Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001398
Apply for DE FOA 0001398
- The Golden Field Office in the energy other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2017 Solar Decathlon College Team Competition" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.117 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 26, 2015 and posted on Aug 26, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 29, 2015 Letters of Intent due 9/17/2015.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2017 Solar Decathlon College Team Competition (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001398) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) competition announcement aimed at strengthening STEM education and building a skilled, energy-focused workforce. Run through EERE's Technology to Market Team within the Office of Strategic Programs, the opportunity is positioned as both an education and outreach effort and a public-facing demonstration of EERE-supported technologies. The Solar Decathlon is a long-running, high-profile DOE program that challenges university students to translate advanced energy concepts into real, working residential buildings, while also helping the public better understand energy efficiency and clean energy adoption.
At its core, the competition is about selecting up to 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered, high-efficiency houses within a roughly two-year period. Teams are expected to deliver homes that are safe, functional, cost-effective, energy efficient, and visually appealing, showing that good design and strong aesthetics can go hand-in-hand with net energy performance. The competition emphasizes a balanced outcome: the top-performing teams will be those that best combine affordability and consumer appeal with design excellence, strong energy production (including solar), and maximum efficiency. The resulting houses serve as tangible examples of how a single-family home can generate enough thermal and electrical energy to meet household needs.
Unlike a traditional grant, this announcement does not provide financial assistance or direct funding to teams to support design or construction. Instead, DOE planned to offer prize-based incentives for the first time in a Solar Decathlon cycle, with up to $2,000,000 in total prize money available for the 2017 event. Prize awards are tied to participation and performance in the competition, and they are intended for the same lead entities (the 20 selected teams or organizations) that submit applications and are chosen to compete, provided they bring an eligible house to the Solar Decathlon event as required.
Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education, including public and state-controlled universities as well as private universities. While the competition is open to teams from the United States and internationally, the program is largely oriented toward design solutions relevant to the United States residential context. Historically, the Solar Decathlon also draws significant public attention, with tens of thousands of visitors (often cited in the 65,000 to 100,000 range) touring the houses and engaging directly with student teams and the technologies showcased, reinforcing the program's outreach and education mission.
Applications for this opportunity had to be submitted through the EERE Exchange website (not Grants.gov), and applicants were encouraged to register in EERE Exchange to receive official updates. Key dates included a required letter of intent due September 17, 2015, and an application deadline of October 29, 2015 (with the opportunity later archived on January 29, 2016). The listing categorizes the activity as Energy with an emphasis on Education and Outreach, and it is associated with CFDA 81.117 (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance). For applicants needing help accessing the announcement, the posted contact was a DOE Grants Management Specialist reachable via 2017SolarDecathlonCompetition@ee.doe.gov, and entities interested in the separate Solar Decathlon Program Administrator opportunity were directed to a different FOA (DE-FOA-0001371) in EERE Exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the 2017 Solar Decathlon College Team Competition (DE-FOA-0001398)?
The 2017 Solar Decathlon College Team Competition is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) competition announcement designed to strengthen STEM education and help build a skilled, energy-focused workforce. It is also an education and outreach effort that publicly demonstrates EERE-supported technologies through real, working residential buildings designed and built by university teams.
Who is running this opportunity within DOE?
The opportunity is run through EERE's Technology to Market Team within the Office of Strategic Programs.
Is this a traditional grant that provides upfront funding to teams?
No. This announcement does not provide financial assistance or direct funding to teams for design or construction. Instead, DOE planned to offer prize-based incentives tied to participation and performance in the competition.
How much prize money is available?
DOE planned to make up to $2,000,000 in total prize money available for the 2017 event.
How many teams can be selected to compete?
DOE aimed to select up to 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered, high-efficiency houses.
What is the main challenge for selected teams?
Selected teams are challenged to translate advanced energy concepts into real, working residential buildings by designing, building, and operating solar-powered, high-efficiency houses over a roughly two-year period.
What qualities are teams expected to demonstrate in their houses?
Teams are expected to deliver homes that are safe, functional, cost-effective, energy efficient, and visually appealing. The competition highlights that strong design and aesthetics can go hand-in-hand with net energy performance.
What does the competition emphasize when determining top-performing teams?
The competition emphasizes balanced outcomes. Top-performing teams are expected to best combine affordability and consumer appeal with design excellence, strong energy production (including solar), and maximum efficiency.
What do the resulting houses demonstrate to the public?
The houses serve as tangible examples of how a single-family home can generate enough thermal and electrical energy to meet household needs, helping the public better understand energy efficiency and clean energy adoption.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education, including public and state-controlled universities as well as private universities.
Are international teams allowed to participate?
Yes. The competition is open to teams from the United States and internationally, although it is largely oriented toward design solutions relevant to the United States residential context.
Who receives prize awards if a team wins?
Prize awards are intended for the same lead entities that submit applications and are selected to compete (up to the 20 selected teams or organizations), provided they bring an eligible house to the Solar Decathlon event as required.
Are prize awards guaranteed for participating teams?
The announcement describes prize awards as tied to participation and performance in the competition, and it notes that awards are intended for selected teams that meet requirements such as bringing an eligible house to the event.
Where were applications submitted?
Applications had to be submitted through the EERE Exchange website, not Grants.gov.
Why would an applicant register in EERE Exchange?
Applicants were encouraged to register in EERE Exchange to receive official updates related to the opportunity.
Was a letter of intent required, and when was it due?
Yes. A required letter of intent was due September 17, 2015.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was October 29, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was later archived on January 29, 2016.
How is this opportunity categorized?
The listing categorizes the activity as Energy with an emphasis on Education and Outreach.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA 81.117 (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance).
How much public engagement does the Solar Decathlon typically attract?
Historically, the Solar Decathlon draws significant public attention, with tens of thousands of visitors often cited in the 65,000 to 100,000 range touring the houses and engaging directly with student teams and the showcased technologies.
Who should applicants contact for help accessing the announcement?
The posted contact for help accessing the announcement was a DOE Grants Management Specialist reachable at 2017SolarDecathlonCompetition@ee.doe.gov.
Is this the same opportunity as the Solar Decathlon Program Administrator announcement?
No. Entities interested in the separate Solar Decathlon Program Administrator opportunity were directed to a different FOA, DE-FOA-0001371, in EERE Exchange.
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