Building EPSCoR-State/National Laboratory Partnerships

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Science (SC), has issued a funding opportunity titled Building EPSCoR-State/National Laboratory Partnerships. This program is part of the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), which is designed to enhance research capabilities in historically underfunded states and territories. The initiative focuses on fostering collaborations between academic institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions and DOE National Laboratories to advance fundamental, early-stage energy research. The program aligns with DOE’s broader mission to support scientific discovery and innovation in areas critical to national energy, environmental, and security priorities. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support collaborative research that advances understanding of the physical, biological, computational, or engineering sciences. Projects must be aligned with program areas within the Office of Science or Applied Energy Offices, including fields such as Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, and others. A central requirement is the inclusion of undergraduate students, graduate students, or postdoctoral researchers as active participants, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on workforce development and training the next generation of scientists. Funding under this program is substantial, with an expected total program funding of $35,000,000 and approximately 30 to 35 awards anticipated. Each award is expected to be around $1,000,000 over a four-year project period, with annual funding typically ranging between $150,000 and $250,000. While cost sharing is not required, applicants must demonstrate institutional or third-party commitment through contributions such as facilities, equipment, or personnel support. Importantly, funds cannot be used to support DOE National Laboratory participation directly, and all funded research must be conducted within EPSCoR jurisdictions or at DOE user facilities. Eligibility for this opportunity is restricted to domestic applicants located in designated EPSCoR jurisdictions, including states and territories such as Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Puerto Rico, and others listed in the solicitation. Academic institutions must be included in all applications, and while nonprofit and for-profit organizations may apply, they must partner with eligible academic institutions. DOE National Laboratories cannot serve as applicants or subrecipients but must be included as collaborators, with formal letters of commitment required. Principal Investigators must hold permanent or long-term positions and may only lead one application. The application process involves a mandatory pre-application stage, which serves as an initial screening mechanism. Pre-applications must be submitted through the DOE Portfolio Analysis and Management System (PAMS), while full applications are submitted via Grants.gov. The pre-application includes a concise description of the proposed research, identification of collaborators, and alignment with DOE program areas. Applications must include a detailed project narrative, budget justification, data management plan, and letters of collaboration. The review process includes both responsiveness screening and peer review based on criteria such as scientific merit, approach, team competency, and collaboration strength. Key deadlines include a pre-application submission deadline of March 18, 2026, with responses provided by April 8, 2026. Full applications are due by May 21, 2026. DOE anticipates completing award selections by June 2026, with awards issued within the same fiscal year. The program does not explicitly state recurrence, but given its alignment with ongoing EPSCoR initiatives, similar opportunities may be expected in future cycles. Applicants are encouraged to engage early, attend informational webinars, and ensure compliance with all submission requirements to maximize competitiveness.

Align proposal with DOE program priorities; emphasize strong collaboration with national laboratories; ensure student participation; clearly demonstrate scientific merit and feasibility