Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000486
Apply for DE FOA 0000486
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Hydropower Development" 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 Apr 30, 2011 and posted on Apr 5, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 6, 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.
- The following domestic entities are eligible to apply for this announcement (1) institutions of higher education (2) nonprofit and for profit private entities (3) State and local governments and (4) consortia of entities (1) through (3). All types of domestic entities, including DOE/NNSA National Laboratory Contractors and non DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) Contractors, are eligible to apply, except other Federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995. Foreign entities are not allowed to be prime recipients, however they can be subrecipients. Please be advised that those entities that form teams with DOE National Laboratories in which the Laboratory is a Prime Recipient (i.e., lead participant) will be required to enter into subcontracts with the Laboratory. As such, the terms and conditions of the Management and Operating contract between the Laboratory and the Department of Energy will be in effect for any subcontracts, and not the traditional provisions associated with a financial assistance award. DOE National Laboratories acting as Prime Recipients must make all applicable terms and conditions available to their subcontractors prior to submission of their applications. Any entities considering such teaming arrangements should request the Laboratory to provide the applicable terms and conditions prior to the Prime Recipient submitting a response to this FOA.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Advanced Hydropower Development opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000486) is a competitive, discretionary grant program run through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), with administration tied to the Golden Field Office. The overall goal is to move advanced conventional hydropower technologies forward by supporting work that improves performance, lowers cost, and strengthens environmental outcomes. The program sits under DOE's Water Power Program mission, which focuses on researching, developing, testing, evaluating, and demonstrating innovative water power technologies that can deliver renewable electricity in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective way. In practical terms, this announcement is aimed at technology and process improvements that can increase unit and plant capacity, boost efficiency, and reduce environmental impacts associated with conventional hydropower generation.
This notice is specifically an amendment to an existing Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), meaning the core purpose and structure of the original solicitation remain in place, but several targeted parts were revised. The amendment updates language across multiple major sections of the FOA (Sections I through V), adjusts several merit review criteria used to score applications, raises the maximum award amount for one subtopic, and replaces a technical appendix related to cost calculations. DOE indicates that all changes are highlighted within the FOA, while everything not explicitly modified remains unchanged, which is important for applicants because it implies the rest of the requirements, submission instructions, and program intent should be treated as originally issued.
From a technical focus standpoint, DOE is seeking applications that involve development, testing, validation, modeling, and grid interconnection work for advanced conventional hydropower systems. The solicitation is organized into four Topic Areas. Topic Area 1 targets Sustainable Small Hydropower, which typically centers on making smaller-scale hydropower projects more viable through improved designs, lower costs, simplified deployment, and better environmental compatibility. Topic Area 2 is Sustainable Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH), supporting innovations that improve the sustainability, performance, and cost profile of pumped storage systems, which are widely used for grid-scale energy storage and balancing. Topic Area 3 covers Environmental Mitigation Technologies for Conventional Hydropower, emphasizing tools and approaches that reduce ecological impacts (for example, fish passage, water quality improvements, or operational changes that lessen harm). Topic Area 4 involves Advanced Conventional Hydropower System Testing at a Bureau of Reclamation facility, and it is jointly funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and DOE, signaling that selected work under this topic likely leverages federal hydropower testing infrastructure and facilities.
The amendment makes several notable procedural and evaluation-related changes. First, it modifies the merit review criteria for multiple subtopics, specifically Subtopics 1.1 and 1.2 under the small hydropower topic area, Subtopics 2.1 and 2.2 under pumped storage hydropower, and Subtopic 3.2 under environmental mitigation. These changes matter because they affect how proposals are scored and what reviewers will prioritize, potentially shifting emphasis toward certain technical outcomes, validation approaches, cost or performance metrics, readiness level, or deployment considerations (the exact revised language would be in the updated FOA text). Second, the amendment increases the funding ceiling for Subtopic 2.2 from $1,500,000 to $1,875,000, giving applicants in that specific area more room to propose larger-scope efforts or more complete demonstrations. Third, it deletes and replaces Appendix E, "Calculating the Levelized Cost of Energy," in full. Because LCOE is commonly used to compare generation costs and justify economic value, replacing this appendix suggests DOE wanted to correct, clarify, or standardize how applicants compute and present LCOE so proposals can be compared more consistently.
Key administrative details include a required cost share or matching component, meaning DOE expects awardees to contribute non-federal resources toward the total project cost under the program rules. The activity category is Energy, and the CFDA number listed is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). While the summary fields show $0 for estimated total funding and award floor/ceiling, those entries often reflect incomplete summary metadata rather than the true program budget; applicants would need to rely on the FOA document for the actual funding amounts by topic and subtopic, including the updated ceiling for Subtopic 2.2.
Eligibility is broad but limited to domestic entities as prime applicants. Eligible prime recipients include institutions of higher education, nonprofit and for-profit private entities, state and local governments, and consortia made up of those entities. DOE/NNSA National Laboratory contractors and non-DOE federally funded research and development center contractors can apply, but other federal agencies cannot serve as prime applicants, and certain 501(c)(4) organizations that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded. Foreign entities cannot be prime recipients, but they may participate as subrecipients, which allows specialized international capabilities to contribute while keeping award accountability domestic. There is also a specific contracting warning for teams where a DOE National Laboratory is the prime recipient: subawards would be governed by the laboratory's management and operating contract terms rather than typical federal financial assistance terms, and prospective partners are advised to obtain those terms before submitting.
The timeline for this opportunity sets a Letter of Intent due date of May 5, 2011, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, followed by a full application due date of June 6, 2011, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The FOA was posted April 5, 2011, with a creation date listed as April 30, 2011, and the closing date remained June 6, 2011. For access to the full announcement, DOE points applicants to FedConnect, and the listed contact for assistance is Andrew J. Rittgers (andrew.rittgers@go.doe.gov), particularly for applicants who have trouble retrieving the full FOA electronically.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Advanced Hydropower Development (DE-FOA-0000486)
What is the Advanced Hydropower Development funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000486)?
This is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), administered in connection with the Golden Field Office. Its purpose is to advance conventional hydropower technologies by improving performance, reducing cost, and strengthening environmental outcomes.
What is DOE trying to achieve with this program?
The goal is to move advanced conventional hydropower technologies forward by supporting work that improves unit and plant capacity, boosts efficiency, lowers costs, and reduces environmental impacts associated with conventional hydropower generation. It aligns with DOE's Water Power Program mission to develop and demonstrate innovative water power technologies that provide renewable electricity in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective way.
Is this a new solicitation or an update to an existing FOA?
This notice is an amendment to an existing Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The core purpose and structure of the original solicitation remain in place, but specific sections were revised.
Which parts of the FOA were changed by the amendment?
The amendment updates language across major FOA sections (Sections I through V), adjusts several merit review criteria for certain subtopics, raises the maximum award amount for one subtopic, and deletes and replaces a technical appendix related to cost calculations (Appendix E on Levelized Cost of Energy).
If something was not changed in the amendment, do the original requirements still apply?
Yes. DOE indicates that changes are highlighted within the FOA, and everything not explicitly modified remains unchanged. Applicants should treat the unchanged requirements, submission instructions, and program intent as they were in the original FOA.
What types of work is DOE seeking to fund under this opportunity?
DOE is seeking applications involving development, testing, validation, modeling, and grid interconnection work for advanced conventional hydropower systems, with emphasis on technology and process improvements that increase capacity and efficiency while reducing environmental impacts.
How is the solicitation organized?
The FOA is organized into four Topic Areas: (1) Sustainable Small Hydropower, (2) Sustainable Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH), (3) Environmental Mitigation Technologies for Conventional Hydropower, and (4) Advanced Conventional Hydropower System Testing at a Bureau of Reclamation facility.
What is Topic Area 1 (Sustainable Small Hydropower) focused on?
Topic Area 1 generally targets improvements that make smaller-scale hydropower more viable, such as improved designs, lower costs, simplified deployment, and better environmental compatibility.
What is Topic Area 2 (Sustainable Pumped Storage Hydropower) focused on?
Topic Area 2 supports innovations that improve the sustainability, performance, and cost profile of pumped storage hydropower systems, which are commonly used for grid-scale energy storage and balancing.
What is Topic Area 3 (Environmental Mitigation Technologies) focused on?
Topic Area 3 emphasizes tools and approaches that reduce ecological impacts of conventional hydropower, such as fish passage solutions, water quality improvements, or operational changes intended to reduce harm.
What is Topic Area 4 and who funds it?
Topic Area 4 involves advanced conventional hydropower system testing at a Bureau of Reclamation facility. It is jointly funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and DOE, indicating selected work may leverage federal testing infrastructure and facilities.
Which subtopics had their merit review criteria changed?
The amendment modifies merit review criteria for Subtopics 1.1 and 1.2 (under Sustainable Small Hydropower), Subtopics 2.1 and 2.2 (under Sustainable Pumped Storage Hydropower), and Subtopic 3.2 (under Environmental Mitigation).
Why do changes to merit review criteria matter for applicants?
Merit review criteria determine how proposals are scored and what reviewers prioritize. If criteria change, it can shift emphasis toward certain technical outcomes, validation approaches, cost or performance metrics, technology readiness, or deployment considerations. The exact revised wording would be found in the updated FOA text.
Did the amendment change the maximum award amount for any area?
Yes. The amendment increases the funding ceiling for Subtopic 2.2 from $1,500,000 to $1,875,000.
What is Appendix E and what happened to it?
Appendix E is titled "Calculating the Levelized Cost of Energy." The amendment deletes and replaces Appendix E in full, suggesting DOE wanted to correct, clarify, or standardize how applicants compute and present LCOE so proposals can be compared more consistently.
Is cost share required?
Yes. The opportunity includes a required cost share (matching) component, meaning awardees are expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the total project cost under the program rules.
What is the activity category and CFDA number for this program?
The activity category is Energy. The CFDA number listed is 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development.
The summary shows $0 for estimated total funding and award amounts. Does that mean there is no funding?
Not necessarily. The $0 entries can reflect incomplete summary metadata rather than the true budget. Applicants are expected to rely on the FOA document for actual funding amounts by topic and subtopic, including the updated ceiling for Subtopic 2.2.
Who is eligible to apply as a prime recipient?
Eligibility is limited to domestic entities as prime applicants. Eligible prime recipients include institutions of higher education, nonprofit and for-profit private entities, state and local governments, and consortia made up of those entities.
Can national laboratories apply?
DOE/NNSA National Laboratory contractors and non-DOE federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) contractors can apply under this opportunity.
Can federal agencies apply as prime recipients?
No. Other federal agencies cannot serve as prime applicants under this opportunity.
Are any organizations specifically excluded from eligibility?
Yes. Certain 501(c)(4) organizations that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded.
Can foreign entities apply?
Foreign entities cannot be prime recipients, but they may participate as subrecipients. This allows international expertise to contribute while keeping prime award accountability domestic.
Is there a special warning about teaming with a DOE National Laboratory as the prime recipient?
Yes. If a DOE National Laboratory is the prime recipient, subawards would be governed by the laboratory's management and operating contract terms rather than typical federal financial assistance terms. Prospective partners are advised to obtain those terms before submitting.
What are the key dates (Letter of Intent and application deadlines)?
The Letter of Intent is due May 5, 2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The full application is due June 6, 2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
When was the FOA posted and when does it close?
The FOA was posted April 5, 2011. A creation date is listed as April 30, 2011. The closing date remained June 6, 2011.
Where do applicants access the full announcement?
DOE directs applicants to access the full announcement through FedConnect.
Who should applicants contact if they cannot retrieve the FOA electronically?
Applicants who have trouble retrieving the full FOA electronically are directed to contact Andrew J. Rittgers at andrew.rittgers@go.doe.gov.
Which DOE office is running this opportunity?
The opportunity is run through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), with administration tied to the Golden Field Office.
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