Alternatives to Innovative Traffic Safety Enforcement (ITSE) Grant Program

The United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Office of International Visitors (ECA/PE/V) announces an open competition for approximately five cooperative agreements to support the staff expenses and overhead costs of the FY 2027 International Visitor Leadership Program’s (IVLP) National Program Agencies (NPAs). Launched in 1940, the IVLP is the Department of State’s foundational professional exchange program. The IVLP advances America First national security priorities and builds long-term relationships between Americans and international leaders in government, business, academia, and other fields. Recipients design and implement customized short-term visits to the United States for current and emerging leaders from around the world. These visits support U.S. foreign policy goals and reflect the participants’ professional interests. Eligible recipients will have expertise in foreign policy, experience in professional exchange programming, and the ability to provide tailored projects for participants from all countries. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Treasury is publishing multiple funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) for its RESTORE Act grant programs. This announcement applies only to the Direct Component and is only for applications for eligible construction and real property acquisition activities, including environmental restoration projects and including projects with or without a non-federal cost-share for another federally funded project or program. To apply for eligible activities that do not involve any construction, land acquisition, or environmental restoration, applicants should use the non-construction funding opportunity announcement (GR-RDC-25-002). All construction and real property acquisition activities, and any activity that requires a permit from a federal or state agency, including natural resource restoration projects, should be submitted under this construction and real property acquisition funding opportunity announcement. Trust Fund amounts are available to carry out eligible activities described in the RESTORE Act and Treasury’s implementing regulations at 31 CFR 34.201. These are: 1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. 2) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources. 3) Implementation of a Federally- approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring. 4) Workforce development and job creation. 5) Improvements to or on State parks located in coastal areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 6) Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure. 7) Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure. 8) Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast region, including promotion of recreational fishing. 9) Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast region. 10) Planning assistance. 11) Administrative costs. Eligible activities 1 through 7 listed above must be carried out in the Gulf Coast region.

Treasury is publishing multiple funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) for its RESTORE Act grant programs. This announcement applies only to the Direct Component and is only for applications for eligible non-construction activities, including projects with or without a non-federal cost-share for another federally funded project or program. This announcement also includes planning assistance needed to prepare the Multiyear Implementation Plan (Multiyear Plan) required by the RESTORE Act. To apply for eligible activities involving construction and/or acquisition of real property or any other activity that requires a permit from a federal or state agency, including natural resource restoration projects, applicants should use the construction and real property acquisition funding opportunity announcement (GR-RDC-25-002).Trust Fund amounts are available to carry out eligible activities described in the RESTORE Act and Treasury’s implementing regulations at 31 CFR 34.201. These are: 1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region. 2) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources. 3) Implementation of a Federally- approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring. 4) Workforce development and job creation. 5) Improvements to or on State parks located in coastal areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 6) Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure. 7) Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure.8) Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast region, including promotion of recreational fishing. 9) Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast region. 10) Planning assistance. 11) Administrative costs. Eligible activities 1 through 7 listed above must be carried out in the Gulf Coast region.

The Fulbright U.S. and Visiting Scholar Programs annually provide approximately 970 awards to U.S. scholars and professionals to lecture and/or conduct research overseas and approximately 1,025 awards to visiting (non-U.S.) scholars to lecture and/or conduct research in the United States. In addition to the core U.S. and Visiting Scholar Program components, the agreement also includes, but is not limited to, the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program (S-I-R); Global Scholars Program; International Education Administrator Seminars (IEA) seminars; Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF); research-based, cohort programs to address priority policy areas; and other special awards that align with U.S. government priorities. Please read the Notice of Funding Opportunity and POGI for additional details.

The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) anticipates announcing the availability of funds and requesting applications for the AI3 Action Institute – Artificial Intelligence for American Indians. The successful applicant will establish the AI3 Action Institute, which will monitor the pace of AI change, identify responsible and practical opportunities to apply this technology to socioeconomic domains in Native communities, and support its thoughtful integration across Indian Country. Consistent with the Administration for Children and Families" (ACF) mission to strengthen families and promote work as the pathway to self-sufficiency, the Institute will leverage AI applications to accelerate economic development, workforce participation, community governance, and efficient service delivery. The primary goals are to (1) reduce the immense learning curve on behalf of hundreds of Native communities; (2) establish a bird"s-eye view to identify opportunities aligned with Tribal priorities and local leadership; (3) optimize deployment of this technology; (4) establish a knowledge manager to accumulate lessons learned and develop expertise and intuition; and (5) strengthen Tribal governance, while maximizing community capacity. Through this approach, the AI3 Action Institute will help ensure AI investments advance strong economies, strong families, and resilient Native communities.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for cooperative agreements to implement the FY 2026 (Academic Year 2027-2028) Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program and outbound Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (CBBSX) travel component.  The CBYX for Young Professionals and CBBSX programs advance America’s national interests by building lasting personal and institutional relationships that promote prosperity and security between the United States and Germany.    Key Activities:          CBYX for Young Professionals: ·      Approximately 65 American and approximately 65 German participants, ages 18.5-24, engage in year-long academic and professional exchanges. ·      American participants complete two months of in-country German language training, study for one semester at a German university, technical, or professional school, and gain practical work experience. ·      German participants study for one semester at a U.S. university, college, technical, or professional school and gain practical work experience. ·      Both American and German participants live with host families throughout the program year. CBBSX: ·      Ten U.S. Congressional and 10 German parliamentary staffers participate in a short-term reciprocal exchange with each other’s legislatures. ·      The U.S. recipient organization provides travel and administrative support for the outbound CBBSX exchange by coordinating round-trip airfare for the U.S. delegation. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity and POGI for additional information.

This is Modification 01 to the NOFO: Inserted certain deadlines and updated dates, including the deadlines for submitting questions and Full Applications (Basic Information, Section IV.C, Section IV.D) NOFO number DE-FOA-0003624 INSPIRING GENERATIONS OF NEW INNOVATORS TO IMPACT TECHNOLOGIES IN ENERGY 2026 (IGNIITE 2026) To obtain a copy of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) please go to ARPA-E eXCHANGE at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov. To apply to this NOFO, Applicants must register with and submit application materials through ARPA-E eXCHANGE (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Registration.aspx). For detailed guidance on using ARPA-E eXCHANGE, please refer to the ARPA-E eXCHANGE User Guide (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx). ARPA-E will not review or consider application materials submitted through other means. For problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE, email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in the subject line). Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov. Agency Overview: The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), an organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), is chartered by Congress in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-69), as amended by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358), as further amended by the Energy Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260): “(A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies that— (i) reduce imports of energy from foreign sources; (ii) reduce energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases; (iii) improve the energy efficiency of all economic sectors; (iv) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and (v) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy; and (B) to ensure that the United States maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies.” ARPA-E issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under its authorizing statute codified at 42 U.S.C. § 16538. The NOFO and any cooperative agreements or grants made under this NOFO are subject to 2 C.F.R. Part 200 as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 910. ARPA-E funds research on, and the development of, transformative science and technology solutions to address the energy and environmental missions of the Department. The agency focuses on technologies that can be meaningfully advanced with a modest investment over a defined period of time in order to catalyze the translation from scientific discovery to early-stage technology. For the latest news and information about ARPA-E, its programs and the research projects currently supported, see: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/. ARPA-E funds transformational research. Existing energy technologies generally progress on established “learning curves” where refinements to a technology and the economies of scale that accrue as manufacturing and distribution develop drive improvements to the cost/performance metric in a gradual fashion. This continual improvement of a technology is important to its increased commercial deployment and is appropriately the focus of the private sector or the applied technology offices within DOE. In contrast, ARPA-E supports transformative research that has the potential to create fundamentally new learning curves. ARPA-E technology projects typically start with cost/performance estimates well above the level of an incumbent technology. Given the high risk inherent in these projects, many will fail to progress, but some may succeed in generating a new learning curve with a projected cost/performance metric that is significantly better than that of the incumbent technology. ARPA-E will provide support at the highest funding level only for submissions with significant technology risk, aggressive timetables, and careful management and mitigation of the associated risks. ARPA-E funds technology with the potential to be disruptive in the marketplace. The mere creation of a new learning curve does not ensure market penetration. Rather, the ultimate value of a technology is determined by the marketplace, and impactful technologies ultimately become disruptive – that is, they are widely adopted and displace existing technologies from the marketplace or create entirely new markets. ARPA-E understands that definitive proof of market disruption takes time, particularly for energy technologies. Therefore, ARPA-E funds the development of technologies that, if technically successful, have clear disruptive potential, e.g., by demonstrating capability for manufacturing at competitive cost and deployment at scale. ARPA-E funds applied research and development (R&D). The Office of Management and Budget defines “applied research” as an “original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge…directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective” and defines “experimental development” as “creative and systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience, which is directed at producing new products or processes or improving existing products or processes.” Applicants interested in receiving financial assistance for basic research (defined by the Office of Management and Budget as “experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts”) should contact the DOE’s Office of Science (http://science.energy.gov/). Office of Science national scientific user facilities (http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/) are open to all researchers, including ARPA-E Applicants and awardees. These facilities provide advanced tools of modern science including accelerators, colliders, supercomputers, light sources and neutron sources, as well as facilities for studying the nanoworld, the environment, and the atmosphere. Projects focused on early-stage R&D for the improvement of technology along defined roadmaps may be more appropriate for support through the DOE applied energy offices including: the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (http://www.eere.energy.gov/), the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (https://www.energy.gov/fecm/office-fossil-energy-and-carbon-management), the Office of Nuclear Energy (http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy), and the Office of Electricity (https://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity). ARPA-E encourages submissions stemming from ideas that still require proof-of-concept R&D efforts as well as those for which some proof-of-concept demonstration already exists. Submissions can propose a project with the end deliverable being an extremely creative, but partial solution. Program Overview: The IGNIITE 2026 program is designed to support a new cohort of early-career innovators to develop the most disruptive and unconventional ideas into transformative new technologies across the full spectrum of energy applications. This announcement is purposefully broad in technical scope, but eligibility is limited to early-career researchers as defined in Section II.A. In addition to research, awardees will engage with ARPA-E, fellow awardees, investors, and other government stakeholders through dedicated events, meetings, and mentorship activities. Submissions to this solicitation must propose transformational R&D that has the potential for high impact. If successful, a project could create a new class or new trajectory for an energy technology, with the potential to substantially contribute to ARPA-E’s statutory goals (see Public Law 116–260). Awards under this program may take the form of exploratory research that provides the agency with information useful for the subsequent development of focused technology programs. Alternatively, awards may support proof-of-concept research for a particular new technology in an area not currently supported by the agency. To view the NOFO in its entirety, please visit https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.

The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy Amman announces an open competition to design and implement Qissati ma3 America —a digital storytelling campaign that shares the firsthand experiences of Jordanian alumni of U.S. Department of State-funded exchange programs. Jordan is home to thousands of alumni of U.S. government funded exchange programs — professionals, policymakers, entrepreneurs, educators, athletes, and artists who have lived and studied in the United States. Despite the impact of these programs, alumni stories rarely reach the broader Jordanian public, limiting opportunities to build understanding of American society through firsthand experiences. This initiative will address the gap by transforming alumni perspectives of the United States into a public resource — giving every alumnus the opportunity to share their American story. 3 The recipient will produce a curated collection of at least 50 multimedia stories highlighting American life for Jordanian audiences: its classrooms, campuses, technology culture, sports, and creative industries. The video stories will be archived in a public digital hub and amplified through social media, alumni networks, and traditional media. Applications are accepted via email only to AmmanGrants@state.gov. Submissions through Grants.gov will not be accepted.

The Public Diplomacy Section of U.S. Embassy Muscat announces an open competition to support projects that advance U.S. foreign policy priorities in Oman while strengthening the long-standing partnership between the United States and the Sultanate of Oman. This Annual Program Statement outlines strategic funding priorities, eligibility criteria, and application guidelines for grants ranging from $1,000 to $100,000, with project durations of up to 12 months.   Successful proposals should clearly demonstrate how their projects support U.S. public diplomacy goals; showcase American excellence, expertise, innovation, and values, and strengthen the bilateral relationship.   The goals of U.S. policy in the region are to: 1) secure opportunities that advance U.S. commercial and strategic interests; 2) promote trusted cooperation in emerging technologies, innovation, and space; and 3) deepen people-to-people ties that showcase American excellence. Applicants should clearly explain how their projects support U.S. public diplomacy goals, strengthen the U.S.-Oman partnership, and highlight American expertise, leadership, and innovation.   Programs should include a clear U.S. element, such as engagement with U.S. experts, institutions, companies, universities, artists, athletes, alumni, or professional networks; the use of American models, standards, technologies, or best practices; or activities that increase understanding of the United States and its partnership with Oman. Program Description 1.      Project Background, Goals, and Objectives   The Public Diplomacy Section of U.S. Embassy Muscat is pleased to invite applications for federal assistance funding opportunities, pending availability of funds, through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This Annual Program Statement outlines the Embassy’s funding priorities, strategic themes, and procedures for submitting proposals. Applicants should carefully follow all instructions below.   The Public Diplomacy Section seeks proposals for programs that advance U.S. foreign policy priorities in Oman while strengthening the long-standing partnership between the United States and Oman. Competitive proposals should clearly demonstrate how the proposed project makes the United States safer, stronger, or more prosperous; and showcases American excellence, expertise, innovation.   Programs should include a clear U.S. element, such as engagement with U.S. experts, institutions, companies, universities, artists, athletes, alumni, or professional networks; the use of American models, standards, technologies, or best practices; or activities that increase understanding of the United States and its role as a trusted partner for Oman.    2.      Program Objectives   Applicants may submit proposals that address one of the program goals below. Proposals should focus on one or more of the priority outcomes, but applicants may also recommend their own objectives if they clearly align with U.S. Embassy Muscat priorities.   Goal 1. Advancing U.S.-Oman Commercial Ties, and Shared Prosperity:   This goal supports programs that make the United States more prosperous by expanding U.S.-Oman economic cooperation, strengthening commercial ties, and highlighting the value of trusted U.S. expertise, technology, standards, and business practices. Projects may support Omani entrepreneurs, students, business leaders, and institutions in sectors that advance shared economic priorities, including innovation, trade and investment, tourism, logistics, clean energy, creative industries, and other areas linked to Oman’s economic diversification goals.   Programs should demonstrate how engagement with U.S. experts, companies, universities, or professional networks can help Omani audiences develop practical skills, build market-oriented solutions, and identify opportunities for long-term U.S.-Oman commercial cooperation.   Project Audience(s): Entrepreneurs, students, business professionals, chambers of commerce, academic institutions, economic organizations, youth, and relevant civil society partners.   Priority Outcome(s): Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address this priority program area.   Increased awareness among Omani audiences of opportunities for U.S.-Oman trade, investment, entrepreneurship, and private-sector collaboration. Stronger connections between Omani entrepreneurs, students, or business leaders and U.S. experts, companies, universities, or professional networks. Greater understanding of American business practices, innovation models, market-based solutions, and trusted U.S. standards in sectors important to Oman’s economic growth. New partnerships or project ideas that position the United States as a preferred partner for economic cooperation, entrepreneurship, and commercial innovation in Oman.   Goal 2. Strengthening Sports Diplomacy, Youth Leadership, and Major-Event Expertise:   This goal supports programs that use sports to advance U.S. public diplomacy goals, strengthen people-to-people ties, and share American excellence in sports management, coaching, athletic development, sports entrepreneurship, and major-event planning. As the United States prepares to host major global sporting events, including the Olympics, proposals may draw on U.S. experience in organizing, managing, and leveraging sports events to support youth development, community engagement, tourism, and economic opportunity.   Projects should demonstrate how U.S. sports expertise can benefit Omani athletes, coaches, sports institutions, youth organizations, and communities while strengthening positive perceptions of the United States and expanding long-term U.S.-Oman cooperation in the sports sector.   Project Audience(s): Youth, athletes, coaches, sports federations and clubs, schools, universities, sports entrepreneurs, community organizations, and relevant public or private-sector partners. Priority Outcome(s): Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address this priority program area. Increased exchange of U.S. and Omani expertise in sports management, coaching, leadership, athletic development, and major-event planning. Expanded professional connections between Omani sports institutions, coaches, athletes, or youth organizations and U.S. sports experts or institutions. Greater understanding of how sports diplomacy can support entrepreneurship, education, health, tourism, and community development. Increased recognition of the United States as a global leader in sports innovation, major-event management, and sports diplomacy.   Goal 3. Showcasing American Excellence in Culture, Heritage, and Creative Industries:   This goal supports programs that showcase American excellence, creativity, innovation, and cultural leadership while strengthening cultural understanding between the United States and Oman. Projects may connect American and Omani artists, cultural institutions, heritage professionals, designers, filmmakers, musicians, writers, museum professionals, and creative entrepreneurs. Programs may highlight the role of culture and heritage in strengthening national identity, mutual understanding, tourism, and economic opportunity. Projects may also showcase U.S. excellence in creative industries, including film, music, design, museums, digital storytelling, gaming, publishing, architecture, cultural entrepreneurship, and other creative sectors where the United States has global influence. Projects under this goal should support marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Freedom 250 programs should highlight American history, constitutional traditions, innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity, civic ideals, and the people-to-people ties that connect the United States and Oman.   Project Audience(s): Artists, cultural institutions, museums, heritage professionals, students, youth, creative entrepreneurs, educators, writers, filmmakers, designers, alumni, and the public.   Priority Outcome(s): Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address this priority program area. Increased collaboration between U.S. and Omani cultural, creative, or heritage professionals and institutions. Greater public understanding of the United States through American arts, culture, history, innovation, and creative industries. Strengthened skills among Omani artists, cultural professionals, or creative entrepreneurs through engagement with U.S. experts, institutions, or models. Programs that connect Omani heritage and American creative expertise through exhibitions, workshops, public programs, digital storytelling, or joint cultural initiatives. Freedom 250 programs that increase awareness of American history, constitutional freedoms, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the long-standing U.S.-Oman partnership.   Goal 4. Advancing Emerging Technologies, Space Cooperation, and Innovation:   This goal supports programs that make the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous by expanding U.S.-Oman cooperation in emerging technologies, space science, and innovation. Projects should showcase U.S. leadership in science, technology, and space while supporting Omani talent, institutional capacity, and innovation ecosystems in areas of shared strategic interest.   Projects may focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, digital transformation, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, clean technology, trusted digital infrastructure, satellite technology, Earth observation, STEM education, commercial space, or space entrepreneurship. Competitive proposals should include a clear U.S. connection, such as collaboration with U.S. universities, research institutions, technology companies, NASA-related educational resources, private-sector innovators, U.S. exchange alumni, or American experts.   Programs should demonstrate how U.S. expertise, standards, and innovation models can help Omani students, researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, and professionals develop practical skills, build trusted partnerships, and contribute to long-term U.S.-Oman cooperation in technology and space.   Project Audience(s): Students, youth, universities, researchers, entrepreneurs, technology professionals, STEM organizations, science communicators, educators, civil society organizations, and relevant public or private-sector partners.   Priority Outcome(s): Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address this priority program area. 1.      Increased understanding among Omani audiences of U.S. leadership, standards, and best practices in emerging technologies, advanced technologies, space science, and innovation. 2.      Stronger connections between Omani students, researchers, entrepreneurs, or professionals and U.S. technology, STEM, or space-related experts, institutions, and innovation networks. 3.      Practical skills development in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analysis, digital entrepreneurship, technology governance, STEM education, satellite technology, or space entrepreneurship, utilizing American platforms and providers. 4.      Greater awareness of trusted, responsible, and secure U.S. technology solutions that support innovation, economic growth, institutional resilience, and shared security. 5.      Programs that encourage U.S.-Oman collaboration in space education, Earth observation, climate and environmental monitoring, commercial space, science communication, or related fields.

The U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Consulate General Lagos announces an open competition to implement a program to increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and Nigeria by building commercial relationships, professional knowledge, legal infrastructure, and institutional connections that enable U.S. companies and Nigerian creative/digital professionals to partner and grow together.  This Annual Program Statement (APS) is issued under the Consulate's commercial diplomacy mandate to generate measurable economic benefit for U.S. companies, support U.S. jobs, and expand market opportunities for Nigerian creative and innovation economy professionals across seven priority themes: (1) Intellectual Property Infrastructure; (2) Exchange Alumni Network Activation; (3) Streaming, Digital Rights, and Platform Monetization; (4) Co-Production and Market Access — Film, Music, Fashion; (5) U.S. Education Access and Tech Credentialing; (6) Gaming, Sports Business, and Emerging Tech; and (7) Content Creation for U.S. Social Media Platforms and AI Tools.    Target audiences include Nigerian creative and tech professionals; entrepreneurs; exchange program alumni; university faculty; and U.S. companies in streaming, entertainment law, fashion, venture capital, and AI seeking Nigerian partnerships and talent.  This program strengthens U.S.-Nigeria commercial ties, positions U.S. companies to benefit from Nigeria's dynamic creative economy, and leverages public diplomacy assets in southern Nigeria, including 8,000 exchange alumni and 15 American Spaces as instruments of economic engagement generating opportunity on both sides of the Atlantic.

The purpose of this modification is to clarify the meaning of the Program Policy Factors in Section V.C. To obtain a copy of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) please go to the ARPA-E website at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov. To apply to this NOFO, Applicants must register with and submit application materials through ARPA-E eXCHANGE ( https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Registration.aspx ). For detailed guidance on using ARPA-E eXCHANGE, please refer to the ARPA-E eXCHANGE User Guide (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx). ARPA-E will not review or consider concept papers submitted through other means. For problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE, email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in the subject line). Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq . For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov.   AGENCY OVERVIEW The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), an organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), is chartered by Congress in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-69), as amended by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358), as further amended by the Energy Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260): “(A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies that— (i) reduce imports of energy from foreign sources; (ii) reduce energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases; (iii) improve the energy efficiency of all economic sectors; (iv) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and (v) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy; and (B) to ensure that the United States maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies.” ARPA-E issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under its authorizing statute codified at 42 U.S.C. § 16538. The NOFO and any cooperative agreements or grants made under this NOFO are subject to 2 C.F.R. Part 200 as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 910. ARPA-E funds research on, and the development of, transformative science and technology solutions to address the energy and environmental missions of the Department. The agency focuses on technologies that can be meaningfully advanced with a modest investment over a defined period of time in order to catalyze the translation from scientific discovery to early-stage technology. For the latest news and information about ARPA-E, its programs and the research projects currently supported, see: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/. ARPA-E funds transformational research. Existing energy technologies generally progress on established “learning curves” where refinements to a technology and the economies of scale that accrue as manufacturing and distribution develop drive improvements to the cost/performance metric in a gradual fashion. This continual improvement of a technology is important to its increased commercial deployment and is appropriately the focus of the private sector or the applied technology offices within DOE. In contrast, ARPA-E supports transformative research that has the potential to create fundamentally new learning curves. ARPA-E technology projects typically start with cost/performance estimates well above the level of an incumbent technology. Given the high risk inherent in these projects, many will fail to progress, but some may succeed in generating a new learning curve with a projected cost/performance metric that is significantly better than that of the incumbent technology. ARPA-E will provide support at the highest funding level only for submissions with significant technology risk, aggressive timetables, and careful management and mitigation of the associated risks. ARPA-E funds technology with the potential to be disruptive in the marketplace. The mere creation of a new learning curve does not ensure market penetration. Rather, the ultimate value of a technology is determined by the marketplace, and impactful technologies ultimately become disruptive – that is, they are widely adopted and displace existing technologies from the marketplace or create entirely new markets. ARPA-E understands that definitive proof of market disruption takes time, particularly for energy technologies. Therefore, ARPA-E funds the development of technologies that, if technically successful, have clear disruptive potential, e.g., by demonstrating capability for manufacturing at competitive cost and deployment at scale. ARPA-E funds applied research and development (R&D). The Office of Management and Budget defines “applied research” as an “original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge…directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective” and defines “experimental development” as “creative and systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience, which is directed at producing new products or processes or improving existing products or processes.”0F1 Applicants interested in receiving financial assistance for basic research (defined by the Office of Management and Budget as “experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts”)1 should contact the DOE’s Office of Science (http://science.energy.gov/). Office of Science national scientific user facilities (http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/) are open to all researchers, including ARPA-E Applicants and awardees. These facilities provide advanced tools of modern science including accelerators, colliders, supercomputers, light sources and neutron sources, as well as facilities for studying the nanoworld, the environment, and the atmosphere. Projects focused on early-stage R&D for the improvement of technology along defined roadmaps may be more appropriate for support through the DOE applied energy offices including: the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (http://www.eere.energy.gov/), the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (https://www.energy.gov/fecm/office-fossil-energy-and-carbon-management), the Office of Nuclear Energy (http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy), and the Office of Electricity (https://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity). ARPA-E encourages submissions stemming from ideas that still require proof-of-concept R&D efforts as well as those for which some proof-of-concept demonstration already exists. Submissions can propose a project with the end deliverable being an extremely creative, but partial solution. PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Seeding Critical Advances for Leading Energy technologies with Untapped Potential (SCALEUP) Ready program provides a vital mechanism for the support of innovative energy R&D that complements ARPA-E’s primary focus on early-stage transformational energy technologies that require proof of concept. Technologies that achieve substantial technical advancement under ARPA-E support may still face significant technical and commercial challenges upon completion of an award's funding period, and thus are at risk of being stranded in their development path once ARPA-E funding ends. Experience across ARPA-E’s diverse energy portfolios, and input from a wide range of investors and industry stakeholders, indicate that pre-commercial scaling projects are critical to establish practical performance and cost parameters. These pre-commercial scaling projects aim to 1) translate the performance achieved at bench scale to commercially scalable versions of the technology, 2) integrate the technology with broader systems, 3) provide extended performance data, and 4) validate the manufacturability and reliability of new energy technologies. Successful scaling projects should enable industry stakeholders to justify the substantial commitments of financial resources, personnel, manufacturing facilities, and materials necessary to subsequently deploy the technologies at a commercial scale. SCALEUP Ready seeks to scale the most promising technologies previously funded by ARPA-E. The possibility of ARPA-E-funded technologies becoming stranded along their development pathways leaves substantial intellectual property developed with American taxpayer dollars vulnerable to adoption by foreign competitors, who capture it for continued development and economic benefit overseas. This harms national competitiveness, as U.S. industries often fall behind on the development, scaling, and manufacturing of technologies necessary to compete in rapidly evolving global energy markets. Thus, projects selected for SCALEUP Ready will meet ARPA-E’s statutory goals by “accelerating transformational technological advances in areas that industry by itself is not likely to undertake because of technical and financial uncertainty."

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program, administered by the National Park Service (NPS). ORLP provides funding to 1) to acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor recreation purposes in qualifying areas, and 2) to develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public in qualifying areas. ORLP is a program within the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, which provides matching grants to States. ORLP funding is available in addition to traditional LWCF state formula grants and does not affect state apportionments. ORLP projects must be within a Qualifying Area, defined as: an urban area that has a population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census, or 2 or more adjacent urban areas with a combined population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census; or an area administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization. Additional requirements under the ORLP program: Matching Requirement - ORLP is dollar for dollar match, meaning it covers up to 50% of all project costs. Applicants are responsible for providing non-federal funds for at least 50% of project costs. Perpetuity Requirement - Projects assisted through ORLP must be maintained and accessible for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This applies to the assisted park or site in its entirety, not just the area assisted by the grant funds. Alignment with LWCF Law and Policy - As an LWCF program, ORLP projects must align with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual. Alignment with National Priorities – Projects must be responsive to Executive and National priorities, including those outlined in Executive Order 14313, "Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission" and Secretarial Order 3442, "Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior."