Alternative Fuels & Feedstock Initiative to Add Value to Seed Oil Crops through Improved Preprocessing, Scalability, and Valorization of Product Streams

This solicitation seeks an Expression of Interest (EOI) from qualified companies or U.S. universities to conduct research that enhances the value of seed oil crops by improving post‑harvest preprocessing, storage, separation, and scalable fractionation. The work will be performed in collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratory’s Biomass Feedstock National User Facility (BFNUF) and will support DOE’s Alternative Fuels & Feedstock Office (AFFO). Up to two projects, each lasting 12‑24 months, will be funded, with a focus on non‑oil seed components and the potential to scale bench‑scale results to field applications. • Targeted research areas: harvesting efficiency, storage stability, fractionation techniques, and valorization of non‑oil seed streams. • Eligible participants: industry firms or U.S. universities with strong technical expertise, publication record, and existing industry or workforce development connections. • Expected effort: ~0.25 FTE for PI and 1‑3 FTE for technicians/post‑docs/students; consumables and approved equipment/travel may be funded. • Deliverables: data and analyses to support an INL‑led techno‑economic assessment (TEA). • Submission: EOI must be emailed to [email protected] and [email protected] by 6 PM MST, October 23 2026. Selection decision anticipated January 2027.