Federal Science and Technology Grants

The FY24 ALSRP Clinical Outcomes and Biomarkers Award (COBA) supports the development and/or validation of clinical outcomes and biomarkers to enrich clinical trials in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Projects can be relevant to a specific therapy, a class of therapeutics, or to a specific ALS subtype (such as a particular genetic mutation) and do not have to broadly apply to all patients.Research may include, but is not limited to:Target engagement biomarkers.Objective pharmacodynamic biomarkers to measure the biological effect of an investigational therapeutic.Predictive/cohort-selective biomarkers that indicate whether a specific therapy will be effective in an individual patient or patient subgroup.Diagnostic, prognostic, or disease progressionValidate clinician-, observer-, patient-reported and/or performance outcomes to better support clinical trial success metrics.Define ALS subtypes using patient-based resources to link biosamples and/or digital data elements to rigorous molecular and clinical data.Realize improved strategies that better measure disease progression for people living with ALS.Augment biospecimens, outcome, or digital health data to an on-going clinical trial.Correlate clinical-trial related data (e.g., biosample, imaging, digital health data) with clinical outcomes or responses to therapies.Use of existing well-characterized and highly curated clinical resources is encouraged. Examples of patient-based ALS resources include ongoing or completed clinical trial datasets, biorepositories of clinical specimens, registries (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National ALS Registry and/or Biorepository; https://www.cdc.gov/als/Default.html), large omics datasets, patient-report outcomes, digital biomarker datasets, and databases of clinical data and/or metadata. Active-duty military and/or Veteran patient populations or resources should be considered. A list of suitable resources can be found on the ALSRP web page (https://cdmrp.health.mil/alsrp/resources/ALSRPresources). Other resources may be used, provided they have an adequate description of repository parameters and mechanisms for broad access.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for universities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to conduct innovative research on plant gene functions that can improve bioenergy crops and contribute to a sustainable U.S. bioeconomy.

The DoD Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health, Focused Program Award is a funding opportunity aimed at accelerating the development of solutions to critical questions related to traumatic brain injury and psychological health, through multidisciplinary research programs that can significantly impact these conditions through clinical applications, with a budget of approximately $46.5M to fund around six projects.

To obtain a copy of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) please go to the ARPA-E website at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov. To apply to this FOA, Applicants must register with and submit application materials through ARPA-E eXCHANGE (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Registration.aspx). For detailed guidance on using ARPA-E eXCHANGE, please refer to the ARPA-E eXCHANGE User Guide (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx). ARPA-E will not review or consider concept papers submitted through other means. For problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE, email [email protected] (with FOA name and number in the subject line). Questions about this FOA? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email [email protected]. Agency Overview: The Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy (ARPA-E), an organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), is chartered by Congress in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-69), as amended by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358), as further amended by the Energy Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260): (A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies that (i) reduce imports of energy from foreign sources; (ii) reduce energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases; (iii) improve the energy efficiency of all economic sectors; (iv) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and (v) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy; and (B) to ensure that the United States maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies. ARPA-E issues this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) under its authorizing statute codified at 42 U.S.C. 16538. The FOA and any cooperative agreements or grants made under this FOA are subject to 2 C.F.R. Part 200 as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 910. ARPA-E funds research on, and the development of, transformative science and technology solutions to address the energy and environmental missions of the Department. The agency focuses on technologies that can be meaningfully advanced with a modest investment over a defined period of time in order to catalyze the translation from scientific discovery to early-stage technology. For the latest news and information about ARPA-E, its programs and the research projects currently supported, see: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/. ARPA-E funds transformational research. Existing energy technologies generally progress on established learning curves where refinements to a technology and the economies of scale that accrue as manufacturing and distribution develop drive improvements to the cost/performance metric in a gradual fashion. This continual improvement of a technology is important to its increased commercial deployment and is appropriately the focus of the private sector or the applied technology offices within DOE. In contrast, ARPA-E supports transformative research that has the potential to create fundamentally new learning curves. ARPA-E technology projects typically start with cost/performance estimates well above the level of an incumbent technology. Given the high risk inherent in these projects, many will fail to progress, but some may succeed in generating a new learning curve with a projected cost/performance metric that is significantly better than that of the incumbent technology. ARPA-E funds technology with the potential to be disruptive in the marketplace. The mere creation of a new learning curve does not ensure market penetration. Rather, the ultimate value of a technology is determined by the marketplace, and impactful technologies ultimately become disruptive that is, they are widely adopted and displace existing technologies from the marketplace or create entirely new markets. ARPA-E understands that definitive proof of market disruption takes time, particularly for energy technologies. Therefore, ARPA-E funds the development of technologies that, if technically successful, have clear disruptive potential, e.g., by demonstrating capability for manufacturing at competitive cost and deployment at scale. ARPA-E funds applied research and development. The Office of Management and Budget defines applied research as an original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledgedirected primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective and defines experimental development as creative and systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience, which is directed at producing new products or processes or improving existing products or processes. Applicants interested in receiving financial assistance for basic research (defined by the Office of Management and Budget as experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts)1 should contact the DOEs Office of Science (http://science.energy.gov/). Office of Science national scientific user facilities (http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/) are open to all researchers, including ARPA-E Applicants and awardees. These facilities provide advanced tools of modern science including accelerators, colliders, supercomputers, light sources and neutron sources, as well as facilities for studying the nanoworld, the environment, and the atmosphere. Projects focused on early-stage R for the improvement of technology along defined roadmaps may be more appropriate for support through the DOE applied energy offices including: the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (http://www.eere.energy.gov/), the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (https://www.energy.gov/fecm/office-fossil-energy-and-carbon-management), the Office of Nuclear Energy (http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy), and the Office of Electricity (https://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity). Program Overview: The Nuclear Energy Waste Transmutation Optimized Now (NEWTON) program will support the research and development of technologies that enable the transmutation of used nuclear fuel (UNF) to alleviate the impact of storage in permanent disposal facilities. This program seeks to fund the development of novel technologies that increase the overall capacity factor, power output, and efficiency of particle generation systems (including but not limited to proton, neutron, and/or photon), by reducing beam trip magnitude and duration (referred to as loss of beam). Additional technologies will focus on increasing the throughput of transmutation by developing target materials that maximize transmutation rates and are easily processible to remove the transmuted material. The United States does not currently have an active facility for the permanent disposal of used nuclear fuel derived from the civilian nuclear sector. Used nuclear fuel comprises several classes of isotopes that could be processed in different ways due to their economic value. Firstly, uranium (U), which comprises greater than 95% of the mass of UNF, can be reprocessed and converted back into fuel for light-water reactors through the addition of small amounts of uranium-235 (U-235). Secondly, plutonium (Pu) and minor actinides (MAs), such as neptunium (Np), americium (Am), and curium (Cm), which together comprise roughly 1.5% of UNF by mass, are produced from nuclear fission. Many of these isotopes are fissionable and could be incorporated into fuels designed for advanced reactor concepts. Intermediate-lived fission products (ILFPs) including strontium-90 (Sr-90) and caesium-137 (Cs-137) have relatively short half-lives of roughly 30 years and have applications in radioisotope thermoelectric generators for space applications. However, ILFPs are largely destined for permanent disposal in a deep geological repository. The major long-lived fission products (LLFPs) have half-lives exceeding 200,000 years and have few commercial applications. LLFPS include selenium-79 (Se-79),technetium-99 (Tc-99), tin-126 (Sn-126), iodine-129 (I-129), and caesium-135 (Cs-135). The last class of isotopes are the stable isotopes produced from nuclear fission and resulting decay. These isotopes could be extracted from UNF, but no commercial processing of these have been undertaken. A deep geological disposal facility for the disposition of UNF in the U.S. has been estimated to cost $96.18 billion over the 150-year lifetime, after which the facility would cease to accept new waste. This facility would be able to store 70,000 metric tons (MT) of unprocessed UNF, which is insufficient for the existing volume of civilian waste. Densification of the waste can be accomplished through removal of the plutonium, minor actinides, and ILFP components of the UNF. Removal of 99.9% of these components would allow a densification factor of 225, based on current disposal requirements, thus allowing a single repository to store upwards of approximately 16 million MT of UNF. The LLFPs are responsible for many of the engineered barriers that are required to be built in the repository due to their long half-lives and environmental mobility. Removal of these LLFPs could decrease the capital expenditure of a permanent geological repository while also improving safety. To view the FOA in its entirety, please visit https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.

With this solicitation, NIJ seeks to provide funding for operation of the Secretariat of Subcommittee 37 (SC 37) under the Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTC 1) of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC).

This initiative seeks input from researchers and industry stakeholders on innovative technologies to replace traditional heating systems in refineries and petrochemical plants with efficient nuclear heat solutions, aiming to significantly reduce emissions and improve process efficiency.

This funding opportunity is designed to support innovative prototype projects in military and civil engineering, targeting nontraditional defense contractors, traditional defense contractors, and nonprofit research institutions.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. universities and research centers for acquiring major research equipment that enhances their capabilities in science, engineering, and technology relevant to national defense.

The U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research to help build a program to (1) increase the understanding of how new soil and vegetation mapping products can improve land management decisions on western lands, (2) improve land-potential based decision tools, including state-and-transition models, and (3) increase the understanding of how drought and herbivory impact western lands. These are currently significant scientific challenges for management of large western landscapes in the face of climate change, drought, wildfire, and ongoing and changing land uses.

This grant provides funding to small businesses in the U.S. to develop innovative technologies that address critical national needs, particularly in health and technology, while promoting collaboration with research institutions.

This funding opportunity supports collaborations between Sea Grant programs and Minority Serving Institutions to enhance aquaculture research, education, and community engagement across four U.S. regions.

The U.S. Geological Survey is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research supporting communications and technical transfer of sagebrush and fire related science. Successful applicants will work with the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area staff to plan and host a public-facing webinar or workshop to increase and improve technical transfer of management-relevant science, data, and tools to improve ecosystem resiliency in the sagebrush biome and increase durability of on-the-ground management actions informed by co-produced science.

This grant provides funding for organizations in the Colorado Plateau or Desert Southwest regions to conduct bat surveys and conservation efforts at Fort Carson and the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, focusing on protecting species like the tricolored bat from threats such as white-nose syndrome.

A. Short Description of Funding Opportunity Program Description/Objective: ERDC seeks novel technology (or technologies) capable of disrupting and/or managing riverine and other large-scale freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). B. Background: Aquatic nuisance species, including harmful algae, impact freshwater lakes and rivers, infrastructure, operations, and associated resources across the nation. HABs have resulted in recreational closures, public health concerns, and billions of dollars in economic impacts. HABs are increasing in frequency and duration, resulting in environmental, socioeconomic, human and ecological health concerns. Cost-effective and scalable technologies for early HAB detection, prediction, and management are needed to reduce HAB frequency and severity. Riverine HABs, in particular, can span hundreds of miles, last for weeks, and cause significant damages. Technology (or technologies) capable of disrupting and/or managing riverine and other large-scale freshwater HABs is needed. C. Program Description/Objective: This project will establish an interdisciplinary collaboration between USACE and a University partner to accomplish numbered objectives below. Successful proposals will also (a) clearly identify question(s) the proposed project will seek to answer (i.e., project technical objectives); (b) clearly describe the tasks and data required to answer those question(s) (i.e., data quality objectives); and (c) describe envisioned project deliverables by task and by year. Proposals that demonstrate intent to maximize use of existing federal and state HAB programs, activities, and data are encouraged. Successful proposals will identify quantitative and qualitative success criteria for each project task. This project will: 1) Develop a workplan describing the candidate technology (or technologies), any technology optimization efforts required (if applicable), candidate technology demonstration field site(s), and field work plan. Technology is defined here application of knowledge, methods and approaches to achieve a practical means, which in this case is disrupting and/or managing riverine and other large-scale freshwater HABs. University partners will be responsible for obtaining required permits prior to approval of in-water work. Note that this is a three-year funded effort (pending appropriations). At minimum, technologies will be demonstrated during years 2 and 3 of this funded project. Riverine HABs can be sporadic - they may occur with very little warning or may not occur at all during the project duration. Please account for this contingency in your preproposal - how will you be flexible and adaptive to ensure project objectives are met given these challenges? 2) Conduct work described in the approved work plan, includes producing data of sufficient quality and quantity to meet data quality objectives described in approved work plan. 3) Produce draft and final report describing project objectives, methods, and results. Includes complementary data publication to ensure data generated by this project is publicly accessible, as well as end-user guidance to support application of the technology demonstrated by this project to different riverine systems and ecoregions. Includes complementary data publication so that end-users can easily access data generated by this project; data collected during project must be uploaded to water quality portal (https://www.waterqualitydata.us/). 4) We strongly encourage engagement with tribal, federal, state, and/or local partners who have knowledge pertaining to the riverine system featured in this project. Please identify stakeholders and partners that will be engaged during the course of the project in your pre-proposal. Please also identify how they will be engaged in all key phases of project planning, execution, and in preparation of final deliverables. D. Public Benefit HABs are occurring with greater frequency in lakes and rivers across the nation, resulting in public health concerns and billions of dollars in economic impacts. The proposed applied research will demonstrate a technology (or technologies) capable of disrupting and/or managing riverine or other large-scale freshwater HABs. Novel approaches to reduce HAB severity and scale will benefit public health and reduce economic harm associated with HABs.

This funding opportunity supports collaborative research between U.S. universities and South Korean institutions to advance innovative robotics technologies through the development of intelligent components.

This grant provides funding for research institutions and organizations to explore innovative soil stabilization techniques using bio-cementation to improve the erosion resistance of dams and levees, enhancing flood control and public safety.

This grant provides funding for a wide range of research projects related to space and Earth sciences, inviting proposals from various organizations, including academic institutions and non-profits, to advance knowledge in heliophysics and related fields.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to states and U.S. territories with high seismic risk to improve earthquake safety through mitigation, preparedness, and educational initiatives.

This grant provides funding and technical support to innovators and organizations developing sustainable solutions for reusing and repurposing end-of-life products, promoting a circular economy and reducing waste.

This notice is for a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) in support of civil works strategic focus areas. The USACE, and its Civil Works mission areas of commercial navigation, flood and coastal storm risk management, and aquatic ecosystem restoration, will play an essential role in energizing the US economy as we recover from recent crises and prepare for the future challenges facing our Nation. Investments in Civil Works are critical in generating near- and long-term benefits for securing our communities, supporting and growing our economy, creating jobs, and enhancing broader societal impacts such as improved public health, National security, recreation and tourism.Award of a grant or cooperative agreement is subject to applicable terms and conditions of 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 1104, DoD Grant and Agreement Regulations (DoDGARs), and DoD Research Terms and ConditionsGo to https://www.erdcwerx.org/civil-works-cso/ for details and submission instructions.All solutions shall be submitted through ERDCWERX via the link above. Solutions for the strategic focus areas will be accepted beginning 23 May 2023 and ending 1700 CST 22 May 2024.