DE-FOA-0003665_Part_1.pdf

Financial Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity

Part 1

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC) FY 2027 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number: DE-FOA-0003665

Pre-application / Letter of Intent Due: A pre-application is required for consideration by certain review panels. A pre-application is optional for all other submissions.

Application due: This NOFO will remain open until September 30, 2027, or until replaced by a successor NOFO. Applications may be submitted any time during that period. Individual topics in this NOFO may have scheduled review panels. Applications submitted after the panel’s acceptance date may be held until the next review panel.

Table of Contents

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Navigating the Notice of Funding Opportunity

I. BASIC INFORMATION

A. Key Facts

1. Funding Details

2. Period of Performance

B. Executive Summary C. Agency Contact Information

II. ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligible Applicants

1. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories

2. Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs

3. Other Federal Agencies

4. Ineligible Participants

B. Other Eligibility Requirements and Limitations C. Cost Sharing

1. Cost Share Requirements

2. Unallowable Cost Share Sources

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Background and Context

1. Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR)

2. Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

3. Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

4. Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

5. High Energy and Nuclear Physics (HENP)

6. Isotope R&D and Production (IRP)

B. Program Goals, Objectives, and Priorities C. Expected Performance Goals D. Applications Specifically Not of Interest E. Statutory Authority

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F. Program History

IV. APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORM

A. Preliminary Submissions

1. Letter of Intent (LOI)

2. Pre-application

B. Application C. Component Pieces of the Application

1. SF-424 (R&R)

2. Research and Related Other Project Information

3. Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded)

4. Research And Related Budget

5. R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form

6. Project/Performance Site Location(s)

7. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)

8. Identification of Merit Reviewer Conflicts

9. Summary of Required Forms/Files

D. Information that Must be Submitted After Application but Before Award E. Use and Disclosure of Application Information

V. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

A. Address to Request Application Package B. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

1. Requirement for System for Award Management

2. Requirement for Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

C. Submission Instructions D. Submission Dates and Times

1. Letter of Intent Due Date

2. Pre-application Due Date

3. Application Due Date

E. Intergovernmental Review

VI. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Standards for Application Evaluation B. Responsiveness Review C. Review Criteria

1. Compliance Criteria

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2. Technical Review Criteria D. Review and Selection Process E. Other Selection Factors

VII. SELECTION AND AWARD NOTICES

VIII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

1. Government Rights in Data

IX. OTHER INFORMATION

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Notice of Funding Opportunity, Part 1

Before You Begin Navigating the Notice of Funding Opportunity

To reduce the burden on applicants in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process and limit the length of the NOFO information requests, we separated the NOFO into two parts.

The NOFO Part 1 describes the Department of Energy (DOE) program goals and evaluation criteria, eligibility, and other components specific to each funding opportunity.

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. You must review both parts before applying. To assist you in the process, you will find references throughout this document to additional information in Part 2.

You must also take several one-time actions before applying. Some of these actions may take several weeks, so be sure to allow yourself enough time to complete them. If you don’t complete all required steps, it could interfere with application and negotiation deadlines or your ability to receive an award if selected. If you already completed these one-time registrations, make sure they are active and up to date. All registrations are free. You can find additional information about registration in NOFO Part 2, Get Registered.

Hyperlinks are provided for the applicant’s ease of reference. Links, and the information contained in them, may change over time. It is up to an individual applicant to make sure that they have the current information that is contained in the links.

This announcement is published with NOFO Part 2 Version 4.1. Part 2 will be posted with this NOFO at https://pamspublic.science.energy.gov, https://grants.gov, and https://science.osti.gov/grants/FOAs/open.

P94#y P94#y

P94#y3 P94#y4

P94#y5 P94#y6 https://pamspublic.science.energy.gov/ https://grants.gov/ https://science.osti.gov/grants/FOAs/open

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I. Basic Information

Key Facts

Issuing Agency Department of Energy, Office of Science

Funding Opportunity Title

FY 2027 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program

Announcement Version Initial

Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003665

Funding Instrument

Grants, Cooperative Agreements, Interagency Agreements, or Other Transaction Authority (OTA) awards, including Technology Investment Agreements (TIAs)

Expected Total Available Funding

Approximately $400,000,000 in current and future fiscal year funds, subject to the availability of future appropriations Assistance Listing

Number and Name 81.049, Office of Science Financial Assistance

Program

Announcement Type Research and Development (R&D)

1. Funding Details

The award size will depend on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds.

2. Period of Performance

We anticipate making awards with a project period of six months to five years, with a most common project period of three years.

Continuation funding (funding for the second and subsequent budget periods) is contingent on: (1) availability of funds appropriated by Congress and future year budget authority; (2) progress towards meeting the objectives of the approved application; (3) submission of required reports; and (4) compliance with the terms and conditions of the award.

Award Budget Periods

Office of Science (SC) is committed to distributing workloads (internally and externally) across as much of the calendar as is practical. Accordingly, awards made under this NOFO will generally be made with budget periods that end between December 1 and June 30. New awards

Version 4.1 Page 7 of 130 may be made with a first budget period of more than 12 months. Renewal awards may be made with first budget periods that may be longer or shorter than 12 months.

Applicants should prepare 12-month budgets. Actual start dates and cycle dates will be negotiated if an application is recommended for award. Budget periods will generally not be made for less than nine months or more than 18 months.

Executive Summary

SC hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving applications for support of work in the following program areas:

• Advanced Scientific Computing Research

• Basic Energy Sciences

• Biological and Environmental Research

• Fusion Energy Sciences

• High Energy and Nuclear Physics

• Isotope R&D and Production.

On September 3, 1992, DOE published in the Federal Register the Office of Energy

Research Financial Assistance Program (now called the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program), 10 C.F.R. part 605, as a Final Rule, which contained a solicitation for this program.

Information about submitting applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluation and selection processes and other policies and procedures are specified in 10 C.F.R. part 605.

This NOFO is our annual open solicitation that covers all research areas in SC and is open throughout the fiscal year (FY). Any research within SC’s congressionally authorized mission may be proposed under this NOFO.

This NOFO will remain open until September 30, 2027, 11:59 PM Eastern Time, or until it is succeeded by another issuance, whichever occurs first.

Agency Contact Information

Grants.gov Customer Support

800-518-4726 (toll-free) support@Grants.gov

PAMS

Customer Support

855-818-1846 (toll-free) 301-903-9610 PAMS-helpdesk@doe.gov

Technical/Scientific Program Contact

Questions regarding the program technical requirements must be directed to the point of contact listed for each program area within this NOFO.

Administrative Contact (questions about budgets and eligibility) sc.opencall@doe.gov mailto:support@grants.gov mailto:PAMS-helpdesk@doe.gov mailto:sc.opencall@doe.gov

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II. Eligibility

To be considered, your submission must meet the criteria set forth below. If your application does not meet these eligibility requirements, it will be removed from consideration for any award. DOE will not determine eligibility for potential applicants before the application due date. The information in this document is specific to this NOFO. You can find the eligibility requirements that apply to all NOFOs in NOFO Part 2, Eligibility.

Eligible Applicants

All types of applicants are eligible to apply, except nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995.

Federally affiliated1 entities must adhere to the eligibility standards below:

1. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories2

DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) National Laboratories are not eligible to submit applications under this NOFO but may be proposed as subrecipients under another organization’s application. If recommended for funding as a proposed subrecipient, the value of the proposed subaward will be removed from the prime applicant’s award and will be provided to the laboratory through the DOE Field-Work Proposal System and work will be conducted under the laboratory’s contract with DOE. No administrative provisions of this NOFO will apply to the laboratory or any laboratory subcontractor. Additional instructions for securing authorization from the cognizant Contracting Officer are found in Part 2 of this NOFO.

2. Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs

Non-DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are eligible to submit applications (either as a lead organization or as a team member in a multi-institutional team) under this NOFO and may be proposed as subrecipients under another organization’s application. If recommended for funding as a lead applicant or a team member, funding will be provided through an interagency agreement award to the FFRDC’s sponsoring Federal agency. If recommended for funding as a proposed subrecipient, the value of the proposed subaward may be removed from the prime applicant’s award and may be provided

1 Institutions that are not DOE/NNSA National Laboratories, a non-DOE/NNSA FFRDC, or another Federal agency are not Federally affiliated, even if they receive Federal funds or perform work under a Federal award or contract.

2 The phrase “National Laboratories” is used broadly to encompass DOE/NNSA laboratories and sites capable of performing the work described in this NOFO and capable of receiving funds through the DOE Field Work System.

Version 4.1 Page 9 of 130 through an interagency agreement award to the FFRDC’s sponsoring Federal agency. Additional instructions for securing authorization from the cognizant Contracting Officer are found in Part 2 of this NOFO.

3. Other Federal Agencies

Other Federal agencies are eligible to submit applications (either as a lead organization or as a team member in a multi-institutional team) under this NOFO and may be proposed as subrecipients under another organization’s application. If recommended for funding as a lead applicant or a team member, funding will be provided through an interagency agreement award.

If recommended for funding as a proposed subrecipient, the value of the proposed subaward may be removed from the prime applicant’s award and may be provided through an interagency agreement award. Additional instructions for providing statutory authorization are found in Part 2 of this NOFO.

Notes for applicants of all types:

• Individuals not affiliated with a research institution should ensure that their applications demonstrate that they possess the skills, abilities, and resources to successfully accomplish the objectives of this NOFO.

• For non-domestic applicants, successful applications include a detailed demonstration of how the applicant possesses the skills, resources, and abilities that do not exist among potential domestic applicants.

This NOFO does not support an applicant’s commercial activity. This NOFO supports basic research to advance understanding rather than to address commercial opportunities. Applications that propose research related to current commercial activity or current customer needs may be declined without merit review. All for-profit applicants must include a description as an appendix to the Project Narrative, not to exceed 200 words, of how their proposed work will advance scientific understanding of a basic and fundamental nature.

4. Ineligible Participants

The following entities are ineligible for this NOFO as a recipient, subrecipient, or subcontractor:

• In accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 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 (2 C.F.R. § 200.214)

• Entities identified on the Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control Treasury’s Sanctions Program Specially Designated Nationals list (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 https://sanctionslist.ofac.treas.gov/Home/SdnList https://sanctionslist.ofac.treas.gov/Home/SdnList

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Entity of Concern Prohibition

Entities of Concern are prohibited from participating in projects under this NOFO. You can find details and definitions in NOFO Part 2, Eligibility, Other Eligibility Information, Entity of Concern Prohibition.

Other Eligibility Requirements and Limitations

Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as a Principal Investigator (PI) are invited to work with their organizations to develop an application.

Cost Sharing

Cost sharing for basic and fundamental research is not required pursuant to an exclusion from the requirements of Section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. For OTA awards, to the maximum extent practicable, non-Federal parties carrying out a research, development, and demonstration project under an OTA award are to provide at least 50% cost sharing.

Cost sharing is not required of DOE/NNSA National Laboratories, other Federal agencies, another Federal agency’s FFRDC, or their subcontractors at any tier.

DOE/NNSA National Laboratories, other Federal agencies, and another Federal agency’s FFRDC may impose cost-sharing requirements on their contractors subject to their policies and procedures.

Cost sharing will not be considered as a factor during merit review or award selection.

1. Cost Share Requirements

Cost sharing is not required for awards under 2 C.F.R. part 200 and 2 C.F.R. part 910.

Cost sharing is required for awards under 2 C.F.R. part 930.

2. Unallowable Cost Share Sources

The recipient or subrecipients may not use the following sources to meet cost share obligations, including but not limited to:

• Cost share derived from Federal sources (unless otherwise authorized by law).

• Cost share that does not meet:

o Requirements set forth in 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.306 and 910.130 o Cost principles set forth in 2 C.F.R. §§ 200.400-476 and 2 C.F.R. §§ 910.352 o Cost share derived from the DOE loan program o Revenues or royalties from the prospective operation of an activity beyond the project period o Proceeds from the prospective sale of an asset of an activity

Version 4.1 Page 11 of 130 o Federal funding or property (e.g., Federal grants, equipment owned by the Federal Government) o Expenditures that were reimbursed under a separate Federal program o Cash or in-kind contributions used to meet cost share requirements for another

Federal project or program o Existing data as an in-kind contribution (e.g., data owned by an entity that is not routinely sold commercially but is instead donated to the project and assigned a value)

III. Program Description

Background and Context

The DOE SC program hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving applications for support of work in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, High Energy and Nuclear Physics, and Isotope R&D and Production. This NOFO is our annual open solicitation that covers all research areas in SC and is open throughout the fiscal year. Any research within SC’s congressionally authorized mission may be proposed under this NOFO.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

1. Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR)

(a) Applied Mathematics

(b) Computer Science

(c) Computational Partnerships

(d) Advanced Computing Technologies

2. Basic Energy Sciences (BES) Materials Sciences and Engineering

(a) Materials Chemistry

(b) Biomolecular Materials

(c) Synthesis and Processing Science

(d) Experimental Condensed Matter Physics

(e) Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics

(f) Physical Behavior of Materials

(g) Mechanical Behavior and Radiation Effects

(h) Quantum Information Science in Materials Sciences and Engineering

(i) X-ray Scattering

(j) Neutron Scattering

(k) Electron and Scanning Probe Microscopies Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences

(l) Ultrafast Molecular and Optical Sciences

(m) Gas Phase Chemical Physics

(n) Computational and Theoretical Chemistry

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(o) Condensed Phase and Interfacial Molecular Science

(p) Molecular Quantum Information Science

(q) Catalysis Science

(r) Separation Science

(s) Heavy Element Chemistry

(t) Geosciences

(u) Photochemistry and Radiation Chemistry

(v) Photosynthetic Systems

(w) Physical Biosciences Scientific User Facilities

(x) BES Accelerator and Detector Research

3. Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

(a) Microbial Biosystems Design

(b) Classical and Quantum-enabled Bioimaging and Sensing

(c) Low Dose Radiation Research

4. Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

(a) Theory, Simulation, and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

(b) Fusion Materials and Internal Components

(c) Toroidal Long Pulse

(d) Compact Toroidal Concepts

(e) Inertial Fusion Energy

(f) Measurement Innovation

(g) Closing the Fusion Cycle: Fusion Nuclear Science

(h) Closing the Fusion Cycle: Enabling Research and Development

(i) Plasma Science and Technology – General Plasma Science

(j) Plasma Science and Technology – High Energy Density Physics

(k) Plasma Science and Technology – Microelectronics Research

(l) Plasma Science and Technology – Quantum Information Science

(m) Public-Private Partnerships

5. High Energy and Nuclear Physics (HENP)

(a) Experimental Research at the Energy Frontier in High Energy Physics

(b) Experimental Research at the Intensity Frontier in High Energy Physics

(c) Experimental Research at the Cosmic Frontier in High Energy Physics

(d) Theoretical Research in High Energy Physics

(e) Theoretical Research in Nuclear Physics

(f) Accelerator Science and Technology R&D in High Energy and Nuclear Physics

(g) Instrumentation and Detector R&D in High Energy and Nuclear Physics

(h) Computational Research in High Energy Physics

(i) Quantum Information Science for High Energy Physics Research

(j) Quantum Information Science for Nuclear Physics Research

(k) Accelerator Stewardship and Accelerator Development

(l) Experimental QCD

(m) Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics

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(n) Fundamental Symmetries

(o) Nuclear Data

6. Isotope R&D and Production (IRP)

(a) Novel Isotopes and Production Routes

(b) Targetry and Isotope Production Research

(c) Radio/Nuclear and Chemical Separation, Purification, and Synthesis

(d) Biological Tracers, Imaging, and Therapeutics

1. Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) Program website: https://science.osti.gov/ascr

The mission of the Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program is to advance applied mathematics and computer science, including artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum information science (QIS); deliver the most sophisticated computational scientific applications in partnership with disciplinary science; create first-of-a-kind advanced computing and networking capabilities for the Nation; and develop future generations of computing hardware and software tools for science and engineering in partnership with the research community, including U.S. industry.

ASCR’s research and facilities investments increase the capability, versatility, and efficiency of scientific computing through activities described by four thrusts.

• Breakthrough Tools and Technologies: ASCR enhances software, data processes, and AI for increasingly complex or resource intense modeling and simulation, including enabling the convergence of AI with QIS.

• Deep Understanding of AI and Physical Models: ASCR advances knowledge in core mathematical methods, algorithms, and data visualization and analytics that underlie all AI, scientific modelling, and numerical simulation.

• Enabling High-precision R&D: ASCR focuses on concurrently advancing applied math and computer science knowledge with disciplinary science in critical areas such as fusion energy and material science.

• Hardware Innovation: ASCR increases the robustness of computing, including underlying communication and energy needs, redefines the art of possible in conventional computing, and leads the development of new emerging technologies.

ASCR supports cross-disciplinary research where domains of scientific inquiry may provide problems and data that provide use-cases for computer scientists and applied mathematicians to devise generalized methods, models, algorithms and tools. ASCR’s interest in these fields is not to solve the specific problems in other scientific domains but to use those challenges to advance the state of the art and increase knowledge in its fields of research. ASCR advances key areas of computational science and discovery that support the missions of SC through mutually beneficial partnerships.

The computing resources and high-speed networks required to meet SC needs exceed the state-of-the-art by a significant margin. To establish and maintain DOE’s leadership in mission-focused scientific areas, ASCR operates leadership computing facilities (Argonne Leadership https://science.osti.gov/ascr

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Computing Facility [ALCF], Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility [OLCF], and National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center [NERSC]), the High-Performance Data Facility (HPDF), research prototypes, and a high-speed network, with the goal of solving computational complex problems at the exascale and beyond. You can find further information on ASCR facilities on the program website.

ASCR awards most of its funding for basic research using targeted solicitations or specific panels announced in this document. This NOFO is generally used for: (1) communicating a broad set of research topics ASCR is generally interested in, (2) receiving applications to support existing PIs to facilitate, for example, making an award to a new institution when the PI changes institutions, and (3) receiving applications for topics such as conference support and participation in international standardization activities. However, in extraordinary circumstances, applications, generally preceded by submission of a pre-application, may result in an award. Early communication with the appropriate subprogram contact is recommended to receive recommendations about format and content before submitting any materials. Program managers are unable to advise if funding is available to support an award from such an application.

The ASCR program seeks research focused on innovation in applied mathematics and computer science. ASCR’s applied mathematics and computer science research is typically generalizable to multiple applications, and successful applications often demonstrate such generalizability. In addition, priority is often given to research and applications motivated in the context of SC user facilities, especially those supported by ASCR. The ASCR subprograms and their objectives follow.

(a) Applied Mathematics Website: https://science.osti.gov/ascr/Research/Applied-Mathematics

This subprogram supports basic research leading to fundamental mathematical advances and computational breakthroughs across DOE and SC missions. The subprogram has supported basic research in novel deterministic or randomized numerical methods for the scalable solution of large-scale, linear and nonlinear systems of equations, including those solution methods that take into consideration the possibilities brought about by future high performance computing architectures; optimization techniques and next-generation solvers; numerical methods for modeling multiscale, multi-physics, or multi-component continuous or discrete systems that span a wide range of time and length scales; methods of simulation and analysis of systems that account for the uncertainties of the systems, or are inherently stochastic or uncertain; innovative approaches for analyzing, extracting insight from, or reducing large-scale data sets; and foundational research in scientific machine learning and AI as a cross-cutting area of interest for enabling greater adaptivity, automation, and predictive capabilities in scientific computing. We are looking for approaches that are efficient and scalable for problems of increasingly high dimensionality and computational complexity and that take advantage of current and emerging high-performance computing architectures or ecosystems.

https://science.osti.gov/ascr/Facilities https://science.osti.gov/ascr/Research/Applied-Mathematics

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Notice of Submission Requirements for the Panel Review on Algorithms for Large-Scale Sparse Linear Algebra on Modern and Emerging Supercomputer Architectures

Sparse linear algebra underlies many large-scale DOE science applications, but significant opportunities exist to increase the efficiency with which relevant algorithms utilize the GPUs of modern supercomputers. ASCR seeks applications for novel algorithms for sparse operations tailored either to such contemporary supercomputers or to emerging technologies such as dataflow architectures, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or neuromorphic hardware. Although algorithms must be aware of the hardware, the focus is on ideas that contribute to applied mathematics; applications for research in hardware design, memory management, runtime systems, etc., lie outside the scope of this panel.

Additional guidance:

• A pre-application may involve researchers from single or multiple eligible institutions.

Each pre-application will be reviewed for responsiveness and competitiveness of the proposed research.

• To be considered by the panel, an application must be associated with an encouraged pre-application and request no more than $500,000 per year in total across all institutions for a three-year award. ASCR anticipates making at most two awards.

• To be considered by the panel, a pre-application must be submitted by February 19, 2027.

ASCR expects to provide pre-application encouragement and discouragement decisions by March 12, 2027.

• Applications associated with an encouraged pre-application must be submitted by April 12, 2027.

• Panel program managers: David Rabson, david.rabson@doe.gov, and Xujing Davis, xujing.davis@doe.gov

Subprogram contact:

David Rabson, david.rabson@doe.gov

(b) Computer Science Website: https://science.osti.gov/ascr/Research/Computer-Science

This subprogram supports research that advances computing and networking at extreme scales (i.e., exascale computing, massively parallelism, big data) and the understanding of extreme scale, or complex data from both simulations and experiments. The subprogram aims to make high performance scientific computers and networks highly productive and efficient to solve scientific challenges while attempting to reduce domain science application complexity as much as possible. The computer science program does this in the context of sharp increases in the heterogeneity and complexity of computing systems; the need to integrate simulation, data analysis, and other tasks seamlessly and intelligently into coherent and usable workflows; and in the context of hardware, architecture, and workflows for highly novel computing platforms, such as neuromorphic and quantum systems, and other next-generation computing platforms for science.

mailto:david.rabson@doe.gov mailto:xujing.davis@doe.gov https://science.osti.gov/ascr/Research/Computer-Science

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Priority interests for the program include AI for science (e.g. federated algorithm, interpretable and explainable AI, neuro-symbolic approaches); data analysis and visualization (Report for the ASCR Workshop on Visualization for Scientific Discovery, Decision-Making, and Communication); continuum computing, storage systems and I/O including tools for advancing findable, accessible, interoperable reusable (FAIR) data practices of management, archiving, curation, and/or reuse, of data generated by experimental, observational, and simulation relevant to SC mission areas (Report for the ASCR Workshop on the Management and Storage of Scientific Data); programming models, environments, and portability such as non-uniform memory access, non-coherent shared memory, high-bandwidth memory), scratchpads, coarse-grained reconfigurable architectures, accelerators, processing in memory, and near memory.

Basic research on programming tools, for all phases of the software-development cycle, is also of priority interest as well as methods that infuse AI/machine learning into the programming environment (Basic Research Needs in The Science of Scientific Software Development and Use:

Investment in Software is Investment in Science).

The computer science subprogram is also interested in operating and runtime systems;

performance portability and co-design (Basic Research Needs for Reimagining Codesign for Advanced Scientific Computing); scheduling and resource management; network-offloaded acceleration for distributed/parallel computing; computer science and information theory for thermodynamics efficiency; advances in memory technologies; and distributed memory architectures and innovations in algorithms, software interfaces, programming languages to effectively exploit new processing-in-memory architectures, memory safety, the smoothening of the spectrum from volatile to non-volatile memories, and on-the-fly compression and decompression strategies.

Subprogram contacts for classical computer science:

• Xujing Davis, xujing.davis@doe.gov: artificial intelligence and machine learning for science, data analysis and visualization; storage Systems and I/O (SSIO); programming models, environments, and portability; operating and runtime systems; performance portability and co-design; distributed scheduling and resource management; continuum computing; activities supporting career development, and broadening participation, in computer-science research.

• David Rabson, david.rabson@doe.gov: network-offloaded acceleration for distributed/parallel computing, computer science fundamentals accounting for Thermodynamics and Energy, Memory-Aware Systems.

• Marco Fornari, marco.fornari@doe.gov, analog computing and computation with physical systems.

Notice of Submission Requirements for the Panel Review on Foundations of Analog Computing and Computations through Natural Systems

The search for new computing technologies potentially to improve energy efficiency and processing speed is critical to address the growing demand for computational resources. Unlike digital systems, analog computing (including computations with natural systems) lacks a unifying paradigm for algorithmic design and abstraction; this deficiency hinders the ability to assess the reliability and reproducibility essential for scientific progress. As indicated in the https://doi.org/10.2172/1845709 https://doi.org/10.2172/1845709 https://doi.org/10.2172/1845707 https://doi.org/10.2172/1845707 https://doi.org/10.2172/1846009 https://doi.org/10.2172/1846009 https://doi.org/10.2172/1822199 https://doi.org/10.2172/1822199 mailto:xujing.davis@doe.gov mailto:marco.fornari@doe.gov

Version 4.1 Page 17 of 130 report, Basic Research Needs for Analog Computing for Science, this panel seeks applications to advance the field of analog computing by furthering mathematical and computer science abstractions linking physics, algorithms, benchmarking tools, and architecture, as well as integration with HPC infrastructures.

Additional guidance:

• A pre-application may involve researchers from single or multiple eligible institutions.

Each pre-application will be reviewed for responsiveness and competitiveness of the proposed research.

• To be considered by the panel, an application must be associated with an encouraged pre-application and request no more than $500,000 per year in total across all institutions for a three-year award. ASCR anticipates making at most two awards.

• To be considered by the panel, a pre-application must be submitted by November 22, 2026. ASCR expects to provide pre-application encouragement and discouragement decisions by December 11, 2026.

• Applications associated with an encouraged pre-application must be submitted by January 24, 2027.

• Panel program manager: Marco Fornari, marco.fornari@doe.gov

Quantum Computing

Quantum computing research should focus on developing modules of end-to-end software toolchains aimed to program and control quantum computing systems at scale including topics such as quantum algorithms, quantum architectures, and software as presented in Report for the ASCR Workshop on Basic Research Needs in Quantum Computing and Networking. This subprogram also includes innovative research in quantum networking, including, but not limited to, distribution of quantum information from sensors, quantum networking in support of interconnected or scalable quantum computing systems, and blind/cloud quantum computing.

Possible topics include quantum networking areas as presented in “Report for the ASCR Workshop on Basic Research Needs in Quantum Computing and Networking.”

Subprogram contact for quantum computing and quantum networking:

Marco Fornari, marco.fornari@doe.gov

Notice of Submission Requirements for the Panel Review on Innovative Approaches to Quantum Routing Protocols

Most quantum computing technologies have restrictions associated with physical connectivity so that mapping quantum algorithms increases qubit counting and reduces fidelity.

As fault-tolerant architectures progress, quantum routing may become a critical bottleneck in the deployment of quantum hardware as indicated in the report, Blueprint for DOE Quantum Supercomputing. This panel seeks applications aimed at overcoming current limitations by developing methods and software tools to effectively implement qubit-qubit interactions that are not natively present. The work should try to build synergies with ASCR efforts to deploy an end-to-end software toolchain for fault-tolerant quantum computation.

https://doi.org/10.2172/2476965 mailto:marco.fornari@doe.gov https://doi.org/10.2172/2001045 https://doi.org/10.2172/2001045 mailto:marco.fornari@doe.gov https://doi.org/10.2172/3022533 https://doi.org/10.2172/3022533

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Additional guidance:

• A pre-application may involve researchers from single or multiple eligible institutions.

Each pre-application will be reviewed for responsiveness and competitiveness of the proposed research.

• To be considered by the panel, an application must be associated with an encouraged pre-application and request no more than $500,000 per year in total across all institutions for a three-year award. ASCR anticipates making at most two awards.

• To be considered by the panel, a pre-application must be submitted by January 10, 2027.

ASCR expects to provide pre-application encouragement and discouragement decisions by January 29, 2027.

• Applications associated with an encouraged pre-application must be submitted by February 28, 2027.

• Panel program manager: Marco Fornari, marco.fornari@doe.gov

International Standardization

This computer science subprogram also supports participation in international standardization: Scientific computing relies on robust adoption of Voluntary Consensus Standards3 (VCSs) that apply to state-of-the-art computing technologies. Notably, most applications running at the ASCR user facilities depend on some combination of standardized programming languages and application programming interfaces (APIs), and DOE contributes to many of them, including, but not limited to, the Message Passing Interface (MPI), C, C++, Fortran, OpenMP, and SYCL. Moreover, standardization is an important enabler of knowledge transfer from research to industry. Similarly, characterizing computing hardware relies on benchmarks established through a VCS process, and these benchmarks drive industry decisions affecting what capabilities ASCR user facilities can provide. Such benchmarks include, but are not limited to, SPEC CPU/ACCEL and MLPerf. VCSs and benchmarks relevant to data, AI and machine learning, quantum computing, software, and hardware interfaces are all in scope.

Developing standards relies on robust participation from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, and the program supports maintaining and broadening participation in standards development. Standards development benefits from the participation of laboratory and university researchers in addition to experts from businesses of all sizes. Funding may support training on standards development and leadership, travel to relevant meetings, hosting of relevant meetings, developing applications for — and associated prototypes of — new standardized

3 Voluntary Consensus Standards are “Standards [that] are developed through a process that is open to participation by representatives of all interested parties, transparent, consensus-based, and subject to due process. These might be developed by governmental organization or private sector groups such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).” See https://www.directives.doe.gov/terms_definitions/voluntary-consensus-standard; for additional discussion, see Office of Management and Budget Circular Number A-119, https://www.nist.gov/system/files/revised_circular_a-119_as_of_01-22-2016.pdf.

mailto:marco.fornari@doe.gov https://www.directives.doe.gov/terms_definitions/voluntary-consensus-standard https://www.nist.gov/system/files/revised_circular_a-119_as_of_01-22-2016.pdf

Version 4.1 Page 19 of 130 functionalities, and any Standards Development Activity4. Particularly welcome are activities supporting U.S. leadership in standards development and activities including a specific focus on broadening participation from experts from academic institutions, small businesses, and others who may face higher participation barriers.

Subprogram contact for participation in international standardization:

Hal Finkel, hal.finkel@doe.gov

Topics that are out of scope for the Computer Science subprogram include:

• Research aimed at advancing computer-supported collaboration, social computing, and generalized research in human-computer interaction

• Research focused on the World Wide Web, the dark web, or data related to these

• Research that is primarily to advance cloud computing, hand-held, portable, desktop, and/or embedded computing that is not applicable to ASCR-supported computational and data science environments

• Development of new candidate physical qubit systems and improvements to physical qubits

• Quantum key distribution, quantum cryptography, and cryptanalysis

(c) Computational Partnerships Website: https://science.osti.gov/ascr/Research/scidac

This activity primarily supports the Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing (SciDAC), program, which is a recognized leader in employing HPC for scientific discovery.

Established in 2001, SciDAC involves ASCR partnerships with the other SC programs, other DOE program offices, and other Federal agencies in strategic areas. The goal is to dramatically accelerate progress in scientific computing through strong collaborations between discipline scientists, applied mathematicians, and computer scientists. You can find examples of current SciDAC partnerships on the SciDAC website.

Applications to SciDAC that involve software products should demonstrate the need for the software to be developed in one or more scientific communities. Applications should address both the dissemination of the software and the strategy for the software’s long-term sustainability after the end of the proposed activities.

Other partnerships between discipline scientists, applied mathematicians, and computer scientists are also supported.

4 Standards Development Activity is defined in 15 USC § 4301(a)(7). See https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2015-title15/USCODE-2015-title15-chap69-sec4301/summary mailto:hal.finkel@doe.gov https://science.osti.gov/ascr/Research/scidac https://www.scidac.gov/ https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2015-title15/USCODE-2015-title15-chap69-sec4301/summary https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2015-title15/USCODE-2015-title15-chap69-sec4301/summary

Version 4.1 Page 20 of 130

Subprogram Contacts:

• Xujing Davis, xujing.davis@doe.gov and Marco Fornari, marco.fornari@doe.gov, SciDAC Institutes

• Marco Fornari, marco.fornari@doe.gov, David Rabson, david.rabson@doe.gov, and

Xiaofeng Guo, xiaofeng.guo@ doe.gov, SciDAC and other partnerships

(d) Advanced Computing Technologies Website: https://science.osti.gov/ascr/

This activity supports research and evaluation of prototypes (REP), including AI infrastructures, classical and quantum computing and networking. The REP activity addresses the challenges of next-generation technologies. By actively partnering with the research community, including industry and Federal agencies, on developing technologies that enable next-generation machines, ASCR ensures that commercially available architectures serve the needs of the scientific community. The REP activity also prepares researchers to effectively use future-generation scientific computers, including novel technologies, and seeks to reduce risk for future major procurements.

In addition, this subprogram is responsible for the American Science Cloud and provides graduate research training for the next generation of scientists in high-end computational sciences.

Research topics currently of interest for this subprogram include:

• Research focused on information processing and computation systems for emerging computing technologies (including quantum computing and networking technologies) centered on testbeds and capability assessment.

• Neuromorphic computing: Specific to HPC-enabled modeling and simulation of computing architecture at extreme scales for generalizable applications of the proposed approach and for prototyping and fabricating advanced neuromorphic computing architectures.

• Microelectronics for scientific computing, including innovative methods for processor synthesis, placement, architectures, and algorithms. Multi-disciplinary co-design projects where each scientific discipline informs and engages the other to achieve orders of magnitude improvements in system-level performance are of special interest.

• Advanced Wireless Networks: Next generation wireless networks that could enable scientific facilities to become more mobile, remotely manageable, and distributed.

• Maintenance and improvement of the software ecosystem, including that developed through the Exascale Computing Project (ECP), which provides shared software packages, novel evaluation systems, and applications relevant to the science and engineering requirements of DOE.

• Robotics and Scientific Discovery Automation: Developing and prototyping autonomous and semi-autonomous robotic systems to enable closed-loop experimentation and laboratory automation at scale. Research may also involve edge–cloud orchestration, federated learning across distributed laboratory assets, and methods for ensuring trustworthy autonomy, reproducibility, and provenance in experiment-centric workflows.

mailto:xujing.davis@doe.gov mailto:marco.fornari@doe.gov mailto:marco.fornari@doe.gov mailto:david.rabson@doe.gov mailto:xiaofeng.guo@science.doe.gov https://science.osti.gov/ascr/

Version 4.1 Page 21 of 130

Efforts should demonstrate broad applicability across DOE Office of Science domains.

• Xiaofeng Guo, xiaofeng.guo@doe.gov neuromorphic, heterogeneous computing architectures, and advanced wireless networks

• David Rabson, david.rabson@doe.gov, microelectronics; maintenance and improvement of the software ecosystem; Graduate research training and broadening participation

• Marco Fornari, marco.fornari@doe.gov, quantum information research centers and quantum testbeds.

• Ravinder Kapoor, ravinder.kapoor@doe.gov, robotics and scientific discovery automation

Topics that are out of scope include:

• Research that does not address the specific ACT topics described above

• Development of new candidate qubit systems or improvements to physical qubits

• Cryptography and cryptanalysis

• Projects that are duplicate or compete with industry efforts

2. Basic Energy Sciences (BES) Program website: https://science.osti.gov/bes/

The mission of the Basic Energy Sciences (BES) program is to support fundamental research to understand, predict, and ultimately control matter and energy at the electronic, atomic, and molecular levels, generating knowledge that can enable development of energy technologies critical to the Nation’s economic and national security. BES research provides scientific foundations for DOE missions in energy, environment, and national security. The portfolio supports fundamental research in materials sciences, chemistry, geosciences, and biosciences. The BES website includes more detailed information such as descriptions of subprogram areas, workshop reports that address future directions, and PI meeting summaries.

You can find additional information at:

• BES Workshop Reports

• Materials Sciences and Engineering Division PI Meetings

• Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division PI Meetings

• Scientific User Facilities Division web page

Proposed research must respond to a supported topic in one of the research areas in this

NOFO.

Notes For Applicants:

• Prior to submission, we encourage applicants to discuss their research ideas with the subprogram contacts listed below. Although not required, we strongly encourage white papers or pre-applications.

• Some research areas indicate target dates for white papers or pre-applications and/or applications. These dates are not hard deadlines and applications are accepted throughout mailto:xiaofeng.guo@doe.gov mailto:david.rabson@doe.gov mailto:marco.fornari@doe.gov mailto:ravinder.kapoor@doe.gov https://science.osti.gov/bes/ http://science.osti.gov/bes/community-resources/reports/ http://science.osti.gov/bes/mse/principal-investigators-meetings/ http://science.osti.gov/bes/csgb/principal-investigators-meetings/ http://science.osti.gov/bes/suf/

Version 4.1 Page 22 of 130 the fiscal year for all BES research areas in this NOFO. The target dates reflect the time needed to conduct the review and recommendation process for support with funds from this fiscal year. Applications submitted after a target date are not guaranteed consideration for funding this fiscal year. If not considered this fiscal year, applications will be held for consideration in a future selection cycle.

• Applications submitted to BES through this NOFO typically have Project Narratives that are 15–20 pages long. If you feel you need additional pages for the Project Narrative, you should discuss the requested increase with the relevant subprogram contact listed in this NOFO.

• Resources about Data Management and Sharing Plans are available online.

The BES divisions, subprogram areas, and their objectives follow.

Materials Sciences and Engineering Division website: https://science.osti.gov/bes/mse

The Materials Sciences and Engineering (MSE) Division supports fundamental experimental, theoretical, and computational research to provide the knowledge base for the discovery, design, characterization, and control of materials with novel structures, functions, and properties. This knowledge is the basis for developing new materials for energy and national priorities. The MSE portfolio consists of the research areas listed below.

(a) Materials Chemistry

This subprogram supports hypothesis-driven research on materials and focuses on the roles of chemical reactivity, chemical transformation, and chemical dynamics on the material composition, structure, function, and lifetime across the range of length scales from atomic to mesoscopic. Common themes include discovering the mechanistic detail for chemical synthesis, transformations, and dynamics of materials; fundamental understanding of structure-property relationships of functional materials; and using chemistry to control interfacial properties and interactions between materials.