Established Program to Stimulate Competitive (DOE EPSCoR) Implementation Grants | DE FOA 0002913

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002913

The Department of Energy (DOE) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DOE EPSCoR) Implementation Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002913) is a discretionary grant program run by the DOE Office of Science. Its main purpose is to strengthen and expand research capacity in jurisdictions that are eligible under the NSF EPSCoR RII eligibility framework. Rather than funding a single investigator or a standalone faculty project, these Implementation Grants are meant to build broader, more durable capability by supporting a coordinated team of scientists and engineers who work together around a shared scientific theme. A defining feature of the program is that it explicitly expects participation across career stages, including undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, so the work advances research infrastructure and talent development at the same time.

A key point in DOE EPSCoR Implementation Grants is the emphasis on collaboration and capability-building. The program is designed to support a group effort that creates momentum in an institution or region, not to serve as a simple research grant for one lab. Proposals should therefore be framed around a common research theme and an organized plan for how the team will raise the competitiveness of the participating organizations. The solicitation also makes clear that student education through research is not optional. Even when non-academic partners are involved, applications need a strong student training component, meaning students are expected to be integrated into the research activities in a meaningful way, not treated as an add-on.

The opportunity allows participation from academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and industrial research entities, and these groups may lead or participate in applications. However, eligibility to apply is restricted by jurisdiction. DOE states that it follows NSF EPSCoR RII determinations and, consistent with the restricted competition provisions referenced in 2 CFR 910.126, only domestic applicants located in eligible jurisdictions may compete, with an additional restriction excluding certain 501(c)(4) organizations that have engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995. The eligible jurisdictions listed in the notice are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

From the funding perspective, this is a large-scale research capability program. The award ceiling is listed as $7,500,000, indicating DOE anticipates substantial, multi-person efforts rather than modest single-project budgets. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 81.049, and the activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The original closing date shown is April 4, 2023, and the opportunity record was created on December 14, 2022.

Overall, DOE EPSCoR Implementation Grants are best understood as capacity-building awards aimed at helping EPSCoR jurisdictions become more competitive in DOE-relevant research areas. Strong proposals typically need to demonstrate an integrated research strategy shared by a team, clear benefits to the participating jurisdiction(s), and a serious, well-planned student research education and workforce development component, all aligned with DOE Office of Science priorities and the intent of EPSCoR to broaden the geographic distribution of federally supported research excellence.

• The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Established Program to Stimulate Competitive (DOE EPSCoR) Implementation Grants" 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 2022-12-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-04-04. (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 $7,500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for DE FOA 0002913

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