Office of Research

Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs)

Limited Submissions

The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) announces a re-competition of the Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) program and encourages both new and renewal applications. Applications from multi-disciplinary teams will be required to propose discovery science and use-inspired basic research that address scientific challenges in one or more of the topic areas listed below. The focus of the EFRC program is on fundamental scientific research, therefore applications to this NOFO must not propose applied research and technology development activities.

BES is soliciting applications in two general categories: BES Report Topics and Special Topics. Applications may respond to topics in both categories. Topic areas are open to both new and renewal applications, unless noted in Section III. Program Description.

In the BES Reports Topics, applicants must address priority research directions (PRD) and opportunities (PRO) identified in one or more of the following reports (see full description for PRO/PRD restrictions):

  • Foundational Science to Accelerate Nuclear Energy Innovation
  • Controlling Subsurface Fractures and Fluid Flow: A Basic Research Agenda
  • Basic Research Needs for Next Generation Electrical Energy Storage
  • Basic Research Needs for Transformative Manufacturing
  • Basic Research Needs for Microelectronics
  • BES Roundtable on Opportunities for Quantum Computing in Chemical and Materials Sciences
  • BES Roundtable on Opportunities for Basic Research for Next-Generation Quantum Systems

In the Special Topics, applicants must address one or more of the following topics (see full description for details):

  • Controlling Quantum Phenomena to Enable Unconventional Computing Paradigms
  • Development and Workflow Integration of AI/ML Models for Materials and Chemistry Discovery Science
  • Emergent Phenomena of Complex Chemical Systems
  • Fundamental Science for Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM)

Application Instructions

Please submit as one combined pdf labeled with PI’s Lastname, Firstname:

  1. A one‐page letter of intent with a description of proposed aims and approach.
  2. If the final application requires a statement of broader impacts, please summarize your plans to address the specific requirements on an additional page.
  3. CV (not biosketch) of the PI including past grant funding.

to limitedsubs@uw.edu by 5:00 PM Monday, March 16, 2026. Late pre-proposals will not be considered. A required pre-application is due to the sponsor 4/1/2026 if given the go‐ahead by the Limited Submissions review committee. If invited by the sponsor to submit a full application, that deadline is 7/1/2026 with the OSP deadline of 6/22/2026.

Opportunity Details

Program web page

Program Announcement No.

DE-FOA-0003614

Deadlines
03/16/2026 UW Internal Deadline Open
04/01/2026 Sponsor Deadline
Sponsor

U.S. Department of Energy

Funding amount

$4,000,000 (per year for 4 years)

Maximum Number of Applications

3 (as lead institution)

Eligible groups
  • All campus

Inquiries and Contact Information

Investigators who identify a grant, award or fellowship program that restricts the number of applications that can be submitted from an Institution should immediately contact their Chairperson, Associate Dean for Research (or Dean, if no ADR) and the Office of Research (see below) if they intend to prepare a response. Failure to do so, or to meet the deadlines for submission of pre-proposal, will preclude submission of the application through the Office of Sponsored Programs.

For general inquiries, or to request a listing of a limited submission opportunity that should be but is not already listed, please email us at limitedsubs@uw.edu.