Accelerated Research in Quantum Computing (ARQC) | DE FOA 0002081

Accelerated Research in Quantum Computing (ARQC) - FAQs

What is the ARQC funding opportunity?

The Accelerated Research in Quantum Computing (ARQC) opportunity is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding call issued through the Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program. It is intended to support large, multi-disciplinary research teams working to significantly speed up progress in quantum computing.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) for ARQC?

The Funding Opportunity Number for ARQC is DE-FOA-0002081.

Which DOE office and program are sponsoring this opportunity?

This opportunity is sponsored by the DOE Office of Science and issued through the Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program.

What is the main goal of ARQC?

ARQC aims to accelerate quantum computing research by addressing foundational scientific and engineering gaps that currently slow the transition from potentially useful quantum applications to real, working quantum hardware.

What kind of teams is ARQC designed to fund?

ARQC is aimed at large, multi-disciplinary research teams. The call is structured for sizable efforts rather than small individual projects.

What does ARQC mean by “holistic” or “end-to-end” quantum computing research?

“Holistic” or “end-to-end” research in ARQC refers to work that connects application-level goals (the problems quantum computers are intended to solve) to the real-world constraints of quantum devices (such as noise, limited qubits, constrained connectivity, and error rates). The focus is on disciplined approaches to the abstractions, methods, and tools that tie the full stack together so progress in one layer produces measurable progress in the overall system.

Why is ARQC emphasizing connections between applications and hardware?

The opportunity highlights that progress in quantum computing can stall when research is done in isolated parts of the stack. ARQC prioritizes research that bridges the gap between what applications require and what hardware can realistically deliver, especially given current device limitations.

What research layers or components does ARQC expect teams to work across?

ARQC expects teams to work across multiple layers, which may include algorithms, programming models, compilers, verification, performance modeling, error mitigation or correction approaches, and hardware-aware optimization. The emphasis is on ensuring these layers connect effectively from applications down to devices.

Is ARQC focused only on software or only on hardware?

Based on the description, ARQC is not limited to a single layer such as software or hardware alone. It emphasizes approaches that integrate across the full pipeline and explicitly account for hardware realities while supporting application goals through appropriate abstractions, tools, and methods.

What is the award instrument for ARQC?

ARQC awards are structured as cooperative agreements, which generally involve a more substantial level of federal involvement or coordination than a standard grant.

How large are the expected ARQC awards?

The opportunity is aimed at large efforts. Applicants are specifically described as teams requesting more than $2 million per year, and an award ceiling of $2.5 million is listed.

How many awards did DOE anticipate making under ARQC?

DOE anticipated making around 6 awards under this call.

What does the expected number of awards imply about competitiveness?

With around 6 anticipated awards and a focus on large, high-impact efforts, ARQC appears designed to be competitive and to support a limited number of sizable team projects rather than many smaller awards.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications provided in the full funding announcement.

What is the funding activity category for ARQC?

The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 81.049.

When was the ARQC opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on April 1, 2019, and had an original closing date of May 31, 2019.

Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?

Yes. The FOA includes a mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI) requirement, and applicants were required to submit an LOI following the FOA instructions.

Does DOE provide feedback on Letters of Intent for ARQC?

No. The agency noted that it would not provide feedback or responses to LOIs.

What happens if an applicant does not submit a required LOI?

The FOA warns that applications may be declined without merit review if an LOI was not submitted.

What other reasons could an application be declined without merit review?

The FOA indicates applications may be declined without merit review if the application fails to follow the stated guidelines and criteria or if the proposed work is out of scope.

What does “out of scope” mean in the context of ARQC?

Based on the description, “out of scope” refers to proposals that do not align with ARQC’s central goals, particularly the emphasis on holistic, end-to-end quantum computing research that bridges application needs and hardware constraints through appropriate abstractions, tools, and methods.

What is the core theme of the ARQC research direction?

The core theme is coordinated team science that advances the full quantum computing pipeline, with a strong emphasis on bridging application demands and hardware deliverability using better abstractions, software and systems methods, and rigorous toolchains.

What is ARQC trying to improve in practical terms?

In practical terms, ARQC is looking for approaches where improvements in areas like algorithms, compilers, verification, performance modeling, or error mitigation translate into measurable overall system progress when deployed against realistic device constraints.

Is strict compliance with the submission process important for ARQC?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly emphasizes strict adherence to the submission process (including the LOI requirement) and alignment with program goals, noting that noncompliant or out-of-scope applications may be declined without merit review.