Your TL;DR: DOE has issued a notice of intent, not an open funding opportunity, for potential alternative chemicals, fuels, feedstocks, and pilot projects. Teams can assess readiness and build partnerships now, but final eligibility, award structure, cost sharing, and deadlines require confirmation when the Notice of Funding Opportunity appears.
The Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office announced on October 14, 2026, that it intends to issue up to $60 million in future funding. Notice of Intent DE-FOA-0003648 describes prospective topics involving biointermediate depots, refinery integration, and hydrogen or natural-gas blending pilots.
A Notice of Intent Is a Planning Signal
A notice of intent tells the market what DOE may pursue while preserving the agency’s ability to change or decline to issue the final competition. Applications are not being accepted, and the current notice does not establish final eligibility, award ceilings, cost-share requirements, or a deadline.
Technical teams can still use this signal by pressure-testing the pilot concept, infrastructure, and partnership model before a formal application clock begins.
Pilot Credibility Depends on Existing Conditions
Biointermediate concepts may need credible feedstock supply, logistics, and a path to operate at the anticipated scale. Refinery integration requires facility access, safety coordination, and realistic test-run planning. Hydrogen and natural-gas blending adds reliability, component, and sustained-operation questions.
Teams can use an early working session to clarify which technical and partnership questions deserve answers before the final DOE solicitation sets the rules.
Prepare Decisions That Survive a Changed DOE NOFO
Prospective applicants can identify partners, document infrastructure, define unknowns, outline milestones, and assign ownership for data and budgeting. DOE also maintains a prospective teaming-partner list.
EBHC’s proposal-development minimum is 30 calendar days, with 45 to 60 days preferred for complex federal work. Any engagement remains subject to scope, readiness, operational calendars, and availability.
To learn more, read DOE’s notice of intent for alternative fuels and feedstocks funding.