# Simpler Grants.gov #DE-FOA-0003631

ARPA-E UNLOCK SBIR/STTR funding for low-permeability subsurface recovery research

**Buyer:** Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), U.S. Department of Energy
**Posted:** October 21, 2026
**Respond By:** November 20, 2026
**Identifier:** DE-FOA-0003631
**NAICS:** 541715, 213112

ARPA-E is seeking small-business research proposals to improve recovery from low-permeability subsurface resources through its UNLOCK SBIR/STTR program.
- Government buyer: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
- Opportunity: UNLOCK SBIR/STTR research and development awards, Notice DE-FOA-0003631. This is a funding opportunity, not a purchase of commercial products or services.
- Research focus:
  - Category A: shale and tight oil and gas.
  - Category B: other low-permeability subsurface resources, including geothermal, minerals and metals, and coalbed methane.
  - Proposals should integrate stimulation and enhanced recovery with sensing, modeling, laboratory validation, and a committed field trial.
- Key performance goal: double per-well recovery efficiency while maintaining or reducing production cost and wastewater burden. A field-test site and site-operator involvement are required.
- Funding context: approximately $45 million is anticipated across this notice and related notice DE-FOA-0003630, with 9–12 awards anticipated in total. The federal share for an individual award under this notice may range from $323,090 to $4,630,944.
- **OEMs and vendors:** No commercial OEMs or vendors are identified; no specific products or part numbers are requested.

### Description

This funding opportunity supports SBIR/STTR applied research and development of technologies to improve energy and critical resource extraction from low-permeability subsurface formations. Relevant resources include oil and gas, geothermal energy, minerals and metals, and coalbed methane. The work targets more efficient stimulation and recovery, conductive flow pathways, and water management, addressing challenges such as fracture performance, sensing, geothermal circulation, and produced-water management. Applications must be submitted through DOE eXCHANGE; the listed response deadline is November 20, 2026.

[View original listing](https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/364135)