Quantum Information Science Enabled Discovery (QuantISED) for High Energy Physics | DE FOA 0002077

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002077

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through its High Energy Physics (HEP) program, released this funding opportunity to support early-stage, interdisciplinary research projects that use Quantum Information Science (QIS) ideas and tools to accelerate discovery in fundamental physics. The program is framed as "QuantISED" (Quantum Information Science Enabled Discovery) and is focused on open scientific research intended to broaden human understanding of how the universe works at its most fundamental level. In practical terms, DOE is looking for pioneering pilot efforts where quantum concepts, methods, or emerging quantum technologies can create new ways to address core HEP questions, while also producing useful advances for the broader national QIS effort.

A central theme is that these projects should cut across traditional boundaries within high energy physics and connect HEP researchers with expertise from quantum information and related disciplines. DOE highlights that the HEP QIS effort had been developing for several years and is deliberately aligned with wider Office of Science priorities in quantum science, as well as coordinated with national and interagency activity in QIS (including quantum computing and enabling technologies). That alignment signals that DOE wants proposals that are not only relevant to HEP science drivers but also contribute to foundational QIS knowledge or capabilities, ideally creating value that extends beyond a single subfield or experiment.

The solicitation describes the supported work as exploratory and high-impact, emphasizing that these are "pioneering pilots" rather than fully mature, large-scale programs. The intent is to seed creative, potentially transformative directions at an early stage, where the interdisciplinary nature of QIS can unlock new approaches to HEP challenges. While the notice does not enumerate specific technical topic areas in the excerpt provided, the stated scope clearly includes research at the intersection of (1) HEP discovery goals, (2) foundational quantum information science, and (3) the wider U.S. quantum ecosystem, implying that strong proposals would articulate both the HEP discovery payoff and the QIS innovation payoff.

In terms of mechanics and eligibility, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under DOE Office of Science, categorized under science and technology research and development (CFDA 81.049). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full announcement. The funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0002077, created February 13, 2019, with an original closing date of April 16, 2019. DOE anticipated making about 15 awards, with an award ceiling of $500,000 per award, which reinforces the pilot-scale nature of the projects.

A notable process requirement is the use of Letters of Intent (LOIs). Applicants were required to submit an LOI following the solicitation instructions, and DOE explicitly states that full applications that are not encouraged after the LOI stage may be declined without a full merit review. That makes the LOI more than a formality: it functions as an initial screening step to ensure proposed ideas align with the program vision and to manage review workload. The opportunity also stresses that applications must follow all guidelines and criteria laid out in the supplementary information and other sections of the full FOA, indicating that compliance with formatting, content, and responsiveness requirements is treated as a prerequisite for consideration.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as DOE HEP funding designed to catalyze new research directions where quantum information concepts, algorithms, sensing approaches, or quantum-enabled methods could change what is feasible in high energy physics, while simultaneously strengthening foundational QIS research and supporting the broader national quantum agenda. It is positioned as open, public-benefit science, with pilot-sized awards intended to help interdisciplinary teams test ambitious ideas that could later grow into larger, field-defining efforts.

• 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 "Quantum Information Science Enabled Discovery (QuantISED) for High Energy Physics" 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 13, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 16, 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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for DE FOA 0002077

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