a broader community.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The program is designed to push accelerator technology forward in ways that benefit many areas beyond high energy physics. It is intended to support accelerator advances that serve a wide range of national needs, including discovery science, medical applications, industrial uses, energy and environmental work, and security-related technologies.

How is this FOA structured?

This funding opportunity is split into two separate tracks. Applicants must choose one track only. The DOE indicates proposals cannot blend topics across tracks because the proposal structure, who is eligible to apply, and the review/judging criteria differ substantially between Track 1 and Track 2.

Do applicants have to choose between Track 1 and Track 2?

Yes. Applicants must select only one track. The FOA explicitly states that proposals cannot mix or blend topics across both tracks.

Why does the FOA prohibit blending topics across the two tracks?

The DOE notes that the required proposal structure, eligibility rules, and how applications are judged differ substantially between Track 1 and Track 2. Because of those differences, the opportunity requires applicants to commit to a single track.

What is Track 1 focused on?

Track 1 (Accelerator Stewardship Topical Areas) focuses on applied R&D tied to well-defined topical areas. It is oriented toward tackling a specific technical challenge, with the aim of producing a prototype or prototype-like outcome.

What kinds of outcomes are expected in Track 1?

Track 1 is described as aiming for a prototype or prototype-like result. In other words, it supports applied development work that is near- to mid-term and tied to a concrete technical challenge.

What is Track 2 focused on?

Track 2 (Long-Term Generic Accelerator R&D) targets longer-term, more generic accelerator research. It is centered on basic research advances intended to broadly impact many accelerator applications, rather than addressing a single narrowly scoped engineering problem.

What kinds of outcomes are expected in Track 2?

Track 2 is positioned as foundational, broadly enabling accelerator R&D. The emphasis is on basic research advances with cross-cutting benefits to many accelerator applications, rather than delivering a single prototype tied to a specific applied challenge.

Who can apply under Track 1?

For Track 1, applications are accepted from responsible domestic organizations that can meet the FOA objectives. However, 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).

Can DOE National Laboratories apply under this FOA?

DOE National Laboratories are excluded from applying under this specific announcement (DE-FOA-0001438) for Track 1 because DOE labs have a separate companion solicitation identified as LAB-16-1438.

Who can apply under Track 2?

Track 2 eligibility is narrower. Only regionally accredited U.S. academic institutions and domestic nonprofit organizations that qualify under IRS section 501(c)(3) may apply.

Are any nonprofit organizations explicitly ineligible?

Yes. The FOA states that 501(c)(4) organizations that have engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible for funding under either track.

Are non-domestic organizations eligible to apply?

The FOA cautions that non-domestic organizations are unlikely to have the breadth of skills, facilities, and resources needed to deliver on the program’s objectives. Based on the provided information, eligibility is framed around domestic organizations (with track-specific requirements), and non-domestic organizations are warned about likely difficulty meeting program needs.

Can an individual apply (as opposed to an organization)?

The FOA cautions that individual applicants are unlikely to have the breadth of skills, facilities, and resources needed to deliver on the program’s objectives. Individuals are not described as outright prohibited by that statement, but they are warned they will need to make a convincing case in the application showing how they will marshal sufficient capability to complete the work.

What types of national needs does the program aim to support?

The FOA describes accelerator technology benefits across discovery science, medical applications, industrial uses, energy and environmental work, and security-related technologies, in addition to impacts beyond high energy physics.

What does "accelerator stewardship" mean in this context?

In this FOA, accelerator stewardship is described as long-term stewardship of accelerator R&D, with an explicit goal of building and maintaining U.S. capability in accelerator innovation and spreading accelerator expertise and training to a broader community of users and developers.

How does this opportunity support workforce development or training?

The FOA explicitly highlights an objective of spreading accelerator expertise and training to a broader community of users and developers, reinforcing U.S. leadership and workforce development in accelerator science and technology.

What is the program’s relationship to high energy physics?

While accelerators are often associated with high energy physics, this FOA is explicitly designed to advance accelerator science and technology in ways that benefit many areas beyond high energy physics.

What is the CFDA number and category for this grant?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 81.049 and is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What type of funding opportunity is this administratively?

It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.

When was this FOA created and what was the original closing date?

The FOA was created on October 13, 2015, with an original closing date of December 21, 2015.

What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount listed?

The listed award ceiling is $4,000,000, indicating DOE anticipated potentially substantial project budgets depending on technical scope and track-specific expectations.

Does the award ceiling mean every award will be $4,000,000?

No. The FOA lists a ceiling of $4,000,000. A ceiling indicates the maximum anticipated award size, not that all awards will be made at that amount.

What is the companion solicitation mentioned for DOE labs?

The FOA notes that DOE National Laboratories have a separate companion solicitation identified as LAB-16-1438.

How do Track 1 and Track 2 differ in evaluation and proposal expectations?

The FOA indicates that the two tracks differ substantially in required proposal structure, applicant eligibility, and how applications are judged. That is why the FOA requires applicants to choose only one track and not blend topics across tracks.

In plain terms, how should an applicant decide between Track 1 and Track 2?

Based on the FOA description: choose Track 1 if the work is applied R&D aimed at solving a specific technical challenge with a prototype or prototype-like deliverable. Choose Track 2 if the work is longer-term, more generic accelerator R&D focused on basic research advances intended to broadly impact many accelerator applications.