Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000570
Apply for DE FOA 0000570
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Administration of a National Clean Energy Business Creation Competition for University Students" 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 Jul 26, 2011 and posted on Jul 26, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 22, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000570) comes from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and it focuses on building and running a nationwide pipeline of clean energy student entrepreneurship competitions. The goal is to fund organizations that can administer annual, region-based business creation competitions for university student entrepreneurs whose ideas align with EERE's mission and technology portfolio. In practical terms, DOE wants strong regional programs that help students turn clean energy concepts into viable business models, while advancing U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic competitiveness through energy efficiency and the deployment of clean, reliable, affordable energy technologies.
DOE planned to support up to six separate regional competitions across the United States, generally aiming for one competition per region. Each selected applicant would run its regional competition once per year for three years, meaning each award is expected to last about 36 months. A key feature is that these are not set-and-forget awards: after the first year, DOE will conduct a formal go/no-go review based on objective performance measures to decide whether the program is effective enough to continue receiving support. Across all three years, the top teams emerging from the DOE-funded regional competitions would then advance to a National Grand Prize competition that DOE itself would administer, linking local student entrepreneurship ecosystems to a high-visibility national finale.
A major emphasis of the FOA is meaningful university student involvement, not just as contestants but also in shaping and running the program. DOE expects a significant role for students in the creation, administration, and judging of the regional competitions. Applicants that are not universities are still eligible, but they are expected to present a clear and credible plan for integrating university students into the competition operations and decision-making, rather than treating student participation as an afterthought. This reflects the broader intent: building student-led clean energy innovation communities and giving students hands-on experience with commercialization, pitching, market validation, and venture formation.
Applicants are required to define the geographic region their competition will serve. DOE provided a suggested framework of six broad U.S. regions, but it made clear those boundaries are only guidelines. Applicants can propose different regional definitions if they can justify why their approach will produce a stronger, higher-impact program. At the same time, DOE signaled that it is unlikely to fund multiple competitions with major geographic overlap, since the intent is to create up to six cohesive and independent regional programs. DOE also indicated it would coordinate with awardees after selection to fine-tune overall geographic distribution and avoid duplication.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was issued by DOE's Golden Field Office, and the funding instrument type is listed as a cooperative agreement or grant under CFDA 81.117 (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many entity types unless limited by specific eligibility details in the full announcement. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The legal authority cited is 42 U.S.C. section 16396(a), which allows DOE to run prize-based programs that recognize breakthrough achievements with potential to advance DOE's mission, including commercialization impacts.
Key dates in the posting show it was posted on July 26, 2011, with an application deadline of August 22, 2011. Additional details and submission mechanics were made available through FedConnect, and the listed point of contact for access issues was Chris R. Kudola (chris.kudola@go.doe.gov). Notably, the summary data fields for award ceiling, award floor, and estimated total funding are shown as 0 in the provided extract, which usually indicates the funding amounts were either unspecified in that summary record or were defined elsewhere in the full FOA text rather than in the listing metadata.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity number and who is issuing it?
The opportunity is DE-FOA-0000570. It is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), through DOE's Golden Field Office.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to build and run a nationwide pipeline of clean energy student entrepreneurship competitions. DOE is seeking organizations that can administer annual, region-based business creation competitions for university student entrepreneurs whose ideas align with EERE's mission and technology portfolio.
What kinds of competitions are being funded?
The FOA focuses on annual, regional business creation competitions intended to help university student entrepreneurs develop clean energy concepts into viable business models. The regional competitions feed into a National Grand Prize competition administered by DOE.
How many regional competitions does DOE plan to support?
DOE planned to support up to six separate regional competitions across the United States, generally aiming for one competition per region.
How long is each award expected to last?
Each selected applicant would run its regional competition once per year for three years. Each award is expected to last about 36 months.
Is continued funding automatic for all three years?
No. After the first year, DOE will conduct a formal go/no-go review based on objective performance measures to decide whether the program should continue receiving support.
What happens to the top teams from the regional competitions?
The top teams emerging from the DOE-funded regional competitions advance to a National Grand Prize competition that DOE administers.
What role do university students need to play beyond competing?
DOE expects meaningful university student involvement not only as contestants, but also in shaping and running the program. The FOA states DOE expects a significant role for students in the creation, administration, and judging of the regional competitions.
Can an organization that is not a university apply?
Yes. Applicants that are not universities are still eligible, but they are expected to provide a clear and credible plan for integrating university students into competition operations and decision-making.
How should applicants define the geographic region for their competition?
Applicants are required to define the geographic region their competition will serve. DOE provided a suggested framework of six broad U.S. regions as guidelines, but applicants may propose different regional definitions if they can justify why their approach will produce a stronger, higher-impact program.
Will DOE fund multiple competitions that cover the same geography?
DOE signaled it is unlikely to fund multiple competitions with major geographic overlap, since the intent is to create up to six cohesive and independent regional programs. DOE also indicated it would coordinate with awardees after selection to fine-tune geographic distribution and avoid duplication.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is listed as a cooperative agreement or grant.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 81.117, titled "Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance."
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many entity types unless limited by specific eligibility details in the full announcement.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What legal authority is cited for this program?
The legal authority cited is 42 U.S.C. section 16396(a), which allows DOE to run prize-based programs that recognize breakthrough achievements with potential to advance DOE's mission, including commercialization impacts.
When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The posting date is July 26, 2011. The application deadline is August 22, 2011.
Where were submission mechanics and additional details provided?
Additional details and submission mechanics were made available through FedConnect.
Who is the point of contact for access issues?
The listed point of contact for access issues is Chris R. Kudola at chris.kudola@go.doe.gov.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
In the provided extract, the summary data fields for award ceiling, award floor, and estimated total funding are shown as 0. This typically indicates the amounts were unspecified in the listing metadata or were defined elsewhere in the full FOA text rather than in the summary record.
What is DOE trying to achieve through these competitions?
DOE's intent is to strengthen regional programs that help students translate clean energy concepts into viable businesses, supporting U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic competitiveness through energy efficiency and the deployment of clean, reliable, affordable energy technologies.
Does DOE run the National Grand Prize competition?
Yes. The FOA describes the National Grand Prize competition as being administered by DOE, with regional winners advancing to that national-level finale.
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