The Department of Energy (DOE) has officially released its FY 2025 Phase I Release 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity (DE-FOA-0003504) for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. This funding opportunity encourages qualified small businesses with strong research capabilities in science or engineering to apply across various key research areas.
Participating DOE Program Offices
This funding announcement includes participation from the following DOE offices:
- Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER)
- Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (NNSA)
- Office of Electricity (OE)
- Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- Office of Environmental Management (EM)
- Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)
- Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
How to Access the NOFO and Research Topics
- The full Notice of Funding Opportunity (DE-FOA-0003504) can be downloaded from Grants.gov by entering the funding opportunity number.
- The specific research topics for Release 2 are available here.
Important Dates to Remember
- Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission Deadline: January 14, 2025, 5:00 PM EST
- To be eligible to submit a Phase I application, an LOI must be submitted through the DOE Portfolio Analysis and Management System (PAMS).
- For guidance, view the online tutorials 10 through 12 for step-by-step instructions.
- Phase I Grant Application Submission Deadline: February 26, 2025, 11:59 PM EST
- All applications must be submitted via Grants.gov.
- The DOE SBIR Application Preparation Tutorials and the applicant resource page offer detailed assistance for preparing your application.
Support for First-Time Applicants
- Phase 0 Application Assistance Program: First-time DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I applicants may be eligible for free application assistance. Check eligibility and apply here.
- Grants.gov Registration for New Applicants: Completing the required registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, etc.) can take up to 8 weeks. Start early to avoid delays. Instructions are available in the DOE application guide and online tutorials 12 and 13.
Important Reminders for Returning Applicants
- The federal government updated its entity validation process in April 2022, replacing the DUNS Number with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in SAM.gov.
- All entities, even previously registered ones, must validate their information with the new service provider and may need to submit additional supporting documentation.
- Action Item: Ensure your SAM.gov registration is updated to avoid submission delays. If you encounter issues, contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726.
Webinars to Guide Your Application Process
New for FY 2025! DOE will host two webinars to walk applicants through the NOFO and submission process:
- Overview Webinar
- Date: Thursday, January 2, 2025
- Time: 2:00 PM EST
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Focus: Overview of the DOE SBIR/STTR application and award process for FY25 Phase I Release 2. Register here.
- Q&A Session
- Date: Friday, January 3, 2025
- Time: 2:00 PM EST
- Focus: Live question-and-answer session on the DOE SBIR/STTR application process. Register here.
Both webinars will be recorded and posted on the Funding Opportunities webpage for future reference.
Take Action
The DOE’s SBIR/STTR program offers a significant opportunity for small businesses to contribute to innovations that align with national energy and security goals. Preparing early ensures you can meet critical deadlines and submit a high-quality application. Whether you’re a first-time applicant or a returning participant, use available resources and reach out for guidance as needed.
For further details, visit Grants.gov or the DOE SBIR/STTR website. If you’re seeking tailored proposal preparation support, reach out to our team today to collaborate!
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