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Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources SBIR/STTR (UNLOCK SBIR/STTR)

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DE-FOA-0003631Federal

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The UNLOCK SBIR/STTR program, administered by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) under the Department of Energy, is a financial assistance opportunity designed to achieve step-change improvements in extracting energy and critical resources from the subsurface. The program specifically targets the removal of geological and technical barriers in low-permeability formations for oil, natural gas, and geothermal energy systems. Key objectives include maximizing resource recovery, optimizing water management, and maintaining cost efficiency, with specific recovery factor targets of at least 40 percent for oil and 50 percent for gas. The anticipated period of performance is from July 2027 to July 2030, structured in two 18-month phases: Laboratory Validation and Field Testing. Funding for individual awards ranges from 323,090 dollars to 4,630,944 dollars, with a total program budget of approximately 45 million dollars shared with NOFO DE-FOA-0003630. Applicants must be domestically incorporated small businesses and must maintain active registration in SAM.gov and the SBA Company Registry. The evaluation process utilizes a mix of quantitative and qualitative criteria, focusing on the impact of the proposed technology, scientific merit, team qualifications, and management soundness. Submissions are required through the DOE eXCHANGE portal and must include a comprehensive set of documents, including a technical volume, techno-economic analysis, and transparency disclosures regarding foreign connections.

General Info

ARPA-E funding for small businesses to improve energy extraction from low-permeability formations.

NAICS

541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Place of Performance

Not specified

Set-Aside

NONE

Documents

1

DE-FOA-0003631 UNLOCK SBIR-STTR

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Organization & Contact Information

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AgencyDepartment Of Energy → Advanced Rsrch Proj Agency ARPA-E
ContactsNo contacts available
OfficeWashington, DC, 20585, USA
Office AddressWashington, DC, 20585, USA
ContactsNo contact information available

Full Description

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NOFO Number: DE-FOA-0003631 - Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources SBIR/STTR (UNLOCK SBIR/STTR) To obtain a copy of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) please go to DOE eXCHANGE at https://exchange.energy.gov/. To apply to this NOFO, Applicants must register with and submit application materials through DOE eXCHANGE (https://exchange.energy.gov/Registration.aspx). For detailed guidance on using DOE eXCHANGE, please refer to the DOE eXCHANGE User Guide (https://exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx). ARPA-E will not review or consider application materials submitted through other means. For problems with DOE 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). 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

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