Office of Science · Department of Energy - Office of Science
The DOE Quantum Genesis Q Competition
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Oct 19, 2026 · 12 days left
- Award size
- $250K – $200M
- Total available
- $215M · about 10 awards
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Larger business, Small business
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Available in Davidson County (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Only 12 days left to apply
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 51 — including your county
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/05ea4b35-7c9b-45a7-98cb-7579ac2c0b19 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/db546457-d314-456d-9330-42ad71a0886d
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
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About this grant
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the establishment of the Quantum Genesis initiative to develop and deploy the world’s first fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computing (SRQC) capability for research and development. The Department seeks to realize this bold ambition through the Quantum Genesis Q Competition (herein, the Q Competition), a first of its kind effort to accelerate the timeline for realizing this novel, transformative capability. The Quantum Genesis initiative will serve as a foundational pillar of the broader Genesis Mission, designed to usher in a new era of computational power for the nation and accelerate scientific discovery and innovation. The announcement of the Quantum Genesis initiative marks a significant step toward the Department’s goals outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order (EO), Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation and its Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) effort.[1]
This request for applications (RFA) invites proposals from domestic commercial entities have a technically viable plan for the Quantum Genesis program and achieving the milestones of the Q Competition. The intent of the Q Competition is to accelerate the development timeline for SRQCs, align successful applicants with the needs of the Department and the scientific community, and to enable the necessary scaling of quantum hardware, software, and enabling technology while developing scientific workflows that ensure SRQCs contribute to national scientific and technological advancement. In addition to the goal of building the first-generation SRQC, these partners may also help to form the technical foundation for DOE’s continued efforts into the 2030s to deploy one or more next-generation SRQCs at National Laboratories.
DOE envisions this competition as a first step toward scaling fault-tolerant quantum computers to scientific relevance alongside other ongoing and planned activities. DOE acknowledges that potential vendors may have timelines that do not coincide with this competition, even though they may have a viable path to future platforms of interest to the DOE. Failure to participate or complete the milestones does not disqualify an entity or vendor from future DOE collaborations or procurements.
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Sep28
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment (already past: do it now)
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Oct12
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Oct17
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Oct19
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Davidson County facts with citations.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice DE-FOA-0003657.pdf (48 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.
Registrations you need first (3)
Grants.gov · p. 7
“Model terms will be provided on Grants.gov and https://science.osti.gov/Funding-Opportunities where the RFA is listed.” Open page 7
SAM.gov · p. 21
“SAM.gov Registration Effective January 1, 2020, the System for Award Management (SAM) is the central repository for common government-wide certifications and representations required of federal solicitation awardees.” Open page 21
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 21
“You must have an active account with SAM.gov which includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).” Open page 21
The deadline is in 12 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Get-ready checklist
Steps before the deadline
Informational webinar · p. 4
“Informational Webinar September 25, 2026, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time, virtual.” Open page 4
What to submit
Form SF-424 · p. 24
“Complete SF-424 Fields First:” Open page 24
Project abstract or summary · p. 30
“The project summary/abstract must be comprised of:” Open page 30
Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 32
“It should also include a timeline for the major activities of the proposed project and should indicate which project personnel will be” Open page 32
Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 36
“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 36
Budget narrative / justification · p. 43
“Budget Justification (Field L on the form) Please attach a one-page blank PDF file containing nothing. 5.” Open page 43
Form SF-LLL · p. 45
“Name of Document Format Attach to SF 424 (R&R) Form N/A RESEARCH AND RELATED Other Project Information Form N/A Project Summary/Abstract PDF Field 7 Project Narrative, including required appendices PDF Field 8 Identification of Merit Review Conflicts File…” Open page 45
Formatting rules
1-inch margins · p. 31
“The description of the proposed research may not exceed one page (excluding Project Title and list of investigators) when printed using standard letter-size (8.5-inch x 11-inch) paper with 1-inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right).” Open page 31
11-point font · p. 31
“The body text font must not be smaller than 11 point.” Open page 31
Dates in the notice
October 6, 2026 · p. 4
“Submission Deadline for Questions Potential applicants must submit RFA questions by October 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.” Open page 4
October 19, 2026 · p. 4
“Submission Deadline for Applications Applications must be submitted by October 19, 2026, to be considered.” Open page 4
Mistakes that get applications rejected (4)
Could get your application rejected: Failure to participate or complete the milestones does not disqualify an entity or vendor from future DOE... · p. 5
“Failure to participate or complete the milestones does not disqualify an entity or vendor from future DOE collaborations or procurements.” Open page 5
Could get your application rejected: If you have not fully complied by the time we are ready to make a Federal award, you will be disqualified... · p. 21
“If you have not fully complied by the time we are ready to make a Federal award, you will be disqualified to receive a Federal award, and we will select another applicant. 2.” Open page 21
Could get your application rejected: Status as a consultant, graduate (master’s or PhD) student, or postdoctoral associate does not... · p. 38
“Status as a consultant, graduate (master’s or PhD) student, or postdoctoral associate does not automatically disqualify a person from being designated as a “covered individual” if they meet the definition in (a) above.” Open page 38
Could get your application rejected: Each subject matter expert who reviews any application shall not be disqualified or otherwise precluded... · p. 46
“Each subject matter expert who reviews any application shall not be disqualified or otherwise precluded from working on other projects or agreements at his/her employer that are similar or related to the subject matter of this RFA, providing that the subject…” Open page 46
Who in Tennessee has won this program
26 awards to Tennessee groups in 3 counties since 1988 · 4 in Davidson County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $15M | 2025 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $13.9M | 1996 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $12.3M | 2015 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $10.9M | 1992 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $10.7M | 2010 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $8.5M | 1996 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $6.2M | 2003 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $5.9M | 2011 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $5M | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $4.3M | 2009 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $3.7M | 2021 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $3.2M | 2012 |
Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 25 pass-through grants on file · 5 in Davidson County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlc Medical Screening | Oak Ridge | Research Foundation of the City University of New York | $549K | 2024 |
| University of Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | University of California, San Diego | $500K | 2023 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | The Pennsylvania State University | $450K | 2026 |
| Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Incorporated | Oak Ridge, Anderson County | General Atomics | $390K | 2023 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | Michigan State University | $388K | 2026 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | University of New Mexico | $363K | 2024 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | Middle Tennessee State University | $360K | 2025 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | The Pennsylvania State University | $330K | 2024 |
| University of Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | Case Western Reserve University | $322K | 2026 |
| University of Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | Case Western Reserve University | $322K | 2024 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | Case Western Reserve University | $314K | 2023 |
| Robotic Technologies of Tennessee | Cookeville | Tda Research, Inc. | $287K | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
About the federal program
Office of Science Financial Assistance Program
Program number 81.049 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Energy · Project grant
How applications are judged
Applications will be subject to scientific merit review (peer review) and will be evaluated against the following criteria, listed in descending order of importance: Scientific and/or Technical Merit or the Educational Benefits of the Projects; Appropriateness of the Proposed Method or Approach; Competency of Applicant's Personnel and Adequacy of Proposed Resources; and, Reasonableness and Appropriateness of the Proposed Budget; and other appropriate factors, established and set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Match
None required (federal program listing).