Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002910
The FY23 Reducing Agricultural Carbon Intensity and Protecting Algal Crops (RACIPAC) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002910) is a U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) call for projects that strengthen the supply of sustainable, conversion-ready biomass feedstocks for biofuels and bioproducts. Managed through BETO's Renewable Carbon Resources (RCR) program and issued by DOE's Golden Field Office, the FOA is built around a practical idea: if the United States wants to scale low-carbon fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), it needs both (1) lower-carbon agricultural biomass supplies and (2) more reliable, cost-effective algae cultivation that can consistently produce biomass without major losses. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, meaning DOE expects substantial involvement during the project (for example, coordination on technical direction, milestones, and reporting), rather than a hands-off grant.
The technical scope is organized into two distinct topic areas. Topic Area 1 targets climate-smart agricultural practices that can measurably reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of biomass feedstocks used for biofuel production, with a particular emphasis on agricultural residues and energy crop systems. The FOA highlights widely discussed practices such as conservation tillage, cover crops, nutrient management, and soil amendments, with biochar called out as a specific, promising pathway. The core expectation for Topic Area 1 is that projects do more than simply promote best practices; they should assess efficacy in a way that ties practice changes to CI outcomes for biomass feedstocks. This is especially important for residues (like corn stover and similar materials) where collecting and using them for fuels can create sustainability concerns if soil carbon and soil health are not protected. In other words, Topic Area 1 is about generating credible data, methods, and strategies that help ensure feedstock production and collection can be scaled while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining or improving soil outcomes.
Topic Area 1 is split into two subtopics. Subtopic 1a focuses on climate-smart practices that enable low-CI feedstocks derived from agricultural residues. Projects in this lane would be expected to examine how different management choices affect the lifecycle carbon profile of residue-based feedstocks, including how those choices influence soil carbon dynamics and broader environmental performance. Subtopic 1b focuses specifically on biochar strategies to increase soil carbon levels while also delivering agronomic benefits for crops grown for energy production. This portion of the FOA reflects DOE interest in approaches that can both sequester carbon (or at least increase soil carbon stocks) and improve productivity, resilience, or input efficiency, creating a more durable pathway to low-CI biomass supply chains.
Topic Area 2 addresses a different bottleneck: algae cultivation reliability and cost. BETO views algae (including microalgae, macroalgae, and cyanobacteria) as an important long-term feedstock option for producing biofuels and bioproducts that can support transportation decarbonization goals, including SAF. A major driver of cost in algae systems is the loss of biomass to predation, competition, and pest infestations, which can sharply reduce yields and destabilize operations. Topic Area 2, Algae Crop Protection, therefore seeks methods and strategies that protect algae crops in cultivation systems so producers can maintain productivity and reduce the financial risk associated with crashes and contamination events. In practical terms, the FOA is encouraging R&D that improves operational robustness of algae production, which in turn can help move algal fuels and products closer to cost competitiveness.
From a funding and applicant perspective, RACIPAC is a discretionary DOE opportunity with an award ceiling of $5,000,000 and an expected total of nine awards. Eligibility is broad and includes state, local, and tribal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); individuals; and other entities as described in the FOA. The funding activity category is energy (CFDA 81.087), aligning it with DOE's broader portfolio of clean energy and decarbonization investments.
On process and timing, the FOA required a concept paper as an initial gate. The concept paper deadline was 03/20/2023 at 5:00 PM ET, and the full application deadline was 05/16/2023 at 5:00 PM ET. Applications are submitted through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE system, which enforces hard deadlines by disabling submission controls at the cutoff time. The FOA emphasizes that applicants should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov) if they encounter technical issues before the deadline. If a technical problem causes a late submission, DOE indicates it will consider accepting the application only when the issue was beyond the applicant's control, the applicant contacted the helpdesk, and the application is submitted through eXCHANGE within 24 hours of the posted deadline. Program questions are directed to FY23BETORACIPACFOA@ee.doe.gov.
Taken together, RACIPAC is designed to advance two complementary feedstock priorities for bioenergy and bioproducts: reducing the carbon intensity and improving the sustainability of agriculture-based biomass (especially residue-derived feedstocks), while also reducing the economic and operational risks of algae cultivation by improving crop protection. Both topic areas connect back to BETO's broader strategy of enabling scalable, environmentally sustainable feedstocks that can be efficiently converted into fuels like SAF and other low-carbon products.Apply for DE FOA 0002910
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY23 Reducing Agricultural Carbon Intensity and Protecting Algal Crops (RACIPAC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 08, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 16, 2023. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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