The Biological and Environmental Research (BER) department is offering this grant for Earth System Model Development and Analysis.

BER supports fundamental, interdisciplinary research to achieve a predictive systems-level understanding of Earth, environmental and biological systems. In particular, BER seeks to develop advanced mathematical methods and computational models for systems ranging from molecular to global scales and an ability to connect large and diverse datasets with models, which in turn enables more holistic and robust predictions of complex system behavior. More information on the BER program is available at https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/biological- and-environmental-research or https://science.osti.gov/ber.

This FOA focuses on supporting research within two components of BER’s EESM activities (https://science.osti.gov/ber/Research/eessd/Earth-and-Environmental-System-Modeling) within the Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences Division (EESSD): Earth System Model Development (ESMD), and Regional and Global Modeling Analysis (RGMA). The ESMD component focuses primarily on further development of the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM), while the RGMA component focuses primarily on scientific analysis based on E3SM as well as other Earth system models. Together, these activities broadly focus on the development, evaluation, and use of regional and global integrated Earth system models, to understand the behaviors and interactions between Earth systems and energy-related activities. The EESSD Strategic Plan (available at: https://climatemodeling.science.energy.gov/earth-and-environmental-systems-sciences-division-strategic-plan) describes research priorities and scientific grand challenges supported by these modeling activities. Further descriptions of the ESMD and RGMA activities and the topical areas of the solicitation are included below. The three specific topical areas of the FOA are described after the ESMD and RGMA descriptions.

Non-domestic institutions may be proposed as team member(s) in a multi-institutional team and may be proposed as subrecipients under another organization’s application.

Federally affiliated entities must adhere to the eligibility standards below:

III.A.1. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories

DOE/NNSA National Laboratories are not eligible to submit applications under this FOA but may be proposed as subrecipients under another organization’s application. If recommended for funding as a proposed subrecipient, the value of the proposed subaward will be removed from the prime applicant’s award and will be provided to the laboratory through the DOE Field-Work Proposal System and work will be conducted under the laboratory’s contract with DOE. No administrative provisions of this FOA will apply to the laboratory or any laboratory subcontractor. Additional instructions for securing authorization from the cognizant Contracting Officer are found in Section VIII of this FOA.

For ESMD relevant applications, it is required to include one or more E3SM team member(s) as a collaborator(s), either funded or unfunded. This is due to the rigorous development and fast evolving nature of the E3SM, therefore a close collaboration would facilitate the coordination and ensure most impactful research outcome.

III.A.2. Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs

Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs are not eligible to submit applications under this FOA but may be proposed as subrecipients under another organization’s application. If recommended for funding as a proposed subrecipient, the value of the proposed subaward may be removed from the prime applicant’s award and may be provided through an interagency agreement to the FFRDC’s sponsoring Federal Agency. Additional instructions for securing authorization from the cognizant Contracting Officer are found in Section VIII of this FOA.

III.A.3. Other Federal Agencies

Other Federal Agencies are not eligible to submit applications under this FOA but may be proposed as subrecipients under another organization’s application. If recommended for funding as a proposed subrecipient, the value of the proposed subaward may be removed from the prime applicant’s award and may be provided through an interagency agreement.

BER supports fundamental, interdisciplinary research to achieve a predictive systems-level understanding of Earth, environmental and biological systems. In particular, BER seeks to develop advanced mathematical methods and computational models for systems ranging from molecular to global scales and an ability to connect large and diverse datasets with models, which in turn enables more holistic and robust predictions of complex system behavior. More information on the BER program is available at https://www.energy.gov/science/ber/biological- and-environmental-research or https://science.osti.gov/ber.

This FOA focuses on supporting research within two components of BER’s EESM activities (https://science.osti.gov/ber/Research/eessd/Earth-and-Environmental-System-Modeling) within the Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences Division (EESSD): Earth System Model Development (ESMD), and Regional and Global Modeling Analysis (RGMA). The ESMD component focuses primarily on further development of the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM), while the RGMA component focuses primarily on scientific analysis based on E3SM as well as other Earth system models. Together, these activities broadly focus on the development, evaluation, and use of regional and global integrated Earth system models, to understand the behaviors and interactions between Earth systems and energy-related activities. The EESSD Strategic Plan (available at: https://climatemodeling.science.energy.gov/earth-and-environmental-systems-sciences-division-strategic-plan) describes research priorities and scientific grand challenges supported by these modeling activities. Further descriptions of the ESMD and RGMA activities and the topical areas of the solicitation are included below. The three specific topical areas of the FOA are described after the ESMD and RGMA descriptions.