Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – Mines & Metals Capacity Expansion – Piloting Byproduct Critical Minerals and Materials Recovery at Domestic Industrial Facilities (DE-FOA-0003583)

Executive Summary:

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, through NETL, is offering up to $275 million under DE-FOA-0003583 to fund large pilot facilities that recover byproduct critical materials from coal-based and other industrial feedstocks, mine waste, and process wastes. Projects will design, construct, and operate 1:50-scale or larger pilots that produce market-ready critical material products and generate the data needed for near-term commercial facilities in the United States. Applications are due December 15, 2025, at 5:00 pm EST.

How much funding would I receive?

For this NOFO, funding is structured by topic area:

• Topic Area 1 – Mines & Metals Pilots – Coal-Based Industry

  • Total funding: up to $75 million.

  • Approximate number of awards: 0–3.

  • Approximate award size: $10 million–$50 million per project.

  • Minimum cost share: 20% of total project costs.

  • Approximate project period: 48 months.

• Topic Area 2 – Mines & Metals Pilots – All Industries

  • Total funding: up to $200 million.

  • Approximate number of awards: 0–10.

  • Approximate award size: $10 million–$75 million per project.

  • Minimum cost share: 20% of total project costs.

  • Approximate project period: up to 48 months.

Actual award sizes and number of awards will depend on appropriations, application quality, and DOE priorities.

What could I use the funding for?

Program Goals and Objectives:

This NOFO invests in American industrial facilities that have the potential to produce valuable critical materials from existing industrial processes and legacy waste streams. Industries such as mining and mineral processing, power generation, coal, oil and gas, specialty metals, and basic materials have the potential to recover valuable materials that will address many of America’s most severe mineral vulnerabilities. The goal of this NOFO is to increase domestic critical material production.

American industrial facilities have enormous potential to recover valuable mineral coproducts and byproducts from ongoing operations and legacy waste streams such as mine tailings, impoundments, and coal ash. To de-risk industry investments, the technology for recovering these materials must be piloted under real-world conditions and at a scale relevant to each industry.

This NOFO will support the design, construction, and operation of large (1:50 scale or larger), ‘right-sized’ pilot processing systems at domestic industrial facilities. Successful pilots may produce a wide variety of critical material products, including oxides, salts, metals, alloys, and non-critical material value-added products.

DOE envisions that the large pilots will generate critical information resulting in near-term commercial project viability. Successful pilots will reduce technical uncertainty and financial risk prior to commercial deployment. Should funding and DOE goals align, NOFO award recipients may be considered eligible for possible follow-on scale-up funding opportunities, should DOE pursue such ventures.

Expected Performance Goals:

Performers will design, construct, and operate large pilot facilities (1:50 scale or larger) to produce critical materials necessary for our energy, defense, and economic security and to de-risk commercial scale production technologies to grow new economic and manufacturing opportunities.

Projects will produce qualified market-ready critical material products and other value-added materials with potential offtake agreements. Projects will show they are on track to meet their pilot objectives by producing defined quantities of critical materials at the proposed scales in each phase, subject to evaluation through go/no-go milestones. In addition, projects will generate the critically needed information and operational data required for the development of a near-term commercial facility within the U.S.

Two topic areas are defined based on eligible feedstock and the technology readiness level (TRL). See the attached Technology Readiness Level Reference for TRL definitions.

• Topic Area 1: Mines & Metals Pilots—Coal-Based Industry

  Small pilot-scale facilities (TRL 5) that have demonstrated the capabilities of producing REE and other critical materials from coal-based resources shall be scaled for design, construction, and operation as large, ‘right-sized’ pilot-scale facilities (TRL 7) for the production of market-ready REE and other critical materials, and for generation of critically essential design information and operational data necessary for near-term, future operation of a commercial processing facility (TRL 8) by no later than 2030.

  Topic Area 1 requires the use of coal and coal byproducts as feedstocks with minor or limited emphasis on the use of other (non-coal) industrial-based mining materials. Domestic coal-based feedstock materials (e.g., lignite, refuse tailings, etc.) and/or industrial coal-based wastes (e.g., prep plant wastes, power generation fly/bottom ash, coal-based AMD, etc.) shall be utilized. REE recovery is the required focus of Topic Area 1, preferably with co-recovery of other critical materials and other value-added materials; Critical materials recovery without REE recovery and other value-added material production without REE recovery are not of interest.

• Topic Area 2: Mines & Metals Pilots—All Industries

  This topic area broadly supports piloting the recovery of valuable critical material byproducts and other value-added products from industrial feedstocks, processes, and process wastes including mine waste. Example projects in Topic Area 2 could include critical material recovery from bauxite residue processing, valorization of zinc processing byproducts (e.g., indium from zinc smelting), and valorization of numerous critical materials from ongoing processing of titanium, phosphorous, lead, oil & gas or other industry wastes or production processes. Impounded or stockpiled waste materials are in scope. Modular, mobile, or fixed sites are in scope.

  In Topic Area 2, the applicant will establish large, pilot-scale facilities for production of valuable critical material byproducts from industry operations and/or wastes at the specific TRL ranges described in the subtopics below. These facilities will generate data and information needed for validation of future, near-term domestic commercial production of market-ready critical materials.

  Topic Area 2 requires the use of feedstocks from industrial feedstocks, processes, or process wastes including mine waste. For example, this may include (1) residual material from processing; (2) process streams, process byproducts, secondary materials, and/or waste materials that are produced by industry’s production; or (3) conventional ore (including monazite, bastnaesite, and/or other domestically mined materials) processing waste or waste materials such as residues, slimes, or below-cutoff grade ore or other mined material.

  Feedstocks for Topic Area 2 can come from all industry sources other than coal-based industry and feedstock materials related to post-consumer and manufacturing scrap recycling.

  Subtopic 2a: Mines & Metals Pilots—All Industries—Prior Bench-Scale Facilities

  Subtopic 2a is focused on industrial processes for critical materials recovery that have been developed at a bench-scale TRL of 4 or 5. The objective of Subtopic 2a is to accelerate technology development that leverages industry’s existing bench-scale (TRL 4) or small pilot-scale (TRL 5) process design concepts and scales those processes or systems for design, construction, and operation of a large, ‘right-sized’ pilot-scale facility (TRL 7).

  Subtopic 2b: Mines & Metals Pilots—All Industries—Prior Pilot-Scale Facilities

  Subtopic 2b is focused on industrial processes for critical materials recovery that have been developed at a pilot-scale TRL of 6 or 7 (7 preferred). The objective of Subtopic 2b is to accelerate technology development that leverages industry’s existing pilot-scale facility (TRL 6 or 7, 7 preferred) process design concepts and scales those processes or systems for design, construction, and operation of a large, ‘right-sized’ pilot-scale mineral production facility (TRL 7 or 8, 8 preferred).aterial byproducts and other value-added products from industrial feedstocks, processes, and process wastes including mine waste. Feedstocks for Topic Area 2 can come from all industry sources other than coal-based industry and feedstock materials related to post-consumer and manufacturing scrap recycling.

  Previously developed bench-scale efforts identified for Subtopic 2a are expected to advance the TRL of their process/system from 4 or 5 to 7. Previously developed pilot-scale efforts identified for Subtopic 2b are expected to advance the TRL of their process/system from 6 or 7 to 7 or 8.

  Applications to Topic Area 2 can recover any critical material.

• Information and Requirements for both Topic Areas

  The following information applies to all Topic Areas and Subtopics.

  The overall objective is to design, construct, and operate large pilot critical material production facilities (1:50 scale or larger) in the U.S. that will produce critical material byproducts from industrial processes. These pilots will deliver critical data needed for near-term commercial scale-up by using real-world industrial feedstocks and materials for verification and validation of the commercial potential of their processes/system, including, but not limited to:

  • data on the performance of individual processing circuits/systems and their overall integration,

  • process models,

  • capital and operating costs,

  • scaling factors, and

  • feedstock and end-product characterization
  
  Critical Material Byproduct Targets at Domestic Industrial Sites

  Applications must focus on the development of fully operational processing systems, located at and integrated with a domestic industrial site, that will be operated in a continuous/semi-continuous manner to produce market-ready critical materials. DOE Critical Materials include all minerals on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) List of Critical Minerals plus additional materials for energy. It is within scope to produce any market-ready critical material including critical material concentrates, high purity materials, or material commodities such as mixed oxides, salts, alloys, etc.

  Applicants are encouraged to consider production of materials that support both energy security and national defense needs. Applicants are also encouraged to reference the DOE Critical Materials List12 and USGS 2025 Mineral Commodity Summaries Report.13 Of particular interest are the production of critical materials with low or zero current domestic production. Critical materials with limited domestic production include arsenic, antimony, bismuth, chromium, fluorine, gallium, germanium, graphite, indium, manganese, magnesium, niobium, scandium, tantalum, tin, tungsten, rare earth elements, and yttrium.

  Large Pilot-Scale Facility Size and Operational Information

  The large (1:50 scale or larger) pilot-scale systems of interest in this NOFO should be ‘right-sized’ to demonstrate production of critical materials in quantity and purity specifications to support and establish the basis for near-term commercial production of saleable critical materials. The ’right-sized’, large pilot must have a critical material production capacity target of at least 2% (1:50 scale) of a commercial-scale system. For example, if the targeted critical material production of a large pilot-scale facility is 25 metric tons per year (tpy), and it is identified that commercial-scale systems for that targeted material generally produce 300 tpy, then the large pilot-scale facility would produce 25/300 = 8.3% of a commercial-scale system.
  
  Feedstock and Byproduct Critical Material Target

  The intent is to pilot potential byproduct material valorization at industrial sites including ongoing industrial production streams and waste impounded at active sites or sites of former industrial activity. The use of domestic feedstocks is preferred. Any feedstock located within the U.S. is considered domestic regardless of its original source. For example, mine waste at a U.S. facility that was originally mined from foreign territory is considered a domestic feedstock. No federal funding can be used to procure foreign feedstock.

  Applications proposing feedstock materials related to post-consumer and manufacturing scrap recycling are specifically not of interest.

  Applicants must identify the feedstock and quantify the feedstock throughput and critical material production, in terms of metric tons per year, that:

  • has been successfully demonstrated in their existing bench-scale or pilot-scale system on actual (non-simulated) feedstocks,

  • is targeted for their proposed large pilot-scale facility,

  • is generally targeted in ideal commercial-scale systems, and

  • is targeted for future commercial-scale operation at the site.

  Applicants must state the purity specification of the commercial market-ready critical materials to be produced. The large pilot projects must aim to meet specific quantity and purity standards for the critical material(s) produced or explain why that is not technically, operationally, or economically feasible or appropriate for this project.

  In addition, applicants must describe the overall impact of the large pilot-scale system, as well as a potential future commercial-scale system, on the foreign import reliance for each critical material produced. For example, the large pilot-scale system may reduce import reliance of a specific critical material from 90% to possibly 85% and a future commercial-scale system may further reduce the import reliance to possibly 50%.

  Projects must utilize feedstock materials that are sufficiently abundant to support the awarded project and maintain future pilot operational capacity for a minimum of five years. Applicants must provide evidence of material availability in the quantity needed to fulfill this 5-year requirement. A letter of support should be included in the application from all companies, agencies, or other parties that have ownership/rights to any proposed feedstock materials to allow large pilot-scale facility operation for the performance of the award (e.g., if utilizing coal ash, please provide a letter of support from the power or coal company who is producing the ash). If no letters of support can be obtained, applicants must provide an explanation in the Technical Volume as to why they are not necessary, or how the necessary feedstock is intended to be obtained.

  Large pilot-scale facilities are encouraged to exhibit feedstock flexibility, enabling them to process multiple feedstock types (e.g., bauxite red mud, kaolinite clay, and/or phosphate wastes) within the same facility, though not necessarily concurrently. Strategies that bolster pilot facility resilience by processing diverse feedstocks or offering modularity or mobility are particularly encouraged. Pilot production of multiple critical materials is also encouraged.

  Facility Technical Feasibility and Prior Work

  Applicants are required to:

  • Provide information that demonstrates the technical feasibility of their existing technology for processing the proposed feedstock to produce the critical material(s) of interest at their application’s starting TRL. Actual (non-simulated) feedstock materials must have been used with processes operated in a continuous/semi-continuous manner.

  • Submit photographs of existing systems to demonstrate existing process scale and capabilities.

  • Provide an estimate of the time to acquire any required site permits and time for construction. These estimates will be revised with actual timelines during project execution.

  Applicants should include information relevant to costing, such as Feasibility Studies (pre-Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) based on an AACE Class 4 Cost Estimate25) in the Application Package. Each large-scale pilot is required to be designed, constructed, and operated in a manner to generate relevant new information to aid future development of a commercial system (TRL 8, FEED Study based on an AACE Class 3 Cost Estimate). Development of a FEED Study for the future commercial system is not within scope of this NOFO.

  Where separation, extraction, and recovery processes have been developed by industry, process flowsheets (to the extent that non-proprietary information can be made available) and critical material recovery performance should be described.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond direct funding, this NOFO offers several strategic advantages for companies advancing large pilot-scale critical mineral recovery technologies:

Market Readiness and Investor Confidence
DOE-supported pilot facilities are positioned as a critical bridge to commercialization. Successfully operating a DOE-funded pilot—using real industrial feedstocks at meaningful scale—signals to customers, strategic partners, and investors that your technology is technically validated, financially de-risked, and ready for larger commercial deployment.

Risk Reduction and Safer Scale-Up
The program is structured to help teams identify technical, operational, and integration risks before committing to full-scale capital build-out. Generating continuous or semi-continuous operational data under DOE oversight gives companies greater certainty around project feasibility, cost structure, and long-term performance.

National-Level Visibility and Ecosystem Access
Participation in a DOE-funded pilot often increases visibility within federal agencies, national labs, and the broader critical minerals sector. Awardees are well-positioned for future federal contracting, R&D collaboration, and follow-on scale-up opportunities—subject to DOE priorities and merit review.

Technology Validation that Strengthens Supply Chain Positioning
Producing tonnage-level critical material outputs under DOE-supported conditions enhances credibility with downstream processors and manufacturers. This validation helps companies form off-take relationships, strategic partnerships, and potential commercial agreements.

Workforce, Skills, and Operational Capabilities
Standing up a pilot facility develops advanced operational expertise within your organization—expertise that becomes a competitive advantage when transitioning to full commercial-scale deployment and building long-term U.S.-based critical materials infrastructure.

Collectively, these benefits reinforce domestic supply chain resilience and strengthen a company’s strategic position in the emerging U.S. critical minerals and materials ecosystem.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Application Deadline: December 15, 2025, 5:00 pm EST

• Anticipated Selection Notification Date: January 16, 2026

• Anticipated Conditional Award Date: January 23, 2026

• Anticipated Award Date: June 15, 2026

• Estimated Period of Performance: June 15, 2026 – June 14, 2030 (up to ~48 months)

Where does this funding come from?

Funding for DE-FOA-0003583 comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), specifically Section 41003(b)-(c), and uses FY 2024–2026 funds. The NOFO is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), and administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

Who is eligible to apply?

The NOFO is open primarily to domestic entities as recipients or subrecipients, including:

• Institutions of higher education

• For-profit organizations

• Nonprofit organizations

• State and local governmental entities

• Indian Tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304)

To qualify as a domestic entity, an organization must:

• Be organized, chartered, incorporated, or otherwise formed under the laws of a U.S. state or territory.

• Have its principal place of business in the United States.

• Have majority U.S. ownership and control.

• Have a physical place of business in the United States.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Proposals will be scored according to the following criteria:

Scientific and Technical Merit (50%) – Projects that demonstrate strong scientific grounding, a clear understanding of critical materials recovery, a credible pilot concept, and a realistic commercialization pathway. Competitive proposals show how the pilot is “right-sized” for near-term scale-up and may leverage multiple feedstocks or produce multiple critical material products.

Technical Approach (30%) – Proposals with a well-structured SOPO and Project Management Plan, the ability to begin operations quickly, and a clear path to steady-state critical material production. High-scoring projects show meaningful tonnage potential, robust risk mitigation, and a logical workplan tied to impactful commercial outcomes.

Team Capabilities (20%) – Applicants with strong financial stability, the ability to meet the 20% cost share, and demonstrated experience operating pilot facilities or complex processing systems. Competitive teams typically include industry partners, off-take relationships, established roles, and adequate facilities and equipment.

Additional Selection Factors – Projects that diversify feedstocks or regions, contribute meaningfully to the DOE critical materials portfolio, create high-quality U.S. jobs, align with Buy America preferences, and show a credible path to a future commercial facility are more likely to be selected.

Projects that can stand up large, U.S.-based pilot operations and demonstrate a high-confidence pathway to commercial deployment will be the strongest contenders.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

DOE anticipates awarding cooperative agreements under this NOFO, which include a statement of DOE’s “substantial involvement” in the work performed under the resulting awards. For cooperative agreements, DOE does not limit its involvement to the administrative requirements of the award. Instead, DOE has substantial involvement in the direction and redirection of the technical aspects of the project. DOE’s substantial involvement in resulting awards may include the following:

A. DOE shares responsibility with the recipient for the management, control, direction, and performance of the project.

B. DOE may intervene in the conduct or performance of work under this award for programmatic reasons. Intervention includes the interruption or modification of the conduct or performance of project activities.

C. DOE may redirect or discontinue funding the project based on the outcome of DOE’s evaluation of the project at the Go/No-Go decision point(s).

D. DOE participates in major project decision-making processes.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 160–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth under Federal & State R&D Initiatives.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Flat Fee + Success Fee rate can be quoted depending on the size of the project.

Fractional support is $300 per hour, with most projects requiring 80–100 hours of expert support from strategy through submission of full proposal.

For startups, we offer a discounted rate of $250 per hour to make top-tier grant consulting more accessible while maintaining the same level of strategic guidance and proposal quality.

Additional Resources

• See the solicitation here.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – Mine of the Future – Proving Ground Initiative (DE-FOA-0003390)

Executive Summary:

DOE’s Mine of the Future – Proving Ground Initiative (DE-FOA-0003390) will provide approximately $5 million to $40 million per cooperative agreement (about $80 million total, up to four awards) to establish field-scale mining technology proving grounds and run initial mine technology projects focused on critical minerals and materials. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was issued November 14, 2025, and complete applications are due December 15, 2025. DOE anticipates making conditional selections in January 2026, with awards expected to start around June 15, 2026, for an estimated 4-year project period.

How much funding would I receive?

DOE anticipates:

• Approximate total available funding: $80,000,000 (FY26).

• Approximate number of awards: up to four.

• Approximate dollar amount of individual awards: $5,000,000 to $40,000,000.

Awards will be structured as cooperative agreements with an approximate 48-month project period, organized into three budget periods (two for proving ground development and one for initial project execution).

The cost share must be at least 20% of the total project costs for research and development.

What could I use the funding for?

Summary:

The Department of Energy (DOE), through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), intends to support the establishment of Mining Technology Proving Grounds that will act as specialized mining technology testing and research facilities. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to develop and operate field-scale proving grounds that serve as testbeds for validating and de-risking emerging mining technologies. Additionally, these proving grounds are expected to provide the necessary infrastructure, operating environment, and technical capabilities to enable the advancement of innovative technologies from laboratory and/or bench-scale development to integrated field-scale demonstration.

DOE’s vision includes encouraging robust and lasting industry and academic partnerships (e.g., consortia, joint industry partnerships), thereby creating a vital pipeline for innovative technologies and a skilled workforce in mining that will serve as a foundation for domestic mining innovation for many years to come. In addition, applicants must also propose a minimum of one (1) and no more than two (2) mining technology development projects to be conducted at the proving ground. These envisioned mining technology development projects must demonstrate clear progression from laboratory and/or bench-scale validation to field-scale testing at the proving ground site by progressing the proposed technology by at least one TRL from the project(s) beginning. Initial mine technology projects can start anywhere from TRL 2 to TRL 6. Due to the accelerated schedule for this NOFO, if selected, the applicant may be asked to amend the initial projects further during the negotiation and/or definitization process. In summary, FE is requiring applications to include two distinct elements 1) establishment of proving ground and 2) mine technology project(s) that would utilize and demonstrate efficacy of the proving ground.

The proving grounds funded under this announcement will serve as critical platforms to reduce the technical and economic risks associated with novel mining technologies to be utilized by government agencies, industrial partners, and academic institutions. By advancing promising technologies through field-scale validation, the program will accelerate pathways to commercialization, thereby supporting secure, sustainable, and responsible U.S. mining operations.

The DOE aims for a diverse portfolio of proving ground facilities to demonstrate a broad range of mining technologies across various mineral types, geologic settings, and operational scales. The varied estimated award amounts for individual awards reflect DOE's desire to support diverse facility designs, allowing for proving grounds of varying scales, complexities, and capabilities, leveraging existing infrastructure, and enabling targeted technology demonstration across mining process stages.

Program Goals and Objectives:

This NOFO seeks applications to address the establishment of Mining Technology Proving Grounds and accelerate the development of innovative technologies for the U.S. mining sector. This initiative aims to re-establish U.S. leadership in mining by fostering real-world testing, optimization, and deployment of next generation mining technologies, addressing a critical need for secure and resilient domestic Critical Mineral (CM) supply networks.

The primary goal is to establish a field-scale mine proving ground in Budget Period (BP) 1 and BP 2. This facility will host one or two initial R&D envisioned projects in BP 3, focusing on technologies that have progressed beyond laboratory/bench-scale. The objective is to de-risk new mining technologies for commercialization and industry adoption. For purposes of this NOFO, Proving Ground and Facility are used interchangeably and indicate the site in which the envisioned project will be carried out. Additionally, initial mine technology projects can be used interchangeably with Projects, Envisioned Projects, and mine technologies and describe the projects carried out in the Facility in BP 3. Furthermore, for the purposes of this NOFO, Critical Minerals (CM) and Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) are used interchangeably.

DOE envisions that, once established, these proving ground facilities will represent national assets that can accelerate technology innovation by serving as collaborative platforms for future DOE funded projects and as shared resources for industry, academia, and other partners, aligned with DOE mission priorities and subject to the availability of funding.

See more information below:

• Strategic Aims

  This program seeks to re-establish U.S. leadership in the mining sector by supporting R&D in both conventional and unconventional methods and resources. Technology areas include: ore body/resource exploration, appraisal, mining, processing, automation, energy management, and waste management. The proving grounds will facilitate field-scale testing and maturation of innovative technologies for responsible critical mineral mining, streamlining processes, and reducing risks and costs.

  This competitive funding opportunity will support awards for infrastructure development and technologies that transform mining practices. The proving grounds should be designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of Mine Technology projects and will facilitate the maturation of advanced mining technologies. The Mine Technology projects can range from laboratory and/or bench-scale (TRL 2) to field-scale (TRL 6) and must be able to transition at least one TRL from the project’s start. The proving ground will aid in overcoming the "valley of death" where promising technologies often stall due to a lack of suitable testing environments. These sites will also serve as vital training grounds for a new generation of skilled American miners.

• Core Objectives of Proving Grounds

  The proving ground facilities are designed to accelerate the entire exploration-to-production timeline, realizing the "Mine of the Future" vision by de-risking mining technology, developing new methods to reduce waste, and increasing co-product recovery from conventional mining. They will also enhance mineral recovery, emphasize small-footprint mining, foster low-impact tailings management, develop a skilled workforce, improve the sector’s public image, and support regulatory agencies in adopting tested innovations.

• Specific Proving Ground Competencies

  Centralized testing facilities can play a vital role in innovation within the mining industry by streamlining processes, enhancing collaboration, ensuring compliance, and ultimately fostering the development of safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly mining technologies. The Proving Ground should establish these competencies.

  • Standardization of Procedures - Establish standardized testing protocols and methodologies, ensuring consistent results across various innovations to aid in comparing outcomes and determining the effectiveness of new technologies.

  • Resource Optimization - Reduce barriers to smaller companies and startups through shared resources such as advanced equipment, instrumentation, and skilled personnel, leading to cost savings and increased efficiency. This will deliver the benefit from access to high-quality testing without the burden of establishing their own facilities and staff.

  • Controlled Environment - Provide controlled environments that minimize external variables that could affect test outcomes. This is particularly important for mining technologies, where factors such as geological conditions and environmental impacts can substantially influence performance.

  • Data Collection and Analysis - Support comprehensive data collection and analysis, facilitating better R&D practices and outcomes. This leads to faster iteration and improvement of technologies based on empirical evidence derived from extensive testing.

  • Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing - Serves as a hub for collaboration among various stakeholders, including academic institutions, industry leaders, and regulatory bodies. Facilitate anonymization and publication. Such collaboration can enhance knowledge sharing and accelerate innovation within the mining sector.

  • Regulatory Compliance - Aids new mining technologies in compliance with safety and environmental regulations. The testing facilities can ensure that all tests adhere to relevant standards, facilitating smoother certification processes and reducing the time to market for new technologies.

  • Market Readiness - Accelerates market readiness by validating new technologies against real industry standards and performance expectations. Through testing at the proving ground, companies and investors gain confidence that these innovations are ready for increased investment and large-scale adoption.

  • Risk Management - Identify potential risks and challenges associated with new technologies in a controlled environment before they are deployed at actual mining operations. This enhances safety and reduces the likelihood of costly failures.

• Collaborative Approach and Investment

  Successful R&D efforts and proving grounds will be built on partnerships between eligible entities providing training opportunities for future American miners. This initiative aims to accelerate R&D progress from development to commercialization in the field. It will address gaps that neither universities nor the private sector typically prioritize for investment.

• Mine Technology Projects (TRL 2-6)

  Applicants should propose high impact mining technology projects (TRL 2-6) that require field testing to advance to TRL 7 and beyond.

  Projects are recommended, but not required to align with one of three technology development areas:

  1. Resource Characterization and Exploration

  2. Mining and Processing

  3. Equipment and Productivity

  An example list of Specific R&D Technology Areas of Interest that can fit into these three categories is below.

  DOE will fund mining technology projects that can be developed past laboratory/bench-scale and subsequently tested and demonstrated in a field-scale proving ground. Proving ground test beds will be constructed within the first two budget periods of the award, with technology testing occurring in later years. To ensure the award of high-quality projects through the proving ground, applicants are required to propose at least one mine technology project for development and validation at the facility. A maximum of two proposed projects per applicant may be awarded. If the applicant’s proposal is selected, these initial projects may be amended during negotiations and/or definitization.

  In addition to these initial projects, once established, DOE anticipates that these proving ground facilities will serve as platforms to host other DOE funded R&D activities and collaborations, and will be made available as resources to industry, academia, and other research partners. Utilization of these facilities for additional efforts will be subject to DOE programmatic priorities, merit review, and the availability of future funding.

• Research Focus: Innovative Critical Mineral Recovery

  Projects will develop and test innovative mining technologies for recovery of CMM from domestic ores. The goal is to enhance efficiencies, reduce environmental impact, minimize waste, and improve recovery by integrating automation, selective recovery, and modular mobile infrastructure for sustainable mining operations.

• Specific R&D Technology Areas of Interest

  The following is a list of R&D technical areas of interest and is not comprehensive. Other relevant technologies may be included in applications.

  • Comminution & Rock Mechanics

    • Comminution Efficiency - Technologies to improve mineral ore comminution efficiency and reduce grinding energy consumption (physical, chemical, electrochemical).

    • Rock Fracturing & Permeability - Techniques to improve rock fracturing, pore connection, and permeability, enhancing in situ critical mineral extraction efficacy (physical, mechanical).

  • Extraction: In situ Leaching - Methods for mineral extraction that minimize surface disruption and waste.

  • Automation & Robotics - Technologies to automate manual mining tasks (e.g., visual inspection, sampling, material movement) using drones and robotics; development of subsurface hardware, sensors, and computational tools for automation and robotics in ore digging, hauling, extraction, and processing.

  • Data & Sensing

    • Advanced Drilling - Drilling technologies with real-time sensing capabilities.

    • Real-time Material Tracking - Technologies to track and monitor mineralogy of feedstock/ore streams (solid, liquid, slurry) in real-time at the mine or processing plant.

    • Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) - Algorithms to optimize equipment efficiency, resource extraction, and processing; development of autonomous vehicles and machinery; internet of things (IoT) applications for remote operations and monitoring.

    • Advanced Sensing - Methods or tools for detecting underground ore mineralization and low-grade mineral zones in tailings/refuse. Includes techniques for improved subsurface characterization for precision extraction, sensing while drilling, and exploratory drilling.

    • Data Utilization - Collection and utilization of big data, neural networks, AI/ML for subsurface/deep ground resource mapping and mineral exploration, including 3-D volumetric assessment.

• Key Objectives

  • Assess mining technologies for efficiency, cost, and recovery.

  • Develop methods to process low-grade ores, minimize waste rock, and reduce water use.

  • Implement selective recovery and physical concentration techniques for ore and tailings.

  • Create modular, reconfigurable units for flexible deployment and reduced site disturbance.

• Technical Requirements

  For the Proving Ground Facility:

  The Proving Ground must serve as a testbed for next-generation mining technologies, emphasizing modularity, data integration, and real-world validation of critical mineral extraction, processing, and environmental management solutions.

  General Infrastructure Requirements:

  • Location and Access: Must be within the United States with demonstrated access to mineralized materials or simulated deposits representative of CM (e.g., REEs, graphite, lithium, nickel, cobalt).

  • Operational Readiness: Must include site utilities, safety infrastructure, and permitting to enable field-scale operations up to TRL 7.

  • Modularity: Facility design must support plug-and-play testing of multiple technology platforms and allow for reconfiguration to accommodate different mineral systems and extraction processes.

  • Scalability: Capable of expanding operations to accommodate future demonstration projects or partnerships. Designs, flowsheets, and plans for a scalable field test facility handling large quantities of materials at a pilot scale.

  • Simultaneous Operation: Preference for proving grounds capable of operating multiple R&D projects simultaneously, even if only one is initially proposed.

  Technical Capabilities and Instrumentation:

  • Data Acquisition & Monitoring: Deploy a comprehensive digital monitoring system integrating geophysical, geochemical, and operational data into a unified platform (AI/ML-ready).

  • Autonomous & Remote Operations: Infrastructure should support operation and testing of autonomous or teleoperated vehicles, robotic systems, and AI-enabled sensing.

  • Environmental Monitoring: Real-time air, water, and soil monitoring systems must be included to assess environmental impacts and validate sustainable mining methods.

  • Simulation & Digital Twin: Integration with a digital twin environment for real-time simulation, prediction, and validation of process performance.

  Safety, Compliance, and Sustainability:

  • Safety Protocols: Must adhere to applicable Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards, with site-specific health and safety plans in place.

  • Environmental Compliance: Must demonstrate conformance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act, and other applicable federal and state environmental regulations.

  • Sustainability Metrics: Establish baselines for emissions, waste, and energy use; must include monitoring and reporting mechanisms for continuous improvement.

  • Community and Workforce Integration: Include local workforce engagement and training opportunities.

  Workforce and Collaboration Hub:

  • Workforce and Training Integration: Should include provisions for hands-on training, workforce development, and educational use.

  • Visitor and Collaboration Center: For engaging with government, industry, academia, and public.

  For R&D Mine Technology Projects:

  Each applicant must identify up to two (2) initial projects to be demonstrated at the developed proving ground to validate its functionality and de-risk new mining technologies. Proposed initial projects under this funding opportunity may be asked to be amended during negotiations if selected.

  Technical Maturity:

  • Readiness Level: Proposed technologies must be at TRL 2–6 at project start and demonstrate advancement increasing at least one TRL by project completion.

  • Integration with Proving Ground: Must demonstrate compatibility with the facility’s modular systems, safety framework, and data acquisition protocols.

  • Performance Metrics: Include clear performance indicators (e.g., recovery efficiency, selectivity, energy intensity, environmental footprint) and justification of economic and technological advantages over conventional methods.

  Environmental and Safety Considerations:

  • Environmental Footprint: Each project must quantify reductions in waste, emissions, or water/energy consumption compared to baseline operations.

  • Safety Plan: Provide a project-specific safety and hazard mitigation plan consistent with the Proving Ground’s operational safety framework.

  Collaboration and Commercialization:

  • Industry and Academic Partnerships: Demonstrate engagement with industry and/or academia, to support commercialization and workforce development.

  • Transition Plan: Include a post-demonstration pathway outlining next steps toward commercialization or follow-on pilot deployment.

• Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

  Research should begin between TRL 2-6 and aim to advance at a minimum of one TRL by the completion of work at the proving ground.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond direct funding, the NOFO describes several programmatic benefits associated with the proving grounds:

• Market Readiness and Investor Confidence
  The proving grounds are explicitly framed as a way to accelerate market readiness by validating new technologies against real industry standards and performance expectations. Testing at these facilities is intended to give companies and investors greater confidence that innovations are ready for larger-scale adoption.

• Risk Management and Safer Deployment
  Proving grounds allow identification of technical and operational risks in a controlled environment before deploying technologies in active mining operations. This supports improved safety and reduces the likelihood of costly failures.

• National Resource and Ecosystem Access
  Once established, DOE envisions that these facilities will serve as a national resource, accessible to:

  • Multiple DOE offices,

  • Industry partners,

  • Academia, and

  • Other research organizations.

  DOE anticipates that, beyond the initial projects, the proving grounds will be used to host additional DOE-funded R&D activities and collaborations, subject to DOE priorities, merit review, and future funding availability.

• Training, Skills, and Workforce Development
  The program is designed to provide a training platform, disseminating skills, technologies, practices, and expertise needed for responsible mining and critical materials supply chains.

All of these benefits are explicitly tied in the NOFO to strengthening secure, resilient domestic critical mineral and material supply networks and restoring U.S. prominence in the mining sector.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

The NOFO specifies the following key dates:

• Application Deadline: December 15, 2025

• Anticipated Selection Notification Date: January 16, 2026

• Anticipated Conditional Award Date: January 23, 2026

• Anticipated Award Date (project start): June 15, 2026

• Estimated Period of Performance: June 15, 2026 – June 14, 2030 (approximately 4 years)

Where does this funding come from?

The initiative is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) Program.

Awards made under this NOFO will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

The activities support Sections 7001(a) and 7002(g) of the Energy Act of 2020, as funded by IIJA Section 41003(c), and are part of a broader federal effort to advance and potentially commercialize technologies that use unconventional resources to produce critical minerals and materials for U.S. energy, national security, and commodity needs.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Eligible domestic entities (as applicants/recipients):

  • Institutions of higher education

  • For-profit entities

  • Nonprofit organizations

  • State and local governmental entities

  • Indian Tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304)

• To qualify as a domestic entity, an organization must:

  • Be organized under the laws of a U.S. state or territory or under U.S. federal law,

  • Have majority domestic ownership and control, and

  • Have a physical place of business in the United States.

• FFRDCs and federal agencies:

  • DOE FFRDCs: Eligible to participate only as subrecipients, not as prime recipients.

  • Non-DOE FFRDCs: Eligible to participate as subrecipients, not as recipients.

  • Federal agencies and instrumentalities (other than DOE): May generally participate as subrecipients but are typically not eligible to be recipients.

  • NETL is explicitly not eligible to receive awards under this announcement and may not be included as a recipient or subrecipient.

• Foreign entities:

  • In general, foreign entities are not eligible to apply as either recipients or subrecipients.

  • Foreign participation is only possible under limited circumstances with an explicit written waiver request included in the application (and, for each foreign subrecipient, a separate waiver).

• Work location requirement:

  • All work must be performed in the United States unless a waiver of this requirement is requested and approved. Costs for work performed outside the U.S. are unallowable without such a waiver.

• Other statutory ineligibilities:

  • Entities on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals list are prohibited from doing business with the U.S. government and are not eligible.

  • Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are not eligible to apply.

  • Entities of Concern (as defined in NOFO Part 2) are prohibited from participating in projects under this NOFO.

• Number of applications per entity:

  • An entity may submit more than one application, provided that each application describes a unique, scientifically distinct project.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Proposals will be scored according to the following criteria:

1. Proving Ground Merit (45%) – Strength of the proposed proving ground: infrastructure readiness, environmental and siting considerations, stakeholder buy-in, risk mitigation, maintenance planning, and ability to support training and real-world testing.

2. Mining Technology Merit (10%) – Technical quality of initial mine technology projects: clarity of current state and advancement path, relevance to topic goals, scalability considerations, supporting data, and risk mitigation.

3. Technical Approach (30%) – Feasibility and clarity of the overall plan: logical SOPO, ability to host multiple technologies, awareness of facility limitations, alignment of budget to scope, and overall understanding of proving-ground operations.

4. Team Capabilities (15%) – Strength of the team: PI expertise, integrated workplan, prior mining facility experience, maturation planning, and knowledge of permitting, NEPA, and mining operations at scale.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

DOE anticipates awarding cooperative agreements under this NOFO, which include a statement of DOE’s “substantial involvement” in the work performed under the resulting awards. For cooperative agreements, DOE does not limit its involvement to the administrative requirements of the award. Instead, DOE has substantial involvement in the direction and redirection of the technical aspects of the project. DOE’s substantial involvement in resulting awards may include the following:

A. DOE shares responsibility with the recipient for the management, control, direction, and performance of the project.

B. DOE may intervene in the conduct or performance of work under this award for programmatic reasons. Intervention includes the interruption or modification of the conduct or performance of project activities.

C. DOE may redirect or discontinue funding the project based on the outcome of DOE’s evaluation of the project at the Go/No-Go decision point(s).

D. DOE participates in major project decision-making processes.

E. Conducting annual project review meetings and monthly status meetings to ensure adequate progress and that the work accomplishes the program and project objectives. Recommending alternate approaches or shifting work emphasis, if needed.

F. DOE may be involved with external usage of the established Proving Ground once the initial Mine Technology project(s) are completed. DOE's authorized representatives have the right to make site visits upon reasonable notice at a mutually agreeable time established by the parties to review project accomplishments and management control systems and to provide technical assistance, if required. You must provide, and must require your subawardees to provide, reasonable access to facilities, office space, resources, and assistance for the safety and convenience of the government representatives in the performance of their duties. All site visits and evaluations shall be subject to the health, safety and environmental policies required of all visitors and shall be performed in a manner that does not unduly interfere with or delay the work.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–160 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth under Federal & State R&D Initiatives.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We can find partners, manage proposal preparation between partners, and write your proposal. Flat Fee + Success Fee rate can be quoted depending on the scope of work.

Fractional support is $300 per hour, with most proposal projects requiring 80–100 hours of expert support from strategy through submission of full proposal.

For startups, we offer a discounted rate of $250 per hour to make top-tier grant consulting more accessible while maintaining the same level of strategic guidance and proposal quality.

Additional Resources

• See the solicitation here.