Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000979
Apply for DE FOA 0000979
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Administration of the Wave Energy Converter Prize" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087 Renewable Energy Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 10, 2014 and posted on Mar 10, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 14, 2014. (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 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000979), issued by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Golden Field Office under the Water Power Program, seeks an organization to serve as the Prize Administrator for the Wave Energy Converter (WEC) Prize. The central purpose is not to fund a single wave energy device developer directly, but to fund the team that will design, run, and publicize a prize-style competition intended to accelerate breakthroughs in wave energy conversion. The WEC Prize is structured to pull in both newcomers with fresh concepts and established developers with next-generation ideas, using a monetary prize purse plus access to wave tank testing as the main incentives. DOE is positioning the prize as a way to drive game-changing improvements in WEC performance and, ultimately, to create a credible pathway toward major cost reductions when devices are scaled up for commercial deployment.
The selected Prize Administrator is expected to bring real expertise in operating prize competitions and to work closely with DOE, technical subject-matter experts, and an identified wave tank testing facility. The work covers the full lifecycle of the prize effort: development of the prize itself (rules, eligibility, judging criteria, competition structure, timelines, and coordination among partners), implementation and management of the competition stages, and wrap-up activities after winners are selected. The competition is described as having staged phases that mirror a typical technology maturation funnel, such as design, build, and then testing and evaluation of scaled prototypes in a controlled tank environment. Beyond running the contest, the administrator is also responsible for post-competition outreach and publicity, along with evaluating and documenting the impact of the prize (for example, what kinds of innovations were generated, how participants performed, and what the prize changed in the broader wave energy ecosystem).
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement as the funding instrument, which generally implies substantial DOE involvement during execution rather than a hands-off grant. It falls under the Energy funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). The listing indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is shown as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to different kinds of entities, with the caveat that any specific nuances would be defined in the full text of the FOA.
All submissions are handled through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE portal. Applicants must register and create an account in EERE eXCHANGE to submit required materials, including concept papers and full applications, and the portal also hosts a user guide after login. The FOA emphasizes that the full announcement, detailed instructions, and the official channels for questions (both technical content questions and submission/process questions) are provided within the complete FOA posted on EERE eXCHANGE. For access issues with the announcement itself, the contact email provided is WECFOA979@go.doe.gov.
Key dates in the notice show the opportunity was posted on March 10, 2014, with an application closing date of May 14, 2014, and an archive date of August 14, 2014. The public summary fields list estimated total funding and award ceiling/floor as 0, which typically means those values were not populated in the summary record and applicants would need to rely on the full FOA for the actual award amount, prize purse details, and any budget parameters tied to administering the competition.
FAQs: DOE Wave Energy Converter (WEC) Prize Administrator (DE-FOA-0000979)
What is Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000979?
DE-FOA-0000979 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity issued through the Golden Field Office under the Water Power Program to select an organization to serve as the Prize Administrator for the Wave Energy Converter (WEC) Prize.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The purpose is to fund the team that will design, run, and publicize a prize-style competition (the WEC Prize) intended to accelerate breakthroughs in wave energy conversion, rather than directly funding a single wave energy device developer.
Is DOE funding a wave energy device developer through this opportunity?
No. The focus is on selecting and funding a Prize Administrator to operate a competition that incentivizes wave energy device innovation through prizes and testing access.
What is the WEC Prize designed to achieve?
The WEC Prize is positioned by DOE as a mechanism to drive game-changing improvements in WEC performance and to help create a credible pathway toward major cost reductions when wave energy devices are scaled up for commercial deployment.
Who is supposed to apply for this opportunity?
Organizations capable of acting as a Prize Administrator should apply. The expected administrator should have expertise in operating prize competitions and be able to coordinate with DOE, technical experts, and a wave tank testing facility.
What does "Prize Administrator" mean in this context?
The Prize Administrator is the organization responsible for developing the competition framework (rules, eligibility, judging criteria, structure, timelines, and coordination) and for implementing, managing, and closing out the staged prize competition.
What are the major responsibilities of the selected Prize Administrator?
Responsibilities span the full lifecycle of the prize effort, including: prize development (rules and structure), competition implementation and stage management, coordination with partners (including a wave tank facility), post-competition outreach/publicity, and evaluation/documentation of the prize's impact.
What types of competition phases are described for the WEC Prize?
The competition is described as staged phases that mirror a technology maturation funnel, such as design, build, and then testing and evaluation of scaled prototypes in a controlled wave tank environment.
What incentives are used to attract participants to the WEC Prize?
The WEC Prize uses a monetary prize purse plus access to wave tank testing as the main incentives, intended to draw both newcomers with fresh concepts and established developers with next-generation ideas.
What role does a wave tank testing facility play?
The competition includes testing and evaluation of scaled prototypes in a controlled tank environment, and the Prize Administrator is expected to coordinate with an identified wave tank testing facility as part of running the prize.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which generally indicates substantial DOE involvement during execution rather than a fully hands-off grant.
What does DOE involvement typically imply under a Cooperative Agreement?
Based on the description provided, a Cooperative Agreement generally implies DOE will have substantial involvement during the execution of the project, as opposed to minimal involvement typical of some other award types.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the Energy funding activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development.
Is cost sharing or a match required?
No. The listing indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is shown as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to different kinds of entities. Any specific nuances would be defined in the full text of the FOA.
Where do applicants submit concept papers and full applications?
All submissions are handled through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE portal. Applicants must register and create an account to submit required materials, including concept papers and full applications.
Is there guidance available for using EERE eXCHANGE?
Yes. The portal hosts a user guide after login, according to the notice.
Where are the official instructions and question channels provided?
The FOA emphasizes that the full announcement on EERE eXCHANGE contains detailed instructions and the official channels for questions, including both technical content questions and submission/process questions.
What email is provided for access issues with the announcement?
For access issues with the announcement itself, the contact email provided is WECFOA979@go.doe.gov.
When was this opportunity posted?
The notice indicates the opportunity was posted on March 10, 2014.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date shown in the notice is May 14, 2014.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date shown is August 14, 2014.
How much funding is available and what are the award floor/ceiling amounts?
The public summary fields list estimated total funding and award ceiling/floor as 0, which typically indicates those values were not populated in the summary record. Applicants are expected to rely on the full FOA for the actual award amount, prize purse details, and any budget parameters tied to administering the competition.
Does the public summary provide the prize purse amount?
No. The notice indicates the summary record does not populate those values and directs applicants to the full FOA for prize purse details and related budget parameters.
What kinds of outcomes is the Prize Administrator expected to document?
The administrator is responsible for evaluating and documenting the impact of the prize, such as what kinds of innovations were generated, how participants performed, and what the prize changed in the broader wave energy ecosystem.
Is outreach and publicity part of the work?
Yes. Beyond running the competition, the administrator is responsible for post-competition outreach and publicity.
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