Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002255
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through its Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program, released this funding opportunity to support new or upgraded plasma diagnostic instruments for the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The central aim is to strengthen the measurement capabilities on NSTX-U so researchers can collect higher-quality experimental data and use it to answer key scientific questions in spherical tokamak plasmas. This call is specifically about diagnostics: designing, implementing, commissioning, operating, and then analyzing the data produced by those instruments while working in collaboration with the NSTX-U program.
A key point in the solicitation is that it is limited to collaborative diagnostic-focused research tied directly to NSTX-U operations and data analysis. In other words, proposals are expected to be closely integrated with the NSTX-U experimental program rather than being purely theoretical or only loosely connected to the facility. The announcement also notes that this was one of two funding opportunities in Fiscal Year 2020 related to spherical tokamaks, and it directs applicants to look up a companion FOA (DE-FOA-0002259) for other spherical tokamak research areas. For this FOA (DE-FOA-0002255), the emphasis is squarely on diagnostic measurement systems and the scientific exploitation of the resulting NSTX-U datasets.
Programmatically, the opportunity sits within the broader DOE Spherical Tokamak program, which is positioned as both a fundamental plasma science effort and an assessment of spherical tokamak concepts for potential future fusion facilities. The diagnostics supported here are not just engineering add-ons; they are meant to enable progress on recognized scientific gaps in magnetically confined plasma behavior, particularly in the spherical tokamak configuration where high beta, compact geometry, and strong shaping can bring unique stability, transport, and boundary challenges and opportunities.
Applications are expected to align with one or more of the program’s stated scientific focus areas: macroscopic stability (for example, understanding and predicting large-scale instabilities and disruptions), multi-scale transport physics (how turbulence and transport processes across different spatial and temporal scales influence confinement), plasma boundary interfaces (including edge/SOL physics and plasma-material interactions), plasma waves and energetic particles (such as wave heating/current drive and fast-ion behavior), and advanced operating scenarios and control (developing and validating operating regimes and real-time control strategies). The implicit expectation is that the diagnostic being proposed will produce measurements that directly inform these topics and that the team will analyze NSTX-U data to deliver publishable, program-relevant results.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the DOE Office of Science with CFDA number 81.049. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of organizations can apply (universities, national labs, companies, nonprofits), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. The FOA was created on February 13, 2020, with an original closing date of April 2, 2020. The stated award ceiling is $2,000,000, and DOE anticipated making roughly 20 awards, indicating an intent to fund a portfolio of diagnostic efforts rather than only a small number of large projects.
In practical terms, a competitive application under this FOA would typically describe a specific diagnostic capability to be implemented or enhanced on NSTX-U, explain why that measurement is needed for one or more of the highlighted scientific challenges, and lay out a credible plan for integration with NSTX-U operations (hardware installation, calibration, commissioning, run support, data management). It would also include a clear analysis plan showing how the team will turn diagnostic signals into validated physics results, ideally in close coordination with NSTX-U collaborators and experimental campaign schedules. The overall message of the FOA is that DOE is investing in the measurement infrastructure and collaborative research workflow needed to extract high-impact spherical tokamak physics from NSTX-U experiments.Apply for DE FOA 0002255
- The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade: Diagnostic Measurements of Spherical Tokamak Plasmas" 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 Feb 13, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 02, 2020. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the purpose of this DOE funding opportunity?
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) from the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program supports new or upgraded plasma diagnostic instruments for the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The goal is to strengthen NSTX-U measurement capabilities so researchers can collect higher-quality experimental data and use it to answer key scientific questions in spherical tokamak plasmas.
Which facility is this FOA focused on?
The FOA is specifically tied to NSTX-U (National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade) located at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
What types of projects are encouraged under this FOA?
Projects are expected to be diagnostic-focused and collaborative, centered on designing, implementing, commissioning, operating diagnostic instruments on NSTX-U, and analyzing the resulting data in coordination with the NSTX-U program.
Is this FOA focused on theory or modeling work?
No. The solicitation emphasizes collaborative diagnostic-focused research tied directly to NSTX-U operations and data analysis. Proposals are expected to be closely integrated with the NSTX-U experimental program rather than purely theoretical efforts or work that is only loosely connected to the facility.
What is the FOA number for this diagnostic-focused opportunity?
The diagnostic-focused opportunity described here is FOA DE-FOA-0002255.
Is there a related or companion funding opportunity for other spherical tokamak research?
Yes. The announcement references a companion FOA, DE-FOA-0002259, which is intended for other spherical tokamak research areas. This FOA (DE-FOA-0002255) is focused specifically on diagnostics and the scientific use of NSTX-U diagnostic datasets.
What does DOE mean by "diagnostics" in this context?
In this FOA, diagnostics refer to plasma measurement systems and instruments used on NSTX-U to capture experimental signals and quantify plasma behavior. The FOA highlights the full workflow: designing and building or upgrading diagnostic instruments, installing and integrating them, commissioning and operating them during NSTX-U experiments, and analyzing the data to produce validated physics results.
What is the central expectation for how projects interact with NSTX-U?
Proposals are expected to be closely integrated with NSTX-U operations and experimental campaigns, including collaboration with the NSTX-U program and delivering analysis outcomes based on NSTX-U datasets.
What scientific areas should proposed diagnostics support?
Applications are expected to align with one or more of the program's stated scientific focus areas:
- Macroscopic stability (e.g., understanding and predicting large-scale instabilities and disruptions)
- Multi-scale transport physics (e.g., turbulence and transport across different scales and their influence on confinement)
- Plasma boundary interfaces (e.g., edge/SOL physics and plasma-material interactions)
- Plasma waves and energetic particles (e.g., wave heating/current drive and fast-ion behavior)
- Advanced operating scenarios and control (e.g., operating regimes and real-time control strategies)
Why is DOE emphasizing diagnostics for spherical tokamak research?
The FOA positions diagnostics as essential measurement infrastructure needed to close recognized scientific gaps in magnetically confined plasma behavior. In spherical tokamaks, characteristics such as high beta, compact geometry, and strong shaping can introduce distinct stability, transport, and boundary-region challenges and opportunities. Improved diagnostics are meant to enable progress on those key physics questions using NSTX-U experimental data.
What is meant by "scientific exploitation" of NSTX-U datasets?
The FOA expects teams not only to build or upgrade diagnostics, but also to analyze the diagnostic outputs and convert signals into validated physics results that are relevant to the program's scientific focus areas. This includes an explicit emphasis on data analysis as part of the funded scope.
What kind of plan would a competitive application typically include?
Based on the FOA description, a competitive application would typically:
- Define a specific diagnostic capability to be implemented or enhanced on NSTX-U
- Explain why the measurement is needed for one or more of the highlighted scientific challenges
- Provide a credible integration plan for NSTX-U operations (installation, calibration, commissioning, run support, data management)
- Include a clear analysis plan for turning diagnostic data into validated physics results in coordination with NSTX-U collaborators and campaign schedules
What program is sponsoring this opportunity within DOE?
This opportunity is issued by the DOE Office of Science through the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program.
How does this FOA fit within the broader DOE research program?
The FOA sits within the DOE Spherical Tokamak program, described as both a fundamental plasma science effort and an assessment of spherical tokamak concepts for potential future fusion facilities. The diagnostic investments are intended to improve measurement quality and support high-impact NSTX-U physics results.
What is the CFDA number associated with this grant opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 81.049.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of organizations can apply (such as universities, national laboratories, companies, and nonprofits), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full FOA.
What type of grant is this?
It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity under the DOE Office of Science.
When was this FOA created and when was it originally due?
The FOA was created on February 13, 2020, with an original closing date of April 2, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount under this FOA?
The stated award ceiling is $2,000,000.
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making roughly 20 awards, suggesting an intent to fund a portfolio of diagnostic efforts rather than only a small number of large projects.
Is this FOA intended to fund only instrument development, or also operations and analysis?
The FOA description emphasizes the full lifecycle: designing and implementing diagnostics, commissioning and operating them in coordination with NSTX-U experiments, and analyzing the data produced by those instruments. The work is framed as an integrated diagnostic-and-analysis effort, not instrument development alone.
How closely must a proposal be tied to NSTX-U experimental operations?
The FOA highlights that proposals are expected to be closely integrated with the NSTX-U experimental program. The intent is collaborative, diagnostic-focused research directly tied to NSTX-U operations and data analysis rather than independent work that is only loosely connected.
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