The Department of Energy: FY 21 Advanced Manufacturing Grant

The Department of Energy is looking to support a project that will take on a large-scale approach to the climate crisis by innovating clean energy technologies. This grant will assist in the development improvements within our manufacturing competitiveness and efficiency by focusing on three main areas with subtopics in each area: 

Topic Area 1: Manufacturing Process Innovation
Topic Area 1a: Efficiency Improvements to Drying Processes
Topic Area 1b: Advanced Tooling for Lightweight Automotive Components
Topic Area 1c: Sustainable Chemistry Practices in Manufacturing

Topic Area 2: Advanced Materials Manufacturing
Topic Area 2a: Materials for Harsh Service Conditions
Topic Area 2b: Development of Aluminum-Cerium (Al-Ce) Alloys and Processing to Enable Increased Energy Efficiency in Aerospace Applications

Topic Area 3: Energy Systems
Topic Area 3a: Structured Electrode Manufacturing for Lithium-ion Batteries

MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNT

$4,000,000

OPEN TO

Specified by topic. Please access the FY 2021 document attached to the bottom of this post and view the eligible applicants section of your topic of interest.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

1-3 years

APPLICATION DUE

Concept Paper Submission Deadline: September 10th, 2021 at 5:00 PM ET
Submission: November 5th, 2021 at 5:00 PM ET

EXPECTED NOTIFICATION DATE

February 18, 2022

PROJECT START DATE

February – May 2022

For more information, visit the grant page.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative seeks to fund a project that can reduce nutrient loading into the Great Lakes, through engineering natural phosphorus sinks on landscapes to filter runoff before it reaches the lakes.

“Applicants should provide:

  • A map that delineates the project boundaries within the watershed and clearly identifies the areas where work will be implemented.
  • An explanation of the project’s relevance to improving water quality in the watershed, including the cause(s) of nutrient runoff issues and how this project will address them.
  • An explanation of how the project is consistent with a broader strategy for watershed protection and restoration.
  • An explanation of how the project will be maintained after the project period has ended to ensure the long-term benefits of the project.
  • An explanation of how the project plan and design will be resilient to climate change”

MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNT

$600,000

OPEN TO

Qualified non-federal entities, including non-federal governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Up to 3 years

APPLICATION DUE

August 20, 2021, via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern
Time / 10:59 p.m. Central Time

EXPECTED NOTIFICATION DATE

October 2021

PROJECT START DATE

November 1st, 2021

To learn more, access the document attached below.

Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative

This FY 2021 Air Force Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) competition is open only to, and proposals are to be submitted only by, US institutions of higher education (universities) with degree-granting programs in science and/or engineering, including DoD institutions of higher education. To the extent that it is a part of a US institution of higher education and is not designated as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) or other University Affiliated Laboratory (UAL) is eligible to submit a proposal to this MURI competition and/or receive MURI funds. Ineligible organizations (e.g., industry, DoD laboratories, FFRDCs, and foreign entities) may collaborate on the research but may not receive MURI funds directly or via sub award. When additional funding for an ineligible organization is necessary to make the proposed collaboration possible, such funds may be identified via a separate proposal from that organization. This supplemental proposal shall be attached to the primary MURI proposal and will be evaluated in accordance with the MURI review criteria by the responsible Research Topic Chief. If approved, the supplemental proposal may be funded using non-MURI or non-Government funds.

DOD’s MURI program addresses high-risk basic research and attempts to understand or achieve something that has never been done before. The program was initiated over 25 years ago and it has regularly produced significant scientific breakthroughs with far reaching consequences to the fields of science, economic growth, and revolutionary new military technologies. Key to the program’s success is the close management of the MURI projects by Service program officers and their active role in providing research guidance.

Detailed descriptions of the topics and the Topic Chief for each can be found in Section II. I, entitled, “SPECIFIC MURI TOPICS,” (page 39 of 79 in the FOA document). The detailed descriptions are intended to provide the applicant a frame of reference and are not meant to be restrictive to the possible approaches to achieving the goals of the topic and the program. Innovative ideas addressing these research topics are highly encouraged.

New Funding Opportunity: Department of Defense National Defense Education Program

The Department of Defense (DoD) recently published the RFP for the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education, Outreach, and Workforce Initiative Programs, Fiscal Year 2020.

DOD seeks innovative applications on mechanisms to implement STEM education, outreach, and/or workforce initiative programs, here onto will be referred as STEM activities. The Department intends to award multiple grants, subject to the availability of funds. Each individual award will be up to a maximum of $3,000,000, for a period of up to three years. Applications for larger amounts may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Federal STEM Strategy states, “The pace of innovation is accelerating globally, and with it the competition for scientific and technical talent. Now more than ever the innovation capacity of the United States—and its prosperity and security—depends on an effective and inclusive STEM education ecosystem”. In addition, the National Defense Strategy has called for the Department of Defense to make significant investments in science and technology modernization priority areas to meet key capability and capacity needs. 

DoD is the largest employer of scientists and engineers in the United States. Therefore, the Department must maintain a robust pipeline of STEM talent by investing in pre-kindergarten through undergraduate STEM activities to ensure the DoD has enduring access to the best and brightest talent. The NDEP enables the DoD to cultivate and access high-quality STEM personnel vital to national defense now and in the future. This solicitation seeks innovative approaches to support DoD STEM education, outreach, and workforce development that aligns with DoD and Federal STEM Strategic Plans.

New Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (NSF 20-1)

the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) has been issued. The new PAPPG will be effective for proposals submitted or due, and awards made, on or after June 1, 2020. Significant changes include:

  • NSF will require use of an NSF-approved format in submission of the biographical sketch and current and pending support documents, once the PAPPG (NSF 20-1) becomes effective;
  • New requirement for proposing organizations to submit government-wide representations and certifications in the System for Award Management (SAM).
  • New requirement for providing e-mail documentation of Program Officer approval for the submission of RAPID and EAGER proposals.
  • Clarifications to current and pending support coverage as well as other changes throughout the document.

You are encouraged to review the by-chapter summary of changes provided in the Introduction section of the PAPPG. NSF plans to conduct a webinar covering these changes on February 6 at 2PM EST. Visit the webinar website to register for this event.

While this version of the PAPPG becomes effective on June 1, 2020, in the interim, the guidelines contained in the current PAPPG (NSF 19-1) continue to apply.

A PDF version of the PAPPG will be available in the coming weeks. If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact the DIAS/Policy Office at policy@nsf.gov.