AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE)/Office of Science (OS)/Office of Basic Energy Sciences (OBES)

PROGRAM: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC)

OBJECTIVES: This program supports the creation of Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) to accelerate the rate of scientific breakthroughs needed to create advanced energy technologies for the 21st century. The EFRCs will pursue the fundamental understanding necessary to meet the global need for abundant, clean, and economical energy. EFRCs will bring together the skills and talents of multiple investigators to enable fundamental research of a scope and complexity that would not be possible with the standard individual investigator or small group research project. As such, the EFRCs will strengthen and complement the existing portfolio of the single Principal Investigator and small group research projects currently supported within Basic Energy Sciences (BES) core research areas. Proposed research should address one or more of the energy challenges described in the following BES workshop reports(http://sc.doe.gov/bes/reports/list.html): (1) Basic Research Needs to Assure a Secure Future, (2) Basic Research Needs for the Hydrogen Economy, (3) Basic Research Needs for Solar Energy Utilization, (4) Basic Research Needs for Superconductivity, (5) Basic Research Needs for Solid-State Lighting, (6) Basic Research Needs for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems, (7) Basic Research Needs for Clean and Efficient Combustion of 21st Century Transportation Fuels; (8) Basic Research Needs for Geosciences: (9) Facilitating 21st Century Systems, (10) Basic Research Needs for Electrical Energy Storage, (11) Basic Research Needs for Materials Under Extreme Environments, (12) Basic Research Needs: Catalysis for Energy.
 
ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS: A specific entity may not submit more than three applications as the prime applicant. However, there is no limitation on the number of applications in which a specific entity participates as a team member/subcontractor. The EFRC Director is the lead Principal Investigator and must be employed by the lead institution. An individual may not be named as the EFRC Director on more than one application. However, there is no restriction on the number of applications an individual may submit as a Principal Investigator.

DEADLINES:
BU Internal Deadline: June 3, 2008
Letter of Intent (optional): July 1, 2008
Application Deadline: October 1, 2008

FUNDING INFORMATION: The EFRC awards are expected to be in the $2–5 million range annually for an initial five-year project period. It is anticipated that approximately $100 million will be available annually for multiple EFRC awards starting in FY 2009.

AGENCY CONTACT:
Emiela M. Bradford
Office of Basic Energy Research
Office of Science
Department of Energy
telephone: (630) 252-6156
fax: (630) 252-5045
email: emiela.bradford@ch.doe.gov
Web: http://www.sc.doe.gov/grants/grants.html

INTERNAL REVIEW PROCESS: An institution may submit no more than three applications. To screen potential proposals for this competition, an internal deadline has been established. Principal Investigators (PIs) interested in submitting an application should provide the following proposal information to their Associate Dean by Wednesday, June 3, 2008 for internal review purposes:

1.  Project description (maximum length 5 pages) should include items a – e:

(a) provide an overview of the vision and goals for the planned EFRC;
(b) describe the research proposed for the EFRC, including the way in which it addresses    
    one or more of the energy challenges described in the BES workshop reports listed
    above;
(c) outline specific plans for education, outreach and training;
(d) provide a comprehensive management plan;
(e) describe plans for external collaborations and partnerships, if applicable.

2. Budget and budget justification (two pages).

3. Biographical sketches: include 2-page NSF format biographical sketch for the EFRC Director and all Senior/Key personnel.

Following the Dean’s assessment of the internal application, it will be forwarded to Associate Provost Joan Kirkendall for review and then to the Office of the VP for Research for final selection.  PIs will be informed if their proposal is selected for submission in time to complete and process their proposal for final review.

REMARKS: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of intent by close of business Tuesday, July 1, 2008. This letter is to include a cover sheet containing the name and mailing address of the applicant lead institution, the planned title of the EFRC, estimated cost of the project, the name and e-mail address of the EFRC Director and Principal Investigator(s), and a listing of the institutions that are expected to be involved in the planned application in addition to the lead institution submitting the letter of intent, and a five to six page narrative containing the following:
(1) An overview of the strategic plan, including the long term vision and goals for the
proposed EFRC as well as the objectives for the initial five-year period of the project;
and (2) an overview of the research plan. Failure to submit such letters will not negatively affect a responsive application submitted in a timely fashion. No more than three may be submitted from a specific entity and an individual may be listed as EFRC Director on only one letter of intent. Letters of intent should be sent by E-mail to: efrc@science.doe.gov.