Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000687
Apply for DE FOA 0000687
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Energy Innovation Hub Critical Materials" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086 Conservation Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 31, 2012 and posted on May 31, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 30, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments Private institutions of higher education Special district governments State governments Small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- 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 (4) DOE/NNSA National Laboratories/ Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC), and (5) consortia of entities (1) through (4). The term domestic entity is defined for the purposes of the eligibility section as a legal entity established pursuant to the United States Federal or State laws that can demonstrate that its use of DOE funds will be in the economic interests of the United States (including, for example, significant operations within the U.S. or its Territories creation of domestic manufacturing capability use of labor in the United States payment of United States taxes or contributing to advancements in United States renewable energy technologies). Non DOE FFRDCs and other Federal agencies are not eligible to apply as prime or lead applicants however, they are eligible to otherwise participate in the Hub activities. Nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible to apply or to be a sub recipient to an eligible applicant. DOE approval may be required for any proposed non domestic (foreign) involvement with the Hub, which includes but is not limited to Hub activities within and outside the scope of the DOE award and foreign financial contributions.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Golden Field Office, announced Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000687 titled "Energy Innovation Hub - Critical Materials." This discretionary opportunity is designed to create and support a single Critical Materials Energy Innovation Hub that focuses on reducing the "criticality" of materials that are essential to energy technologies, while also working to prevent new materials from becoming critical in the future. In practical terms, the Hub is meant to tackle problems like supply risk, limited availability, high geopolitical concentration, price volatility, and other factors that can threaten the reliable and affordable access to key materials used in clean energy systems.
A central feature of the opportunity is the expectation that the Hub will coordinate research and development across the entire materials lifecycle. That lifecycle framing signals an integrated agenda that can span early-stage discovery and material design, processing and manufacturing pathways, use in energy devices and systems, and end-of-life strategies such as reuse, recycling, recovery, and substitution. DOE indicates the work should blend basic and applied research with engineering, with an emphasis on accelerating scientific discovery through highly collaborative, multidisciplinary teams. The "Energy Innovation Hub" model typically implies a tightly coordinated program that brings multiple disciplines and partners together under a unified management structure to deliver measurable outcomes faster than more fragmented, traditional research approaches.
The initial award period is five years. Funding is structured with a larger first-year allocation to help stand up the Hub, followed by higher operational funding in later years (subject to appropriations). DOE states the Hub may receive up to $20 million in the first year, and up to $10 million of that first-year amount may be used specifically for infrastructure start-up needs. Allowable start-up infrastructure expenses include building renovation (explicitly not new construction), lease arrangements, and the purchase of equipment and instrumentation. For years two through five, DOE anticipates funding up to $25 million per year for Hub operations, contingent on Congressional appropriations. The award instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which generally means DOE expects substantial involvement in the project during performance (for example, through technical direction, approvals, or active program engagement), rather than a more hands-off grant structure.
Cost sharing is required under this announcement, meaning the selected applicant (and its team, if applicable) must provide a portion of project costs from non-federal sources consistent with the FOA requirements. While the summary data provided does not specify the percentage, applicants would need to consult the full FOA for the exact cost-share rules, what counts as allowable cost share, documentation expectations, and any phase-specific requirements.
Eligibility is broad but limited to domestic entities. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education (public and private), nonprofit and for-profit private entities, state and local governments, DOE/NNSA National Laboratories and other Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and consortia made up of these types of organizations. "Domestic entity" is defined as a legal entity established under U.S. federal or state law that can demonstrate DOE funds will be used in the economic interests of the United States, such as maintaining significant U.S. operations, supporting domestic manufacturing capability, using U.S. labor, paying U.S. taxes, or contributing to advancements in U.S. renewable energy technologies. Non-DOE FFRDCs and other federal agencies may not apply as the prime/lead applicant, though they may participate in Hub activities in other roles. The announcement also notes restrictions related to certain 501(c)(4) organizations that have engaged in lobbying after December 31, 1995, stating they are not eligible to apply or serve as subrecipients. In addition, DOE may require approval for proposed non-domestic (foreign) involvement with the Hub, which can include activities both within and outside the scope of the DOE award as well as foreign financial contributions.
Applications had to be submitted electronically through the EERE Exchange website, with applicants required to register and create an account to apply. The original and current closing date listed is August 30, 2012, with a posted date of May 31, 2012, and an archive date of December 31, 2012, indicating this specific competition is no longer open. The full Funding Opportunity Announcement and submission guidance were provided via the EERE Exchange portal, along with a user guide for navigating DOE EERE submissions. For issues accessing the full announcement, the contact listed was Carlo DiFranco, Grants Management Specialist, reachable at CMHub@go.doe.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): DOE Energy Innovation Hub - Critical Materials (DE-FOA-0000687)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), issued through the Golden Field Office, under Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) DE-FOA-0000687 titled "Energy Innovation Hub - Critical Materials."
What is the main goal of the Critical Materials Energy Innovation Hub?
The goal is to create and support a single Energy Innovation Hub focused on reducing the "criticality" of materials that are essential to energy technologies and helping prevent new materials from becoming critical in the future.
What does DOE mean by reducing "criticality" of materials?
Based on the opportunity description, reducing criticality means addressing factors that can threaten reliable and affordable access to key materials used in clean energy systems, such as supply risk, limited availability, high geopolitical concentration, price volatility, and other related risks.
How many Hubs will DOE fund under this announcement?
DOE expects to create and support a single Critical Materials Energy Innovation Hub under this FOA.
What kinds of activities is the Hub expected to coordinate?
The Hub is expected to coordinate research and development across the entire materials lifecycle. This integrated framing can include early-stage discovery and material design, processing and manufacturing pathways, use in energy devices and systems, and end-of-life strategies such as reuse, recycling, recovery, and substitution.
Does the Hub focus on basic research, applied research, or both?
DOE indicates the work should blend basic and applied research with engineering, with an emphasis on accelerating scientific discovery through highly collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.
What is an "Energy Innovation Hub" model in this context?
As described in the opportunity summary, the Energy Innovation Hub model typically implies a tightly coordinated program that brings multiple disciplines and partners together under a unified management structure to deliver measurable outcomes faster than more fragmented, traditional research approaches.
What is the award period (project length)?
The initial award period is five years.
How much funding is available in the first year?
DOE states the Hub may receive up to $20 million in the first year.
Can first-year funds be used for start-up infrastructure?
Yes. DOE states that up to $10 million of the first-year amount may be used specifically for infrastructure start-up needs.
What types of start-up infrastructure costs are allowed?
Allowable start-up infrastructure expenses include building renovation (explicitly not new construction), lease arrangements, and the purchase of equipment and instrumentation.
Is new construction an allowable cost for start-up infrastructure?
No. The description explicitly allows building renovation but states that new construction is not allowed as part of the start-up infrastructure expenses.
How much funding is anticipated for years two through five?
For years two through five, DOE anticipates funding up to $25 million per year for Hub operations, contingent on Congressional appropriations.
Is the out-year funding guaranteed?
No. The years two through five funding levels are described as anticipated and are contingent on Congressional appropriations.
What type of award instrument will DOE use?
The award instrument type is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
In general terms, a cooperative agreement means DOE expects substantial involvement in the project during performance (for example, through technical direction, approvals, or active program engagement), rather than a more hands-off grant structure.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required under this announcement, meaning the selected applicant (and its team, if applicable) must provide a portion of project costs from non-federal sources consistent with the FOA requirements.
What is the required cost share percentage?
The summary information provided here does not specify the percentage. Applicants would need to consult the full FOA for the exact cost-share rules, what counts as allowable cost share, documentation expectations, and any phase-specific requirements.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad but limited to domestic entities. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education (public and private), nonprofit and for-profit private entities, state and local governments, DOE/NNSA National Laboratories and other Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and consortia made up of these types of organizations.
What does DOE mean by a "domestic entity"?
A domestic entity is defined as a legal entity established under U.S. federal or state law that can demonstrate DOE funds will be used in the economic interests of the United States. Examples given include maintaining significant U.S. operations, supporting domestic manufacturing capability, using U.S. labor, paying U.S. taxes, or contributing to advancements in U.S. renewable energy technologies.
Can a consortium apply?
Yes. Consortia made up of the listed eligible organization types are included as eligible applicants, as long as the applicant/lead meets the domestic entity requirements described.
Can non-DOE FFRDCs or other federal agencies apply as the prime (lead) applicant?
No. The announcement states that non-DOE FFRDCs and other federal agencies may not apply as the prime/lead applicant, though they may participate in Hub activities in other roles.
Are there restrictions related to 501(c)(4) organizations?
Yes. The announcement notes restrictions stating that certain 501(c)(4) organizations that have engaged in lobbying after December 31, 1995 are not eligible to apply or serve as subrecipients.
Is foreign (non-domestic) involvement allowed?
The announcement indicates DOE may require approval for proposed non-domestic (foreign) involvement with the Hub. This can include activities both within and outside the scope of the DOE award as well as foreign financial contributions.
How were applications submitted?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through the EERE Exchange website. Applicants were required to register and create an account to apply.
What was the application deadline?
The closing date listed is August 30, 2012.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The information provided lists a closing date of August 30, 2012 and an archive date of December 31, 2012, which indicates this specific competition is no longer open.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posted date listed is May 31, 2012.
Where could applicants find the full FOA and submission guidance?
The full Funding Opportunity Announcement and submission guidance were provided via the EERE Exchange portal, along with a user guide for navigating DOE EERE submissions.
Who is the contact for issues accessing the full announcement?
The listed contact for issues accessing the full announcement is Carlo DiFranco, Grants Management Specialist, reachable at CMHub@go.doe.gov.
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