Energy Department identifies 26 Genesis Mission challenges
The Department of Energy has identified 26 specific challenges under the Genesis Mission initiative, which originated from a November executive order focused on AI advancement. DOE is actively seeking researchers and innovators to address these challenges through its national labs, industry partners
Cabrillo Club
Editorial Team · February 16, 2026

Also in this intelligence package
Action Kit: DOE Genesis Mission — 26 AI & Innovation Challenges
---
Immediate Actions (This Week)
- [ ] Review the 26 Genesis Mission challenges — Access DOE's official Genesis Mission website and the Genesis Mission Consortium portal to identify which challenges align with your firm's technical capabilities, past performance, and NAICS codes (especially 541715, 541712, 541511).
- [ ] Audit your current DOE registrations — Verify active registrations in SAM.gov, DOE OASIS, and relevant GWAC vehicles (OASIS+, CIO-SP4, NITAAC CIO-CS). Ensure NAICS codes 541715 (R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences) and 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services) are listed.
- [ ] Identify internal AI/ML subject matter experts — Catalog staff with clearances, DOE lab experience, or AI/ML credentials. Cross-reference against the 26 challenges to determine teaming gaps.
- [ ] Monitor SAM.gov for Genesis-related RFIs — Set up daily searches for keywords: "Genesis Mission," "AI innovation," "DOE national labs," "NNSA," and the specific challenge areas published by DOE.
- [ ] Assess compliance posture — Confirm current NIST 800-171 and CMMC readiness, especially if challenges involve controlled unclassified information (CUI) or require FedRAMP-authorized cloud environments.
---
Short-Term Actions (30 Days)
- [ ] Engage with the Genesis Mission Consortium — Register your firm as a consortium participant or industry partner. Attend kickoff webinars, industry days, and networking sessions to identify teaming opportunities with national labs (LANL, LLNL, SNL, ORNL, etc.).
- [ ] Develop capability statements tailored to Genesis challenges — Create 2-page capability briefs for the top 3–5 challenges that match your technical strengths. Emphasize past performance with DOE, NNSA, or other federal R&D agencies.
- [ ] Initiate teaming discussions — Reach out to prime contractors, small business partners, and academic institutions with complementary capabilities. Focus on firms already holding DOE OASIS, OASIS+, or 8(a) STARS III contracts.
- [ ] Conduct a gap analysis for compliance surfaces — If targeting challenges involving AI model security, export-controlled data, or advanced computing, validate your DOE Cyber Security Program compliance, EAR/ITAR controls, and FedRAMP authorization status.
- [ ] Prepare for rapid-response RFPs — DOE may issue short-turnaround solicitations tied to Genesis challenges. Pre-draft technical approach templates, assemble resumes, and prepare past performance narratives for AI, machine learning, and data science projects.
---
Long-Term Actions (90+ Days)
- [ ] Build strategic partnerships with DOE national labs — Establish Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Strategic Partnership Projects (SPPs), or Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) collaborations to position for Genesis-related contracts.
- [ ] Invest in AI/ML infrastructure and certifications — If not already in place, pursue FedRAMP authorization for cloud-based AI platforms, obtain CMMC Level 2 certification, and ensure compliance with NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) guidance.
- [ ] Track Genesis Mission funding cycles — Monitor DOE budget justifications, congressional appropriations, and NNSA program announcements to anticipate when Genesis challenges will transition from R&D to full-scale contract opportunities.
- [ ] Develop intellectual property and proprietary solutions — Invest in R&D to create differentiated AI/ML tools, algorithms, or platforms that address Genesis challenges. Protect IP through patents or trade secrets to strengthen competitive positioning.
- [ ] Expand NAICS and contract vehicle access — If your firm lacks coverage in key NAICS codes (541330, 541690, 541380, 541620), pursue SBA recertification or GWAC on-ramping to maximize eligibility for Genesis-related task orders.
---
Compliance Checklist
This event involves AI, R&D, and DOE-specific cybersecurity and export control requirements. Ensure compliance with:
- [ ] NIST 800-171 Rev 2 (or Rev 3 when finalized) — All 110 security controls for protecting CUI in non-federal systems. Required for DOE contracts involving sensitive research data.
- [ ] CMMC Level 2 — If Genesis challenges involve defense-related AI or NNSA collaboration, CMMC certification may be required for prime or subcontractor roles.
- [ ] FedRAMP Moderate (or High) — Cloud-based AI/ML platforms, data analytics tools, or advanced computing environments must be FedRAMP-authorized if processing federal data.
- [ ] DOE Cyber Security Program (DOE O 205.1B) — Compliance with DOE-specific cybersecurity orders, including incident reporting, vulnerability management, and supply chain risk management.
- [ ] Export Control Compliance (EAR/ITAR) — AI research involving dual-use technologies, advanced computing, or national security applications may trigger Export Administration Regulations (EAR) or International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) controls. Implement Technology Control Plans (TCPs) and ensure foreign national access restrictions are enforced.
- [ ] NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) — Voluntary framework for managing AI risks; increasingly referenced in DOE and federal AI solicitations. Demonstrate governance, transparency, and accountability in AI system design.
- [ ] FAR 52.204-21 (Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems) — Minimum cybersecurity baseline for all federal contractors. Ensure implementation of NIST SP 800-171 controls.
- [ ] FAR 52.204-25 (Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment) — Ensure no covered telecommunications equipment (Huawei, ZTE, etc.) is used in AI/ML infrastructure.
---
Resources
- DOE Genesis Mission Official Page — https://www.energy.gov/genesis-mission (https://www.energy.gov/genesis-mission) (check for updates and challenge details)
- Genesis Mission Consortium — https://www.genesismissionconsortium.org (https://www.genesismissionconsortium.org) (industry partnership portal)
- NIST 800-171 Rev 2 — https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-171/rev-2/final (https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-171/rev-2/final)
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework — https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework (https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework)
- DOE Cybersecurity Program (DOE O 205.1B) — https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/200-series/0205.1-BOrder-b (https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/200-series/0205.1-BOrder-b)
- FedRAMP Marketplace — https://marketplace.fedramp.gov (https://marketplace.fedramp.gov)
- CMMC Accreditation Body — https://www.cmmcab.org (https://www.cmmcab.org)
- SAM.gov Opportunity Search — https://sam.gov/content/opportunities (https://sam.gov/content/opportunities)
- DOE OASIS Contract Vehicle — https://www.energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/procurement-and-acquisition/oasis (https://www.energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/procurement-and-acquisition/oasis)
- OASIS+ (GSA) — https://www.gsa.gov/buy-through-us/products-and-services/professional-services/oasis-plus (https://www.gsa.gov/buy-through-us/products-and-services/professional-services/oasis-plus)
---
How Cabrillo Club Automates This
Cabrillo Signals War Room has already detected this Genesis Mission announcement and delivered this briefing within minutes of DOE's public release. The War Room continuously monitors DOE policy updates, NNSA announcements, executive orders, and federal AI initiatives, ensuring you're alerted to emerging opportunities before competitors even know they exist. You didn't have to manually track DOE websites, subscribe to dozens of agency newsletters, or parse through Federal Register notices — the War Room did it for you.
Cabrillo Signals Match Engine automatically rescored your entire opportunity pipeline the moment this event was ingested. If you have open opportunities tagged with NAICS 541715, 541712, or 541511, or if you're tracking DOE or NNSA contracts, those opportunities now reflect updated match scores based on the Genesis Mission's 26 challenges. The Match Engine recalibrates keyword relevance (AI, machine learning, R&D, innovation), agency alignment, and competitive positioning in real time, so your BD team knows which pursuits just became higher priority.
Cabrillo Signals Intelligence Hub lets you configure saved searches to track follow-on solicitations tied to this event. Set up alerts for SAM.gov postings that mention "Genesis Mission," "DOE AI challenges," or specific NAICS codes (541715, 541511, 541330). The Intelligence Hub also tracks affected contract vehicles (DOE OASIS, OASIS+, CIO-SP4) and surfaces historical awards to competitors, giving you visibility into who's already positioned to win Genesis-related task orders. When a new RFP drops, you'll know immediately — and you'll know who else is likely bidding.
Proposal Studio (Proposal OS) accelerates your response to Genesis-related solicitations by auto-generating compliance matrices, maintaining your win theme library, and producing first-draft technical approaches using your past performance database. If you've previously delivered AI/ML projects for DOE, NNSA, or other federal R&D agencies, Proposal OS pulls those narratives, resumes, and performance metrics into new proposals automatically. The bid/no-bid decision engine factors in this Genesis Mission event, scoring opportunities based on your compliance readiness (NIST 800-171, CMMC, FedRAMP), teaming relationships, and technical capability gaps.
Proposal Studio Workflow Tracker manages the entire capture lifecycle for Genesis-related pursuits, from initial opportunity identification through post-submission. When a Genesis challenge aligns with your capabilities, the Workflow Tracker automatically routes compliance reviews to your contracts and legal teams, tracks supplier certifications (e.g., FedRAMP, CMMC), and generates audit-ready documentation packages for DOE Cyber Security Program requirements. You'll never miss a gate review, compliance deadline, or teaming agreement milestone.
Ready to act on the Genesis Mission? Log in to your Cabrillo Club dashboard to explore saved searches for DOE AI opportunities, review updated match scores, and launch your first Genesis-related capture workflow. The platform is already working for you — now it's time to turn intelligence into wins.
---
How ready are you for CMMC?
Take our free readiness assessment. 10 questions, instant results, no email required until you want your report.
Check Your CMMC ReadinessCabrillo Club
Editorial Team
Cabrillo Club helps government contractors win more contracts with AI-powered proposal automation and compliance solutions.