Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000234
Apply for DE FOA 0000234
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "High Impact Supply Chain RD for PV Technologies and Systems" 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 Jul 1, 2010 and posted on Apr 21, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 6, 2010. (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:
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Golden Field Office and the Solar Energy Technologies Program (SETP), issued Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0000234 titled "High Impact Supply Chain R&D for PV Technologies and Systems." This is a discretionary grant opportunity (CFDA 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development) that requires cost sharing. The core aim is to accelerate research and development projects that can deliver major, broadly relevant cost and performance improvements for the U.S. photovoltaics (PV) industry, especially where the results can be applied across supply chains rather than tied to a single proprietary end product design.
The FOA is specifically looking for cross-cutting, high-impact products or processes that could be disruptive to the PV industry. Applicants are expected to build from a concept, process, or prototype that has already been demonstrated at a pre-commercial scale, and then show how the proposed work can create near-term industry impact. In the FOA, "near term" is defined as within 2 to 5 years of the award. Just as importantly, applicants must lay out a credible plan to bring the developed technology to market quickly, generally within 1 to 3 years from the award date and within the overall period of performance. The DOE makes clear that the intended impacts can range from high-volume, lower-cost incremental improvements that benefit a large portion of the industry, to more narrowly applicable but truly disruptive innovations that could dramatically reduce costs and accelerate growth in a particular PV segment.
A key point in how DOE frames this opportunity is what it is not trying to fund. Unlike solicitations that focus on developing a unique solar cell, module, or inverter product design for a single company, this FOA targets supply-chain and manufacturing-related opportunities that can provide more generic benefits across a meaningful segment of the PV market. In other words, the emphasis is on enabling technologies, processes, and system-level supply chain improvements that multiple industry players could adopt, helping drive down costs and support scale-up of PV deployment.
Several modifications were issued, but they do not change the fundamental technical purpose of the FOA; they mainly adjust administrative requirements and eligibility. Modification 005 extended the application deadline from July 2, 2010 to July 6, 2010, while also stating that only questions submitted through July 2, 2010 (the original deadline) would be accepted and answered; questions submitted after July 2 would not be addressed. Modification 004 updated the FOA to request submission of a Letter of Intent prior to the full application. DOE described the Letter of Intent as a planning tool to help manage the merit review process; it must not include proprietary or sensitive business information, it will not be used to down-select applicants, and it does not obligate an applicant to submit a full proposal.
Earlier modifications focused on broadening and clarifying who could apply. Modification 003 updated eligibility to include all domestic entities, with one notable exception: nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded. It also updated the required authorization language for non-DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors (if involved) and removed language that had limited FFRDC participation to 25 percent. Modification 002 had already expanded eligible applicants to include all FFRDC contractors, including non-DOE FFRDC contractors. Modification 001 corrected and clarified administrative details, including the original application due date language in the FOA, the anticipated schedule for selections and awards (DOE expected to notify selected applicants in September 2010 and make awards by December 2010), and updated webinar instructions and the webinar link.
From an applicant logistics standpoint, the FOA was posted April 21, 2010, created July 1, 2010, had an original closing date of July 2, 2010, and a revised closing date of July 6, 2010, with an archive date of September 30, 2010. The opportunity is listed as "unrestricted" (open to any type of entity) subject to the eligibility clarifications in the FOA text. DOE directed applicants to retrieve full documents through FedConnect by searching public opportunities using the full announcement number, and it required that questions be submitted via FedConnect. For access issues with the full announcement, the listed grants and agreements specialist contact was Christina Raines at christina.raines@go.doe.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and number of this funding opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is titled "High Impact Supply Chain R&D for PV Technologies and Systems" and the FOA number is DE-FOA-0000234.
Which DOE offices and programs are issuing this FOA?
The FOA is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through its Golden Field Office and the Solar Energy Technologies Program (SETP).
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity and it requires cost sharing.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The FOA is associated with CFDA 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development.
What is the main purpose of the FOA?
The purpose is to accelerate research and development projects that deliver major, broadly relevant cost and performance improvements for the U.S. photovoltaics (PV) industry, especially improvements that can be applied across supply chains rather than being tied to a single proprietary product design.
What kinds of projects is DOE looking for?
DOE is looking for cross-cutting, high-impact products or processes that could be disruptive to the PV industry and broadly useful across a meaningful segment of the PV market.
What does DOE mean by "cross-cutting" in this FOA?
In this FOA, "cross-cutting" refers to enabling technologies, processes, and system-level supply chain or manufacturing improvements that multiple industry players could adopt, rather than a unique end product design for a single company.
What stage of development should the proposed concept or technology be in?
Applicants are expected to build from a concept, process, or prototype that has already been demonstrated at a pre-commercial scale, and then propose work that can create near-term industry impact.
How does the FOA define "near term" impact?
The FOA defines "near term" as within 2 to 5 years of the award.
What does DOE expect regarding commercialization or bringing the technology to market?
Applicants must provide a credible plan to bring the developed technology to market quickly, generally within 1 to 3 years from the award date and within the overall period of performance.
Does DOE only want incremental improvements, or are disruptive ideas encouraged?
DOE indicates that intended impacts can range from high-volume, lower-cost incremental improvements benefiting a large portion of the industry to more narrowly applicable but truly disruptive innovations that could dramatically reduce costs and accelerate growth in a particular PV segment.
What is DOE explicitly not trying to fund under this FOA?
DOE is not primarily trying to fund efforts focused on developing a unique solar cell, module, or inverter product design for a single company. The emphasis is on supply-chain and manufacturing-related opportunities with more generic benefits across the PV market.
Is this opportunity open to any type of applicant?
The opportunity is listed as "unrestricted" (open to any type of entity), subject to the eligibility clarifications described in the FOA and modifications.
Who is eligible to apply based on the modifications?
Modification 003 updated eligibility to include all domestic entities, with one notable exception related to certain lobbying nonprofits (see the separate FAQ on exclusions).
Are any nonprofits excluded from applying?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded.
Are Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) allowed to participate?
Yes. Modification 002 expanded eligible applicants to include all FFRDC contractors, including non-DOE FFRDC contractors. Modification 003 also removed language that had limited FFRDC participation to 25 percent and updated the required authorization language for non-DOE FFRDC contractors (if involved).
Was a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
Modification 004 updated the FOA to request submission of a Letter of Intent prior to the full application.
What is the purpose of the Letter of Intent (LOI)?
DOE described the LOI as a planning tool to help manage the merit review process.
Does submitting an LOI obligate an applicant to submit a full proposal?
No. DOE stated that the LOI does not obligate an applicant to submit a full proposal.
Will the LOI be used to down-select applicants?
No. DOE stated the LOI will not be used to down-select applicants.
Should proprietary or sensitive business information be included in the LOI?
No. DOE stated that the LOI must not include proprietary or sensitive business information.
When was the FOA posted and when did it close?
The FOA was posted on April 21, 2010. The original closing date was July 2, 2010, and the revised closing date was July 6, 2010.
Why was the application deadline extended?
Modification 005 extended the application deadline from July 2, 2010 to July 6, 2010.
Until what date would DOE accept and answer applicant questions?
Modification 005 stated that only questions submitted through July 2, 2010 (the original deadline) would be accepted and answered. Questions submitted after July 2, 2010 would not be addressed.
How should applicants submit questions to DOE about the FOA?
DOE required that questions be submitted via FedConnect.
How do applicants access the full FOA documents?
DOE directed applicants to retrieve full documents through FedConnect by searching public opportunities using the full announcement number (DE-FOA-0000234).
What should applicants do if they have trouble accessing the full announcement?
For access issues with the full announcement, the listed grants and agreements specialist contact was Christina Raines at christina.raines@go.doe.gov.
What schedule did DOE anticipate for selections and awards?
Modification 001 clarified that DOE expected to notify selected applicants in September 2010 and make awards by December 2010.
Were any changes made that altered the technical purpose of the FOA?
The modifications did not change the fundamental technical purpose of the FOA; they mainly adjusted administrative requirements and eligibility.
What is the archive date for this opportunity?
The archive date listed for the opportunity is September 30, 2010.
Which modification added the Letter of Intent request?
Modification 004 updated the FOA to request submission of a Letter of Intent prior to the full application.
Which modification changed the deadline to July 6, 2010?
Modification 005 extended the application deadline from July 2, 2010 to July 6, 2010.
Which modifications expanded and clarified eligibility (including FFRDC participation)?
Modification 002 expanded eligible applicants to include all FFRDC contractors (including non-DOE FFRDC contractors). Modification 003 updated eligibility to include all domestic entities (with a specific 501(c)(4) lobbying-related exclusion), updated required authorization language for non-DOE FFRDC contractors, and removed language limiting FFRDC participation to 25 percent.
Where were webinar instructions and the webinar link updated?
Modification 001 updated webinar instructions and the webinar link.
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| DE FOA 0000318 Geothermal Energy Production from (A) Low Temperature Resources, (B) Coproduced Fluids, and (C) Geopressured Resources Apply for DE FOA 0000318 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000318 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Innovation Ecosystem Development Initiative Apply for DE FOA 0000356 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000356 Agency: Oak Ridge Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,050,000 |
| Midsize Turbine Development Projects Apply for DE FOA 0000327 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000327 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Upgrading of Biomass Fast Pyrolysis Oil (Bio oil) Apply for DE FOA 0000342 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000342 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Enhancing Short Term Wind Energy Forecasting for Increased Utility Operations Apply for DE FOA 0000343 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000343 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| National Laser Users Program Apply for DE FOA 0000358 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000358 Agency: NNSA Category: Energy Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| DOE Offshore Wind Program Input Requested for Demonstration Projects Apply for DE FOA 0000384 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000384 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DOE Offshore Wind Program Input Requested for Demonstration Projects Apply for DE FOA 0000385 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000385 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Request for Information Solutions for Wind Energy Workforce Development Apply for DE FOA 0000392 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000392 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The DOE FY2010 Phase III Xlerator Program for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Fossil Energy, and Nuclear Energy Apply for DE FOA 0000397 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000397 Agency: Oak Ridge Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Photovoltaic (PV) Manufacturing Initiative Apply for DE FOA 0000259 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000259 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Assistance to High Energy Cost Rural Communities Apply for RD RUS HECG10 Funding Number: RD RUS HECG10 Agency: Utilities Programs Category: Energy Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| RFI Advanced Hydropower Technology Development and Deployment Apply for DE FOA 0000406 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000406 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Energy Production with Innovative Methods of Geothermal Heat Recovery Apply for DE FOA 0000336 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000336 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Proliferation Detection Research Apply for DE FOA 0000400 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000400 Agency: NNSA Category: Energy Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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