FY 2024 Phase I Release 2 | DE FOA 0003202

FAQs: FY 2024 Phase I Release 2 (DE-FOA-0003202) - DOE Office of Science SBIR/STTR

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the FY 2024 Phase I Release 2 funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003202), a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Which DOE office is sponsoring this FOA?

The opportunity is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science.

Is this opportunity a grant or a contract?

This FOA is offered as a grant (not a contract).

What is the purpose of the program?

The FOA is designed to fund early-stage, high-impact research and development (R&D) led by eligible U.S. small businesses, with the goal of moving promising science and technology ideas toward commercialization and real-world deployment in areas aligned with DOE missions.

What types of activities does the FOA fund?

The FOA supports science and technology and other research and development activities, including early-stage feasibility studies and proof-of-concept R&D (Phase I), and in some cases a combined pathway intended to speed progress toward more substantial development work (Fast-Track).

Who is eligible to apply?

The eligible applicant pool is limited to small businesses, consistent with SBIR/STTR statutory requirements.

Are both SBIR and STTR included in this opportunity?

Yes. This FOA includes both the SBIR and STTR programs, allowing applicants to select the pathway that best matches their R&D team structure and where the core innovation work will occur.

What is the difference between SBIR and STTR in this FOA?

STTR is commonly used when the project is built around a formal collaboration between a small business and a nonprofit research institution (such as a university or national laboratory). SBIR can be pursued by small businesses with or without that kind of required institutional partnership.

What tracks are available under this FOA?

This release contains two distinct but related tracks: Phase I and Fast-Track.

What does Phase I support?

Phase I awards generally support feasibility studies and proof-of-concept R&D. The goal is for the small business to demonstrate the scientific and technical merit of an idea and de-risk the approach enough to justify larger follow-on development.

What is the Fast-Track option?

The Fast-Track option typically allows applicants to propose a combined Phase I and Phase II pathway in a single submission. It is intended to enable a smoother transition from feasibility work to more substantial development if the project meets the program's requirements and milestones.

Why would an applicant choose Fast-Track instead of Phase I only?

Based on the FOA description, Fast-Track is meant to shorten the time between early validation and more advanced R&D by reducing administrative gaps and helping strong projects maintain momentum from Phase I into Phase II.

How much funding is available per award?

The FOA lists an award ceiling of $1,850,000. Actual award amounts can vary depending on topic area, project scope, and whether the application is Phase I only or structured for a more continuous Phase I-to-Phase II progression (such as Fast-Track).

What does the award ceiling represent?

The ceiling reflects the maximum potential award size under the competition. The FOA notes that this may be relevant for projects that proceed through Fast-Track or otherwise include larger cumulative funding across phases.

How many awards does DOE expect to make?

The FOA anticipates approximately 260 awards.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity creation date is January 18, 2024.

What was the original application closing date?

The original closing date listed for this FOA is March 12, 2024.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 81.049, which corresponds to DOE Office of Science financial assistance programs.

How does this FOA support commercialization?

The release is aimed at expanding the pipeline of innovative small-business-led technologies by supporting early R&D, strengthening commercialization prospects, and encouraging partnerships that can accelerate the transition from laboratory results to market-ready solutions.

What kinds of partnerships are encouraged?

The FOA highlights STTR as a pathway commonly used for formal collaborations between a small business and a nonprofit research institution (for example, universities or national laboratories), supporting partnership-based R&D when that structure fits the project.

What does "discretionary grant competition" mean in this context?

The FOA is described as a discretionary grant competition, meaning DOE is running a competitive funding process under a grant mechanism as part of the Office of Science SBIR/STTR programs.

What is the overall mission alignment for projects funded under this FOA?

Projects are intended to be aligned with DOE missions, supporting science and technology ideas that can progress toward commercialization and real-world deployment.