DE-FOA-0003646 Notice of Intent to Issue DE-FOA-0003647 Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) for an anticipated Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT)." Managed by the Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office, this initiative provides $58 million in cooperative agreements to accelerate the domestic production of chemicals from alternative and waste feedstocks, improving supply chain resiliency and manufacturing efficiency. The program features a staged scale-up approach divided into two primary topic areas: - **Topic Area 1 (Bench ASPECT):** Supports bench-scale R&D and unit-operation pre-piloting to transition early-stage chemical technologies beyond proof-of-concept. - **Topic Area 2 (Pre-Pilot ASPECT):** Funds the design, construction, and operation of integrated pre-pilot scale facilities to accelerate market entry. Eligible applicants include domestic higher education institutions, non-profits, for-profits, state/local governments, and Indian Tribes. Proposed project teams must include at least one for-profit industry entity. The anticipated NOFO release date is August 24, 2026. Applicants must submit a concept paper to participate and use a streamlined application process. To prepare, interested parties are encouraged to join the online Teaming Partner List and complete required registrations in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, FedConnect, and DOE eXCHANGE.