The Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) of the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its interest in receiving grant applications for collaborative partnerships between academic or industrial researchers from jurisdictions eligible for the DOE Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program and researchers at DOE's National Laboratories, facilities, centers, information repository, or Energy Information Administration (hereafter referred to as the National Laboratories). The purpose of DOE/EPSCoR program is to enhance the capabilities of academic and industrial institutions in designated EPSCoR jurisdictions to conduct nationally competitive, energy-related research. The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement is to call for applications that advance fundamental energy oriented scientific and engineering research partnerships with the National Laboratories. Participation by students and/or postdoctoral fellows is required. Junior faculty from EPSCoR jurisdictions are encouraged to apply.

PREAPPLICATION DUE DATE: June 5, 2009, 8:00 pm (REQUIRED)

To minimize undue effort on the part of applicants and reviewers, interested parties are required to submit preapplications. Preapplications shall reference Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-PS02-09ER09-11 and be submitted for receipt by DOE by 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, June 5, 2009 (preapplications received after this date will not be considered).

Preapplications must be submitted electronically to epscor@science.doe.gov (ATTENTION: DE-PS02-09ER09-11). No Fax or mail submission of preapplications will be considered. After receiving notification from DOE concerning successful preapplications, applicants may prepare formal applications. Only those preapplicants that receive notification from DOE encouraging a formal application may submit full applications. No other formal applications will be considered.

The preapplications will be evaluated as to the suitability of research and its scope to the missions of the Department of Energy. This evaluation may include; 1) a review by the DOE EPSCoR program manager; 2) a review by National Laboratory management to confirm their interest in collaborating in the proposed research; and 3) a review by the topically relevant DOE program manager or managers. DOE program managers will be asked to rank EPSCoR preapplications by program priority. Again, as a measure of relevance to DOE missions and to assist in the prioritization, the Program Office or Offices will be asked if they are willing to contribute (e.g. 10%) to the support for the proposed effort. Based on the assessment of any or all of the elements of this review, DOE EPSCoR will recommend submission of formal applications to the Department.

A response to the preapplications encouraging or discouraging formal applications will be communicated to the applicants by August 7, 2009. Applicants who have not received a response regarding the status of their preapplication by this date are responsible for contacting the program to confirm this status.

The preapplication should include cover-page information and a brief (3-5 pages) project description. The preapplication must include:

a. Cover-page information:

(1) A statement that the document is a preapplication.
(2) Principal Investigator (PI) - Name and address of PI's organization, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address.
(3) Title of project.
(4) Funding Opportunity Announcement number (e.g. 09-11), if applicable.
(5) Name and address (telephone, email and fax) of DOE program office and its associated program manager (please note this is not the same as the DOE EPSCoR program manager). Refer to DOE program websites listed above.

b. Project description (3-5 pages) may include the following, as appropriate:

(1) A description of the proposed research, proposed methods of accomplishment. This must include a clear description of the nature of the proposed State/Lab partnership.
(2) A statement of its proposed project's importance and relevance to the Department's mission and agency's programmatic needs. This should include a clear explanation of the value of the work to both the state and the DOE National Laboratory partners. Relevance may not be the same for each partner, necessarily.
(3) An explanation of proposed project's methodology and equipment needs.
(4) Anticipated project results.
(5) A project schedule with estimated completion date.
(6) Total project cost information.

(1) A letter from the appropriate state EPSCoR coordinator endorsing the preapplication.
(2) A 'Letter of Commitment' from the DOE National Laboratory researcher confirming willingness to collaborate on the project.

Formal applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement must be received by November 9, 2009, 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, to permit timely consideration of awards in Fiscal Year 2010. You are encouraged to transmit your application well before the deadline. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE REVIEWED OR CONSIDERED FOR AWARD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Tim Fitzsimmons, telephone: (301) 903- 9830, E-mail: tim.fitzsimmons@science.doe.gov , Materials Sciences and Engineering Division, SC-22.21, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy, Germantown Building, E-422, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20585-1290.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

To maximize the contribution of DOE's unique strengths to the EPSCoR mission, applicants to this funding opportunity announcement must propose scientific collaborations that partner academic or industrial researchers in EPSCoR jurisdictions and the researchers at the National Laboratories. The collaborative research must address scientific areas of current relevance to the missions of DOE.

For academic applicants undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral fellows must be active members of the research team and junior faculty are encouraged to apply. It is encouraged that members of the research team spend a summer or significant time during the academic year at a National Laboratory. Industrial applicants from EPSCoR jurisdictions are welcome to apply but must include academic institutions from EPSCoR jurisdictions as part of their team. National Laboratory Scientists are also encouraged to visit their EPSCoR collaborator to facilitate the exchange of scientific ideas.

Topical research areas must be identified in the application with respect to the relevant DOE Program Office or Offices (listed below) and the Office's specific program goals. The relevant program offices(s) (and associated program manager(s)) must be identified in both the preapplication and also in the application narrative in order for it to be considered for EPSCoR support. As a measure of relevance to DOE missions, the Program Office or Offices will be requested to contribute (e.g. 10%) to the support for the proposed effort. If the relevant DOE Program Office is unknown, please contact the DOE EPSCoR office for assistance well in advance of the preapplicaiton deadline. Applications may address any of the entire range of energy related disciplines supported by DOE. Additional information on the DOE Research Programs is available at the website addresses below:

DOE Research Programs General Information

The DOE/EPSCoR State/National Laboratory Partnership Awards are open to scientific research spanning the entire range of energy-related disciplines supported by DOE. Additional information on the DOE Research Programs is available at the following website addresses:

Department of Energy (General Information):
http://www.energy.gov/

Office of Science:
http://www.science.doe.gov/

Basic Energy Sciences:
http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/bes.html

Biological and Environmental Research:
http://www.sc.doe.gov/ober/ober_top.html

Advanced Scientific Computing Research:
http://www.sc.doe.gov/ascr/index.html

Fusion Energy Sciences:
http://www.science.doe.gov/ofes/

High Energy Physics:
http://www.science.doe.gov/hep/index.shtml

Nuclear Physics:
http://www.sc.doe.gov/np/

Office of Scientific and Technical Information:
http://www.osti.gov/

Energy Information Administration:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/

National Nuclear Security Administration:
http://www.nnsa.doe.gov/

Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability:
http://www.oe.energy.gov/

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:
http://www.eere.doe.gov

Office of Fossil Energy:
http://www.fe.doe.gov

Office of Environmental Management:
http://www.em.doe.gov

Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management:
http://www.rw.doe.gov

Office of Nuclear Energy:
http://www.ne.doe.gov

It is anticipated that approximately $1,700,000 will be available in Fiscal Year 2010, for research that encourages and facilitates scientific collaborations or partnerships between researchers from EPSCoR jurisdictions and researchers at the National Laboratories. Multiple-year funding of grant awards is expected subject to satisfactory progress of the research, timely and satisfactory progress reporting, availability of funds, and evidence of substantial interactions between the DOE EPSCoR researchers and the DOE National Laboratory partner. Awards are expected to range up to a maximum of $200,000 annually with terms of up to three years. The number of awards and range of funding will depend on the number of applications received and selected for award. All DOE/EPSCOR award funds will be provided to the recipient organization within the EPSCoR jurisdictions for the purpose of advancing research competitiveness in the EPSCoR jurisdictions and may include support for travel and lodging, faculty or student stipends, materials, services, and equipment. DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of an application. DOE reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications submitted in response to this Announcement.

EPSCoR State/National Laboratory Partnership Application Guidelines

This section contains specific guidance for the preparation of the DOE/EPSCoR State/National Laboratory Partnership application. Only one application per individual is permitted, and individuals currently receiving DOE EPSCoR or DOE funds are not eligible to apply. The preapplications will be evaluated relative to the scope and research needs of the Department of Energy.

Note that: 1) Only one application per individual is permitted, and individuals receiving DOE EPSCoR or DOE funds as of October 31, 2009 are not eligible to apply; 2) Confidential or proprietary information is discouraged, but any such information must be clearly marked as described in Part VIII D., "Proprietary Application Information," of this Funding Opportunity Announcement; 3) Attachments or enclosures submitted with the preapplication will not be reviewed; 4) DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of applications if an award is not made; and, 5) Research involving human subjects or animals must adhere to the guidance detailed in the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program, Grant Application Guide section on "Human Subjects and Animal Welfare" which may be found at: http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/Welfare.html.

Confidential or proprietary information is discouraged, but any such information must be clearly marked. Attachments or enclosures submitted with the preapplication will not be reviewed. Research involving human subjects or animals must adhere to the guidance detailed in Section 8. "Human Subjects and Animal Welfare". http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/Welfare.html

The DOE EPSCoR State/National Laboratory partnership preapplications will be grouped according to programmatic areas of interest to the DOE and will be reviewed by DOE laboratory management to determine the priority of the proposed research. The preapplications will also be reviewed by the DOE relevant programmatic research area program manager. DOE program managers will be asked to rank EPSCoR preapplications by program priority. DOE program managers will be asked for their willingness to provide co-funding if a project is selected for approval. Based on this review, DOE/EPSCoR management will recommend submission of formal applications to the Department. Further detailed instructions regarding the contents of a preapplication and other preapplication guidelines can be found on the SC Grants and Contracts Web Site at: http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/preapp.html. Confidential or proprietary information is discouraged, but any such information must be clearly marked. Attachments or enclosures submitted with the preapplication will not be reviewed.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR Part 605.

Posted on the Office of Science Grants and Contracts Web Site
April 23, 2009.