Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001711
This Notice of Intent describes an upcoming federal funding opportunity under the Fiscal Year 2017 Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI), a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). The notice is not the actual application solicitation; instead, it is an early heads-up that an official Request for Applications (RFA) is planned for release in the near term. The overall purpose of BRDI is to support research, development, and demonstration activities that move biomass-based technologies closer to real-world deployment, with a clear preference for work that can show near-term commercial relevance rather than purely long-range exploratory research.
For FY 2017, the program requires that every funded project align with at least one of three legislatively mandated topic areas. The first topic area, Feedstocks Development, focuses on improving biomass feedstocks and the logistics needed to reliably supply them. This includes practical, on-the-ground elements such as harvesting methods, handling, transportation, preprocessing, and storage. The emphasis is on optimizing existing feedstocks that will actually be available for testing and demonstration during the project period, which signals that the agencies want proposals grounded in near-term feasibility. Projects that include breeding or genetic improvement are not ruled out, but they must be justified in a way that still supports the program emphasis on near-term impacts and commercialization timelines.
The second topic area, Biofuels and Biobased Products Development, targets technology development for converting cellulosic biomass into biofuels, bioenergy, and a broader slate of biobased products. This area encourages cost-effective and innovative conversion approaches, but also places value on product diversification within biorefinery concepts. In practice, that means proposals can be stronger if they show how a facility could produce fuels alongside higher-value or complementary coproducts such as biobased chemicals, animal feeds, or combined heat and power (cogeneration). The underlying idea is that diversified product streams can improve biorefinery economics and make fuel production more financially viable, which again ties back to near-term deployment potential rather than purely academic outcomes.
The third topic area, Biofuels Development Analysis, is centered on systems-level evaluation and sustainability analysis. Applicants in this area are expected to use methods that optimize performance and market potential while also quantifying sustainability impacts. The notice specifically highlights lifecycle, cradle-to-grave thinking, meaning projects should account for environmental, social, and economic effects attributable to the proposed work. A key expectation is that sustainability data not sit in a separate report, but be integrated into engineering and process models and used throughout the project to improve the system design and continuously quantify sustainability outcomes over time.
In terms of funding mechanics, NIFA and EERE anticipate making multiple awards, with USDA support structured as grants and DOE support structured as cooperative agreements. Each award is expected to run for approximately three years. The NOI also makes clear that details can change once the full RFA is issued, and it sets expectations about communications: the agencies will not answer questions about the NOI itself. Instead, once the RFA is released, NIFA will provide a formal avenue for submitting questions, which is typical for federal competitive solicitations.
Administratively, the opportunity is associated with DOE and posted through the EERE Exchange platform, where the RFA was expected to appear in mid-February 2017. The funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0001711, and it is categorized under discretionary funding in the energy activity area (CFDA 81.087). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to many entity types (with any final clarifications to be provided in the actual RFA). The NOI itself has no application deadline because it is not accepting applications; it is simply announcing the intent to release a forthcoming solicitation.Apply for DE FOA 0001711
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent (NOI) to Issue a Request for Applications (RFA) entitled “Fiscal Year 17 Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI)" 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 Jan 13, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by NOI - No applications. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this Notice of Intent (NOI) about?
This Notice of Intent is an early announcement that the federal government plans to release an official Request for Applications (RFA) for the Fiscal Year 2017 Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI). The NOI is informational only and is meant to give potential applicants a heads-up that a competitive funding opportunity is coming.
Is the NOI the actual funding solicitation?
No. The NOI is not the solicitation and it is not accepting applications. The official application instructions, requirements, and submission process will be provided in the forthcoming RFA.
Which agencies are involved in this funding opportunity?
BRDI is a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO).
What is the overall purpose of the BRDI program?
The purpose of BRDI is to support research, development, and demonstration that helps move biomass-based technologies toward real-world deployment. The program emphasizes work with near-term commercial relevance rather than purely long-range exploratory research.
What kinds of projects does BRDI prefer to fund?
Based on the NOI, BRDI prefers projects that can show near-term feasibility and commercialization relevance. The emphasis is on practical progress toward deployment, including technology demonstration and work grounded in feedstocks and systems that can realistically be tested during the project period.
What are the required topic areas for FY 2017?
For FY 2017, every funded project must align with at least one of three legislatively mandated topic areas: (1) Feedstocks Development, (2) Biofuels and Biobased Products Development, or (3) Biofuels Development Analysis.
What is included under Topic Area 1: Feedstocks Development?
Feedstocks Development focuses on improving biomass feedstocks and the logistics needed to supply them reliably. This includes harvesting methods, handling, transportation, preprocessing, and storage. The NOI emphasizes optimizing existing feedstocks that will be available for testing and demonstration during the project period.
Are breeding or genetic improvement activities allowed under Feedstocks Development?
They are not ruled out, but they must be justified in a way that still supports the program's emphasis on near-term impacts and commercialization timelines. The NOI signals that proposals should stay grounded in near-term feasibility.
What is included under Topic Area 2: Biofuels and Biobased Products Development?
This topic area supports technology development to convert cellulosic biomass into biofuels, bioenergy, and other biobased products. It encourages cost-effective and innovative conversion approaches and places value on product diversification within biorefinery concepts.
What does "product diversification" mean in this context?
Product diversification refers to biorefinery approaches that produce fuels alongside other higher-value or complementary products. The NOI gives examples such as biobased chemicals, animal feeds, or combined heat and power (cogeneration). The idea is that multiple product streams can improve biorefinery economics and help make fuel production more financially viable.
What is included under Topic Area 3: Biofuels Development Analysis?
Biofuels Development Analysis focuses on systems-level evaluation and sustainability analysis. Projects are expected to use methods that optimize performance and market potential while quantifying sustainability impacts, including environmental, social, and economic effects.
What does the NOI mean by "lifecycle" or "cradle-to-grave" analysis?
It means considering impacts across the full system, from upstream inputs through downstream outcomes, rather than analyzing only a single step. The NOI highlights cradle-to-grave thinking and expects applicants to account for environmental, social, and economic effects attributable to the proposed work.
How should sustainability analysis be used in projects under the Analysis topic area?
The NOI states that sustainability data should not be isolated in a standalone report. Instead, it should be integrated into engineering and process models and used throughout the project to improve system design and continuously quantify sustainability outcomes over time.
How is funding expected to be structured between USDA and DOE?
The NOI indicates USDA support will be structured as grants, while DOE support will be structured as cooperative agreements. The initiative is jointly run, and multiple awards are anticipated.
How long are awards expected to last?
Each award is expected to run for approximately three years, according to the NOI.
Will there be multiple awards?
Yes. The NOI states that NIFA and EERE anticipate making multiple awards.
Where will the official RFA be posted?
The opportunity is associated with DOE and is posted through the EERE Exchange platform. The NOI indicates the RFA was expected to appear there in mid-February 2017.
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0001711.
What is the CFDA number and funding category mentioned in the NOI?
The NOI lists this as discretionary funding in the energy activity area with CFDA 81.087.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to many entity types. Any final clarifications or specific eligibility conditions are expected to be provided in the official RFA.
Is there an application deadline listed in the NOI?
No. The NOI does not include an application deadline because it is not accepting applications. Deadlines and submission requirements will be provided in the RFA.
Can applicants ask questions about the NOI?
No. The NOI states the agencies will not answer questions about the NOI itself. Once the RFA is released, NIFA will provide a formal avenue for submitting questions.
Can the details change between the NOI and the final RFA?
Yes. The NOI explicitly notes that details may change once the full RFA is issued, so applicants should rely on the RFA for final requirements.
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