Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003480
The opportunity titled "Request for Information (RFI) - Three-Dimensional Characterization of the Subsurface by Advanced Modeling and Sensing Techniques" (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0003480) is not a grant competition and is not accepting applications for funding. It is strictly a Request for Information, meaning ARPA-E is collecting ideas, technical input, and feedback from the community to help shape and decide whether to launch a future program. Even though the listing references items like "cooperative agreement" and includes standard federal assistance fields, the award ceiling is listed as $0 and the expected number of awards is 0, reinforcing that there is no money available under this notice and no Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) exists at this time.
The core goal of the RFI is to gather input for a potential joint effort involving ARPA-E, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The envisioned program would aim to dramatically improve how the United States explores for and characterizes critical mineral deposits underground, with an emphasis on creating accurate three-dimensional (3-D) representations of what is in the subsurface. The motivation is strategic and economic: the U.S. wants to reduce reliance on imported critical minerals that are essential to energy technologies and national security applications. The RFI frames current exploration and characterization approaches as costly, slow, labor-intensive, and often uncertain, and it signals interest in transformative methods that could deliver faster, more accurate assessments of mineral deposits.
The RFI highlights two main technical focus areas that ARPA-E and its partners are considering. The first is enhanced data acquisition, centered on new sensors and sensing techniques that can collect better subsurface data more efficiently than current state-of-the-art approaches. The second is advanced 3-D analysis, centered on modern analytical tools such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, which could integrate diverse datasets, reduce uncertainty, and produce more reliable 3-D models of mineralization and geology. A key theme is synergy: the agencies expect that pairing next-generation sensing with advanced computational modeling and AI/ML-driven interpretation could outperform incremental improvements in either area alone. They also note that breakthroughs here could spill over into other subsurface imaging challenges beyond critical minerals.
ARPA-E, USGS, and DARPA each bring a different mission lens to the topic, which is part of why the collaboration is emphasized. ARPA-E is focused on critical minerals that underpin multiple energy technologies, USGS serves as a primary federal source for geologic information on energy and mineral resources and their supply chains, and DARPA is oriented toward high-risk, high-reward technology breakthroughs tied to national security needs, including technologies that depend on critical mineral availability. Taken together, the partnership suggests the RFI is looking for ideas that are not only technically novel, but also practical enough to be implemented and scaled in real exploration and characterization workflows.
In terms of who should respond, eligibility is described as unrestricted because this is an information-gathering exercise rather than a funding solicitation. ARPA-E explicitly invites input from a wide range of organizations, including universities, non-governmental organizations, small and large businesses, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), and government-owned/government-operated (GOGO) organizations. The request is specifically for "transformative and implementable" technologies that are not currently deployed, implying an interest in approaches that go beyond standard commercial practice and could meaningfully change the speed, cost, resolution, and confidence of subsurface critical mineral characterization.
Administrative details included in the listing emphasize its RFI status and timeline. The agency is ARPA-E, the activity category is science and technology and other R&D, and the CFDA number shown is 81.135. The original closing date for submitting information is 2024-11-04, and the full RFI is available through the ARPA-E FOA site at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov. The most important takeaway for anyone reading it as a potential applicant is that there is nothing to apply for yet; the immediate action is only to provide information and ideas that may influence whether and how a future funded program is designed.Apply for DE FOA 0003480
- The Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the oz, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information (RFI) - Three-Dimensional Characterization of the Subsurface by Advanced Modeling and Sensing Techniques" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this opportunity (DE FOA 0003480)?
This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Three-Dimensional Characterization of the Subsurface by Advanced Modeling and Sensing Techniques" under Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0003480. It is an information-gathering request from ARPA-E to collect ideas, technical input, and feedback from the community.
Is this a grant or funding competition?
No. This is not a grant competition and it is not accepting applications for funding. The notice is strictly an RFI and is intended to inform whether ARPA-E (potentially with partners) may launch a future program.
Is there any money available under this notice?
No. The listing indicates an award ceiling of $0 and an expected number of awards of 0, which reinforces that no funding will be awarded under this RFI.
Why does the listing mention things like "cooperative agreement" if there is no funding?
The notice includes standard federal assistance fields that often appear in funding listings, but this RFI is not a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and does not provide funding. The $0 award ceiling and 0 expected awards indicate that those assistance fields do not represent an active funding solicitation here.
Is there a NOFO available right now?
No. The information provided indicates that no Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) exists at this time for this topic.
What is ARPA-E trying to accomplish with this RFI?
The core goal is to gather input that could shape a potential future program aimed at dramatically improving U.S. capabilities to explore for and characterize critical mineral deposits underground. A central emphasis is producing accurate three-dimensional (3-D) representations of the subsurface.
Which agencies are involved or potentially involved?
The RFI describes an envisioned joint effort involving ARPA-E, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Why is the focus on critical minerals?
The motivation described is strategic and economic: improving domestic exploration and characterization can help reduce reliance on imported critical minerals that are important for energy technologies and national security applications.
What problem is this RFI responding to in current exploration methods?
The RFI frames current approaches as costly, slow, labor-intensive, and often uncertain. The agencies are signaling interest in transformative approaches that could provide faster and more accurate assessments of mineral deposits.
What kinds of technologies or ideas is the RFI looking for?
The RFI specifically seeks "transformative and implementable" technologies that are not currently deployed. The intent is to collect ideas that could significantly improve the speed, cost, resolution, and confidence of subsurface characterization for critical minerals.
What are the main technical focus areas mentioned?
The RFI highlights two primary areas: (1) enhanced data acquisition through new sensors and sensing techniques to collect better subsurface data more efficiently, and (2) advanced 3-D analysis using modern analytical tools such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to integrate diverse datasets, reduce uncertainty, and produce more reliable 3-D models.
What does "enhanced data acquisition" mean in the context of this RFI?
As described, it refers to next-generation sensors and sensing techniques intended to improve the efficiency and quality of subsurface data collection beyond current state-of-the-art approaches.
What does "advanced 3-D analysis" mean in the context of this RFI?
As described, it refers to analytical and computational methods, including AI and machine learning, that can combine diverse datasets, quantify or reduce uncertainty, and generate more reliable three-dimensional models of geology and mineralization.
Why does the RFI emphasize combining sensing with modeling and AI/ML?
A key theme is synergy: the agencies suggest that pairing next-generation sensing with advanced computational modeling and AI/ML-driven interpretation could outperform incremental improvements in only sensing or only analysis.
Could the innovations discussed apply beyond critical minerals?
Yes. The RFI notes that breakthroughs in subsurface imaging and 3-D characterization could spill over into other subsurface imaging challenges beyond critical minerals.
What perspective does each agency bring (ARPA-E, USGS, DARPA)?
The RFI describes distinct mission lenses: ARPA-E focuses on critical minerals that underpin multiple energy technologies; USGS is a primary federal source for geologic information on energy and mineral resources and their supply chains; DARPA emphasizes high-risk, high-reward technology breakthroughs tied to national security needs, including technologies dependent on critical mineral availability.
Who is eligible to respond to the RFI?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted because this is an information request rather than a funding solicitation. ARPA-E invites input from universities, non-governmental organizations, small and large businesses, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), and government-owned/government-operated (GOGO) organizations.
Do I need to be a U.S. organization to respond?
The information provided states eligibility is unrestricted and does not add additional constraints. Based on the provided details alone, the RFI is open to responses from a wide range of organization types.
What should I submit if there is no application?
You should submit information, ideas, and technical input that can help ARPA-E and its partners decide whether to launch a future program and how to design it. The RFI is the mechanism for providing that feedback.
When is the deadline to submit information?
The original closing date for submitting information is 2024-11-04.
Where can I find the full RFI?
The full RFI is available through the ARPA-E FOA site at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.
What is the CFDA number shown for this listing?
The CFDA number shown is 81.135.
What is the activity category for this notice?
The activity category is listed as science and technology and other R&D.
What is the main takeaway for someone looking for funding right now?
There is nothing to apply for yet and no funding is available under this RFI. The immediate action is to provide information that may influence a future funded program, if one is launched later.
Will responding to the RFI result in an award?
No. The expected number of awards is 0 and the award ceiling is $0, indicating that responses are for information collection only and will not result in funding under this notice.
Does responding to the RFI guarantee a future program will be created?
No. The RFI is intended to help the agencies shape and decide whether to launch a future program; it does not indicate that a future program is guaranteed.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: OZ, Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: F25AS00039 Rapid Response Fund for Aquatic Invasive Species FY2025
Previous opportunity: Heritage Interpretive Assistance
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for DE FOA 0003480
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0003480) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Inspiring Generations of New Innovators to Impact Technologies in Energy (IGNIITE) 2025 Apply for DE FOA 0003477 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003477 Agency: Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy Category: OZ, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| RFI on Geologic Hydrogen Resource Exploration Apply for DE FOA 0003494 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003494 Agency: Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy Category: OZ, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Request for Information (RFI) on Nuclear Heat for Modular Process Intensification in Refineries and Petrochemical Plants Apply for DE FOA 0003534 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003534 Agency: Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy Category: OZ, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Request for Information (RFI) on Active Substations with Flexible Large Power Transformers Apply for DE FOA 0003581 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003581 Agency: Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy Category: OZ, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| INSPIRING GENERATIONS OF NEW INNOVATORS TO IMPACT TECHNOLOGIES IN ENERGY 2026 (IGNIITE 2026) Apply for DE FOA 0003624 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003624 Agency: Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy Category: OZ, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DE FOA 0003480", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.