Funding-Limited Submission - U.S. Department of Energy - Biological and Chemical Upgrading for Advanced Biofuels and Products (DE-FOA-0001085); April 23, 2014

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announces a notice of availability of funds for financial assistance in order to address the development, improvement and demonstration of integrated biological or chemical upgrading technology for the production of substitutes for petroleum‐based feedstocks, products and fuels. EERE seeks diversification of the Bioenergy Technologies Office portfolio to include a variety of chemical and biological upgrading technologies for the production of a suite of hydrocarbon fuels, fuel intermediates and chemicals (beyond ethanol) to be produced in an integrated fashion from biologically or chemically derived intermediate feed streams, such as but not limited to cellulosic sugars, lignocellulose derivatives, lignin, cellulosic alcohols, bio-solids and biogases. For the purposes of this FOA lignocellulosic sugars will not be allowable fuel intermediates.

Specifically, EERE requests applications related to the following two topic areas:

• Topic Area 1: Process development and optimization of a single unit operation for the upgrading of chemically or biologically derived intermediates to fuels and products. Single step biological or chemical upgrading processes will be the focus of this topic area.
• Topic Area 2: Process development and optimization of multiple unit operations for the upgrading and separations of chemically or biologically derived intermediates to fuels and products. Hybrid chemical and biological upgrading processes with the integration of separation steps will be the focus of this topic area.

Cost Share Requirement: 20% of total project costs.

Limited Submission:  Applicants may only submit one Concept Paper and one Full Application for each topic area. This limitation does not prohibit an applicant from collaborating on other applications (as a Subrecipient or partner) so long as the entity is only listed as the Prime Applicant on one Full Application submitted under this FOA.

See the complete solicitation for additional details and requirements:  https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/#FoaId3459fab1-afc6-42cc-b7a4-a35839601e15

Because the Department of Energy only allows an applicant to submit one Concept Paper and one Full Application per topic area, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process.  Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to submit the following materials electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at limitedsubmissions@uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Wednesday, April 23, 2014:

· Names and departments of the UK Project Director and project team members

· Title of the DOE program and/or funding opportunity announcement number

· Program description (2 pages maximum) including the Topic Area, the proposed technology, the potential impact of the project on the relevant field and application, and the key technical risks/issues associated with the proposed technology development plan.

· A budget with cost share and potential sources of funding for that cost share. Note:  Because of ongoing commitments, the Office of the Vice President for Research is unable to provide matching funds.

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make a recommendation as to the University’s applicant. Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663).

The Department of Energy deadlines are:  May 1, 2014 for required Concept Papers and June 13, 2014 for Full Applications.