[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 155 (Monday, August 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45715-45717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17520]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Request for Information: Access to Quantum Systems

AGENCY: Office of Science, Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Request for information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: Congress has requested DOE to develop a roadmap to provide 
researchers access to quantum systems so as to enhance the U.S. quantum 
research enterprise, stimulate the fledgling U.S. quantum computing 
industry, educate the future quantum computing workforce, and 
accelerate advancement of quantum computer capabilities. In 
collaboration with private sector stakeholders, the research facility 
user community, and interagency partners, the Department of Energy 
(DOE), through the Office of Science, intends to develop such a 
roadmap. DOE invites interested parties to provide input on the quantum 
systems that DOE should include in the roadmap; how the current access 
models can meet the needs of quantum researchers; and the appropriate 
timeline and sequencing for components of the roadmap.

DATES: Written comments and information are requested on or before 
September 30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: DOE is using the https://www.regulations.gov system for the 
submission and posting of public comments in this proceeding. All 
comments in response to this RFI are therefore to be submitted 
electronically through https://www.regulations.gov, via the web form 
accessed by following the ``Submit a Formal Comment'' link near the top 
right of the Federal Register web page for this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
may be submitted to [email protected] or Dr. 
Ceren Susut, (301) 903-0366.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Quantum information science (QIS) is a potentially transformative 
emerging field, with resulting quantum technologies having significant 
implications for scientific discovery as well as for our Nation's 
economic prosperity and security.\1\ Widespread access to a variety of 
quantum systems for research, development, testing, and evaluation is 
critical to continued rapid progress and competitiveness in this field 
and to accelerate QIS research and development. Congress, in the Joint 
Explanatory Statement accompanying the Energy and Water Development and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2021, requested DOE to ``develop 
a roadmap to provide researchers access to quantum systems so as to 
enhance the U.S. quantum research enterprise, stimulate the fledgling 
U.S. quantum computing industry, educate the future quantum computing 
workforce, and accelerate advancement of quantum computer 
capabilities.'' \2\
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    \1\ See https://www.quantum.gov/.
    \2\ https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20201221/BILLS-116RCP68-JES-DIVISION-D.pdf.
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    Types of quantum systems under consideration: DOE may consider 
access models for research and development

[[Page 45716]]

(R&D) on a wide range of quantum systems. For simplicity, these systems 
are broadly categorized here, but many real facilities or capabilities 
will bridge across these flexible groups. The scope of quantum systems 
to be addressed in response to this RFI includes, but is not limited 
to:
    (1) Systems for synthesis, characterization, and fabrication--
including foundries and testbeds.
    (2) Sensors and measurement systems--including light-matter 
sensors, atomic sensors, magnetometers, clocks, detectors, and imaging 
systems.
    (3) Networking and communication systems--including interconnects, 
transducers, repeaters, switches, routers, entangled nodes, encrypted 
systems, and network testbeds.
    (4) Computers, processors, annealers, and analog simulators--
including noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) and beyond-NISQ 
computers, emulators, conventional computing systems, hybrid systems, 
and computing testbeds.
    Existing access models and approaches, and DOE resources and 
programs that support R&D activities on quantum systems: DOE utilizes a 
range of approaches for access to R&D systems and facilities that it 
supports, depending on the nature of the capability, the scope of the 
desired interaction, the extent and composition of the community that 
is interested in access, and other factors.\3\ (Other federal agencies 
may employ similar and/or additional models.) Direct collaboration with 
DOE-supported researchers (including but not exclusively at DOE 
National Laboratories), which may involve indirect or direct usage of 
their systems and instruments, is one frequent method, and may not 
require specific agreements or obligations other than those applying 
generally to laboratory requirements. For instance, the Microsystems 
Engineering, Science, and Applications (MESA) facility \4\ at Sandia 
National Laboratories offers advanced fabrication capabilities relevant 
to QIS, and Los Alamos National Laboratory provides a variety of 
quantum computing technologies to scientists and engineers.\5\
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    \3\ https://www.labpartnering.org/partnering.
    \4\ https://www.sandia.gov/mesa/.
    \5\ https://www.lanl.gov.
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    Technology transfer and collaboration mechanisms include 
Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) that formalize 
joint R&D efforts between federal laboratories and external-to-
government partners; Strategic Partnership Projects (SPPs), in which 
work is done for businesses and other non-federal entities using 
specialized or unique facilities and/or expertise; as well as 
Agreements for Commercializing Technology (ACTs) and Technology 
Licensing Agreements, among others. Another approach used primarily for 
major facilities that host substantial numbers of external researchers 
is the user facility model, in which access is typically provided 
competitively via merit- and feasibility-based review.\6\ Current and 
next-generation systems at DOE user facilities that enable breakthrough 
scientific discoveries in QIS include but are not limited to Nanoscale 
Science Research Centers,\7\ High-Performance Computing and Networking 
Facilities,\8\ X-Ray Light Sources,\9\ and Neutron Scattering 
Facilities.\10\ Other programs, such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory's 
Quantum Computing User Program,\11\ facilitate access to commercial 
quantum computing resources via merit-based review and user agreements. 
Additionally, DOE supports the development of quantum computing and 
quantum network testbeds for science. For instance, DOE quantum 
computing testbeds provide the research community with fully 
transparent access to novel quantum computing hardware.\12\
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    \6\ https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities.
    \7\ https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities/User-Facilities-at-a-Glance/BES/Nanoscale-Science-Research-Centers.
    \8\ https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities/User-Facilities-at-a-Glance/ASCR.
    \9\ https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities/User-Facilities-at-a-Glance/BES/X-Ray-Light-Sources.
    \10\ https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities/User-Facilities-at-a-Glance/BES/Neutron-Scattering-Facilities.
    \11\ https://www.olcf.ornl.gov/olcf-resources/compute-systems/quantum-computing-user-program/.
    \12\ https://qscout.sandia.gov and https://aqt.lbl.gov.
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II. Questions

    Input is requested on information the Department should consider as 
it develops a roadmap to provide researchers access to quantum systems 
to enhance the U.S. quantum research enterprise, stimulate the 
fledgling U.S. quantum computing industry, educate the future quantum 
computing workforce, and accelerate advancement of quantum computer 
capabilities. Any information that may be business proprietary and 
exempt by law from public disclosure should be submitted as described 
in Section III. Please provide data, analysis, and/or other 
justification for all responses to this RFI, where applicable. DOE is 
interested in receiving input on the following questions:
    (i) What role, if any, should Federal agencies play in mediating, 
facilitating, or coordinating access to non-Federal quantum systems?
    (ii) What special considerations, if any, should be taken into 
account in accommodating the scientific communities served by these 
quantum systems?
    (iii) What quantum systems should be included in this roadmap?
    (iv) What mechanisms should be considered to assure access to 
quantum systems to the broadest possible user base including under-
represented institutions and populations?
    (v) What are the needs for user support to make effective use of 
access to quantum systems?
    (vi) What should be the metrics for success in an access model?
    (vii) How should software access be provided in conjunction with 
hardware access?
    (viii) For competitive proposals requesting access to quantum 
systems, what should be the criteria in the merit review process?
    (ix) What factors should be considered in adding, expanding, or 
reducing access to specific quantum systems as the field evolves or 
matures?
    (x) With respect to access to various types of quantum systems, how 
do near-term and longer-term priorities differ?
    (xi) What standard intellectual property (IP) provisions are needed 
to facilitate broad access to quantum systems for the public benefit?
    (xii) Are there other factors, issues, or opportunities, not 
addressed by the questions above, which should be considered in the 
development of such a roadmap?
    Comments containing references, studies, research, and other 
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of 
the referenced materials. Note that comments will be made publicly 
available as submitted. Any information that may be confidential and 
exempt by law from public disclosure should be submitted as described 
below.

III. Request for Information

    The Department seeks input from stakeholders to assist DOE in 
developing a roadmap for access to quantum systems, including the 
nature of quantum systems that should be considered; how the current 
access models can meet the needs of quantum researchers; and the 
appropriate timeline and sequencing for components of this roadmap. The 
input received will be considered by DOE in its development of the 
roadmap and for QIS program planning and

[[Page 45717]]

development. Please be aware that this RFI is not a Funding Opportunity 
Announcement, a Request for Proposal, or other form of solicitation, or 
bid for DOE to fund potential research, development, planning, centers, 
or other activity.
    Confidential Business Information: Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 
person submitting information he or she believes to be confidential and 
exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via email: One copy 
of the document marked ``confidential'' including all the information 
believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document marked ``non-
confidential'' with the information believed to be confidential 
deleted. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential 
status of the information and treat it according to its determination. 
Factors of interest to DOE when evaluating requests to treat submitted 
information as confidential include: (1) A description of the items, 
(2) whether and why such items are customarily treated as confidential 
within the industry, (3) whether the information is generally known by 
or available from other sources, (4) whether the information has 
previously been made available to others without obligation concerning 
confidentiality, (5) an explanation of the competitive injury to the 
submitting person which would result from public disclosure, (6) when 
such information might lose its confidential character due to the 
passage of time, and (7) why disclosure of the information would be 
contrary to the public interest.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on August 11, 
2021, by Harriet Kung, Deputy Director for Science Programs, Office of 
Science, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. 
That document with the original signature and date is maintained by 
DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with 
requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE 
Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit 
the document in electronic format for publication, as an official 
document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no 
way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the 
Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on August 11, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-17520 Filed 8-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P