Office of Science Financial Assistance Program
Results and accomplishments of basic research performed under these programs are reported in open scientific literature.
- National Robotics Initiative 2.0: Ubiquitous Collaborative Robots
- High-Energy-Density Laboratory Plasma Science
- FY 2017 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program
- Collaborative Fusion Energy Research in the DIII-D National Program
- FY 2018 Research Opportunities in High Energy Physics
The Department of Energy's goal is to advance national, economic and energy security in the U.S.; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that goal; and to ensure environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex.
Program Accomplishments
Office of Science research programs, which complement DOE's applied missions in energy resources, environmental quality, and national security, have been at the forefront of modern scientific advances and have expanded the frontiers of basic scientific knowledge. Results and accomplishments of basic research performed under these programs are reported in open scientific literature. University research programs often support graduate students who assist principal investigators with research projects. Student support on basic science research projects has helped to train the future scientific talent in DOE supported science areas such as materials science, chemistry, mathematics, general life sciences, geosciences, genetics, radiation biology, ecology, nuclear medicine, and high energy and nuclear physics. Nobel prizes, Fermi awards, and Lawrence awards have been awarded to DOE supported researchers.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Financial support, in whole or in part, may be provided for such purposes as the salaries, materials and supplies, equipment, travel, publication costs, and services required for conducting research, related activities, and advanced technology projects or assessments.
Restrictions on use of funds depend on grant provisions.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit commercial organizations, State and local governments, and unaffiliated individuals.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit commercial organizations, State and local governments, and unaffiliated individuals will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for institutions of higher education; OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations; and OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Informal communication addressed to the appropriate Headquarters Office listed below is desirable before preparing a detailed formal application.
This program is excluded from requirements under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
The application forms must be downloaded from the specific funding opportunity announcement at the Grants.gov web site: http://www.grants.gov.
Award Procedures
Decisions to approve are made by a Headquarters program official. A DOE procurement office is then authorized to negotiate and prepare an appropriate award document.
Deadlines
Applications may be submitted at any time while a solicitation is open. Specific grant solicitation notices contain due dates.
Authorization
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, Section 31, Public Law 83-703, 68 Stat. 919, 42 U.S.C. 2051; Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, Title I, Section 107, Public Law 93-438, 88 Stat. 1240, 42 U.S.C. 5817; Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974, Public Law 93-577; Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, as amended, Public Law 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Normally, 6 months from receipt of grant application. Maximum, 12 months.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Applications for renewal are subject to review and acceptance by the headquarters Office of Science program offices. For ongoing grant projects, renewal applications must be submitted six months prior to the grant's project period expiration date.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Usually, cost sharing is encouraged but not required. In some cases, however, cost sharing may be required by specific grant solicitation notices.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Generally, grants are approved for three-year project periods and funded one year at a time. Depending upon specific circumstances, grant project periods may range from one year to five years, at the discretion of the program office.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Typically for research projects, grantees are required to submit an annual progress report and a final report at the end of the project.
The schedule of reports is arranged at the time of the negotiation.
Audits
Costs incurred are subject to audit throughout the grant period and/or before final payment, with the extent and frequency of audit depending on the size of the grant and on the particular grant provisions.
Records
Recipient is expected to maintain auditable records to substantiate the total costs incurred under the grant.
Financial Information
Account Identification
89-0224-0-1-271; 89-0222-0-1-251.
Obigations
(Grants and Cooperative Agreements) FY 07 $830,000,000; FY 08 $830,000,000; and FY 09 est $830,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$10,000 to $2,000,000; $200,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
10 CFR 605; 10 CFR 600; Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Martin R. Rubinstein, Office of Grants and Contracts Support, Office of Science, Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290. Telephone: (301) 903-5212.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Scientific and/or technical merit of the project; appropriateness of the proposed method or approach; competency of the applicant's personnel and the adequacy of proposed resources; and reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget.
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
The Social Innovators of 2014
For 2014, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has recognized 37 individuals for their outstanding work in the field of social enterprise.
