Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - Advanced Processing of Critical Minerals and Materials for Industrial and Manufacturing Applications.

Background
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) is issuing this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Awards made under this FOA will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL is a once-in-a-generation investment in modernizing and upgrading American infrastructure to enhance United States competitiveness, drive the creation of good-paying union jobs, tackle the climate crisis, and ensure stronger access to economic, environmental, and other benefits for disadvantaged communities. DOE’s BIL investments will support efforts to build a clean and equitable energy economy that achieves a zero-carbon electricity sector by 2035, and to put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050 to benefit all Americans.

Grant Details
This Funding Opportunity Announcement seeks to advance the processing of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals for Industrial and Manufacturing Applications. The FOA has two Topic Areas: 1. Advanced Process Development for Production of Rare Earth Metals and Co-Production of Critical Minerals and Materials from Coal-Based Resources; and 2. Production of Critical Minerals and Materials Excluding Rare Earth Materials from Coal-Based Resources. The FOA requires projects to track and report on project results related to environmental impacts, environmental justice, community engagement, consent-based siting, equity, and workforce development.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include individuals, domestic entities, and foreign entities. Cost sharing is required. Other eligibility requirements include compliance criteria, responsiveness criteria, cost share allocation, types and allowability, contributions by FFRDCs, verification, legal responsibility.

Period of Performance
The expected timeframe for award negotiations is January 2024 with a period of performance over several months in April – May 2024.

Grant Value
The BIL appropriates more than $62 billion to the DOE to invest in American manufacturing and workers; expand access to energy efficiency and clean energy; deliver reliable, clean and affordable power to more Americans; and demonstrate and deploy the technologies of tomorrow through clean energy demonstrations.