Annual Recurring University Training and Research

The U.S. Department of Energy, through the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, is offering the Annual Recurring University Training and Research funding opportunity, DE-FOA-0003215. The University Training and Research program is administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory and is HGEO's primary initiative for building research capacity and workforce development at U.S. colleges and universities. Its objectives are to expand student research capabilities and education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; maintain and enhance the educational, training, and research capabilities of institutions of higher education; and develop education and training initiatives supporting HGEO and DOE-wide research and development priorities. This NOFO focuses on one topic area, Innovative Research and Training for Subsurface Energy Production. The topic area supports university-led, early-stage research and development aligned with at least one HGEO Office of Subsurface Energy program: Coal, Oil and Gas, or Geothermal. Projects are expected to generate scientific and engineering advances, develop proof-of-concept demonstrations or laboratory-scale prototypes, establish pathways for research outcomes to transition toward commercial applications, address workforce skill gaps through direct student participation, and build collaboration with non-academic organizations. Research is expected to begin approximately at Technology Readiness Level 2 through 4 and end approximately at Technology Readiness Level 3 through 5. Proposed technology must demonstrate potential for technology market impact within 5 to 10 years following successful completion of the award. Large-scale demonstrations, projects outside the identified technical priorities, projects lacking sound scientific principles or a substantive research and development plan, projects without student training, and projects without at least one qualifying non-academic partner are not of interest. Up to 10750000 is expected to be available from the University Training and Research program for the first submission period, with approximately 0 to 15 awards and a Federal share of up to 750000 for an individual award. Funding for the second and third submission periods is to be determined and is subject to availability. Projects are expected to have a 36-month period of performance and one 36-month budget period. Cost sharing is not required for prime recipients or subrecipients. Applicants may voluntarily propose industrial collaboration cost share through cash contributions, subcontracted consultation, experimental data or equipment, or qualifying in-kind collaboration. All requested costs must satisfy applicable Federal allowability requirements. All project work must generally be performed in the United States unless DOE grants an appropriate waiver. Prime recipient eligibility is restricted to U.S. institutions of higher education, including qualifying technical and trade schools. The submitting institution must have a professor serving as the Principal Investigator or co-Principal Investigator, and at least one student registered at that institution must receive compensation for work on the proposed research. Additional requirements apply when funding is allocated to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, or Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Other entities, including for-profit organizations, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and Indian Tribes, may participate as subrecipients but not as prime recipients. DOE and non-DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Centers may participate as subrecipients subject to applicable authorization and an aggregate limit of 25 percent of total project cost, while NETL may not participate as a recipient or subrecipient. Foreign entities are generally ineligible unless DOE approves an explicit waiver. The application process has two required phases. A Letter of Intent must first be submitted through eXCHANGE by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the applicable deadline; failure to submit it by the deadline prevents submission of a Full Application for that submission period. The Letter of Intent includes the project title, technical area, lead organization and organization type, percentage effort, partnering organization information, recipient technical point of contact, and an abstract containing information on previous submission, senior and key team members, subrecipients, contractors, and a project description. A Full Application includes the SF-424, a Technical Volume of no more than 15 pages, letters of commitment, Statement of Project Objectives, Project Management Plan, budget materials, biosketches and current and pending support for Covered Individuals, required disclosures, locations of work, environmental documentation, lobbying documentation, a public summary, and other applicable materials. At least one letter of commitment must come from a qualifying domestic non-academic partnering organization that will actively contribute to the research, technology transition, student mentorship, and experiential learning. DOE evaluates eligible applications for Scientific and Technological Merit at 25 percent, Technical Approach and Understanding at 25 percent, Strengthening the Energy Workforce at 30 percent, and Technical and Management Capabilities at 20 percent. Review considerations include scientific feasibility and differentiation, alignment with HGEO priorities, commercialization potential, quality of the project plan, strength of the non-academic partnership, student integration and career development, capabilities of personnel and organizations, resources, and partner commitments. Applicants should structure the Technical Volume around these criteria. DOE may also consider portfolio diversity, industry involvement, efficient use of DOE funding, U.S. employment and manufacturing impacts, geographic and institutional distribution, indirect cost rates, commercialization potential, and project risk. The NOFO was issued August 14, 2026. For the first submission period, the Letter of Intent is due October 1, 2026, and the Full Application is due October 16, 2026. Subsequent planned Letter of Intent deadlines are July 25, 2027 and July 25, 2028, with Full Application deadlines of August 15, 2027 and August 15, 2028, subject to funding availability. Anticipated selection notifications are January 2027, January 2028, and January 2029, with anticipated awards in April of the corresponding year. Applicants must submit required materials through DOE's NETL eXCHANGE system by 5 p.m. Eastern Time. DOE recommends submitting application documents at least 48 hours before the deadline. Questions regarding the NOFO may be sent to de-foa-0003215@netl.doe.gov, while eXCHANGE technical support is available at netl-exchangesupport@hq.doe.gov.

Structure the Technical Volume around the four weighted merit review criteria and give particular attention to Strengthening the Energy Workforce, which carries the highest weight at 30 percent. Clearly distinguish the proposed R&D from prior work, demonstrate sound scientific and engineering principles, and show potential technology market impact within 5 to 10 years. Include a substantive domestic non-academic partner that contributes to research direction, commercialization, mentorship, and student work experience. Directly integrate students into the R&D effort and demonstrate how the project strengthens their capabilities and career readiness. Align the primary research focus with at least one listed Coal, Oil and Gas, or Geothermal priority initiative. Submit all documents through eXCHANGE at least 48 hours early when possible because DOE will not extend deadlines for server or connection congestion.