Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003646
DE-FOA-0003646 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Notice of Intent (NOI) announcing that DOE, through the Golden Field Office, may later release a formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) called DE-FOA-0003647, "Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT)." The NOI is essentially an early heads-up to organizations that DOE is considering a competitive funding opportunity focused on scaling and pre-piloting emerging chemical technology pathways. It is not an open solicitation and DOE is not accepting applications, proposals, or comments under this NOI. The details provided are informational and could change substantially in the eventual NOFO, or DOE could decide not to issue the NOFO at all.
The program is being developed by CMEI on behalf of AFFO, and it aligns with AFFO's broader mission to strengthen the U.S. chemical manufacturing base by expanding the supply and use of domestic alternative feedstocks. The policy logic is to improve supply chain resiliency for U.S. chemical production, reduce reliance on imported inputs, and support domestic manufacturing growth through technology innovation that lowers cost and improves environmental safety. In other words, the government interest here is not only scientific novelty but also practical manufacturing outcomes: more resilient feedstock options, more competitive domestic production, and safer, cleaner processing routes.
If issued, ASPECT would seek financial assistance applications from a wide range of entities (the eligibility is listed as unrestricted) to conduct research, development, and scale-up work for producing chemicals from alternative and waste feedstocks. The scope is intentionally broad across the chemical value chain. DOE highlights three main categories of chemicals of interest: foundational molecules (platform or building-block chemicals that can be upgraded into many downstream products), derivatives or compounds made either from those foundational molecules or directly from alternative feedstocks (including approaches that use process intensification to improve efficiency and performance), and final end-products. This framing suggests DOE is open to projects that start at different points in the pathway, as long as the work advances scalable technology for converting nontraditional domestic feedstocks into useful chemicals.
A central theme is that the targeted chemicals should deliver clear advantages that matter at national scale. DOE indicates that chemicals of interest should provide performance or cost benefits, or deliver benefits tied to U.S. foreign trade and national security. Applicants should expect that the eventual NOFO would prioritize technologies that make a credible case for domestic economic and strategic value, such as reducing exposure to volatile global supply chains, displacing imports, or strengthening U.S. production capacity for strategically important chemical intermediates and products.
The NOI also distinguishes between two broad types of chemical targets: conventional chemicals and bio-advantaged chemicals. Conventional chemicals are not excluded simply because they are already known or widely produced; however, DOE signals that conventional targets would need to demonstrate added benefits such as improving domestic supply chain resilience, reducing U.S. imports, lowering cost, or showing large market growth potential. Bio-advantaged chemicals, on the other hand, are expected to offer favorable properties that create new value propositions, such as improved durability, higher production efficiency, or reduced toxicity. The emphasis on bio-advantaged properties implies interest in chemicals where the feedstock choice and production pathway can unlock better product attributes or safer environmental profiles, not just a different way to make the same molecule.
Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as discretionary, with the funding instrument type listed as "Other," and it falls under the Energy activity category with CFDA number 81.087. The posting shows an original closing date of 2026-09-14, but because this is an NOI rather than an active NOFO, that date should be interpreted cautiously; the key practical point is that no application is being requested at this stage. The listing also shows an award ceiling of 0 and expected awards of 0, reinforcing that the NOI itself does not fund projects and is only signaling potential future funding.
For organizations tracking this space, the immediate action is simply monitoring: the NOI directs interested parties to eere-exchange.energy.gov, where the eventual NOFO (if issued) would be posted along with official instructions, deadlines, submission requirements, and a designated channel for questions. The legal authority referenced ties back to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), which underpins DOE's ability to support these types of technology development and scale-up efforts.Apply for DE FOA 0003646
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DE-FOA-0003646 Notice of Intent to Issue DE-FOA-0003647 Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FAQs: DOE NOI DE-FOA-0003646 and Potential NOFO DE-FOA-0003647 (ASPECT)
What is DE-FOA-0003646?
DE-FOA-0003646 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Notice of Intent (NOI). It serves as an advance notice that DOE, through its Golden Field Office, is considering a future competitive funding opportunity focused on accelerating scale-up and pre-piloting of emerging chemical technology pathways.
Is this an open grant competition right now?
No. This is an NOI and not an open solicitation. DOE is not accepting applications, proposals, or comments under DE-FOA-0003646.
What is the potential future funding opportunity called?
If DOE moves forward, it may release a formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) numbered DE-FOA-0003647 titled "Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT)."
Does issuing an NOI guarantee that DOE will issue the NOFO?
No. The NOI explicitly indicates that DOE could decide not to issue the NOFO at all.
Can the details change between the NOI and a future NOFO?
Yes. The information provided in the NOI is informational and could change substantially in the eventual NOFO, if one is issued.
What is the main purpose of the ASPECT concept described in the NOI?
The described purpose is to support research, development, and scale-up work that enables producing chemicals from alternative and waste feedstocks, with an emphasis on practical manufacturing outcomes (not only scientific novelty).
Which DOE organizations are associated with developing this program?
The NOI states the program is being developed by CMEI on behalf of AFFO and would be implemented through DOE, via the Golden Field Office.
How does this opportunity align with DOE program goals?
The NOI describes alignment with AFFO's mission to strengthen the U.S. chemical manufacturing base by expanding the supply and use of domestic alternative feedstocks, improving supply chain resiliency, reducing reliance on imported inputs, and supporting domestic manufacturing growth through technology innovation that lowers cost and improves environmental safety.
What kinds of feedstocks are in scope?
The NOI emphasizes alternative and waste feedstocks, framed as nontraditional domestic feedstocks that could be converted into useful chemicals at scale.
What parts of the chemical value chain does DOE appear interested in?
The NOI indicates the scope is intentionally broad across the chemical value chain and is open to projects that start at different points in a pathway, as long as the work advances scalable technology for converting alternative or waste feedstocks into useful chemicals.
What categories of chemicals are highlighted as being of interest?
DOE highlights three categories: (1) foundational molecules (platform or building-block chemicals that can be upgraded into many downstream products), (2) derivatives or compounds made from foundational molecules or directly from alternative feedstocks (including approaches using process intensification), and (3) final end-products.
What does DOE mean by "foundational molecules" in this context?
In the NOI, foundational molecules are described as platform or building-block chemicals that can be upgraded into many downstream products.
Is process intensification relevant to this opportunity?
Yes. The NOI explicitly mentions that derivatives or compounds may include approaches that use process intensification to improve efficiency and performance.
What kinds of benefits does DOE want the targeted chemicals to deliver?
The NOI indicates that chemicals of interest should deliver clear advantages at national scale, such as performance or cost benefits, or benefits tied to U.S. foreign trade and national security.
How does supply chain resilience factor into DOE's interest?
The NOI emphasizes reducing exposure to volatile global supply chains, displacing imports, and strengthening U.S. production capacity for strategically important chemical intermediates and products.
Are conventional chemicals eligible targets, or only new molecules?
Conventional chemicals are not excluded simply because they are already known or widely produced. However, the NOI signals that conventional targets would need to demonstrate added benefits such as improving domestic supply chain resilience, reducing U.S. imports, lowering cost, or showing large market growth potential.
What are "bio-advantaged chemicals" as described in the NOI?
The NOI distinguishes bio-advantaged chemicals as those expected to offer favorable properties that create new value propositions, such as improved durability, higher production efficiency, or reduced toxicity.
Does the NOI imply a preference for bio-advantaged chemicals?
The NOI emphasizes bio-advantaged properties and suggests interest in cases where the feedstock choice and production pathway can unlock better product attributes or safer environmental profiles, not just a different way to make the same molecule.
Who would be eligible to apply if the NOFO is issued?
The NOI states eligibility is listed as unrestricted, and it anticipates financial assistance applications from a wide range of entities.
What type of funding mechanism is indicated?
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary, with the funding instrument type listed as "Other."
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The NOI lists the activity category as Energy.
What CFDA number is associated with this listing?
The NOI references CFDA 81.087.
Does the NOI provide any funding amounts or number of awards?
The posting shows an award ceiling of 0 and expected awards of 0, reinforcing that the NOI itself does not fund projects and is only signaling potential future funding.
What does the listed closing date (2026-09-14) mean for applicants?
The posting shows an original closing date of 2026-09-14, but the NOI cautions that this is not an active NOFO. The practical point is that no application is being requested at this stage, so the date should be interpreted cautiously.
Where would the official NOFO be posted if DOE issues it?
The NOI directs interested parties to eere-exchange.energy.gov, where the eventual NOFO (if issued) would be posted along with official instructions, deadlines, submission requirements, and a designated channel for questions.
What should organizations do right now if they are interested?
Based on the NOI, the immediate action is monitoring for the release of the formal NOFO on eere-exchange.energy.gov and reviewing official instructions if and when they become available.
Is DOE accepting questions or comments under the NOI?
No. The NOI states DOE is not accepting applications, proposals, or comments under this NOI. The designated channel for questions would be provided with the NOFO if it is issued.
What legal authority is referenced for DOE to support this type of effort?
The NOI references the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) as the legal authority underpinning DOE's ability to support these technology development and scale-up efforts.
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