FY 2027 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the official notice DE-FOA-0003665_Part_1.pdf (130 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.

Award size and project length

• Project period: 12 months · p. 7

  “may be made with a first budget period of more than 12 months.” Open page 7

• Project period: 18 months · p. 7

  “Budget periods will generally not be made for less than nine months or more than 18 months.” Open page 7

• Award amounts here are per year · p. 15

  “To be considered by the panel, an application must be associated with an encouraged pre- application and request no more than $500,000 per year in total across all institutions for a three-year award.” Open page 15

Registrations you need first (3)

• Grants.gov · p. 7

  “Agency Contact Information Grants.gov Customer Support 800-518-4726 (toll-free) support@Grants.gov PAMS Customer Support 855-818-1846 (toll-free) 301-903-9610 PAMS-helpdesk@doe.gov Technical/Scientific Program Contact Questions regarding the program…” Open page 7

• SAM.gov · p. 108

  “The list of certifications and assurances referenced in Field 17 is available on the DOE Financial Assistance Forms website under Certifications and Assurances.10 Applicants are bound by their representations and certifications in SAM.gov.” Open page 108

• Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 108

  “UEI and EIN Numbers (Fields 5 and 6) The Uniform Entity Identifier (UEI) and Employer Identification Number (EIN) fields on the SF-424 (R&R) form are used in PAMS to confirm the identity of the individual or organization submitting an application.” Open page 108

Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist

Steps before the deadline

• Pre-application · p. 1

  “A pre-application is required for consideration by certain review panels.” Open page 1

• Pre-application · p. 15

  “To be considered by the panel, a pre-application must be submitted by February 19, 2027.” Open page 15

• Pre-application · p. 15

  “ASCR expects to provide pre-application encouragement and discouragement decisions by March 12, 2027.” Open page 15

• Pre-application · p. 15

  “Applications associated with an encouraged pre-application must be submitted by April 12, 2027.” Open page 15

What to submit

• Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 66

  “For applications, applicants are encouraged to provide a timeline for all major activities.” Open page 66

• Budget narrative / justification · p. 83

  “If any senior/key person requests support from two or more HENP research tasks (including two or more tasks in the same research subprogram), provide information on the estimated distribution of research effort (FTE) for them in a table (example below) in…” Open page 83

• Form SF-424 · p. 101

  “Correct SF-424 (R&R)6 cover page for the submitting institution only” Open page 101

• Project abstract or summary · p. 111

  “The project summary/abstract must include:” Open page 111

• Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 117

  “Synergistic Activities (Optional) In addition to biographical sketches in the Common Format, each senior/key person may provide a one-page list of no more than five distinct examples of synergistic activities that demonstrate the individual’s professional…” Open page 117

• Indirect cost rate agreement · p. 120

  “Include the indirect cost rate agreement as a part of the budget justification.” Open page 120

• Form SF-LLL · p. 121

  “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, an officer or…” Open page 121

Length limits

• Project Narrative: 200 words max · p. 9

  “All for-profit applicants must include a description as an appendix to the Project Narrative, not to exceed 200 words, of how their proposed work will advance scientific understanding of a basic and fundamental nature. 4.” Open page 9

Formatting rules

• 1-inch margins · p. 106

  “The pre-application may not exceed three pages, when printed using standard letter-size (8.5-inch x 11-inch) paper with 1-inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right).” Open page 106

• 11-point font · p. 106

  “The body text font must not be smaller than 11 point.” Open page 106

Cost share or match

• Cost share / match · p. 10

  “Cost Sharing Cost sharing for basic and fundamental research is not required pursuant to an exclusion from the requirements of Section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.” Open page 10

• Cost share / match · p. 10

  “For OTA awards, to the maximum extent practicable, non-Federal parties carrying out a research, development, and demonstration project under an OTA award are to provide at least 50% cost sharing.” Open page 10

• Cost share / match · p. 10

  “Cost sharing is not required of DOE/NNSA National Laboratories, other Federal agencies, another Federal agency’s FFRDC, or their subcontractors at any tier.” Open page 10

• Cost share / match · p. 10

  “Cost Share Requirements Cost sharing is not required for awards under 2 C.F.R. part 200 and 2 C.F.R. part 910.” Open page 10

Dates in the notice

• February 19, 2027 · p. 15

  “To be considered by the panel, a pre-application must be submitted by February 19, 2027.” Open page 15

• April 12, 2027 · p. 15

  “Applications associated with an encouraged pre-application must be submitted by April 12, 2027.” Open page 15

• November 22, 2026 · p. 17

  “To be considered by the panel, a pre-application must be submitted by November 22, 2026.” Open page 17

• January 24, 2027 · p. 17

  “Applications associated with an encouraged pre-application must be submitted by January 24, 2027.” Open page 17

• January 10, 2027 · p. 18

  “To be considered by the panel, a pre-application must be submitted by January 10, 2027.” Open page 18

• February 28, 2027 · p. 18

  “Applications associated with an encouraged pre-application must be submitted by February 28, 2027.” Open page 18

Mistakes that get applications rejected (8)

• Could get your application rejected: Cost sharing will not be considered as a factor during merit review or award selection. 1. · p. 10

  “Cost sharing will not be considered as a factor during merit review or award selection. 1.” Open page 10

• Outside what the program funds: Projects with the primary objective of developing or improving instrumentation without enabling... · p. 26

  “Projects with the primary objective of developing or improving instrumentation without enabling measurements of previously inaccessible collective quantum phenomena will not be considered responsive.” Open page 26

• Could get your application rejected: Applications primarily focused on data generation, or applying existing AI tools will not be considered. · p. 28

  “Applications primarily focused on data generation, or applying existing AI tools will not be considered.” Open page 28

• Outside what the program funds: Applications emphasizing high-strain-rate deformation, high-dose radiation, or mechanics of materials... · p. 31

  “Applications emphasizing high-strain-rate deformation, high-dose radiation, or mechanics of materials (rather than materials science) will not be considered responsive.” Open page 31

• Could get your application rejected: Electron and scanning probe efforts, including technique development, proposed without associated... · p. 34

  “Electron and scanning probe efforts, including technique development, proposed without associated scientific goals or are motivated primarily by support of other funded research will not be considered.” Open page 34

• Could get your application rejected: Applications based on technological applications or device development will not be considered. · p. 41

  “Applications based on technological applications or device development will not be considered.” Open page 41

• Outside what the program funds: Applications will be deemed non-responsive if they are principally centered on: · p. 43

  “Applications will be deemed non-responsive if they are principally centered on:” Open page 43

• Outside what the program funds: Research that would result in only incremental knowledge or technological advances, or applications... · p. 57

  “Research that would result in only incremental knowledge or technological advances, or applications focused solely on technology development will not be considered.” Open page 57