diff --git a/nmdc_automation/workflow_automation/wfutils.py b/nmdc_automation/workflow_automation/wfutils.py
index c9da153c..667acbc1 100755
--- a/nmdc_automation/workflow_automation/wfutils.py
+++ b/nmdc_automation/workflow_automation/wfutils.py
@@ -537,7 +537,8 @@ def make_data_objects(self, output_dir: Union[str, Path] = None) -> List[DataObj
             data_object = DataObject(
                 id=output_spec["id"], name=output_file_path.name, type="nmdc:DataObject", url=file_url,
                 data_object_type=output_spec["data_object_type"], md5_checksum=md5_sum,
-                description=output_spec["description"], was_generated_by=self.workflow_execution_id, )
+                description=output_spec["description"].replace('{id}', self.workflow_execution_id),
+                was_generated_by=self.workflow_execution_id, )
 
             data_objects.append(data_object)
         return data_objects