Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002784: Exploratory Topics | DE FOA 0002784

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002784

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002784, titled "Exploratory Topics," is a broad, open-ended ARPA-E solicitation designed to pull in unconventional, high-risk energy technology ideas that could lead to genuinely disruptive outcomes. ARPA-E (the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy) sits within the U.S. Department of Energy and was created by Congress to strengthen U.S. economic and energy security by accelerating advanced energy technologies. The agency emphasizes work that can reduce reliance on imported energy, cut energy-related emissions (including greenhouse gases), improve energy efficiency across the economy, advance transformative solutions for radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel management, and improve the resilience, reliability, and security of energy infrastructure for production, delivery, and storage. This FOA operates under ARPA-E's authorizing statute (42 U.S.C. 16538) and follows federal grant rules under 2 CFR Part 200 (as supplemented by 2 CFR Part 910).

The core purpose of the opportunity is to support applied research and development that is "transformational" rather than incremental. ARPA-E draws a clear line between steady, predictable improvements along established technology learning curves (often better suited to private-sector development or DOE applied program offices) and breakthrough approaches that could create entirely new learning curves. In practice, ARPA-E expects many funded ideas to be risky and some to fail, but it is looking for the subset that can open a new cost/performance trajectory with the potential to beat incumbent technologies over time. The agency also stresses "disruptive potential" in market terms: projects should have a credible path, if technically successful, toward manufacturability, competitive cost, and eventual deployment at scale, even if commercial disruption cannot be proven during the award period.

DE-FOA-0002784 is intentionally broad in scope and is meant to act as an on-ramp for new or emerging areas that may not yet fit neatly into an existing ARPA-E focused program. It can support two general types of efforts. One is exploratory analysis or research that helps ARPA-E understand a new technical area well enough to shape future, more targeted program directions. The other is proof-of-concept R and D for a specific technology idea, either in an area ARPA-E is not currently funding or as a possible enhancement to its existing portfolio. The emphasis throughout is high impact: the proposed work should plausibly create a new class of energy technology or a major shift in performance, cost, or capability across the energy landscape.

A key detail is that applications are not accepted as free-form submissions at any time on any topic. This FOA only accepts applications that respond to specific, pre-announced "Exploratory Topics." Those topics, along with their deadlines and any topic-specific requirements, are posted inside the ARPA-E eXCHANGE system as supporting FOA documents, and they are only visible while they are open. Once an Exploratory Topic closes, it is removed from view and ARPA-E stops accepting applications for that topic. ARPA-E also states it will only review applications that are responsive to the topic(s) open at the time of submission, which makes topic alignment and timing central to eligibility for review.

From an applicant logistics standpoint, ARPA-E requires that submissions be made through ARPA-E eXCHANGE only, after registering in that system. Concept papers or other materials sent through other channels are not reviewed or considered. ARPA-E points applicants to the ARPA-E eXCHANGE User Guide for step-by-step system instructions and provides an eXCHANGE help email (ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov) for technical issues, with the FOA name and number included in the email subject line. For program or policy questions, applicants are directed first to ARPA-E's FAQ page and then to the contracting and oversight mailbox (ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov) if the FAQ does not address the question.

In terms of award characteristics, the opportunity lists multiple possible funding instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, and "other," reflecting that ARPA-E may structure awards with varying degrees of federal involvement depending on project needs. The listed activity category is science and technology research and development (with an additional label referencing Opportunity Zone benefits), and the CFDA number is 81.135. Eligibility is described as "unrestricted," meaning that in principle any type of entity may apply (universities, companies, nonprofits, national labs, and others), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the FOA text or within a specific Exploratory Topic notice. The opportunity information provided also shows an award ceiling of $2,500,000, and it lists expected awards as 0, which typically signals that ARPA-E may not be committing to a fixed number of selections under the umbrella FOA and instead will make decisions topic by topic based on quality, relevance, and available funds.

Finally, the timeline and deadlines are topic-specific. The posting information included with the opportunity indicates the FOA was created on September 13, 2022, and gives an example deadline: submissions to "Topic A" were due by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on November 15, 2022, with a strong recommendation to submit at least 48 hours early. The practical takeaway is that prospective applicants need to monitor ARPA-E eXCHANGE for newly posted Exploratory Topics, confirm that their idea squarely matches an open topic, and plan submission well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute system or validation issues.

• The Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the opportunity zone benefits, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002784: Exploratory Topics" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
• This funding opportunity was created on Sep 13, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 15, 2022 Submissions to Topic A are due no later than 930 a.m. Eastern Time on 11/15/2022. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit at least 48 hours in advance of the due date.. (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 $2,500,000.00 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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