On March 17, 2026, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued a Request for Application (“RFA”) under the Genesis Mission, a White House-led AI initiative announced in November 2025.  The RFA, with $293.76 million in anticipated total funding, solicits project proposals for 21 areas ranging from advanced manufacturing and industrial productivity to energy and nuclear physics.  Applications for Phase I and letters of intent for Phase II are both due April 28, 2026.  This blog post reviews the development of the Genesis Mission since last year and summarizes the key elements of the current funding opportunity.

Launching the Genesis Mission

The Genesis Mission, announced through Executive Order (“EO”) 14363 issued on November 24, 2025, aims to accelerate science and technology research and development by combining federal scientific data with AI capabilities. 

DOE, as the lead agency, has identified an initial set of 26 science and technology challenges to be addressed through the Mission, reflecting the broad scope of the Mission.  The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology is tasked with leading the interagency support for the Mission by convening agencies to identify data sources that may be used and coordinating R&D funding opportunities and experimental resources. 

Development Since Launch

Shortly after the launch of the Mission, DOE announced $320 million in investments in the AI infrastructure for the Mission, including the American Science Cloud and the Transformational AI Models Consortium.  The American Science Cloud is envisioned to be the platform infrastructure for hosting and distributing AI models and scientific data to the broader research community, and the Transformational AI Models Consortium aims to serve as the channel for building and deploying self-improving AI models. 

In the solicitations for proposals for these two programs, DOE stated that subsequent funding opportunities will be announced for public-private partnerships developing self-improving AI models to accelerate innovation in next-generation microelectronics and new energy technologies.  DOE has also solicited public comments through a Request for Information on how the agency should structure public-private partnerships and provide AI models to the science community. 

As of the announcement of the Mission, DOE had signed memorandums of understanding with 24 organizations.  The official list of collaborators has since grown in number and scope to include 51 organizations, including private businesses and non-profit entities.

The Request for Application

The March 17 announcement is the first funding opportunity directly tied to the Mission and focuses on AI-driven solutions across the many subject matter areas.  Drawn from the 26 areas identified by DOE earlier this year, each of the 21 challenges identified in the RFA describes the current problem and the AI solution being envisioned.  The document also discusses the existing data, resources, and capabilities available within DOE to address each of the challenges.

The 21 challenges include the following, among others:

  • Reenvisioning Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Productivity
  • Scaling the Biotechnology Revolution
  • Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply
  • Delivering Nuclear Energy that is Faster, Safer, Cheaper
  • Achieving AI-Driven Autonomous Laboratories
  • Designing Materials with Predictable Functionality

The application process will involve two phases.  In Phase I, applicants must propose small teams whose membership includes at least two of the following: (1) DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration national laboratory or a scientific user facility, (2) industry, and (3) institute of higher education and non-profit organizations.  In Phase II, applicants will be expected to propose large teams with at least one partner institution from (1) and (2).  For Phase II, the RFA strongly encourages including an institute of higher education in the team.

For-profit entities, whether serving as the lead organization or as a team member, must provide a cost share of at least 20% for basic and applied R&D activities and 50% of total project costs for demonstration and commercial application tasks.

DOE intends to award Other Transaction (OT) agreements to successful applicant teams.  The OT may be structured either as: (1) fixed-price, milestone-based agreement whereby DOE will issue payments upon successful completion of milestones; or (2) as a cost reimbursement vehicle with terms similar to a federally funded grant (including application of the federal cost principles). 

Notably, all awards will include a U.S. Competitiveness provision, which requires products embodying any “subject invention” conceived or first actually reduced in the performance of the award, as well as products made using any such invention, to be manufactured substantially in the United States, unless the award recipient obtains a waiver or modification.  

Interested parties must submit applications for Phase I and letters of intent for Phase II by April 28, 2026.

Outlook on Future Opportunities

According to the RFA, DOE plans to provide additional guidance for the Phase II letters of intent and applications in the coming weeks.  In FY27, DOE also plans to amend the RFA or issue an alternative funding opportunity to update the focus areas to allow another round of competition.

As the RFA previews, the Genesis Mission could serve to direct significant federal resources for private sector funding and partnerships.  There are also likely to be avenues for private sector entities to raise additional areas of focus for consideration on a future list of scientific and technology challenges.  In a December 2025 congressional hearing on the Genesis Mission, Under Secretary for Energy for Science Dario Gil emphasized the public-partnership aspect of the initiative, stating that without a “spirit of partnership, we are not able to tap enough investment from our partners to help us succeed, and frankly, we cannot move fast enough.”

Industry stakeholders should take up this invitation to partnership.  In addition to monitoring future program announcements, interested parties should look for openings to meet with DOE as it continues to develop the requirements and objectives of the initiative.   

Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Department of Energy, research and development
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Photo of Michael Wagner Michael Wagner

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