Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002280
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program, is soliciting new and renewal grant applications under the opportunity titled "Measurement Innovations for Fusion Energy and Plasmas" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002280). This call focuses on advancing the scientific tools needed to understand and predict plasma behavior in fusion-relevant environments. The broader purpose is to strengthen the fundamental science base for fusion energy by improving how researchers measure key plasma properties in extreme conditions, including very high temperatures and densities.
At the center of the opportunity is the FES Measurement Innovation program, which supports the development of novel and genuinely innovative plasma diagnostic techniques, especially those suited for new, unexplored, or otherwise unfamiliar plasma regimes or operating scenarios. The DOE is looking for diagnostics that can deliver the spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution needed to rigorously test and validate plasma physics models. In practical terms, the program is trying to close the gap between theory and experiment by enabling measurements that are detailed and precise enough to confirm (or challenge) model predictions about how fusion plasmas evolve, transport energy and particles, and respond to heating, fueling, and magnetic control.
The scope of applications is broad across plasma research areas supported by FES. Proposed diagnostic innovations may be relevant to magnetic fusion science, high energy density laboratory plasmas, and low temperature plasmas, and the resulting capabilities are intended to be usable at domestic and international research facilities. The FOA ties these efforts to multiple FES research subprograms, including Burning Plasma Science Foundation, Burning Plasma Long Pulse, Discovery Plasma Science (Low Temperature Plasmas), and Discovery Plasma Science (High Energy Density Laboratory Plasma). A notable theme is long-pulse research: proposals that anticipate and address future diagnostic needs for long-duration plasma experiments are explicitly included.
Competitive applications are expected to push measurement capability beyond the current state of the art in at least one meaningful way. The FOA highlights several pathways: developing techniques that can measure plasma parameters that have not been accessible before, delivering substantially greater detail than existing tools, or achieving similar measurement outcomes with much lower cost, smaller footprint, or reduced complexity. The program also welcomes proposals that substantially extend existing diagnostic concepts, but only when the extension enables measurements in new regimes or unfamiliar scenarios rather than simply repeating established use cases.
In addition to full diagnostic systems, the FOA also encourages enabling technology development. This includes new and innovative technologies, materials, and detectors for measuring the radiation and particles produced in present and future magnetic fusion experiments. The intent is to support breakthroughs in components and subsystems (for example, detectors, sensors, materials that survive harsh plasma environments, or novel measurement modalities) when they clearly unlock new diagnostic performance or enable measurements that were previously impractical.
A key boundary is what the FOA will not fund. While testing a novel diagnostic on a major fusion facility is not explicitly prohibited, the program is not interested in proposals that primarily aim to deploy already proven diagnostic techniques on large facilities. In other words, routine application of mature diagnostics is considered out of scope here and is instead supported through other FES funding opportunities associated with specific experimental facilities and user programs. This FOA is meant to catalyze innovation in measurement science, not to serve as an operations or standard-instrumentation deployment mechanism.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 81.049). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of organizations can apply, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement. The FOA was created March 11, 2020, with an original closing date of May 6, 2020. The DOE anticipated making about three awards, with an award ceiling of $1,200,000 per award.Apply for DE FOA 0002280
- The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Measurement Innovations for Fusion Energy and Plasmas" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 11, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 06, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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FAQs: Measurement Innovations for Fusion Energy and Plasmas (DE-FOA-0002280)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding opportunity through the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program titled "Measurement Innovations for Fusion Energy and Plasmas" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002280). It solicits new and renewal grant applications focused on advancing plasma measurement (diagnostic) capabilities for fusion-relevant environments.
2) What is the main purpose of the FOA?
The purpose is to strengthen the fundamental science base for fusion energy by improving the tools researchers use to measure key plasma properties under extreme conditions (including very high temperatures and densities). The FOA emphasizes measurements that help researchers understand and predict plasma behavior.
3) What program within DOE/FES is driving this call?
The call is centered on the FES Measurement Innovation program, which supports the development of novel and genuinely innovative plasma diagnostic techniques, especially for new, unexplored, or otherwise unfamiliar plasma regimes or operating scenarios.
4) What kinds of projects are considered a good fit?
Competitive applications are expected to push measurement capability beyond the current state of the art in at least one meaningful way. Examples described in the opportunity include diagnostics that:
- Measure plasma parameters that have not been accessible before
- Provide substantially greater spatial, spectral, and/or temporal detail than existing tools
- Achieve similar measurement outcomes at much lower cost, smaller footprint, or reduced complexity
- Substantially extend an existing diagnostic concept in a way that enables measurements in new regimes or unfamiliar scenarios
5) Why does DOE emphasize spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution?
The FOA highlights the need for diagnostics that can deliver the resolution necessary to rigorously test and validate plasma physics models. The goal is to reduce the gap between theory and experiment by enabling measurements that are detailed and precise enough to confirm (or challenge) model predictions about plasma evolution, transport, and response to heating, fueling, and magnetic control.
6) What research areas can the proposed diagnostics support?
The scope is broad across plasma research areas supported by FES. Proposed diagnostic innovations may be relevant to:
- Magnetic fusion science
- High energy density laboratory plasmas
- Low temperature plasmas
The resulting capabilities are intended to be usable at domestic and international research facilities.
7) Which FES subprogram areas are referenced in the FOA?
The FOA ties measurement innovation efforts to multiple FES research subprograms, including:
- Burning Plasma Science Foundation
- Burning Plasma Long Pulse
- Discovery Plasma Science (Low Temperature Plasmas)
- Discovery Plasma Science (High Energy Density Laboratory Plasma)
8) Does the FOA include a focus on long-pulse (long-duration) experiments?
Yes. Long-pulse research is a notable theme. Proposals that anticipate and address future diagnostic needs for long-duration plasma experiments are explicitly included.
9) Are enabling technologies (components and subsystems) eligible, or only full diagnostic systems?
The FOA encourages both full diagnostic systems and enabling technology development. It specifically includes new and innovative technologies, materials, and detectors for measuring radiation and particles produced in present and future magnetic fusion experiments, when they unlock new performance or enable previously impractical measurements.
10) What kinds of enabling technologies are mentioned as examples?
Examples described include detectors, sensors, materials that can survive harsh plasma environments, and novel measurement modalities. The emphasis is on breakthroughs in components and subsystems that clearly enable new diagnostic capability.
11) What is explicitly out of scope for this FOA?
The FOA is not intended to fund proposals that primarily aim to deploy already proven, mature diagnostic techniques on large facilities as routine instrumentation. The intent is to catalyze innovation in measurement science rather than support standard deployment or operations of established diagnostics.
12) Can a project include testing a novel diagnostic on a major fusion facility?
Testing a novel diagnostic on a major fusion facility is not described as explicitly prohibited. However, the FOA emphasizes that projects whose primary purpose is routine deployment of already proven diagnostics on large facilities are not of interest under this opportunity.
13) How does DOE describe the difference between innovation and routine deployment?
Innovation, as framed in the FOA, means developing genuinely new measurement methods or extending concepts to enable measurements in new or unfamiliar regimes. Routine deployment refers to applying mature, already proven diagnostic techniques on major facilities as standard instrumentation, which the FOA indicates is typically supported through other FES opportunities linked to specific facilities and user programs.
14) What type of grant is this administratively?
This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, under CFDA 81.049.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of organizations can apply, subject to any clarifications contained in the full announcement.
16) Is this FOA for new applications, renewals, or both?
The opportunity solicits both new and renewal grant applications.
17) When was the FOA created and what was the original closing date?
The FOA was created on March 11, 2020, with an original closing date of May 6, 2020.
18) How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
The DOE anticipated making about three awards under this funding opportunity.
19) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $1,200,000 per award.
20) What is the core scientific gap this FOA is trying to address?
The FOA targets the gap between plasma theory/modeling and experimental validation. By enabling more capable diagnostics, the program aims to make it possible to validate predictions about plasma behavior, including how plasmas evolve, transport energy and particles, and respond to external controls such as heating, fueling, and magnetic control.
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