Grants / Department of Energy / Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy

DE-FOA-0003480: Request for Information (RFI) - Three-Dimensional Characterization of the Subsurface by Advanced Modeling and Sensing Techniques

Closed Closed November 4, 2024 Opportunity DE-FOA-0003480 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources (UNLOCK) (DE-FOA-0003630). Status: Closes November 20, 2026 (13 days left). It is in our archive of Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy notices from 2024.

• Award amountsNot given on Grants.gov
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to any type of organization.

• Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"

Additional Information on Eligibility (this will appear only after the ‘Ability to Apply Is’ is updated): This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is not seeking applications for financial assistance. THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO). NO NOFO EXISTS AT THIS TIME.

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Is this a realistic fit?

• Most of the program's money (43% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance. The purpose of this RFI is solely to solicit input for ARPA-E consideration to inform the possible formulation of future programs. RFI - Three-Dimensional Characterization of the Subsurface by Advanced Modeling and Sensing Techniques The purpose of this RFI is to solicit input for a potential Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), United States Geological Survey (USGS), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program focused on novel approaches and innovative methods that can accelerate the exploration and characterization of critical mineral deposits in the subsurface. More specifically, a potential program would focus on advanced modeling and sensing techniques for the exploration and 3-D characterization of critical mineral deposits in the subsurface. The U.S. is seeking to reduce its dependence on imported critical minerals due to strategic and economic security concerns, and revolutionary improvements in mineral deposit exploration and characterization will be essential to securing supplies of domestic critical mineral resources. Current state-of-the-art methods to fully characterize the extent of prospective critical mineral deposits in the subsurface require significant effort, investment, and time, and may include considerable uncertainty. Improvements in the efficiency and accuracy of methods for subsurface characterization are crucial. Two proposed focus areas for the potential program are: 1. Enhanced data acquisition using new sensors and techniques; and 2. Three-dimensional (3-D) analysis based on advanced analytical tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms. It is expected that the synergistic combination of new sensors, techniques, and advanced analysis will enable the characterization of subsurface deposits faster and with higher accuracy than is currently possible. ARPA-E anticipates that these sensors, techniques, and algorithms will also be applicable to other problems in subsurface imaging. ARPA-E, USGS, and DARPA are working together to leverage capabilities on this important topic.

Category: Opportunity Zone Benefits, Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DE-FOA-0003630, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.