Open for applications
Federal funding opportunity
Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT)
Golden Field Office
- OpportunityDE-FOA-0003647
- Agency codeDOE-GFO
- CategoryDiscretionary (D)
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
DOE CMEI is dedicated to securing America’s energy future by reinforcing domestic critical mineral supply chains, driving next-generation energy technology and manufacturing research, and promoting affordable, consumer-friendly solutions. CMEI’s AFFO is issuing this ASPECT NOFO, DE-FOA-0003647, to support research, development, and pre-pilot testing of innovative technologies that produce chemicals from alternative and waste feedstocks, mobilizing America’s abundant alternative feedstocks resources.
The goal of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to advance promising chemical technologies that utilize alternative feedstocks through multiple levels of maturity and, in some cases, to pre-pilot scale. To accomplish this, the NOFO is divided into two topic areas, each divided into two subtopic areas designed to provide different on-ramps for technologies at different stages of development.
Topic Area 1 supports the progression of technologies in the R&D phase. Subtopic Area 1a supports advancing early-stage research to bench scale. Subtopic Area 1b is intended to move projects closer to pre-pilot scale, to a point where critical unit operations must be further developed and demonstrated.
Topic Area 2 provides an on-ramp for technologies ready to move from R&D to full pre-pilot scale and operations. Projects applying to Topic Area 2 should aim to advance their technology to design, construct, and operate pre-pilot scale facilities. Both subtopic areas have the same goal—to move technologies into integrated pre-pilot systems and operate them—but allow for two different points of entry. Subtopic Area 2a targets preliminary pre-pilot scale testing of critical unit operations before engineering and design can commence for the entire system while Subtopic Area 2b projects will involve technologies that are ready for design and construction of an integrated pre-pilot facility.
Please see the full NOFO document at eere-exchange.energy.gov.
Questions regarding the NOFO must be submitted to ASPECT@doe.gov.
The required Concept Paper due date for this NOFO is 10/09/2026 at 5PM ET. The Full Application due date for this NOFO is 12/01/2026 at 5PM ET.
As stated in the Notice of Intent (search DE-FOA-0003646 in eXCHANGE), a Teaming Partner List has been compiled to encourage collaboration and facilitate the formation of new project teams. Visit: TPL-0000073 Teaming Partner List for DE-FOA-0003646 NOI to Publish DE-FOA-0003647
The eXCHANGE system is currently designed to enforce hard deadlines for Concept Paper and Full Application submissions. The APPLY and SUBMIT buttons automatically disable at the defined submission deadlines. The intention of this design is to consistently enforce a standard deadline for all applicants.
Applicants that experience issues with submissions PRIOR to the NOFO Deadline: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). The eXCHANGE helpdesk and/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (eXCHANGE@ee.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues.
Applicants that experience issues with submissions that result in a late submission: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission that results in a late submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). The eXCHANGE helpdesk and/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (eXCHANGE@ee.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues (including finalizing the submission on behalf of, and with the Applicant's concurrence). DOE will only accept late applications when the Applicant has a) encountered technical difficulties beyond their control; b) has contacted the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance; and c) has submitted the application through eXCHANGE within 24 hours of the NOFO's posted deadline.
Timeline
Key dates
-
September 4, 2026
Opportunity posted to grants.gov -
September 10, 2026
Today — 82 days of the window remain -
December 1, 2026
Applications close -
December 31, 2026
Opportunity archived
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Special district governments
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- City or township governments
- County governments
- Individuals
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- State governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Additional info on eligibility
- As one of the main goals of this NOFO is to move technologies quickly to market, participation of the following entities is limited as follows: Institutions of higher education are eligible to participate as a recipient or subrecipient for Topic Area 1 but are only eligible to participate as a subrecipient for Topic Area 2. Provided there is no conflict of interest, DOE FFRDCs3 are eligible to apply for funding as subrecipients but are not eligible to apply as recipients. Non-DOE FFRDCs are eligible to participate as subrecipients but are not eligible to apply as recipients. Federal agencies and instrumentalities (other than DOE) are eligible to participate as subrecipients but are not eligible to apply as recipients. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is eligible to apply as a subrecipient, not as prime recipient.
- Cost sharing or matching
- Required
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- Golden Field Office
- Grantor contact
-
Golden Field Office
2022871878
ASPECT@doe.gov
Assistance listing
CFDA program(s)
-
81.087Renewable Energy Research and Development
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