Approximately $3,000,000 of DOE funding is expected to be available for new awards under this announcement. Funding for all awards and future budget periods are contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated by Congress for the purpose of this program and the availability of future-year budget authority.

The maximum conditional grant is $1 million per project.

Based on the FY 2011 competition, DOE anticipates making approximately 1 to 3 awards in FY 2013 under this announcement, subject to the availability of annual Congressional appropriations.

Anticipated award sizes range from $3 million to $7 million per award. Pursuant to Section 9008(e)(6)(B) of FSRIA (7 U.S.C. 8108(e)(6)(B)), as amended, the cost share must be at least 20% of the total allowable costs for research and development projects, and at least 50% of the total allowable costs for demonstration or commercial projects. These percentages are currently required by both USDA and DOE.

The cost share must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law. The sum of the U.S. government share, including Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractor costs, if applicable, and the recipient share of allowable costs, equals the total allowable cost of the project.

Based on the FY 2011 competition, USDA-NIFA anticipates making approximately 5 to 10 awards in FY 2012 under this announcement. The range of awards is $3,000,000 to $7,000,000. Cost sharing requirements are a minimum of 20% for research and development projects and a minimum of 50% for demonstration or commercial projects.

DOE anticipates awarding cooperative agreements under this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Project periods will be a maximum of five years. DOE expects to award approximately $5,000,000 in the first year of operation, and an additional $5,000,000 in support of Center activities in years U.S. FY 2013 through FY 2016. U.S. awards in years FY2012 through FY2016 are subject to annual Congressional appropriations. The award floor is $1 million per year in expenditures. DOE anticipates making a minimum of three awards under this announcement, one for each research area. If none of the proposals in a particular area are found suitable for award, DOE and the Government of India (GOI) have the discretion not to make any awards. The anticipated award size for projects under each Program/Topic Area in this announcement is:
Program/Topic Area Total Award Size (over five years)
1. Building Energy Efficiency $6,250,000
2. Second Generation Biofuels $6,250,000
3. Solar Energy $12,500,000

The Government of India expects to award approximately $5,000,000 (INR 22.50 crores) in the first year of operation, and an additional $5,000,000 in support of Center activities in years Indian FY 2012 through FY 2015. The award floor is INR 4.50 crores per year in expenditures. Project periods will be a maximum of five years. Government of India anticipates making a minimum of three awards under this announcement, one for each research area. If none of the proposals in a particular area are found suitable for award, DOE and GOI have the discretion not to make any awards. The anticipated award size for projects under each Program/Topic Area in this announcement is:
Program/Topic Area Total Award Size (over five years)
1. Building Energy Efficiency INR 28.12 Crores
2. Second Generation Biofuels INR 28.12 Crores
3. Solar Energy INR 56.25 Crores
$1 = INR 45

Each consortium will be required to match the level of funding awarded by the Department of Energy and the Government of India through cost sharing (U.S. entities will match DOE awards and Indian entities will match Government of India awards). The total amount of cost-share, including the expected structure of contributions, should be clearly described in the application. As per the Agreement, DOE will fund activities by U.S. entities or individuals of a selected consortium in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations. DOE funds cannot be used to pay for work conducted by Indian entities within a selected consortium. As per the Agreement, the Government of India will fund activities by Indian entities or individuals of a selected consortium in accordance with India's laws and regulations. Government of India funds cannot be used to pay for work conducted by United States entities within a selected consortium.

United States Government funding: Cost sharing of 50% is required. The cost share is based on the total allowable costs (i.e., the sum of the Government share, including FFRDC contractor costs if applicable, and the recipient share of allowable costs equals the total allowable cost of the project) and must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law. Cost sharing may be considered within the "Program Policy Factors." FFRDC Contractor Effort: The scope of work to be performed by the FFRDC contractor may not be more significant than the scope of work to be performed by the lead organization, unless the FFRDC is the lead organization.

Government of India funding will be up to a maximum of 50% of the total cost. Cost sharing for the balance 50% from the consortia partners will be required. Existing Biotechnology Industry Partnership Program (BIPP) model will be adopted for funding.

DOE anticipates awarding grants under this Funding Opportunity Announcement. It is anticipated that up to $6,000,000 per year will be available under this FOA, contingent on satisfactory peer review and the availability of appropriated funds. Between 30 and 50 awards are anticipated, and applicants should request project support for five years, with out-year support contingent on the availability of funds, progress of the research, and programmatic needs. Awards are expected to begin in FY 2012. DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs associated with preparation or submission of preapplications and applications. DOE reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications submitted in response to this FOA.

The minimum amount for an individual award made under this FOA is $750,000 over five years.

While the minimum award size is $750,000, DOE expects the typical award size will be $750,000 over five years. Applicants are encouraged to propose research expenditures as close to the funding minimum as possible. Typical budgets will be $150,000 per year for five years.

Cost sharing is not required.

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The average annual award size for the program is $100,000 for individual investigators and $200,000 for multiple investigators. Proposals requesting a substantially higher amount than this, without prior consultation with the Program Director, may be returned without review.

It is anticipated that approximately $400 million will be available for DOE Office of Science new, renewal, continuing, and supplemental grant and cooperative agreement awards under this and other, more targeted FOAs in FY 2012, subject to the availability of FY 2012 appropriated funds. Historically, applications that arrive in response to the open solicitation for applications have resulted in 200 to 350 new awards per year.

It is anticipated that approximately $400 million will be available for DOE Office of Science new, renewal, continuing, and supplemental grant and cooperative agreement awards under this and other, more targeted FOAs in FY 2012, subject to the availability of FY 2012 appropriated funds. Historically, applications that arrive in response to the open solicitation for applications have resulted in 200 to 350 new awards per year.

It is anticipated that approximately $400 million will be available for DOE Office of Science new, renewal, continuing, and supplemental grant and cooperative agreement awards under this and other, more targeted FOAs in FY 2012, subject to the availability of FY 2012 appropriated funds. Historically, applications that arrive in response to the open solicitation for applications have resulted in 200 to 350 new awards per year.

The award amount is unspecified. To apply for set-aside quota, applicants must submit a budget that is based solely on monetary needs, which includes funds necessary to execute the research plan and funds necessary to compensate vessel owners harvesting set-aside quota. Upon project selection, NMFS will negotiate with successful applicants on the specific RSA quota award. Priority will be given primarily to the higher technically ranked proposal, although additional factors such as individual project needs and cost effectiveness may be considered during negotiations. NMFS will establish a common scallop price estimate, based on the best and most recent data available, to determine the amount of set-aside necessary to cover research and compensation fishing expenses. If the entire RSA quota is not awarded, NMFS could award unused RSA quota to compensate projects in the event of low scallop prices or to expand a project rather than having that RSA quota go unused. Therefore, if there is RSA quota available after all awards are made, a project that was awarded RSA quota would be permitted to apply for additional RSA quota to expand its research project or for compensation if the actual scallop price per pound is less than estimated in the FFO. Such applications will be considered on a case by case basis. In the unlikely event there is unused RSA quota, the specific guidelines, criteria, and details of the application process for the subsequent allocation will be included in the award letters to the successful applicants and posted on the NMFS website. No Federal funds are provided for research under this notification. Funds generated from landings harvested and sold under the Scallop RSA Program shall be used to cover the cost of research activities, including vessel costs. For example, the funds may be used to pay for gear modifications, monitoring equipment, the salaries of research personnel, or vessel operation costs. The Federal Government is not liable for any costs incurred by the researcher or vessel owner should the sale of catch not fully reimburse the researcher or vessel owner for their expenses. Any additional funds generated through the sale of set-aside landings, above the cost of the research activities, shall be retained by the vessel owner as compensation for the use of his or her vessel. This call does not have a cost sharing requirement. Proposals selected for funding will be funded through a grant or cooperative agreement depending upon the amount of collaboration, participation, or involvement by NOAA in the management of the project. Examples of substantial involvement may include but are not limited to, proposals for collaboration between NOAA scientists and a recipient scientist. Funding for contractual arrangements for services or products for delivery to NOAA is not available under this notice.

Review of proposals will occur during the three months following the date given in this announcement that the proposals are due to NMFS. Initiation of approved RSA project activities should begin during the spring of 2012 for most projects. March 1, 2012, should be used as the proposed start date on proposals, unless otherwise directed by the Program Officer. Proposals may be submitted for research activities that encompass all or part of the 2012 scallop fishing years (March 1, 2012, through February 28, 2013). Scallop RSA compensation fishing may begin in areas that are open to the scallop fishery once the grant has been awarded. Amendment 15 to the FMP extended the compensation fishing period by three months beyond the end of the fishing year. Therefore, compensation fishing for projects selected under the 2012 Scallop RSA Program must be completed by June 1, 2013.

The award amount is unspecified. There is no commitment by USDA to fund any particular application or make a specific number of awards. For FY 2012, it is anticipated that approximately $19 million will be made available to fund Standard BFRDP Project grants and the Educational Enhancement Team Project.

NIFA, pursuant to the authorizing legislation for the BFRDP, requires that in order to receive an award under this program, the recipient must provide a match in the form of cash or in-kind contributions in an amount at least equal to 25 percent of the funds provided by the award. The matching funds must be from non-Federal sources except when authorized by statute. An award will not be issued unless all matching funds over the life of the grant are secured with letters of commitment. For third party cash or in-kind support, letters of commitment must be submitted on donor organization letterhead, must include the signature of the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR), and must state the exact amount of the marching funds or value of the in-kind support that will be contributed. There can be no stipulations on the matching amount.

Approximately $6 million will be awarded. Proposed budgets exceeding $500,000 total (including indirect costs) for a project period of up to five years will not be reviewed. If applied Research and Integrated Projects are commodity-specific and not of national scope, the grant recipient is required to match the USDA funds awarded on a dollar-for-dollar basis from non-Federal sources with cash and/or in-kind contributions.

There is no commitment by USDA to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards. Approximately $1.6 million is available to fund applications in FY 2012.

Funding for the three project types is as follows:

1. New Discovery Research Application: Project period shall not exceed 3 years (36 months). NIFA anticipates funding not more than 4 applications in this category, at no more than $200,000 per project, not per year. However, NIFA reserves the right to fund additional applications, depending on peer review panel recommendations.

2. New Capacity Building Research Application: Applicants may request up to 2 years (24 months) funding with an amount not to exceed $85,000 total, not per year. The intent of this option is to increase research capacity at the 1994 Land Grant.

3. Student Research Experience: Applicants requesting a student development option may request up to 2 years (24 months) not to exceed $60,000 total, not per year. Award amounts will vary depending on the option that is chosen (see below).

One cooperative agreement is available. Award ceiling is $300,000 over the life of the agreement, up to 5 years (April 2012 to April 2017). Award floor of $60,000 is available for Fiscal Year 2012. Partnership contributions are required with a 50:50 overall cost share with non-federal dollars. Alaska BLM cost share will not exceed $60,000 per project annually. Non-federal partners are expected to match BLM CCS funds at or above 1:1 for their respective projects. If there is more than one non-federal partner for a project than their total contribution can be combined to meet the 1:1 cost share goal. If more than one project is funded with the same partner then the 1:1 match would apply to the total for all of the cooperative projects that fiscal year.

Approximately $21,000,000 is expected to be available for new awards under this announcement. All awards under this announcement are subject to the appropriation and availability of funding.

Approximately $14,300,000 is expected to be available for new awards in FY 2012 and an additional $6,700,000 is expected to be available for awards made under this announcement in FY 2014. All awards under this announcement are subject to the appropriation and availability of funding.

Awards given for Topic 1 will be between $3,000 and $500,000, and between three and ten awards are available. Awards given for Topic 2 will be between $15,000 and $3,000,000, and either one or two are available.