Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002903
FY 2023 Phase I Release 2 (DE-FOA-0002903) is a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding opportunity under the SBIR and STTR programs designed to help eligible U.S. small businesses move promising science and engineering innovations from early proof-of-concept toward commercialization and DOE mission impact. The FOA offers two paths: a traditional Phase I award focused on feasibility and merit, and a Fast-Track option that combines Phase I and Phase II into a single, jointly reviewed application for projects that are ready to move quickly and have strong commercial potential. The overall focus is research and development in science and technology areas aligned with DOE priorities, with some topics also emphasizing manufacturing innovation.
Under the traditional Phase I track, DOE plans to make awards during FY 2023 to small businesses, with maximum award amounts set by topic at either $200,000 or $250,000. Applicants have to stay at or below the topic-specific cap; proposals that exceed the cap are declined without review. The Phase I period of performance can be tailored to the work proposed but cannot exceed 12 months. Phase I is meant to test the scientific or technical merit of the idea and demonstrate feasibility in a way that supports later development and commercialization. The application is expected to focus on the R&D needed to prove the approach can work, rather than full product development.
A key timing detail in this FOA is the Phase II application deadline relative to the Phase I start date. Phase II applications are due about 9.5 months after the Phase I grant start date, and this is described as the only chance to apply for Phase II for projects funded under this Phase I FOA. That creates a practical planning issue: if a company chooses a Phase I project period of 9 months or less, it can wrap up Phase I before submitting the Phase II proposal and use the completed Phase I results directly in that Phase II application. If the company chooses a Phase I period longer than 9 months, it can keep working after it submits the Phase II proposal, but it cannot use those later results in the Phase II application package because the application will already be in. Only Phase I awardees from this FOA are eligible to apply to the corresponding Phase II competition later (FY 2024 Phase II Release 2). DOE indicates that roughly 40 Phase I awardees who submit Phase II applications are expected to receive Phase II awards, with Phase II instructions to be posted later on Grants.gov.
The Fast-Track option is intended for applicants with a strong technical plan and a credible path to commercialization who want a faster route through Phase I and Phase II. Instead of applying for Phase I first and Phase II later, the applicant submits one combined application that includes both Phase I and Phase II plans and is reviewed as a package. The Fast-Track application must lay out clear, measurable Phase I milestones that act as a gate to Phase II; if the project does not meet the Phase I milestones, DOE may stop the award after Phase I and not authorize Phase II work. Fast-Track projects are expected to be positioned to move beyond SBIR/STTR funding into Phase III, meaning follow-on non-SBIR/STTR funding and commercialization or deployment.
Applicants must choose one route per R&D effort: either submit a traditional Phase I application or a Fast-Track application, but not both. If both are submitted, DOE will evaluate only the one with the most recent submission timestamp in Grants.gov. There is also a notable downside to Fast-Track: if a project is selected for Fast-Track but fails to meet objectives, it cannot later apply for Phase II funding, since Phase II was already part of the combined application pathway. Fast-Track awards in this FOA have much larger maximum amounts, set by topic at either $1,300,000 or $1,850,000, with a total period of performance up to 33 months depending on the scope.
Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 81.049) run by DOE Office of Science, and it is limited to eligible small business concerns as defined in the FOA. The FOA was created December 12, 2022, and originally closed February 23, 2023. DOE anticipated a large number of total awards (listed as 196 expected awards), reflecting the broad SBIR/STTR topic area coverage. The program is authorized under several SBIR/STTR statutes, including the Small Business Innovation Development Act, later SBIR/STTR reauthorization laws, and the 2022 extension. Applicants are directed to consult the DOE SBIR/STTR topic descriptions on the DOE Office of Science SBIR/STTR website for topic-specific caps and requirements, and to monitor Grants.gov for Phase II instructions and future postings.Apply for DE FOA 0002903
- 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 "FY 2023 Phase I Release 2" 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 Dec 12, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 23, 2023. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 196 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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FAQs: FY 2023 Phase I Release 2 (DE-FOA-0002903) - DOE Office of Science SBIR/STTR
What is FY 2023 Phase I Release 2 (DE-FOA-0002903)?
FY 2023 Phase I Release 2 (DE-FOA-0002903) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding opportunity under the SBIR and STTR programs. It is designed to help eligible U.S. small businesses advance promising science and engineering innovations from early proof-of-concept toward commercialization and DOE mission impact.
Which DOE office is running this opportunity?
The opportunity is run by the DOE Office of Science under the SBIR and STTR programs.
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This is a discretionary grant program. The CFDA number provided is 81.049.
Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is limited to eligible small business concerns as defined in the FOA. The FOA is specifically aimed at U.S. small businesses that meet the program requirements.
What kinds of projects does DOE want to fund under this FOA?
The overall focus is research and development (R&D) in science and technology areas aligned with DOE priorities. Some topics also emphasize manufacturing innovation. Applicants are directed to consult the DOE SBIR/STTR topic descriptions for the specific topic requirements.
What are the two application paths available under this FOA?
The FOA offers two paths: (1) a traditional Phase I award focused on feasibility and merit, and (2) a Fast-Track option that combines Phase I and Phase II into a single, jointly reviewed application for projects that are ready to move quickly and have strong commercial potential.
Can the same R&D effort be submitted to both the traditional Phase I track and the Fast-Track option?
No. Applicants must choose one route per R&D effort: either submit a traditional Phase I application or a Fast-Track application, but not both.
What happens if an applicant submits both a traditional Phase I application and a Fast-Track application?
If both are submitted, DOE will evaluate only the submission with the most recent submission timestamp in Grants.gov.
What is the purpose of a traditional Phase I award in this FOA?
Traditional Phase I is meant to test the scientific or technical merit of the idea and demonstrate feasibility in a way that supports later development and commercialization. The application is expected to focus on the R&D needed to prove the approach can work, rather than full product development.
How much funding is available for a traditional Phase I award?
For traditional Phase I, the maximum award amount is topic-specific and is set at either $200,000 or $250,000 depending on the topic.
What happens if a traditional Phase I proposal budget exceeds the topic cap?
Applicants must stay at or below the topic-specific cap. Proposals that exceed the cap are declined without review.
How long can a traditional Phase I project last?
The Phase I period of performance can be tailored to the work proposed but cannot exceed 12 months.
When is the Phase II application due for projects funded under this Phase I FOA?
Phase II applications are due about 9.5 months after the Phase I grant start date.
Is the Phase II submission tied to the Phase I start date?
Yes. The timing detail highlighted in the FOA is that the Phase II application deadline is about 9.5 months after the Phase I start date, creating a planning consideration around how long the Phase I period of performance should be.
Is there more than one chance to apply for Phase II for Phase I projects funded under this FOA?
No. The FOA describes the Phase II deadline as the only chance to apply for Phase II for projects funded under this Phase I FOA.
How does Phase I project length affect what results can be included in the Phase II application?
If a company chooses a Phase I period of 9 months or less, it can complete Phase I before submitting the Phase II proposal and use the completed Phase I results directly in the Phase II application. If a company chooses a Phase I period longer than 9 months, it may still be working after it submits the Phase II proposal, but it cannot include those later results in the Phase II application package because the application will already be submitted.
Who is eligible to apply for the corresponding Phase II competition?
Only Phase I awardees from this FOA are eligible to apply to the corresponding Phase II competition later (FY 2024 Phase II Release 2).
How many Phase II awards does DOE expect to make from this pipeline?
DOE indicates that roughly 40 Phase I awardees who submit Phase II applications are expected to receive Phase II awards.
Where will Phase II instructions be posted?
DOE states that Phase II instructions will be posted later on Grants.gov. Applicants are also encouraged to monitor Grants.gov for future postings.
What is the Fast-Track option?
The Fast-Track option is intended for applicants with a strong technical plan and a credible path to commercialization who want a faster route through Phase I and Phase II. Instead of applying for Phase I first and Phase II later, the applicant submits one combined application that includes both Phase I and Phase II plans and is reviewed as a package.
Does a Fast-Track application need to include Phase I milestones?
Yes. The Fast-Track application must lay out clear, measurable Phase I milestones that act as a gate to Phase II.
What happens if a Fast-Track project does not meet its Phase I milestones?
If the project does not meet the Phase I milestones, DOE may stop the award after Phase I and not authorize Phase II work.
What is the main tradeoff or downside of choosing Fast-Track?
A notable downside described in the FOA is that if a project is selected for Fast-Track but fails to meet objectives, it cannot later apply for Phase II funding because Phase II was already part of the combined application pathway.
How much funding is available for a Fast-Track award?
Fast-Track awards have larger maximum amounts that are topic-specific and set at either $1,300,000 or $1,850,000 depending on the topic.
How long can a Fast-Track project last?
Fast-Track awards can have a total period of performance up to 33 months, depending on the scope.
What is DOE expecting Fast-Track projects to do beyond SBIR/STTR funding?
Fast-Track projects are expected to be positioned to move beyond SBIR/STTR funding into Phase III, meaning follow-on non-SBIR/STTR funding and commercialization or deployment.
Where do applicants find topic-specific caps and requirements?
Applicants are directed to consult the DOE SBIR/STTR topic descriptions on the DOE Office of Science SBIR/STTR website for topic-specific caps and requirements.
When was this FOA created and when did it close?
The FOA was created on December 12, 2022, and it originally closed on February 23, 2023.
How many awards did DOE expect to make under this FOA?
DOE anticipated a large number of total awards, listing 196 expected awards, reflecting broad SBIR/STTR topic area coverage.
What laws authorize this SBIR/STTR funding opportunity?
The program is authorized under several SBIR/STTR statutes, including the Small Business Innovation Development Act, later SBIR/STTR reauthorization laws, and the 2022 extension.
Which system is referenced for submission timestamps and future postings?
Grants.gov is referenced for submission timestamps (used if both traditional and Fast-Track are submitted) and for monitoring future postings such as Phase II instructions.
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