Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003657
The DOE Quantum Genesis Q Competition (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003657) is a Department of Energy Office of Science funding opportunity aimed at speeding up the arrival of what DOE describes as the world’s first fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computing (SRQC) capability for research and development. It sits under the broader Quantum Genesis initiative, which DOE positions as a cornerstone of a larger "Genesis Mission" intended to push the United States into a new tier of computational capability and, in turn, accelerate scientific discovery and innovation. The opportunity is framed as part of DOE’s response to national quantum policy goals, including priorities referenced in President Trump’s Executive Order on quantum innovation and DOE’s related Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) effort.
At its core, the Q Competition is meant to be a fast-moving, milestone-driven pathway to bring fault-tolerant quantum computing to the point where it can meaningfully contribute to real scientific workloads, not just demonstrate laboratory-scale prototypes. DOE’s emphasis is not only on building quantum hardware, but on scaling the full stack needed for scientific relevance: hardware platforms, software layers, enabling technologies, and the end-to-end scientific workflows that would allow researchers to actually use SRQCs to advance national science and technology objectives. In other words, applicants are expected to have a technically viable plan that does more than promise future quantum advantage; it should outline how a fault-tolerant system will be developed, scaled, and integrated in a way that serves DOE and the wider scientific community.
The solicitation specifically invites proposals from domestic commercial entities, with eligibility including both small businesses and other for-profit organizations. DOE portrays this competition as a first step toward a longer arc of work extending into the 2030s, where successful partners on a first-generation SRQC could also help establish the technical foundation for DOE to deploy one or more next-generation SRQCs at National Laboratories. At the same time, DOE explicitly notes that not all credible vendors will have timelines aligned with this competition, and that choosing not to participate, or failing to complete milestones, does not automatically prevent an organization from future collaborations or procurements with DOE.
From a funding and program-structure standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA 81.049). The funding instrument type is listed as "Other," which can signal something more tailored than a standard grant mechanism, potentially aligning with the competition-style, milestone-based approach described in the narrative. DOE anticipates making up to about 10 awards, with an award ceiling listed at $200,000,000, indicating the Department is prepared to support large, ambitious development efforts consistent with building and validating fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant systems rather than incremental research projects. The opportunity was created on 2026-09-17, and the original application closing date is 2026-10-19.
Overall, the Quantum Genesis Q Competition is positioned as a major DOE push to compress the timeline to fault-tolerant quantum computing that matters for science, while ensuring the resulting systems and workflows are aligned with DOE mission needs. It is as much about building usable capability and ecosystem readiness as it is about hardware performance, and it is intended to seed a longer-term pathway toward deploying future SRQC platforms at the national lab level.Apply for DE FOA 0003657
- The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The DOE Quantum Genesis Q Competition" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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FAQs: DOE Quantum Genesis Q Competition (DE-FOA-0003657)
What is the DOE Quantum Genesis Q Competition?
The Quantum Genesis Q Competition is a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003657) focused on accelerating the arrival of what DOE describes as the world's first fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computing (SRQC) capability for research and development.
Which DOE organization is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered through the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science.
What is the main goal of the program?
The program is designed as a fast-moving, milestone-driven pathway to move beyond laboratory-scale prototypes and develop fault-tolerant quantum computing that can meaningfully contribute to real scientific workloads and R&D.
What does DOE mean by "scientifically relevant quantum computing (SRQC)" in this opportunity?
Based on the description provided, DOE uses SRQC to mean fault-tolerant quantum computing capability that is usable for research and development and can run end-to-end scientific workloads, not just demonstrate isolated technical milestones or small-scale prototypes.
Is this opportunity only about quantum hardware?
No. DOE emphasizes scaling the full stack needed for scientific relevance, including hardware platforms, software layers, enabling technologies, and end-to-end scientific workflows that let researchers actually use SRQCs to advance science and technology objectives.
What types of applicants are eligible to apply?
The solicitation specifically invites proposals from domestic commercial entities. Eligibility includes small businesses as well as other for-profit organizations.
Are non-commercial entities eligible?
The information provided states the solicitation specifically invites proposals from domestic commercial entities (including small businesses and other for-profit organizations). No additional eligibility categories are described in the provided summary.
What is the broader initiative this competition is part of?
The Q Competition sits under DOE's broader Quantum Genesis initiative. DOE positions Quantum Genesis as a cornerstone of a larger "Genesis Mission" intended to push the United States into a new tier of computational capability and accelerate scientific discovery and innovation.
How does this opportunity relate to national quantum policy priorities?
DOE frames the opportunity as part of its response to national quantum policy goals, including priorities referenced in President Trump's Executive Order on quantum innovation and DOE's related Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) effort.
What kind of project plan is DOE looking for from applicants?
DOE indicates applicants are expected to submit a technically viable plan that goes beyond general claims of future quantum advantage. The plan should outline how a fault-tolerant system will be developed, scaled, and integrated in a way that serves DOE and the wider scientific community.
Is this a milestone-driven program?
Yes. The opportunity is described as competition-style and milestone-driven, with an emphasis on rapid progress toward a usable fault-tolerant SRQC capability.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
DOE anticipates making up to about 10 awards.
What is the maximum award size (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000,000, indicating DOE is prepared to support large development efforts aligned with building and validating fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant systems.
What type of funding instrument will DOE use?
The funding instrument type is listed as "Other," which may indicate a mechanism tailored to a competition-style, milestone-based approach rather than a standard grant format (as characterized in the provided description).
What is the CFDA number and program category?
The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA 81.049.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-09-17.
What is the application closing date?
The original application closing date is 2026-10-19.
Does DOE describe this as a short-term program or part of a longer pathway?
DOE describes the competition as a first step toward a longer arc of work extending into the 2030s.
What happens after this competition, according to DOE?
DOE indicates that successful partners on a first-generation SRQC could also help establish the technical foundation for DOE to deploy one or more next-generation SRQCs at National Laboratories.
If an organization does not participate, does that affect future DOE opportunities?
DOE explicitly notes that not all credible vendors will have timelines aligned with this competition, and that choosing not to participate does not automatically prevent an organization from future collaborations or procurements with DOE.
If an awardee fails to complete milestones, are they barred from future DOE work?
DOE states that failing to complete milestones does not automatically prevent an organization from future collaborations or procurements with DOE.
What is DOE trying to avoid by emphasizing scientific workloads and workflows?
DOE highlights that the goal is not merely laboratory-scale prototype demonstrations. Instead, DOE is pushing toward usable, end-to-end capability where the system and supporting ecosystem can contribute to real R&D workloads aligned with DOE mission needs.
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