Opportunity Information: Apply for ECPA 2012 1
Apply for ECPA 2012 1
- The U.S. Mission to Costa Rica in the energy environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "ECPA Regional Energy Competition" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.700 General Department of State Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 10, 2012 and posted on Apr 20, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 4, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $850,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Eligible applicants are non governmental organizations (NGOs) and non profit organizations (NPOs), as well as public and state controlled institutions of higher education. Grants and / or Cooperative Agreements will be awarded directly to the organization. Eligible applicants must provide documentation of legal status with the proposal. After the Grants Officer determines grant and / or cooperative agreement recipients, based on the recommendations of a diverse review committee, selected organizations may be subject to an audit of financial accounting systems and procedures before receiving US government funds. NGOs, NPOs and public and state controlled institutions of higher education, are encouraged to include some form of partnership with a public or private institution, which may participate in kind (human capital, facilities, equipment, etc.) or with financial support. While financial cost sharing or matching is not a minimum requirement, a successful partnership will be a factor in evaluating proposals competitiveness.
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Opportunity Summary:
The ECPA Regional Energy Competition is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity run through the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica, focused on accelerating clean energy and energy efficiency progress across Central America and the Caribbean. The program is designed to move projects beyond the pilot or demonstration stage by supporting the next phase of deployment for proven best practices or commercially viable new technologies. In practical terms, the Embassy is looking for proposals that can take something that has already been tested or demonstrated and help it scale, replicate across borders, or become more embedded in real markets and institutions through strong partnerships and measurable results.
Funding is available through either grants or cooperative agreements, with individual awards ranging from 100,000 to 250,000. The Embassy anticipates making between four and six awards, with total funding capped at 850,000, contingent on congressional approval and the availability of funds. The project period cannot exceed 18 months. Funding is not guaranteed beyond the award period, and applicants should not plan on follow-on U.S. Government funding after the project ends. Payments are tied to performance: disbursements are made in amounts approved by the Grants Officer and depend on the recipient showing satisfactory progress against the agreed work plan. The Embassy also notes that it may decide not to fund any proposal if the overall quality of submissions does not meet expectations.
A competitive proposal is expected to show a clear pathway from demonstration to broader deployment and impact. The Embassy specifically emphasizes leveraging public and or private sector partnerships, engaging multi-country networks, and focusing on technologies or approaches that are commercially viable rather than purely conceptual. Preference is given to organizations with a strong track record and programmatic capacity, since the goal is to implement quickly and reach scale within a relatively short 18-month window. Applicants are expected to propose concrete deliverables that are realistic within the requested budget and timeline, and to include a strong monitoring and evaluation framework so progress and outcomes can be tracked credibly.
From a selection standpoint, the review committee intends, if possible, to fund at least one project that centers on mobilizing the private sector and at least one project focused on the technical aspects of clean energy and clean technology deployment. For proposals in the technical category, the application should address at least one of the four proposal themes referenced in the solicitation (the themes are noted as being described in the full RFP under "Proposal Themes"). The committee also aims, if possible, to support at least one project focused geographically in Central America and at least one in the Caribbean. Even with those preferences, the Embassy makes clear that final decisions will be based on overall merit rather than quota-style geographic or category requirements.
Eligibility is limited to non-governmental and non-profit entities, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. This includes U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, and public or state-controlled colleges and universities. Awards are made directly to the applicant organization, and proposals must include documentation proving legal status. After the Grants Officer selects recipients based on the committee recommendations, selected organizations may be required to undergo a review or audit of their financial management systems before receiving U.S. government funds. Cost sharing or matching is not required, but partnerships that contribute resources such as staff time, facilities, equipment, or funding are encouraged and can strengthen competitiveness during evaluation.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under the Department of State assistance listing (CFDA 19.700). Applications must be submitted in English. The opportunity was posted April 20, 2012, with an application deadline of June 4, 2012 (and an archive date of June 30, 2013). For access issues or questions, the point of contact listed is Alain Norman, Regional Environmental Officer at the U.S. Embassy, reachable by phone at 506 2519 2392 or by email at SanJoseCleanEnergyRFP@state.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): ECPA Regional Energy Competition
1) What is the ECPA Regional Energy Competition?
The ECPA Regional Energy Competition is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity administered through the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica. It focuses on accelerating clean energy and energy efficiency progress across Central America and the Caribbean by supporting projects that are ready to move beyond the pilot or demonstration stage.
2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The program is designed to support the next phase of deployment for proven best practices or commercially viable new technologies. The Embassy is looking for proposals that take something already tested or demonstrated and help it scale, replicate across borders, or become embedded in markets and institutions through partnerships and measurable results.
3) What types of projects are a good fit?
A strong fit is a project with a clear pathway from demonstration to broader deployment and real-world impact. Competitive proposals emphasize commercially viable approaches (not purely conceptual ideas), partnerships (public and/or private), multi-country networks, realistic deliverables, and a credible monitoring and evaluation framework.
4) Is this funding meant for early-stage pilots or demonstrations?
No. The opportunity is specifically intended to move projects beyond the pilot or demonstration stage by supporting the next deployment phase for approaches and technologies that have already been tested or demonstrated.
5) What regions does the program cover?
The geographic focus is Central America and the Caribbean. The review committee aims, if possible, to fund at least one project focused geographically in Central America and at least one in the Caribbean, while still making final decisions based on overall merit.
6) How much funding is available per award?
Individual awards are expected to range from $100,000 to $250,000.
7) How many awards will be made?
The Embassy anticipates making between four and six awards.
8) What is the total funding available under this competition?
Total funding is capped at $850,000, contingent on congressional approval and the availability of funds.
9) What is the maximum project period?
The project period cannot exceed 18 months.
10) What funding instruments may be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Funding may be provided through either grants or cooperative agreements.
11) Is funding guaranteed?
No. The Embassy notes that total funding depends on congressional approval and the availability of funds. It also states it may decide not to fund any proposal if the overall quality of submissions does not meet expectations.
12) Can applicants expect follow-on funding after the project ends?
No. Funding is not guaranteed beyond the award period, and applicants should not plan on follow-on U.S. Government funding after the project ends.
13) How are payments/disbursements made to award recipients?
Payments are tied to performance. Disbursements are made in amounts approved by the Grants Officer and depend on the recipient demonstrating satisfactory progress against the agreed work plan.
14) What makes a proposal competitive?
The Embassy highlights several competitiveness factors: a clear path to scaling beyond demonstration, strong public and/or private sector partnerships, engagement of multi-country networks, commercially viable technologies or approaches, realistic deliverables aligned to the proposed budget and timeline, and a strong monitoring and evaluation framework to credibly track progress and outcomes.
15) Does the competition prioritize private sector involvement?
Yes. The review committee intends, if possible, to fund at least one project that centers on mobilizing the private sector.
16) Does the competition also fund technical clean energy deployment projects?
Yes. The committee also intends, if possible, to fund at least one project focused on the technical aspects of clean energy and clean technology deployment.
17) Are there specific themes technical proposals must address?
Yes. For proposals in the technical category, the application should address at least one of the four proposal themes referenced in the solicitation (described in the full RFP under "Proposal Themes").
18) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to non-governmental and non-profit entities and to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The opportunity explicitly includes U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, and public or state-controlled colleges and universities.
19) Are government entities eligible?
No. Eligibility is limited to non-governmental/non-profit entities and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education.
20) Are awards made to individuals or to organizations?
Awards are made directly to the applicant organization.
21) Is documentation of legal status required?
Yes. Proposals must include documentation proving the applicant organization’s legal status.
22) Is a financial management review or audit required?
Selected organizations may be required to undergo a review or audit of their financial management systems before receiving U.S. government funds.
23) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is not required.
24) Can partnerships and contributed resources strengthen an application?
Yes. While not required, partnerships that contribute resources such as staff time, facilities, equipment, or funding are encouraged and can strengthen competitiveness during evaluation.
25) What language must the application be submitted in?
Applications must be submitted in English.
26) What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under the Department of State assistance listing CFDA 19.700.
27) When was the opportunity posted and when was the deadline?
The opportunity was posted on April 20, 2012. The application deadline was June 4, 2012. The archive date is listed as June 30, 2013.
28) Who is the point of contact for questions or access issues?
The listed point of contact is Alain Norman, Regional Environmental Officer at the U.S. Embassy. Phone: 506 2519 2392. Email: SanJoseCleanEnergyRFP@state.gov.
29) Will the review committee fund projects to meet geographic or category quotas?
No. While the committee aims, if possible, to fund projects across categories (private sector mobilization and technical deployment) and across regions (Central America and the Caribbean), the Embassy states that final decisions will be based on overall merit rather than quota-style requirements.
30) What kind of results reporting is expected?
The Embassy expects a strong monitoring and evaluation framework so progress and outcomes can be tracked credibly, and payment is linked to demonstrating satisfactory progress against the agreed work plan.
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