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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
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Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-PS02-09ER09-03
Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy: The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), hereby announce their interest in receiving applications for genomics-based research that will lead to the improved use of biomass and plant feedstocks for the production of fuels such as ethanol or renewable chemical feedstocks. Specifically, applications are sought for fundamental research on plants that will improve biomass characteristics, biomass yield, or sustainability. Systems biology approaches to identify genetic indicators enabling plants to be efficiently bred or manipulated, or research that yields fundamental knowledge of the structure, function and organization of plant genomes leading to improved feedstock characterization and sustainability are also encouraged. PREAPPLICATIONS Only those preapplicants that receive notification from DOE or USDA encouraging a formal application may submit full applications. No other formal applications will be considered. Potential applicants are required to submit a brief preapplication, referencing Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-PS02-09ER09-03 for receipt by DOE by 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, December 9, 2008. Preapplications will be reviewed for conformance with the guidelines presented in the FOA and suitability in the technical areas specified. A response to the preapplications encouraging or discouraging formal applications will be communicated to the applicants by January 6, 2009. Applicants who have not received a response regarding the status of their preapplication by this date are responsible for contacting the program to confirm this status. Only those preapplicants that receive notification from DOE encouraging a formal application may submit full applications. No other formal applications will be considered. Preapplications referencing Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-PS02-09ER09-03 should be sent as PDF file attachments via e-mail to: SCbiomass.genomics@science.doe.gov with "Preapplication DE-PS02-09ER09-03" as the subject. No FAX or mail submission of preapplications will be accepted. Potential applicants must submit a brief preapplication that consists of a cover page plus two to three pages of narrative describing the research objectives, the technical approach(s), and the proposed team members and their roles. The intent in requesting a preapplication is to save the time and effort of applicants in preparing and submitting a formal project application that may be inappropriate for the program. Preapplications will be reviewed relative to the scope and research needs as outlined in the summary paragraph and in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. The preapplication must identify, on the cover sheet, the title of the project, the institution or organization, principal investigator name, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address. No budget information or biographical data need be included, nor is an institutional endorsement necessary. PLEASE NOTE: USDA funding is subject to the availability of appropriation to carry out the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program. Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) reserves the right to amend, delete, or otherwise alter its participation in this program. APPLICATION DUE DATE: February 18, 2009, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time Applications must be submitted using Grants.gov, the Funding Opportunity Announcement can be found using the CFDA Number, 81.049 or 10.206; or the Funding Opportunity Announcement number, DE-PS02-09ER09-03. Applicants must follow the instructions and use the forms provided on Grants.gov. GENERAL INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS FOA SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO: Scientific/Technical Program Contact: SCbiomass.genomics@science.doe.gov
Dr. Sharlene C. Weatherwax
Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young
Dr. Ed Kaleikau SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Renewable energy from biomass has the potential to reduce or remove dependency on fossil fuels as well as reduce negative environmental impacts from emissions of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants. Realizing this potential will require the simultaneous development of high yielding biomass production systems and bioconversion technologies that efficiently convert biomass energy into the forms of energy usable by industry. Most agricultural research to date has focused on enhancing the production of seeds, roots and tubers that are used for food and feed production. However, these improvements in food crops have frequently been directed towards increases in starch content with a corresponding reduction of lignocellulose accumulation. Research applications are solicited in the area of improved fundamental understanding of lignocellulosic accumulation and regulation that will lead to improved utilization of plant biomass for the production of fuels such as ethanol or renewable chemical feedstocks. This FOA continues a commitment, initiated in 2006, to conduct a fundamental research program in biomass genomics, to provide the scientific foundation to facilitate the use of lignocellulosic materials, either primary material or agricultural residues, for bioenergy and biofuels. The rationale for developing lignocellulosic crops for energy is that less intensive production techniques and poorer quality land can be used for these crops, thereby avoiding competition with food production on better quality land. Significant advances in breeding, molecular genetics, and genomic technologies provide an opportunity to build upon the existing knowledgebase of plant biology to be able to confidently predict and manipulate their biological function for bioenergy resources. Specific areas of interest include:
Research that seeks to increase starch content for improved nutrient qualities or to facilitate the digestion and fermentation of starch to produce sugars and other bio-based products or biofuels is not the focus of this FOA. Also, research that seeks to increase grain yield or seed-oil production is not the focus of this FOA. Projects that would primarily involve field demonstrations or testing or empirical screening for biomass quality characteristics will not be considered for funding. Projects should not request support for whole genome-scale sequencing; such requests should be submitted separately to the DOE Joint Genome Institute's Community Sequencing Program for an independent merit review (see information at http://www.jgi.doe.gov/CSP/index.html). This FOA strongly encourages individual investigators as well as interdisciplinary teams that assemble a range of expertise into a coordinated approach; for the latter situation, applicants must include a clear plan describing the individual contributions of each participant, as well as the overall management scheme. Information about the DOE Genomics:GTL data release policy, with which awardees will be expected to comply, is available at http://genomicsgtl.energy.gov/datasharing/GTLDataPolicy.pdf Information about the program, including prior year award abstracts, is available at http://www.genomicsgtl.energy.gov/research/DOEUSDA/. Program Funding It is anticipated that up to $4 million total will be available for multiple awards to be made in FY 2009 for the Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy: A Joint Research Funding Opportunity Announcement-USDA, DOE. The number of awards will be contingent on satisfactory peer review, the availability of appropriated funds, and the size of the awards. Multiple year funding is expected. Applications may request project support for up to three years, with out-year support contingent on the availability of funds, progress of the research, and programmatic needs; it is anticipated that this will reflect a long term commitment to improved use of primary feedstocks or residues for energy resources. Annual budgets are expected to range from $100,000 to $500,000 total costs. Neither DOE nor USDA is under any obligation to pay for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of an application. DOE and USDA reserve the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. It is anticipated that in FY 2009 USDA support for this Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy solicitation will be available through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program. Merit Review Applications will be subjected to scientific merit review (peer review) and will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria which are listed in descending order of importance codified at 10 CFR 605.10(d):
2. Appropriateness of the Proposed Method or Approach; 3. Competency of Applicant's Personnel and Adequacy of Proposed Resources; and 4. Reasonableness and Appropriateness of the Proposed Budget. Submission Information The following is a list of essential items that an application must contain: 1. The Cover Sheet SF-424 (R&R) - completed by appropriate officials. 2. Research and Related Budget Page(s) (OMB Number: 4040-0001) using U.S. dollars, with supporting written justification sufficient to evaluate the costs of the proposed project. List and explain cost-sharing arrangements, if any. If the application is for a multi-year period, submit a cumulative budget and one budget page for each year of requested support. 3. Research & Related Other Project Information
b. Biographical Sketches: Detailed information about the background and experience of the principal investigator(s) including references to publications. c. Facilities and Resources: Include information on the experience of the applicant organization, its facilities and resources. d. Bibliography of Literature. e. Statement of all current and pending support for the project and all related projects, and description of support for all projects which involve the principal investigator(s) and the period of time and percent of time devoted to each project.
1-inch margins pages), exclusive of attachments such as figures or references. It should contain enough background material in the Introduction, including review of the relevant literature, to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the state of the science. The major part of the narrative should be devoted to a description and justification of the proposed project, including details of the method to be used. It should also include a timeline for the major activities of the proposed project, and should indicate which project personnel will be responsible for which activities. g. Inclusion of an abstract or project summary on a separate page with the name of the applicant, mailing address, phone number, FAX number, and E-mail listed. h. Inclusion of a Table of Contents. i. Inclusion of signed letters of intent from collaborators (briefly describing the intended contribution of each to the research), and short curriculum vitas for the applicant, collaborators, and any co-PIs. j. Inclusion of a Conflict of Interest Document (no page limit): This document should be provided in table or spreadsheet form only as an appendix to the full application at the time of submission. The document should consist of a list, in the form of a single alphabetized table, with the full names (Last name, first name, middle initial) of all people having a conflict of interest with any senior personnel (PI and Co-PIs) and any named personnel member whose salary is requested in the project budget. Conflicts to be identified are (1) Ph.D. thesis advisors or advisees, (2) collaborators or co-authors for the past 48 months, including postdoctoral advisors or advisees, and (3) any other individuals or organizations with which the investigator has financial ties (please specify type). Members of current Advisory Committees who receive reimbursement for travel or honoraria should be included in this last category. k. Inclusion of a plan that describes how the project results or resources will be disseminated in a timely manner and in an accessible and usable form to the broader scientific community. DE-PS02-09ER09-03; if a formal proposal is encouraged, additional submission information will be provided. USDA Eligibility Criteria: The source of USDA funds to support the fiscal year (FY) 2009 Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy Program is subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out the AFRI program, the Secretary may award grants to State agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; individuals; or any group consisting of two or more of the aforementioned entities. Applications from scientists at non-U.S. organizations will not be accepted. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR Part 605. The CFDA number for the USDA program is 10.206, Grants Agricultural Research - Competitive Research Grants.
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