Update on Research Funding via Federal Agencies November 16, 2022
Research Development's Strategic Intelligence team monitors the federal budget and funding landscape and produces this memo on a bi-weekly basis to share information that may impact ASU research.
Science Policy Legislation
Research spending could be lone bright spot for U.S. science after election sets up divided government
Whichever party ends up in control in the House, the majorities will continue to be narrow. Science advocates hope that will help promote at least some bipartisan cooperation on research spending. The first signs could come this week, when the current Congress tries to complete work on one massive piece of legislation that would set spending levels for all federal agencies in fiscal year 2023, which began on 1 October. (Federal agencies are now under a spending freeze that expires on 16 December, and it has been years since Congress passed individual spending bills for clusters of agencies.) Any agreement could have lasting effects: The 2023 numbers could become the baseline for spending in each of the next two fiscal years if legislators can’t agree on funding levels and simply freeze budgets in place. Advocates are pushing for the double-digit annual funding boosts for several research agencies, including the NSF, called for in a recently passed law, the CHIPS and Science Act. They’d also like to see NIH’s budget keep pace with inflation—or more. The outcome will be shaped by who ends up leading the appropriations panels in the Senate and House, a lineup that won’t be set until later this year, as well as decisions by party leaders on overall spending levels.
Availability for Public Comment on the Draft Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)
On Nov. 7, the Biden administration released a draft of the Fifth National Climate Assessment, the latest iteration of the quadrennial U.S. report on climate change, its impacts, and strategies for reducing present and future risk. The draft is available for public comment through January 27, 2022. Following revision and further review (including by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine), a revised draft will undergo final Federal interagency clearance.
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Tactical Wireless Power Beaming Technologies for Energy Web Dominance Request for Information
https://sam.gov/opp/33e1fb52f3a04aeb8f099d71c85aca41/view
DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO) has released an RFI for technologies and innovative solutions for efficient, kilometer-range radio frequency (RF) kilowatt-class power beaming, distributed apertures for dynamic coherent beamforming, the conversion of RF to electrical energy, and RF energy relays in a lightweight, size-limited payload. Responses are due by December 16.
DARPA Strategic Technology Office Request for Information
https://sam.gov/opp/37ec023e75b64a69bc05236517a73578/view
DARPA's Strategic Technology Office is seeking information on new capabilities, concepts, and potential performers in diverse topics, including "technologies that enable significant advances in finding difficult, elusive 'targets'"; "new approaches to communication networks that are scalable for highly directional and widely disparate radio systems"; and rethinking competition. Responses are due by January 20, 2023.
Department of Energy (DoE)
Accelerating Innovations in Emerging Technologies – Request for Information
The Office of Science in the Department of Energy (DOE) invites interested parties to provide input relevant to developing approaches for accelerating innovations in emerging technologies to drive scientific discovery to sustainable production of new technologies across the innovation continuum; train a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce to support 21st century industries; and meet the nation's needs for abundant clean energy, a sustainable environment, and national security. Responses must be received by December 23, 2022.
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Makes Historic Investment in America’s National Labs, Announces Net-Zero Game Changers Initiative
The Net-Zero Game Changers Initiative accelerates game-changing climate innovations helping the United States meet the President’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. To launch the initiative, the White House Climate Policy Office, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Office of Management and Budget are jointly releasing a new report, U.S. Innovation to Meet 2050 Climate Goals, which describes 37 game-changing R&D opportunities identified across Federal agencies. The priorities include opportunities for near-term wins, investments in underserved communities through the Justice40 initiative, and long-term transformation of the energy system. The Administration will jump-start clean energy innovation with five near-term priorities: (1) Efficient Building Heating and Cooling, (2) Net Zero Aviation, (3) Net Zero Power Grid and Electrification, (4) Industrial Products and Fuels for a Net-Zero, Circular Economy, and (5) Fusion Energy at Scale.
Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Seeks Public Input on Inflation Reduction Act Programs to Fight Climate Change, Protect Health, and Advance Environmental Justice
On 11/4/22, the EPA announced initial public engagement and input opportunities for a subset of new and existing programs funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The public is encouraged to review and comment in six public dockets (by 11:59 PM ET on January 18, 2023) including but not limited to:
- DOCKET 3: Methane Emissions Reduction Program: EPA received $1.55 billion to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by providing financial assistance (grants, rebates, contracts, loans, and other activities) and technical assistance as well as implementing a statutorily required waste emissions charge. Eligible recipients for these funds include, but are not limited to, air pollution control agencies, other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals.
- Docket 4: Funding to Address Air Pollution: EPA received over $300 million in funding to support the agency’s air quality mission by investing in a range of activities that will increase monitoring in and by communities, expand and strengthen national monitoring methods, improve monitoring methods and capacity, make monitoring data more available and useful for communities, and improve air quality in our nation’s schools. Eligible applicants include individuals, state, local and Tribal Air pollution control agencies, and other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations.
- Docket 5: Funding for Implementation of American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act: Funding includes $38.5 million for implementation of the AIM Act to implement the Kigali Agreement on hydrofluorocarbons. Of this funding, $15 million is dedicated towards new competitive grants for reclaim and innovative destruction technologies, $20 million is dedicated to EPA to carry out the AIM Act, and $3.5 million is dedicated to EPA to deploy new implementation and compliance tools for the AIM Act.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
NASA Administrator Names Glenn Research Center Director
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-administrator-names-glenn-research-center-director
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has named Dr. Jimmy Kenyon director of the agency’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, effective immediately. Kenyon has served as the acting director of Glenn since June. Note: There is considerable turnover in the leadership of NASA’s R&D centers: Laurie Leshin took over as the new director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in May, Armstrong Flight Research Center Director David McBride retired earlier this year, and Goddard Space Flight Center Director Dennis Andrucyk plans to step down soon. In addition, NASA Science Mission Directorate head Thomas Zurbuchen is leaving his role at the end of the year.
As Psyche Mission Moves Forward, NASA Responds to Independent Review
NASA and the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, which manages Psyche, shared a response Friday to the results of an independent review board convened to determine why the mission to study a metal-rich asteroid of the same name missed its planned 2022 launch opportunity. The review board found a significant factor in the delay was an imbalance between the workload and the available workforce at JPL. NASA will work closely with JPL management over the coming months to address the challenges raised in the report. The board will meet again in spring 2023 to assess progress. Note: Arizona State University leads the Psyche mission.