Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002259
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through its Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program, is soliciting grant applications for collaborative research focused on spherical tokamaks, with a major emphasis on work connected to the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The opportunity is designed to support coordinated, team-based research efforts that make direct use of NSTX-U and/or other spherical tokamak facilities, including both U.S.-based and international machines. It is also framed as one of two spherical-tokamak-related funding opportunities available in Fiscal Year 2020, with applicants directed to a separate FOA (DE-FOA-0002255) for proposals that fit the other solicitation rather than this one.
At a program level, the purpose of this funding call is to strengthen the scientific basis for fusion energy by advancing the understanding of magnetically confined plasmas and by evaluating the potential of the spherical tokamak concept for future fusion facilities. Spherical tokamaks are of interest because their compact, high-beta configurations can offer attractive pathways for high-performance plasma operation, but they also bring distinctive physics challenges that must be understood and controlled. DOE is therefore looking for proposals that are not standalone experiments in isolation, but collaborative efforts that connect researchers, facilities, diagnostics, modeling, and theory in ways that accelerate progress on the most important questions for spherical tokamak performance and predictability.
Applications must align with the Spherical Tokamak program and address key scientific issues in one or more specified research areas. These topics include macroscopic stability (understanding and avoiding large-scale instabilities that can limit performance or disrupt plasmas), multi-scale transport physics (how turbulence and transport processes across different spatial and temporal scales determine confinement and plasma profiles), plasma boundary interfaces (the edge region where the plasma meets material surfaces and where heat, particles, and impurities are exchanged), plasma waves and energetic particles (how radiofrequency waves, fast ions, and other energetic populations interact with the bulk plasma and with instabilities), and advanced operating scenarios and control (developing improved regimes of operation and the control techniques needed to sustain them reliably). In practice, successful proposals would be expected to show how the team will use spherical tokamak experiments and/or supporting simulation and theory to produce results that are broadly valuable to the program, such as validated physics understanding, improved scenario development, or control methods relevant to next-step devices.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a grant instrument under the DOE Office of Science. The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0002259, with the activity category listed as science and technology and other research and development, and the CFDA number identified as 81.049. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications contained in the full announcement’s eligibility section. The FOA was created on February 13, 2020, with an original closing date of April 2, 2020. The stated award ceiling is $2,000,000, and DOE anticipated making approximately 20 awards, indicating an intent to support a sizable portfolio of projects rather than only a small number of large, single-team efforts.
Overall, the opportunity is essentially a targeted call for collaborative, facility-connected spherical tokamak research that directly contributes to FES priorities, especially work tied to NSTX-U and complementary domestic and international spherical tokamak programs, and that tackles one or more of the core physics and control challenges needed to assess and advance the spherical tokamak approach for fusion energy.Apply for DE FOA 0002259
- The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Research on International and Domestic Spherical Tokamaks" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 13, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 02, 2020. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- 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 (FAQs)
What is the goal of this DOE funding opportunity?
The goal is to support collaborative research that strengthens the scientific basis for fusion energy by advancing understanding of magnetically confined plasmas and evaluating the potential of the spherical tokamak concept for future fusion facilities.
Which DOE office and program are sponsoring this solicitation?
This solicitation is issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science through its Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0002259.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding opportunity using a grant instrument under the DOE Office of Science.
What research area is this opportunity focused on?
It is focused on collaborative research related to spherical tokamaks, with a major emphasis on research connected to the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
Is NSTX-U required for proposed work?
The solicitation places major emphasis on work connected to NSTX-U, and it is designed to support research efforts that make direct use of NSTX-U and/or other spherical tokamak facilities. Proposals should clearly show how the work connects to NSTX-U and/or other spherical tokamak machines.
Are other spherical tokamak facilities besides NSTX-U allowed?
Yes. The opportunity supports research that makes direct use of NSTX-U and/or other spherical tokamak facilities, including both U.S.-based and international machines.
Is this a call for individual projects or team efforts?
This is aimed at coordinated, team-based, collaborative research efforts rather than standalone experiments in isolation. Proposals are expected to connect researchers, facilities, diagnostics, modeling, and theory in ways that accelerate progress on key spherical tokamak questions.
What kinds of outcomes are expected from funded projects?
Examples of expected outcomes include validated physics understanding, improved operating scenario development, and/or control methods that are broadly valuable to the spherical tokamak program and relevant to next-step devices.
Why are spherical tokamaks a focus for DOE FES in this opportunity?
Spherical tokamaks are of interest because their compact, high-beta configurations may offer attractive pathways for high-performance plasma operation, but they also present distinctive physics challenges that need to be understood and controlled. This opportunity targets research that addresses those challenges.
What scientific topic areas does the FOA emphasize?
Applications must align with the Spherical Tokamak program and address key scientific issues in one or more specified research areas, including: macroscopic stability; multi-scale transport physics; plasma boundary interfaces; plasma waves and energetic particles; and advanced operating scenarios and control.
What does “macroscopic stability” mean in the context of this FOA?
Macroscopic stability refers to understanding and avoiding large-scale instabilities that can limit plasma performance or disrupt plasmas in spherical tokamaks.
What does “multi-scale transport physics” refer to?
It refers to how turbulence and transport processes across different spatial and temporal scales determine confinement and plasma profiles.
What are “plasma boundary interfaces” in this solicitation?
This topic focuses on the edge region where the plasma meets material surfaces, including the exchange of heat, particles, and impurities.
What does the FOA mean by “plasma waves and energetic particles”?
It includes research on how radiofrequency waves, fast ions, and other energetic populations interact with the bulk plasma and with instabilities.
What is meant by “advanced operating scenarios and control”?
This area includes developing improved regimes of operation and the control techniques needed to sustain those regimes reliably.
How should applicants frame the role of experiments, modeling, and theory?
The FOA emphasizes collaborative efforts that connect facilities and experiments with diagnostics, modeling, and theory. Proposals should show how spherical tokamak experiments and/or supporting simulation and theory will be used in an integrated way to produce broadly valuable results.
Is this the only spherical-tokamak-related FOA available in the referenced fiscal year?
No. The opportunity is described as one of two spherical-tokamak-related funding opportunities available in Fiscal Year 2020.
What should applicants do if their proposal fits the other spherical tokamak solicitation instead?
Applicants are directed to a separate FOA, DE-FOA-0002255, for proposals that fit the other solicitation rather than this one.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 81.049.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications contained in the full announcement’s eligibility section.
When was the FOA created and what was the original closing date?
The FOA was created on February 13, 2020, and the original closing date was April 2, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The stated award ceiling is $2,000,000.
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making approximately 20 awards, indicating an intent to support a sizable portfolio of projects.
Does the FOA prefer a few large awards or a broader portfolio?
Based on the expectation of approximately 20 awards and a stated award ceiling, the FOA signals an intent to support a sizable portfolio of projects rather than only a small number of large efforts.
How tightly should proposals align with the Spherical Tokamak program?
Applications must align with the Spherical Tokamak program and address key scientific issues in one or more of the specified research areas. Proposals should make clear how the work contributes to FES priorities for spherical tokamak performance and predictability.
What is the role of NSTX-U in the overall program emphasis?
The solicitation has a major emphasis on work connected to NSTX-U at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, while also encouraging coordinated research that leverages complementary domestic and international spherical tokamak programs.
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