DE-FOA-0003518 Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC) NOFO Part 1.docx

Notice of Funding Opportunity Part 1 Section IX: Other Information

Financial Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity Part 1

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC) Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0003518 Full Applications due: 5/30/2025, 5:00 PM ET

Modifications to this NOFO will be posted on eXCHANGE and Grants.gov. Grants.gov will automatically notify applicants when a NOFO modification is processed. Applicants must be registered to this NOFO in Grants.gov to receive email notifications. See Registration Requirements in Part 2 of this NOFO.

NOFO Part 1 for Review

DISCLAIMER: Applicants are discouraged from submitting information considered proprietary unless it is deemed essential for proper evaluation of the application. If the application contains information that the applicant organization considers to be trade secrets, information that is commercial or financial, or information that is privileged or confidential, the pages containing that information should be identified as specified in the application instructions. When such information is included in the application, it is furnished to the Federal government in confidence, with the understanding that the information will be used or disclosed only for evaluation of the application. The information contained in the application will be protected by DOE from unauthorized disclosure, consistent with the need for merit review of applications of financial assistance awards to assure the integrity of the competitive process and the accuracy and completeness of the information. If a Federal financial assistance award is made as a result of or in connection with an application, the Federal government has the right to use or disclose the information to the extent authorized by law. This restriction does not limit the Federal government’s right to use the information if it is obtained without restriction from another source.

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Table of Contents

Before You Begin

Navigating the Notice of Funding Opportunity The OMB Memorandum M-24-11 directs federal agencies to reduce the burden on applicants in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process and limit the length of the NOFO information requests. With Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 NOFOs, DOE has separated the NOFO into two parts.

The NOFO Part 1 describes the specific DOE programmatic goals and evaluation criteria, eligibility, and other components that are specific to each funding opportunity. The NOFO Part 2 includes the fixed DOE requirements that generally do not change from NOFO to NOFO, including standard information for the application phase, expectations for award negotiations, and post-award requirements. Applicants must review both the NOFO Part 1 and the NOFO Part 2 prior to applying. To facilitate navigation, you will find links throughout this document to additional information found in Part 2.

There are several required one-time actions applicants must take before applying to this NOFO. Some of these actions may take several weeks, so it is vital applicants build in enough time to complete them. Failure to complete these actions could interfere with application or negotiation deadlines or the ability to receive an award if selected. If you have previously completed the necessary registrations, make sure your registration is active and up to date. All registrations are free. Please refer to NOFO Part 2, Get Registered, for additional information.

Section I: Basic Information

Before You Begin

This announcement is published in conjunction with NOFO Part 2 version 1.0.

Section I: Basic Information

I. Basic Information

Key Facts

KEY DATES

Notice of Funding Opportunity Issue Date:

January 10, 2025

Informational Webinar:

January 22, 2025

Concept Paper Deadline:

3/14/2025, 5PM ET

Application Deadline:

5/30/2025, 5PM ET

Anticipated Selection Notification Date:

October 2025

Anticipated Award Date:

January 2026

Estimated Period of Performance:

January 2026 – December 2028

Issuing Agency

Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Bioenergy Technologies Office

Funding Opportunity Number

DE-FOA-0003518

Funding Instrument

Cooperative Agreements

Assistance Listing Number

81.087

See section III.B, Program Goals and Objectives, for metrics and outcomes from this NOFO.

Topic Areas

Topic Area 1: Bio-based Chemicals Topic Area 2: Bio-based Propane/LPG

DOE/NNSA FFRDCs are eligible to participate as a subrecipient but are not eligible to apply as a recipient.

Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs are eligible to participate as a subrecipient but are not eligible to apply as a recipient.

Federal agencies and instrumentalities (other than DOE) are eligible to participate as a subrecipient but are not eligible to apply as a recipient.

1. Funding Details

Multiple Topic Areas Approximate total available funding including all topic areas: Up to $23,000,000* in FY25

*Subject to availability of appropriations

Topic Area 1: Bio-based Chemicals

· Approximate total available funding: Up to $15,000,000 in FY25

· Approximate number of awards: 0-8

· Approximate dollar amount of individual awards: $1,000,000 - $2,500,000 (Federal Share)

· Minimum cost share required: 20% (10% for Tribes and Tribal Nations)

· Approximate award project period: 36 months

· Anticipated length of budget periods: Budget period 1: 0-6 months, Budget period 2: 12-18 months, Budget period 3: 12-18 months

Topic Area 2: Bio-based Propane/LPG

· Approximate total available funding: Up to $8,000,000 in FY25

· Approximate number of awards: 0-4

· Approximate dollar amount of individual awards: $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 (Federal Share)

· Minimum cost share required: 20% (10% for Tribes and Tribal Nations)

· Approximate award project period: 36 months

· Anticipated length of budget periods: Budget period 1: 0-6 months, Budget period 2: 12-18 months, Budget period 3: 12-18 months

2. Period of Performance DOE anticipates making awards, comprised of multiple budget periods. If applicable, project continuation will be contingent upon DOE’s Go/No-Go decision. For a complete list and more information on the Go/No-Go review, see the NOFO Part 2, Award Administration Information. Funding for all budget periods, including the initial budget period, is not guaranteed.

Executive Summary

Biofuels and bioproducts play a key role in enabling America’s leadership in clean energy technology, enhancing energy security and resilience, reducing emissions, and in creating economic value and equitable opportunities for all Americans. DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) supports research, development, and deployment of technologies that can mobilize domestic biomass and waste resources.

Through this Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC) NOFO, BETO seeks to continue to advance EERE’s goals and DOE’s commitment to pushing the frontiers of science and engineering and catalyzing clean energy jobs through RD&D. The NOFO supports the DOE Clean Fuels & Products Shot™ by supporting R&D of high potential chemicals from renewable biomass. The NOFO also supports the Industrial Heat Shot™ to develop new pathways to produce renewable propane and liquid petroleum gases (LPG) from a variety of biomass and waste resources. Both topic areas also support goals found in the Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap, which outlines numerous priorities for reducing industrial sector emissions in the most cost-effective manner, and the BETO Multi Year Program Plan, which highlights priorities for the production of chemicals, products, and fuels.

This NOFO contains two topic areas. Topic Area 1 focuses on the development of bio-based chemicals. Topic Area 2 focuses on the development of pathways for bio-based propane and liquid petroleum gases (LPG). Up to $23M is available across both topic areas.

Agency Contact Information Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave SW Washington, D.C. 20585

For questions relating to this specific NOFO, please send emails to sparcnofo@hq.doe.gov.

DISCLAIMER: Applicants are discouraged from submitting information considered proprietary unless it is deemed essential for proper evaluation of the application. If the application contains information that the applicant organization considers to be trade secrets, information that is commercial or financial, or information that is privileged or confidential, the pages containing that information must be identified as specified in the application instructions. When such information is included in the application, it will be withheld from public disclosure to the extent permitted by law, including the Freedom of Information Act, with the understanding that the information will be used or disclosed only for evaluation of the application. The information contained in the application will be protected by DOE from unauthorized disclosure, consistent with the need for merit review of applications of financial assistance awards to assure the integrity of the competitive process and the accuracy and completeness of the information. If a federal financial assistance award is made as a result of or in connection with an application, the federal government has the right to use or disclose the information to the extent authorized by law. This restriction does not limit the federal government’s right to use the information if it is obtained without restriction from another source.

Section III: Program Description

II. Eligibility

To be considered for substantive evaluation, an applicant’s submission must meet the criteria set forth below. If the application does not meet these eligibility requirements, it will be considered ineligible and removed from further evaluation and ineligible for any award. DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which applications to this NOFO must be submitted. The decision whether to apply in response to this NOFO lies solely with the applicant. The information included here is specific to eligibility requirements for this NOFO. For eligibility requirements applicable to all NOFOs, please consult the NOFO Part 2, Eligibility.

1. Eligible Applicants To be considered for substantive evaluation, an applicant’s submission must meet the criteria set forth below. If the application does not meet these eligibility requirements, it will be considered ineligible and removed from further evaluation.

Domestic Entities Domestic entities are eligible to apply as recipients or subrecipients. The following types of domestic entities are eligible to participate as a recipient or subrecipient of this NOFO:

· Institutions of higher education;

· For-profit organization;

· Nonprofit organization;

· State and local governmental entities; and

· Indian Tribes, as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, 25 U.S.C. § 5304[footnoteRef:2] [2: “Indian Tribe,” for the purposes of this NOFO and as defined in in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. § 5304), means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C. § 1601, et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. Federally Recognized Indian Tribes are also considered disadvantaged communities for the purposes of Justice40 requirements in this NOFO per https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf.]

DOE/NNSA FFRDCs are eligible to participate as a subrecipient but are not eligible to apply as a recipient.

To qualify as a domestic entity, the entity must be organized, chartered, or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States or under the laws of the United States; have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States.

Foreign Entity Participation In general, foreign entities are not eligible to apply as either a recipient or subrecipient. In limited circumstances, DOE may approve a waiver to allow a foreign entity to participate as a recipient or subrecipient.

A foreign entity may submit an application to this NOFO, but the application must be accompanied by an explicit written waiver request. Likewise, if the applicant seeks to include a foreign entity as a subrecipient, the applicant must submit a separate explicit written waiver request in the application for each proposed foreign subrecipient. Please see NOFO Part 2, Application Content Requirements for the requirements for submission of a foreign entity waiver request. The applicant does not have the right to appeal DOE’s decision concerning a waiver request.

Recipients must only be legally formed in the United States and have a physical location for business operations in the United States.

Entities that are organized, chartered, or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of the United States or a particular state or territory of the United States and have a physical location for business operations in the United States are eligible to apply for funding as a recipient or subrecipient.

Foreign Entity Participation A foreign entity is eligible to apply for funding as a recipient if it designates in the application a subsidiary or affiliate incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a state or territory of the United States to be the recipient. The application must state the nature of the corporate relationship between the foreign entity and domestic subsidiary or affiliate.

Foreign entities may request a waiver of the requirement to designate a subsidiary in the United States as the recipient in the application (i.e., a foreign entity may request that it be the recipient). To do so, the applicant must submit an explicit written waiver request in the application.

NOFO Part 2, Application Content Requirements lists the information that must be included in a request to waive this requirement. The applicant does not have the right to appeal DOE’s decision concerning a waiver request.

Participant Limitations Participation of the following entities are limited as follows.

· DOE FFRDCs[footnoteRef:3] are eligible to participate as a subrecipient but are not eligible to apply as a recipient. [3: FFRDCs are public-private partnerships that conduct research for the U.S. government. A listing of FFRDCs can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdclist/.

· Non-DOE FFRDCs are eligible to participate as a subrecipient but are not eligible to apply as a recipient.

· Federal agencies and instrumentalities (other than DOE) are eligible to participate as a subrecipient but are typically not eligible to apply as a recipient.

Performance of Work in the United States All work for the awards under this NOFO must be performed in the United States. To request a waiver of this requirement, the applicant must submit an explicit waiver request in the application. Absent an approved waiver, such costs will not be allowable under the award. The NOFO Part 2, Application Content Requirements lists the requirements for submission of a foreign work waiver request.

Ineligible Participants The following entities are ineligible for participation in this NOFO as a recipient, subrecipient, or subcontractor.

· In accordance with 2 CFR 200.214, entities banned from doing business with the U.S. government such as entities debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participating in federal programs.

· Entities identified on Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control Treasury’s Sanctions Program Specially Designated Nationals list are prohibited from doing business with the United States government and are not eligible. See OFAC - Sanctions List Service (treas.gov).

· Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are not eligible to apply for funding.

Entity of Concern Prohibition Entities of Concern are prohibited from participating in projects selected under this NOFO (see NOFO Part 2, Eligibility, Other Eligibility Information, Entity of Concern Prohibition section for details and definitions).

1. Limitation on Number of Concept Papers and Applications Eligible for Review An entity may submit more than one concept paper and associated application to this NOFO provided that each describes a unique, scientifically distinct project concept and an eligible concept paper was submitted for each Full Application.

1. Cost Sharing Applicants are expected to follow through on estimated cost share commitments proposed in their applications if selected for award negotiations. Please refer to the NOFO Part 2, Eligibility for more information on Cost Sharing.

1. Cost Share Requirements The cost share must be at least 20% of the total project costs[footnoteRef:4] for research and development.[footnoteRef:5] [4: Total project costs are the sum of the government share, including FFRDC costs if applicable, and the recipient share of project costs.] [5: Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. 109-58, sec. 988. Also see 2 CFR 200.306 and 2 CFR 910.130 for additional cost sharing requirements.]

Tribes and Tribal Nation applicants are required to provide only a minimum 10% cost share pursuant to EERE’s blanket cost share reduction applicable to NOFOs issued after October 3, 2024, entitled Determination to Reduce Non-Federal Cost Share Requirements for Tribes and Tribal Nations Applying for Funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Applications that do not meet the minimum required cost share will be deemed ineligible during the initial compliance review and will not be further reviewed. The cost share must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law.

The cost share percentage is calculated by dividing the cost share by the total allowable project costs for the award where the total allowable project costs include government share (including FFRDC costs if applicable) and cost share. To help applicants calculate proper cost share amounts, DOE has included a cost share information sheet and sample cost share calculation in the NOFO Part 2, Eligibility—Cost Sharing, Cost Share Calculation Examples.

1. FFRDC Eligibility Criteria

1. DOE and Non-DOE FFRDCs as a Subrecipient As long as they have no conflict, DOE and non-DOE FFRDCs may be proposed as a subrecipient on another entity’s application subject to the following guidelines:

Authorization for non-DOE FFRDCs The federal agency sponsoring the FFRDC must authorize in writing the use of the FFRDC on the proposed project and this authorization must be submitted with the application. The use of a FFRDC must be consistent with its authority under its award.

Authorization for DOE FFRDCs The cognizant Contracting Officer for the FFRDC must authorize in writing the use of the FFRDC on the proposed project and this authorization must be submitted with the application. The following wording is acceptable for this authorization:

Authorization is granted for the Laboratory to participate in the proposed project. The work proposed for the Laboratory is consistent with or complementary to the missions of the Laboratory and will not adversely impact execution of the DOE assigned programs at the Laboratory.

The value of and funding for the FFRDC portion of the work will not normally be included in the award. DOE FFRDCs participating as a subrecipient on a project will be funded directly through the DOE Work Authorization process in accordance with DOE O 412.1A. Non-DOE FFRDCs participating as a subrecipient will be funded through an interagency agreement with the sponsoring agency.

Although the FFRDC portion of the work is excluded from the award, the applicant’s cost share requirement will be based on the total cost of the project, including the applicant’s, the subrecipient’s, and the FFRDC’s portions of the project.

All DOE FFRDCs are required to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement[footnoteRef:6] (CRADA) or, if the role of the DOE FFRDC is limited to technical assistance and intellectual property is not anticipated to be generated from the DOE FFRDC’s work, a Technical Assistance Agreement (TAA), with at least the recipient. A fully executed CRADA or TAA must be in place or be compliant with a Master Scope of Work process prior to the FFRDC starting work directly allocable to the FA award. [6: A cooperative research and development agreement is a contractual agreement between a national laboratory contractor and a private company or university to work together on research and development. For more information, see https://www.energy.gov/gc/downloads/doe-cooperative-research-and-development-agreements]

A CRADA is used to ensure accountability for project work and provide the appropriate management of IP, e.g., data protection and background IP. A Data Management Plan is not suited for this purpose.

C. Responsibility The recipient will be the responsible authority regarding the settlement and satisfaction of all contractual and administrative issues, including but not limited to disputes and claims arising out of any agreement between the recipient and the FFRDC.

Section II: Eligibility

The FFRDC effort, in aggregate, shall not exceed 50% of the total project cost.

III. Program Description

1. Program Purpose The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) advances applied research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects to support the adoption and commercialization of energy innovations across a range of technologies and sectors. These innovations power our grid with low-carbon renewable energy, enable sustainable transportation and fuels, reduce energy consumption and emissions from our buildings and industries, and drive growth and improvement in domestic manufacturing and supply chains.

EERE is issuing Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) DE-FOA-0003518 on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). BETO supports the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of technologies that mobilize renewable carbon resources across the U.S. economy. BETO works to develop innovative solutions to enable an economically secure domestic bioeconomy, increasing global competitiveness, while reducing environmental impacts through:

1) Developing innovative technology pathways for affordable fuels and products,

2) Advancing clean energy sources, and

3) Generating domestic jobs to support the growth of the U.S. bioeconomy.

Through this SPARC NOFO, BETO seeks to continue to advance EERE’s goals and DOE’s commitment to pushing the frontiers of science and engineering and catalyzing clean energy jobs through RD&D. The NOFO supports the DOE Clean Fuels & Products Shot™ by supporting R&D of high potential chemicals from renewable biomass. The NOFO also supports the Industrial Heat Shot™ to develop new pathways to produce renewable propane and liquid petroleum gases (LPG) from a variety of biomass and waste resources. Both topic areas also support goals found in the Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap, which outlines numerous priorities for reducing industrial sector emissions in the most cost-effective manner, and the Multi-year Program Plan, which highlights priorities for the production of chemicals, products, and fuels.

1. Program Goals and Objectives This SPARC NOFO supports BETO’s R&D priorities in the areas of Conversion R&D. Specifically, it supports research and development of domestic chemicals and fuels from a variety of biomass and waste resources. Producing chemicals and propane/liquid petroleum gas (LPG) from renewable feedstocks helps to safeguard domestic supply chains, secure energy independence, support rural economies, and improve global competitiveness of the industry.

The chemical industry is fundamental to American manufacturing, with more than 96% of U.S. goods manufactured using products from the chemical sector.[footnoteRef:7] The U.S. is the world’s second-largest chemicals producer, and the sector directly employs over half a million people.[footnoteRef:8] Increasing U.S. production of chemicals through bio-based chemical production will help boost American competitiveness in the global chemical industry as well as in the key emerging areas of biotechnology and biomanufacturing. Investment in innovative lower-cost production pathways can further enable re-shoring of American chemical manufacturing and reduce reliance on other countries for essential chemical products. In addition, the use of domestic biomass resources for chemicals will help support resilient domestic supply chains and grow rural economies. When considering the energy used for both feedstocks and heat and power, the chemical industry is the largest single energy user and emissions producer in the U.S. industrial sector.[footnoteRef:9] Increasing bio-based chemical production can also support sustainable growth of the industry by increasing energy efficiency and reducing harmful emissions. [7: https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/chemical-sector-profile] [8: https://www.americanchemistry.com/media/files/acc/chemistry-in-america/data-industry-statistics/the-business-of-chemistry-by-the-numbers/files/business-of-chemistry-by-the-numbers.] [9: https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/]

BETO held a Conversion Engines workshop in September 2024 to solicit feedback on potential future research areas. The feedback received from the sessions on industrial chemicals suggested that a key barrier to the commercialization of bio-based chemicals is understanding and meeting downstream requirements and performance for new production processes that involve multiple partners along the value chain. This issue can include achieving sufficient purity and removal of contaminants that may be harmful to further processing or formulation steps or detrimental to final product performance.

The SPARC NOFO also supports U.S. production of sustainable propane fuel. According to the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, 4.2% of US households use propane as the primary heating fuel with 7.8% of homes in the Midwest using propane as the primary heating fuel.[footnoteRef:10] Rural households used 80% of all U.S. propane consumption (3.4 billion gallons in 2020).[footnoteRef:11] Propane and LPG as fuels provide a unique value proposition compared to other biofuels. Unlike biogas or renewable natural gas, propane/LPG does not require pipeline access for distribution, allowing its use in rural and remote communities that are otherwise present access challenges. These applications include home heating/cooling, as a transportation fuel, and for local/microgrid electricity production. Further development of pathways that can produce renewable propane/LPG would result in lower energy costs for households and end-users that rely on this as a source of fuel. Thus, there are numerous benefits to the use of renewable propane/LPG. [10: https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2020/c&e/pdf/ce2.1.pdf] [11: https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2020/c&e/pdf/ce4.1.pdf]

Detailed technical descriptions of the specific Topic Areas are provided in the sections that follow.

1. Expected Performance Goals

Topic Area 1: Bio-based Chemicals By the conclusion of the project (if selected), projects are expected to achieve the following outcomes:

· Production of a sufficient quantity of chemical product at a purity level appropriate for product or formulation testing. This quantity must be defined and justified by the applicant for the specific chemical and product application, and it must support the proposed performance testing plan. This quantity should, however, be a minimum of 1 kg.

· Completion of initial performance testing for the chemical product or formulation demonstrating acceptable performance for the target end application. The specific tests and their significance must be defined and justified by the applicant for the specific chemical and product application. If an appropriate industry standard specification (ex. ASTM) exists for the chemical product or application, the applicant should complete testing to demonstrate performance that meets the specification.

· Reduction in net life cycle greenhouse gas emissions relative to the conventional incumbent chemical of at least 70% by the end of the project.

Topic Area 2: Bio-based Propane/LPG By the conclusion of the project (if selected), projects are expected to achieve the following outcomes:

All Topic Area 2 projects:

· Finished Propane/LPG that meets ASTM D1835 specifications

· System energy consumption of no more than 50% of the higher heating value of the finished propane/LPG

· Reduction in net life cycle greenhouse gas emissions relative to fossil propane/LPG of at least 70%

· Quantification of the process emissions including, at a minimum, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, particulate emissions, and methane

Subtopic Area 2a must, in addition, achieve the following outcome:

· System time-on stream of at least 500 cumulative hours

Subtopic Area 2b must, in addition, achieve the following outcome:

· Catalyst time-on stream of at least 500 continuous hours

1. Teaming Partner List DOE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of project teams for this NOFO. The Teaming Partner List allows organizations that may wish to participate on a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships.

The Teaming Partner List will be available on eXCHANGE and will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who provide their organization’s information.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: View the Teaming Partner List by visiting the eXCHANGE homepage and clicking on “Teaming Partners” within the left-hand navigation pane. This page allows users to view published Teaming Partner Lists. To join the Teaming Partner List, submit a request within eXCHANGE. Select the appropriate Teaming Partner List from the drop-down menu, and fill in the following information: Investigator Name, Organization Name, Organization Type, Topic Area, Background and Capabilities, Website, Contact Address, Contact Email, and Contact Phone.

DISCLAIMER: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By facilitating the Teaming Partner List, DOE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. DOE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

1. Topic Areas

Topic Area 1: Bio-based Chemicals Producing chemicals from renewable feedstocks helps to secure domestic supply chains, support rural economies, and improve sustainability in the industry. Importantly, the U.S. already has significant biomanufacturing capacity for ethanol which can be built upon to produce a broader slate of chemical end-products. However, adoption of new chemical production pathways is challenging due to complex supply chains with many different stakeholders and the need for extensive product quality testing for new processes.

Topic Area 1 will support development and adoption of new production methods for value-added chemicals from biomass. Chemical products produced in significant volume in the U.S. or globally from a variety of biomass and waste feedstocks are of interest. The focus of this topic area is on producing direct replacement chemicals (i.e. the same chemical molecules as those currently produced at large volumes), rather than functional replacement chemicals with different chemistries. By the conclusion of a project, the project must produce a sufficient quantity of the target chemical from real feedstocks and complete feasibility testing in collaboration with relevant manufacturing and downstream partners in the value chain. Project teams should represent the chemical value chain and must include a formulator and/or end user partner as part of the team.

Topic Area 1 Specific Areas of Interest Specific areas of interest for Topic Area 1 include, but are not limited to:

· Technologies that can be scaled through the utilization or modification of existing U.S. ethanol fermentation infrastructure

· Technologies that produce 3-hydroxypropionic acid

· Technologies that use whole-kernel corn as a feedstock

· Technologies that combine biological and chemical processes

Topic Area 1 Specific Requirements

· Applicants must include baseline techno-economic and life cycle analysis (TEA/LCA) as part of their application.

· Applicants must estimate improvements to cost and net life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that would result from the proposed technology if successful. Applicants must describe relevant assumptions and data that support the estimate.

· Applicants must include a formulator and/or an end user partner as part of their project team.

· Applicants must produce a chemical product that is currently made in the U.S. at 0.5 MMT/year or more and/or globally at 1 MMT/year or more.

· Applicants must clearly identify the targeted chemical product.

· Applicants must clearly identify the chosen eligible bio-based feedstock. Information on eligible feedstocks can be found in Appendix A.

Topic Area 1 Metrics and Outcomes By the conclusion of the project (if selected), projects are expected to achieve the following outcomes:

· Production of a sufficient quantity of chemical product at a purity level appropriate for product or formulation testing. This quantity must be defined and justified by the applicant for the specific chemical and product application, and it must support the proposed performance testing plan. This quantity should, however, be a minimum of 1 kg.

· Completion of initial performance testing for the chemical product or formulation demonstrating acceptable performance for the target end application. The specific tests and their significance must be defined and justified by the applicant for the specific chemical and product application. If an appropriate industry standard specification (ex. ASTM) exists for the chemical product or application, the applicant should complete testing to demonstrate a performance that meets the specification.

· Reduction in net life cycle greenhouse gas emissions relative to the conventional incumbent chemical of at least 70% by the end of the project.

Topic Area 1 Applications Specifically Nots of Interest The following types of applications will be deemed nonresponsive and will not be reviewed or considered (Please also refer to the Responsiveness Review section below):

· Applications that fall outside the technical parameters specified in Background and Context above and the Topic Areas section above.

· Applications for proposed technologies that are not based on sound scientific principles (e.g., violates the laws of thermodynamics).

· Applications that utilize feedstocks other than those eligible feedstocks as set forth in Appendix A.

· Applications that produce specialty chemicals or pharmaceuticals.

· Applications that produce functional replacement chemicals that are chemically different from those currently produced at the target scale (U.S. production at 0.5 MMT/year or more and/or global production at 1 MMT/year or more).

· Applications that use model compounds as opposed to real feedstocks.

Topic Area 2: Bio-based Propane/LPG

Topic Area 2 seeks to pursue new pathways for the production of sustainable liquefied propane and/or petroleum gases (LPG) from a variety of feedstocks including municipal waste, agricultural residues, forest resources, and fats, oils, and grease.

Subtopic Area 2a: Gaseous Intermediate Upgrading to LPG Gaseous conversion routes are viewed as a promising precursor to producing LPG. Subtopic 2a seeks to mature pathways that can convert various gaseous intermediates including biogas, carbon dioxide, and syngas, into LPG. Many of these gaseous intermediates are readily available and can offer near term opportunities for technology development and deployment. By the conclusion of these projects, they should be ready for pre-pilot testing and integration of these processes.

Subtopic Area 2b: Intermediate Energy Crop Conversion to LPG Nearly all renewable propane/LPG currently produced is a co-product of the hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) process at renewable diesel or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facilities that utilize fats, oils, and greases as feedstocks. However, these feedstocks (yellow grease, animal fats, soybean oil) are, or are very nearly, fully utilized. To realize sustainable fuel production goals, new oil seeds are actively being developed, and compatibility with HEFA catalysts is critical to ensuring that existing refineries can utilize them. Subtopic Area 2b will improve and optimize catalyst performance for these ‘emerging oil seeds’ and accelerate the introduction of these new oil seeds to market. Applicants, therefore, must start with engineered forms of catalyst for these projects as opposed to developing new catalysts. Project teams must include a catalyst manufacturer as part of their team. By the conclusion of these projects, recipients should be ready for pilot-testing of these catalysts and feedstocks for larger volume propane/LPG production.

Subtopic Area 2b is complementary to the ongoing BETO Renewable Carbon Resources Regional Biomass Resource Hub Initiative, in which several entities are growing and developing supply chains for these intermediate energy crops, specifically emerging oil seeds including carinata, camelina, and pennycress. Subtopic Area 2b will also support co-processing efforts which are a near term opportunity for expanding SAF production volumes.

Topic Area 2 Specific Areas of Interest

· Small-scale or modular technologies for conversion of gaseous intermediates to propane/LPG

· Technologies that can be deployed in rural and/or remote communities

· Catalytic technologies that can accept additional oil-seed crops, especially camelina, carinata, pennycress, and oil producing annual cover crops

Topic Area 2 Specific Requirements

· Applicants must include baseline techno-economic, life cycle analysis (TEA/LEA) as part of their technical volume

· Applicants must include the baseline system energy consumption of their process as part of their application

· Applicants must include a catalyst manufacturer as part of their project team

· Applicants must utilize engineered forms of catalyst for these projects

· Applicants must utilize an eligible feedstock. Information on eligible feedstocks can be found in Appendix A

Topic Area 2 Metrics and Outcomes By the conclusion of the project (if selected), projects are expected to achieve the following outcomes:

All Topic Area 2 projects:

· Finished Propane/LPG that meets ASTM D1835 specifications

· System energy consumption of no more than 50% of the higher heating value of the finished propane/LPG

· Reduction in net life cycle greenhouse gas emissions relative to fossil propane/LPG of at least 70%

· Quantification of the process emissions including, at a minimum, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, particulate emissions, and methane.

Subtopic Area 2a must, in addition, achieve the following outcome:

· System time-on stream of at least 500 cumulative hours

Subtopic Area 2b must, in addition, achieve the following outcome:

· Catalyst time-on stream of at least 500 continuous hours Topic Area 2 Applications Specifically Nots of Interest The following types of applications will be deemed nonresponsive and will not be reviewed or considered (Please also refer to the Responsiveness Review section below):

· Applications that fall outside the technical parameters specified in Background and Context above and the Topic Areas section above.

· Applications for proposed technologies that are not based on sound scientific principles (e.g., violates the laws of thermodynamics).

· Applications that utilize feedstocks other than those eligible feedstocks as set forth in Appendix A.

· Applications that use model compounds (e.g. model oils or gas streams) as opposed to real feedstocks.

1. Applications Specifically Not of Interest The following types of applications will be deemed nonresponsive and will not be reviewed or considered (Please also refer to the Responsiveness Review section below):

· Applications that fall outside the technical parameters specified in Background and Context above and the Topic Areas section above.

· Applications for proposed technologies that are not based on sound scientific principles (e.g., violates the laws of thermodynamics).

· Applications that utilize feedstocks other than those eligible feedstocks as set forth in Appendix A.

Topic Area 1

· Applications that produce specialty chemicals or pharmaceuticals.

· Applications that produce functional replacement chemicals that are chemically different from those currently produced at the target scale (U.S. production at 0.5 MMT/year or more and/or global production at 1 MMT/year or more).

· Applications that use model compounds as opposed to real feedstocks.

Topic Area 2

· Applications that use model compounds (e.g. model oils or gas streams) as opposed to real feedstocks.

1. Statement of Substantial Involvement DOE anticipates awarding cooperative agre(ements under this NOFO, which include a statement of DOE’s “substantial involvement” in the work performed under the resulting awards. For cooperative agreements, DOE does not limit its involvement to the administrative requirements of the award. Instead, DOE has substantial involvement in the direction and redirection of the technical aspects of the project. DOE’s substantial involvement in resulting awards may include the following:

1. DOE shares responsibility with the recipient for the management, control, direction, and performance of the project.

1. DOE may intervene in the conduct or performance of work under this award for programmatic reasons. Intervention includes the interruption or modification of the conduct or performance of project activities.

1. DOE may redirect or discontinue funding the project based on the outcome of DOE’s evaluation of the project at the Go/No-Go decision point(s).

1. DOE participates in major project decision-making processes.

1. Statutory Authority The programmatic authorizing statute is Energy Policy Act (EPAct) 2005, Pub. L. 109-58, § 931 as codified at 42 U.S.C. § 16231; EPAct 2005 § 932, as codified at 42 U.S.C § 16232.

Awards made under this announcement will fall under the purview of 2 CFR Part 200 as adopted and supplemented by 2 CFR Part 910.

IV. Application Content and Form

This section includes application information specific to this NOFO Part 1. Refer to the NOFO Part 2, Application Content and Form for standard information that applies to all DOE NOFOs such as formatting and content requirements, and funding restrictions.

1. Summary The application process includes [If applicable, enter multiple] submission phases: letter of intent, concept paper, application, and to reviewer comments.

1. Concept Paper Each concept paper must be limited to a single concept, technology, or project.