Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002688
The Research Development and Partnership Pilot (RDPP) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding opportunity run through the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, specifically within BER's Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences Division (EESSD). It is designed as a capacity-building, "on-ramp" style grant for institutions and researchers who have not traditionally participated in EESSD-funded work and may not be familiar with how EESSD programs operate, how to compete for EESSD funding, or how to access DOE scientific user facilities. The core idea is that unfamiliarity with DOE EESSD priorities, proposal norms, and engagement pathways can be a real barrier, and RDPP provides seed funding to help institutions overcome that barrier and become competitive participants in future EESSD activities and solicitations.
The program's main objective is to broaden and diversify the mix of institutions represented in the EESSD research portfolio, with an emphasis on under-represented institutions and those with limited prior engagement with BER. Rather than funding large standalone research projects, RDPP focuses on early-stage development steps that help institutions build relationships, learn the DOE landscape, and strengthen local research and training capability in climate and environmental sciences. In practice, RDPP funding is meant to help applicants develop credible partnerships, gain experience with EESSD programmatic activities, and position teams to contribute to EESSD-relevant research efforts over the longer term.
RDPP supports three closely related types of activities. First, it provides resources for institutions to form new partnerships with other academic organizations and/or national laboratories in ways that can lead to future EESSD-aligned research participation. Second, it supports participation in EESSD outreach, training, and programmatic engagement opportunities, including activities connected to DOE scientific user facilities, so that investigators and institutions can better understand capabilities, expectations, and routes to collaboration. Third, it aims to foster the growth of climate and environmental science research and training capacity at institutions that are currently under-represented in this space, helping them establish foundations such as collaborations, workforce development, and institutional know-how that make future EESSD research proposals and facility use more feasible.
From an administrative standpoint, RDPP is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002688) in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, listed under CFDA 81.049. The award ceiling is $150,000, signaling that this is intentionally modest, seed-style funding intended to catalyze participation and readiness rather than to underwrite major multi-year research programs. The opportunity was created on February 23, 2022, and the original closing date was April 20, 2022.
Eligibility is broad for domestic applicants, with one notable statutory exclusion: nonprofit organizations classified under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible. At the same time, the FOA places firm restrictions on federally affiliated entities. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories cannot apply as prime applicants and also cannot be included as subrecipients under another organization's proposal. The same restriction applies to non-DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs): they may not apply and may not be proposed as subrecipients. Other federal agencies are likewise ineligible both as applicants and as subrecipients. These constraints steer the funding toward non-federal domestic institutions, with the aim of expanding participation among organizations that are outside the usual DOE EESSD funding network.Apply for DE FOA 0002688
- The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Development and Partnership Pilot (RDPP)" 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 2022-02-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-04-20. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Research Development and Partnership Pilot (RDPP) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Research Development and Partnership Pilot (RDPP)?
The Research Development and Partnership Pilot (RDPP) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding opportunity intended to help institutions and researchers build capacity and become more competitive participants in future DOE Biological and Environmental Research (BER) Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences Division (EESSD) activities and solicitations.
Which DOE office and program run RDPP?
RDPP is run through the DOE Office of Science within the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, specifically BER's Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences Division (EESSD).
What problem is RDPP designed to address?
RDPP is designed to reduce barriers faced by institutions and researchers who have not traditionally participated in EESSD-funded work. The opportunity recognizes that unfamiliarity with EESSD priorities, proposal norms, engagement pathways, and access to DOE scientific user facilities can limit participation, and it provides seed funding to help overcome those barriers.
Is RDPP intended to fund large research projects?
No. RDPP is positioned as modest, seed-style funding focused on early-stage development steps, such as relationship building, partnership formation, training and outreach participation, and institutional readiness. It is not described as funding large standalone research programs.
What is the main objective of RDPP?
The main objective is to broaden and diversify the mix of institutions represented in the EESSD research portfolio, with an emphasis on under-represented institutions and those with limited prior engagement with BER.
What kinds of activities does RDPP support?
RDPP supports three closely related activity types: (1) forming new partnerships with other academic organizations and/or national laboratories to enable future EESSD-aligned participation, (2) participating in EESSD outreach, training, and programmatic engagement opportunities (including activities connected to DOE scientific user facilities), and (3) fostering growth of climate and environmental science research and training capacity at under-represented institutions.
What does RDPP mean by "capacity-building" and "on-ramp" funding?
In this context, RDPP funding is meant to help institutions build foundational capability and familiarity with EESSD programs and expectations. The intent is to catalyze readiness, partnerships, and know-how that position teams to pursue and compete for future EESSD opportunities rather than to directly support major research execution.
Does RDPP support partnership development?
Yes. One of the core supported activity areas is developing new partnerships with other academic organizations and/or national laboratories in ways that can lead to future EESSD-aligned research participation.
Does RDPP support participation in DOE user facilities?
RDPP supports participation in EESSD outreach, training, and programmatic engagement opportunities, including activities connected to DOE scientific user facilities, to help investigators and institutions better understand capabilities, expectations, and routes to collaboration.
How does RDPP relate to climate and environmental sciences?
RDPP is intended to strengthen institutional research and training capability in climate and environmental sciences within the EESSD context, helping under-represented institutions establish foundations such as collaborations, workforce development, and institutional know-how.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) for RDPP?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0002688.
What is the CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 81.049.
What category is RDPP listed under?
RDPP is listed in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.
Is RDPP a discretionary grant?
Yes. RDPP is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $150,000, reflecting the program's seed-funding and readiness-building purpose.
When was this funding opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on February 23, 2022, and the original closing date was April 20, 2022.
Who can apply for RDPP?
Eligibility is broad for domestic applicants, subject to specific exclusions described in the funding information.
Are there statutory exclusions for certain nonprofit organizations?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations classified under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible.
Can DOE/NNSA National Laboratories apply as the prime applicant?
No. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories cannot apply as prime applicants under this opportunity.
Can DOE/NNSA National Laboratories be included as subrecipients?
No. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories cannot be included as subrecipients under another organization's proposal.
Can non-DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) apply?
No. Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs may not apply under this opportunity.
Can non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs be proposed as subrecipients?
No. Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs may not be proposed as subrecipients.
Are other federal agencies eligible to apply or participate as subrecipients?
No. Other federal agencies are ineligible both as applicants and as subrecipients.
Why does RDPP restrict federal entities from applying or serving as subrecipients?
Based on the opportunity description, these restrictions are intended to steer funding toward non-federal domestic institutions and expand participation among organizations outside the usual DOE EESSD funding network.
What kinds of institutions is RDPP trying to bring into EESSD?
The program emphasizes institutions that are under-represented in the EESSD portfolio and those with limited prior engagement with BER, especially those that may not be familiar with EESSD priorities, proposal norms, or engagement pathways.
What outcomes is RDPP trying to enable over the longer term?
RDPP is intended to position institutions to develop credible partnerships, gain experience with EESSD programmatic activities, and become competitive contributors to EESSD-relevant research efforts and future solicitations over time.
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