Building EPSCoR-State/National Laboratory Partnerships

Background
The Department of Energy’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program is seeking applications for Building EPSCoR-State/DOE-National Laboratory Partnerships. These partnerships aim to advance understanding of the physical world by supporting fundamental, early-stage energy research collaborations with the DOE National Laboratories. The program encourages participation by undergraduate students, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows, and urges early career faculty from EPSCoR jurisdictions to apply.
Utilization of DOE user facilities is also encouraged.

Grant Details
The collaborative research must address early-stage scientific research in the physical, biological, or engineering sciences and be of public benefit and relevant to DOE’s Congressionally-authorized mission. The research should focus on clean energy and climate research, including Energy Storage, Carbon Dioxide Removal, Hydrogen, Solar Energy Conversion, and Low-carbon Manufacturing (including polymer upcycling). Applicants are advised that DOE EPSCoR follows eligibility determinations made by the National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR), and entities located within specific jurisdictions will be eligible to apply under this FOA.
The FOA also outlines limitations on submissions and other eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include domestic applicants except nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 within specific jurisdictions. All research supported by an EPSCoR award must be performed in an EPSCoR jurisdiction or at a DOE National Laboratory. Funding support for the prime applicant and any potential subawardees is limited to those with addresses within one or more EPSCoR jurisdictions.
Foreign entities are not permitted for this FOA.

Period of Performance
Research Grant Awards are expected to be made for a period of two or three years at a funding level appropriate for the proposed scope, with out-year support contingent on the availability of funds and satisfactory progress.

Grant Value
DOE anticipates awarding grants totaling up to $24 million in current and future fiscal year funds under this FOA. The award size will depend on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds. The ceiling for individual awards is $250,000 per year, while the floor is $150,000 per year.