NOI: PROSPECT Program: Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies
🏛 Golden Field Office
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions and organizations seeking to build educational capacity in critical minerals and materials. Eligible applicants likely include academic institutions, industry partners, national laboratories, and nonprofit organizations engaged in workforce development. The program supports collaborative approaches across the critical minerals supply chain, from extraction through recycling. Geographic scope is national, with funding available to strengthen U.S. educational pathways and workforce development.
The program builds on existing DOE investments and aims to create a talent pipeline for critical minerals and materials industries. Collaborative partnerships among academia, industry, and government are encouraged. Projects should address skills gaps in mineral resource development, extraction, processing, manufacturing, recycling, and supply chain activities.
This is a Notice of Intent, meaning specific eligibility criteria will be detailed when the full funding opportunity is released. Interested applicants should monitor the DOE CMEI Funding Opportunities website for formal application details.
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Program description
The U.S Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) intends to establish, on behalf of the Analysis and Strategy Office (ASO), the PROSPECT Program—Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies—and anticipates investing up to $100 million, subject to the availability of appropriated funds, to strengthen the nation’s educational capacity in critical minerals and materials.¿
The activities under this anticipated PROSPECT Program support collaborative approaches that strengthen educational pathways across the entire critical minerals and materials value chain—from mineral resource development and extraction through processing, manufacturing, recycling, and related supply chain activities. Specifically, the planned PROSPECT Program would build on existing investments in critical minerals and materials research, development, demonstration, and deployment by ensuring that the United States has the highly skilled workforce needed to support continued innovation and growth across the domestic supply chain.¿ Through collaboration among academia, industry, national laboratories, and other partners, the program is expected to help develop a durable talent pipeline that strengthens U.S. economic competitiveness, energy security, and national security.
This Notice of Intent (NOI) is issued so that interested parties are aware of CMEI’s intention to establish this PROSPECT Program in the near term. All the information contained in this NOI is subject to change. CMEI will not respond to questions concerning this NOI.
Complete information, including the full Notice of Intent, can be found on the DOE CMEI Funding Opportunities website: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Documentation of collaborative partnerships or commitment letters from partners. Project narrative describing educational activities and workforce outcomes. Budget justification showing how funds support educational capacity building. Organizational credentials and experience in workforce development or educational programs.
Program contact
- 👤 Golden Field Office
- 📧 eere-exchangesupport@hq.doe.gov
- 📞 2022871878
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 81.117 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$90,772,430
-
$30,857,920
-
$20,000,000
-
$20,000,000
-
$20,000,000
-
$19,994,487
-
$19,994,460
-
$19,994,217
-
$19,826,957
-
$19,082,560
Top States by Funding
- CA 10 awards $110.5M
- IN 1 awards $90.8M
- DC 12 awards $75.6M
- IL 7 awards $55.1M
- CO 5 awards $53.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 81.117). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2023 | $115,491,979 | |
| 2024 est. | $172,211,774 | |
| 2025 est. | $62,788,480 |
FAQ
What is the PROSPECT Program?
It's a DOE initiative providing up to $100 million for educational capacity building in critical minerals and materials. The program supports workforce development across the entire domestic supply chain.
When will applications be accepted?
This is a Notice of Intent (NOI) issued in advance of the formal funding opportunity. The deadline is January 15, 2027, but specific application details are forthcoming.
What activities are supported?
Projects should strengthen educational pathways in critical minerals—including extraction, processing, manufacturing, recycling, and supply chain management. Collaborative partnerships are encouraged.
Who is eligible to apply?
Academic institutions, industry partners, national laboratories, and nonprofit organizations are likely eligible. The full eligibility criteria will be released with the formal funding opportunity.
How much funding is available?
Up to $100 million is anticipated for the overall program, subject to appropriations. Individual award amounts will be detailed in the formal announcement.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Monitor the DOE CMEI Funding Opportunities website (eere-exchange.energy.gov) closely for the formal funding opportunity announcement and detailed application requirements.
- Begin identifying collaborative partners now—academia, industry, and national laboratories are key to competitive proposals.
- Focus your project on addressing critical skills gaps in the minerals and materials value chain, not just general STEM education.
- Consider how your approach strengthens U.S. economic competitiveness, energy security, or national security in critical minerals.
- Start building relationships with industry partners early; workforce programs work best with employer input on skill needs.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals that focus narrowly on academic research rather than workforce development and educational capacity. Applications failing to demonstrate collaboration or partnerships across academia, industry, and other stakeholders. Projects that don't clearly address gaps in the critical minerals supply chain workforce.
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