Note: The solicitation-specific information on this page is based on the 2022 FOA (DE-FOA-0002653) released December 21, 2021. New calls are expected every two years, subject to change. (Most recent content update: November 15, 2023)
Program Snapshot
DOE Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) are major, multi-disciplinary and multi-institution, basic research programs funded by the Department of Energy. EFRCs address big scientific questions that if solved will have a big impact on society and provide a great mechanism to support collaborative research in energy-relevant fields. The EFRC program aims to advance fundamental understanding of chemical sciences, materials sciences, geosciences, and biosciences that is relevant to addressing our biggest challenges in clean energy and climate, advanced and low-carbon manufacturing, and other priority areas such as quantum information science. EFRC basic research will continue to support cross-DOE initiatives including the Energy Earthshots.
Awards are expected to be from $2-4M per year for 4 years with possibility of renewal in subsequent competitions.
- Information from DOE
- DOE Program Page
- Funding Opportunity Announcement (Coming soon, current call yet to be released, expected in late Fall)
- Past Funding Opportunity Announcements
- DOE's Good Management Practices based on experience with successful Centers
- Funded EFRC Overviews (2 page descriptions, resource last updated November 2022)
- DOE Grand Challenges
- DOE BES Reports
- DOE BESAC Meetings
- DOE BESAC Meeting Presentations
- DOE EFRC FOA Webinar for LAST round (held Jan 19, 2022): slides and video
Details, latest updates and related links are available on the DOE Basic Energy Sciences (BES) funding opportunities page and on grants.gov.
- Stanford and SLAC Limited Submissions
This is a Limited Submission funding opportunity. An institution-wide internal selection process is required prior to proposal submission to DOE. Historically, only three preliminary proposals may be submitted by any one organization as the lead institution. In the past, Stanford and SLAC have each performed their own internal selection, using the same deadlines and requested materials.
The internal deadline will be posted once the FOA is released by DOE. More information on the selection and submission process will be available through the Stanford Funding Opportunities portal here.
For questions about the limited submissions process, please email:
- limitedsubmissions@stanford.edu (Stanford PIs)
- OCRO@slac.stanford.edu (SLAC PIs)
Timeline
The timeline below will be updated as additional information from DOE, Stanford VPDoR, and SLAC becomes available.
- TBD: Informational webinar from DOE
- TBD: Internal proposal due to VPDoR or SLAC Limited Submissions
- TBD: Required pre-applications from internally selected teams due to DOE*
- For Stanford, optional submission through OSR 3 business days before deadline
- TBD: Encouraged full applications due to DOE*
- For Stanford, please follow all OSR proposal submission deadlines
Proposal Support and Resources
This list will be updated as new resources become available.
- Stanford RDO and SLAC OCRO/OSP EFRC Facts, Insight, and Advice: A brief overview of the EFRC program structure, history, and advice on pulling together a successful team and proposal (SUnet login required)
- RDO's Outline for EFRC Full Proposal: A list of full proposal components with an explanation of their purpose, highlights of key DOE requirements, and suggestions from RDO on how to make the most of each section (SUNet login required)
- Advice for a Successful EFRC Application, from 2021 Stanford-SLAC workshop (SUNet login required)
- General Advice from the SLAC Science Council (SUNet login required)
- RDO General Guidance for Specific Proposal Sections
- 2021 Stanford-SLAC Workshop Materials (August 27, 2021): This workshop was an early preparation event intended to share insights and best practices around the EFRC program and to support the formation of new research ideas and collaborations. Access to these materials is restricted to workshop participants.
For proposal support, consultations, or EFRC-related questions please contact
- Kim Baeten, Director of Research Development, Stanford University
- Steve Eglash, Director of the Applied Energy Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory