DOE Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator NOFO (DE-FOA-0003589)

The DOE Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator NOFO supports American, industry-led partnerships working to prototype and pilot innovative critical materials processing technologies that are currently proven only at bench scale. The program is intended to help mature technologies toward pilot validation and improve the readiness of projects for future private capital investment.

Program Overview

This funding opportunity is designed to build a stronger domestic pipeline for critical minerals and materials technologies by supporting prototype and pilot-scale development in high-impact areas. DOE indicates that the program is also intended to leverage related national laboratory and supply chain research investments, including the Critical Materials Innovation Hub and the Minerals to Materials Supply Chain Research Facility.

The NOFO is organized around three topic areas. Topic Area 1 focuses on production and material efficiency for critical materials, including rare earth elements. Topic Area 2 focuses on refining and alloying gallium, gallium nitride, germanium, and silicon carbide for semiconductor applications. Topic Area 3 focuses on cost-competitive direct lithium extraction, separation, and processing.

Supported Activities

Depending on topic area and sub-topic, supported activities may include:

• Recovery and production of critical materials from postindustrial manufacturing scrap
• Recovery and production from postconsumer scrap, including electronic waste and drivetrains
• Recovery and production from mixed feedstocks such as mine tailings, postindustrial scrap, and postconsumer scrap
• Processes to refine and alloy gallium, gallium nitride, germanium, and silicon carbide for semiconductor uses
• Direct lithium extraction, related pretreatment and post-treatment systems, and disposal technologies associated with geothermal brines
• Exploration and characterization of critical materials and rare earth elements from volcanically hosted geothermal systems

Cost Share or Payment Structure

This NOFO uses a two-phase structure. Phase 1, focused on prototyping and initial research and development tasks, requires a minimum 20 percent cost share. Phase 2, focused on pilot-scale demonstration and commercial application tasks, requires a minimum 50 percent cost share for projects selected to proceed.

That phased structure matters. Applicants should consider not only whether a concept is technically promising, but also whether it can support the operational, commercial, and financing case needed to justify progression into a higher-cost-share pilot phase.

Eligible Applicants

• Institutions of higher education
• Federally funded research and development centers
• For-profit organizations
• Nonprofit organizations
• State and local government entities
• Indian Tribes, as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act

Application Timing

Letter of Intent Due: April 21, 2026

Topic Area 1 Application Due: May 26, 2026

Topic Area 2 Application Due: June 22, 2026

Topic Area 3 Application Due: July 20, 2026

Because timing differs by topic area, applicants should confirm the correct pathway early and build backward from the applicable deadline.

Official Program Link

DOE Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator program page

Advisory Perspective

Programs like this often favor projects that can connect technical merit to scale-up practicality. In practice, that means applicants may need a credible case around feedstock availability, pilot design, performance validation, commercialization pathway, and the operational conditions required for later deployment.

LEC Partners supports organizations in evaluating whether a concept is ready for federal funding, whether the proposed pathway to pilot demonstration is realistic, and where technical or commercial gaps may need to be addressed before submission. That work is intended to improve assessment and readiness, not to imply any funding outcome.

Questions We Commonly Address

• Which topic area best fits a proposed processing or recovery technology?
• How should applicants think about the transition from Phase 1 prototyping to Phase 2 pilot demonstration?
• What evidence is needed to show a bench-scale technology is ready for prototype or pilot work?
• How should cost share be planned across the two phases?
• What technical and commercial assumptions are most important to validate before submission?