For more information about the Office of Science Grant Program, go to the Office of Science Grants and Contracts Web Site.

NEW APPLICATION

Who May Submit

Any university or other institution of higher education or other non-profit or for-profit organization, non-Federal agency or entity, is eligible for a grant or cooperative agreement. An unaffiliated individual also is eligible for a grant or cooperative agreement.

Before formal submission, the applicant may discuss the application with Office of Science staff; either by letter, telephone, or in person.

*The Office of Science only accepts electronic applications submitted through Grants.gov.

Note:
--DOE Management and Operating Contractors (National Laboratories) are NOT eligible to submit grant applications in response to Office of Science grant solicitation notices.
--Other Federal agencies are NOT eligible to submit grant applications. Federal agencies may submit unsolicited proposals.

When to Submit

The Office of Science accepts applications at any time in response to the Office of Science Annual Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) posted on the Grants.gov website (posted at the beginning of each Fiscal Year.) Periodically, the Office of Science also posts on the Grants.gov website FOA's highlighting specific technical program areas. These FOAs contain deadline dates for submission of applications.

Where to Submit

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov to be considered for award. You cannot submit an application through Grants.gov unless you are registered. Please read the registration requirements carefully and start the process immediately. Remember you have to update your CCR registration annually. If you have any questions about your registration, you should contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 to verify that you are still registered in Grants.gov.

Registration Requirements
There are several one-time actions you must complete in order to submit an application through Grants.gov (e.g., obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, register with the Central Contract Registry (CCR), register with the credential provider, and register with Grants.gov). See http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted. Use the Grants.gov Organization Registration Checklist at http://www.grants.gov/assets/OrganizationRegCheck.doc to guide you through the process. Designating an E-Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC) and obtaining a special password called an MPIN are important steps in the CCR registration process. Applicants, who are not registered with CCR and Grants.gov, should allow at least 21 days to complete these requirements.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS: When you have completed the process, you should call the Grants.gov Helpdesk at
1-800-518-4726 to verify that you have completed the final step (i.e. Grants.gov registration).

Questions
Questions relating to the registration process, system requirements, how an application form works, or the submittal process must be directed to Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Part VII of this announcement explains how to submit other questions to the Department of Energy (DOE).

Application Receipt Notices
After an application is submitted, the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) will receive a series of five e-mails. It is extremely important that the AOR watch for and save each of the emails. It may take up to two (2) business days from application submission to receipt of email Number 2. You will know that your application has reached DOE when the AOR receives email Number 5. You will need the Submission Receipt Number (email Number 1) to track a submission. The titles of the five e-mails are:

Number 1 - Grants.gov Submission Receipt Number
Number 2 - Grants.gov Submission Validation Receipt for Application Number
Number 3 - Grants.gov Grantor Agency Retrieval Receipt for Application
                    Number
Number 4 - Grants.gov Agency Tracking Number Assignment for Application
                    Number
Number 5 - DOE e-Center Grant Application Received

The last email will contain instructions for the AOR to register with the DOE e-Center. If the AOR is already registered with the DOE e-Center, the title of the last email changes to:

Number 5 - DOE e-Center Grant Application Received and Matched

This email will contain the direct link to the application in IIPS. The AOR will need to enter their DOE e-Center user id and password to access the application.

VERY IMPORTANT - Download PureEdge Viewer
In order to download the application package, you will need to install PureEdge Viewer. This small, free program will allow you to access, complete, and submit applications electronically and securely. For a free version of the software, visit the following web site: http://www.grants.gov/DownloadViewer.

Instructions for Application Preparation

The application should present the objectives and scientific significance of the proposed work; the rationale for selecting the proposed approach to achieve the objectives; qualifications of the principal investigator and the applicant organization; and amount of funding required. Since the application will compete with others on related topics, using the procedures and criteria described in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), it should present the scientific merit of the proposed project clearly and convincingly and should be prepared with the care and thoroughness of a paper submitted for publication.

Applications must be submitted using the Grants.gov website and must follow the instructions in Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that the applicant is responding to. Applicants must follow the instructions and use the forms provided on the Grants.gov website.

RENEWAL APPLICATION

A renewal application must be submitted to Grants.gov no later than six months before the scheduled expiration of the project period. When submitting a renewal application, applications should be in response to the Annual Notice: Submission of Renewal and Supplemental Applications for Office of Science Grants and Cooperative Agreements ( DE-PS02-07ER07-02). Renewal applications must follow the instructions in the FOA and include the following:

1. Include under the project description section, information on any research changes (size or scope) that affect the original research endeavor;

2. An estimate of anticipated unexpended funds that will remain at the end of the current project period; and,

3. A progress report as a separate section that describes the results of work accomplished through the date of the renewal application and how such results relate to the activities proposed to be undertaken in the renewal period.

A renewal application generally will be subjected to the Office of Science merit review requirements. Should an application be approved and funded, the extended period of support is treated as an extension of the original project period.

CONTINUATION AWARD

A continuation award is an award for the second or subsequent budget period within an approved project period. To be considered for a continuation award, a continuation progress report must be submitted to the DOE Project Officer 90 days prior to expiration of each budget period. A formal continuation application is not required.

SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION

Two types of supplemental applications may be submitted. They must be submitted using the forms and instructions provided on the Grants.gov website in response to the Annual Notice Submission of Renewal and Supplemental Applications for Office of Science Grants and Cooperative Agreements. https://apply.grants.gov/forms_apps_idx.html.

1. If the awardee needs additional funds:

a. For increased costs that could not have been predicted when the application was originally approved; or

b. To increase the "level of effort" or accelerate the project; and, if there is no change to the project description as contained in the approved application.