FY2019 Research Opportunities in Accelerator Stewardship | DE FOA 0002069

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002069

The FY2019 Research Opportunities in Accelerator Stewardship (DE-FOA-0002069) is a discretionary grant funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, within the High Energy Physics (HEP) program. It invites applications for long-term accelerator research and development (R and D) under HEP's Accelerator Stewardship mission. The purpose is to advance fundamental accelerator science and technology in ways that are broadly useful across many application areas, not just particle physics. While the work may still be relevant to HEP-sponsored scientific needs, the defining feature of this announcement is that the primary impact is expected to be outside of HEP, supporting other national priorities that rely on accelerator capabilities.

A key point in the announcement is how it draws a boundary around what DOE HEP is seeking here. HEP typically releases separate funding announcements for research that sits squarely within its traditionally supported portfolio. In contrast, this Accelerator Stewardship FOA focuses on R and D that extends accelerator technology and know-how for a wider user community. In practical terms, that means projects are expected to strengthen core accelerator concepts, components, techniques, or enabling technologies that can translate into benefits for areas such as medical applications, isotope production, materials science, security screening, national defense needs, radiation effects testing, and other accelerator-enabled missions. The program also explicitly emphasizes dissemination: building and sharing accelerator knowledge, methods, and training so that the broader accelerator ecosystem (users, facilities, and technology providers) gains capability and workforce strength over time.

The opportunity is situated within a larger federal landscape where many agencies depend on progress in accelerator R and D. The FOA notes that beyond DOE Office of Science stakeholders, there is strong interest from organizations such as the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration, DOE Environmental Management, the NIH National Cancer Institute, the National Science Foundation Division of Physics, Department of Defense research offices (including the Office of Naval Research and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research), the Department of Homeland Security Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, NASA groups focused on radiation effects and analysis, and NIST programs connected to ionizing radiation physics. This cross-agency relevance is essentially the rationale for DOE HEP to invest in accelerator advances that have broad utility, helping ensure that breakthroughs and improved performance can propagate across multiple mission areas rather than being confined to a single discipline.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is science and technology and other research and development under CFDA 81.049. The award ceiling listed is $300,000, with an expectation of around 20 awards. Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses), and small businesses, with the general caveat that applicants should follow any additional eligibility details provided in the full announcement text. The FOA was created on February 12, 2019, and the original application deadline was April 23, 2019.

In summary, this FOA is aimed at strengthening the underlying science and technology of accelerators with an emphasis on outcomes that serve a wide range of non-HEP applications, while still potentially benefiting HEP. It supports the development of foundational accelerator capabilities and encourages knowledge transfer and training to expand national capacity in accelerator R and D. Additional program context and mission framing are referenced through DOE's Accelerator Stewardship program webpage at http://science.energy.gov/hep/research/accelerator-stewardship/.

• The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2019 Research Opportunities in Accelerator Stewardship" 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 Feb 12, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2019. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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