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Intellectual Property Office

Berkeley Lab Accepting Proposals for COVID-19 Technical Assistance Program

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The Intellectual Property Office and Strategic Partnerships Office of Berkeley Lab are accepting proposals from Lab scientists and external partners for the Department of Energy-funded COVID-19 Technical Assistance Program (CTAP). Run by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT), CTAP allows national laboratories to offer short-term, limited assistance to U.S.-based entities dealing with particularly challenging technical hurdles in fighting COVID-19. The funds will support limited-duration and -scope (up to 40 hours) of technical services, analysis, testing, and consulting; they are not intended to be R&D intensive. Funds must be used by September, 2021.

To be eligible for consideration for CTAP funding, proposals must:

  • advance COVID-19 response in the U.S., and be provided to U.S. entities,
  • not overlap with another CTAP-funded project, and
  • must meet all the requirements described below.

External entities and Berkeley Lab principal investigators may propose projects for CTAP funding. External entities should submit their proposals here and Berkeley Lab principal investigators should submit their proposals here.

Project Proposals from External Entities

External entities may submit ideas for projects. They are invited to visit the COVID-19 Innovation Portal on the Lab Partnering Service website to explore experts, user facilities, and technologies related to their need, and to submit an online request for assistance.

Berkeley Lab has state-of-the-art facilities, including: the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) high speed network, the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), the Agile BioFoundry (advanced tools analytics and rapid engineering of production microbes), and the Advanced Light Source (ALS) specialized particle accelerator. 

Experts with COVID-19-related work include scientists who are examining viruses in droplets, working on algorithms that can help diagnose COVID-19 from CT scans, researching airborne virus transmission in buildings, working on a cellular delivery system/anti-viral agent for potential COVID-19 therapeutics, and applying machine-learning methods to study COVID-19 seasonal cycles. The COVID-19 Innovation Portal also lists licensable technologies developed by Berkeley Lab.

Project Proposals from Berkeley Lab Principal Investigators

Principal investigators at Berkeley Lab can submit ideas for collaborative projects with external partners via an online form. The Lab leadership will then coordinate with the investigator and others in submitting application materials to the DOE’s Bay Area Site Office and OTT. All requests will be considered on a rolling basis. If the proposal is funded, principal investigators will provide a brief final report to the OTT at the close of the project.

Requirements for Proposed Projects

    1. Proposed work is directly related to COVID-19 support work
    2. Proposed statement of work is provided.
    3. Proposed work does not involve clinical testing of patients.
    4. Proposed work does not involve project personnel or organizations that have any affiliations that could present the appearance of conflict of interest.
    5. Proposed work will use an existing DOE pre-approved agreement that preserves and allocates rights to subject inventions.
    6. Proposed work does not utilize human or animal subjects.
    7. Proposed work is for a U.S. entity not subject to foreign majority control.
    8. Proposed work:
      • is consistent with or complementary to DOE mission;
      • does not adversely impact execution of assigned programs at the facility;
      • does not involve any construction or modifications to Department facilities; and
      • does not create a detrimental future burden on DOE resources.
    9. Proposed work does not involve:
      • use or generation of classified information;
      • Export Controlled Information (ECI),
      • Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information (UCNI),
      • intelligence-related work;
      • unescorted access to security areas;
      • nuclear nonproliferation detection technology; or
      • space nuclear or noncommercial power reactor work.
    10. Proposed work does not involve foreign travel.
    11. If the proposed work involved contributed funds from the external entity, Federal Administration Charge applies in accordance with DOE O 522.1.