Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000680
Apply for DE FOA 0000680
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Hydrogen Prize Topic" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.117 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 1, 2012 and posted on Mar 20, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2012. (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 is a Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Fuel Cell Technologies Program (FCT) to gather ideas for possible future "H Prize" competition topics. The purpose is to collect well-defined suggestions for technology advancements that could speed up the widespread commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Rather than asking for project proposals or offering immediate funding, DOE is asking the public to recommend what kinds of breakthroughs should be targeted by a prize competition and, critically, how those breakthroughs should be measured and verified.
DOE is looking for proposed prize topics tied to three main areas of interest: hydrogen production, hydrogen distribution, and hydrogen utilization. Submissions should focus on specific technologies, components, or systems within those areas and explain what advancement would represent a meaningful leap forward for the market. Just as important, respondents are expected to propose clear, testable criteria that could be used to judge whether an entry meets or exceeds the required performance level. Alongside the criteria, DOE wants recommended validation procedures that would allow independent, third-party verification, meaning the measures must be objective and repeatable rather than subjective claims.
If DOE later launches an H Prize competition based on ideas collected through this RFI, entries in that future competition would undergo a technical evaluation to confirm they meet the announced criteria. The prize would only be awarded if the specified criteria are actually achieved; in other words, DOE is emphasizing performance-based outcomes rather than participation. If multiple competitors meet the baseline requirements, DOE indicates that a winner would be selected based on performance across additional criteria categories that would be established ahead of time. DOE notes that the prize amount could be up to $1,000,000, but this RFI itself does not award funds and does not function as a competition announcement.
Procedurally, this is categorized as a discretionary opportunity with the funding instrument type listed as "Other," and it is associated with the energy activity category. It is open to unrestricted applicants (broadly open to any entity type, subject to any eligibility clarifications in the full text). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for submitting an RFI response. Key dates include a posted date of March 20, 2012, with the submission deadline extended to May 31, 2012 (originally April 20, 2012). The opportunity was later archived on January 19, 2013. Although the notice references a potential award up to $1 million in a future prize scenario, the listing itself shows no estimated total funding and no award floor or ceiling because the RFI is for collecting input, not distributing awards.
DOE is explicit about the limitations of the RFI. It is not accepting applications at this time, and it may or may not decide to announce a competition in the future. There is no guarantee that a prize competition will result from this request. DOE also emphasizes that responding to the RFI does not provide any advantage or disadvantage if a competition is later announced, aiming to ensure fairness for all potential future competitors.
The funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0000680 and the title is "Hydrogen Prize Topic." The agency is listed as the Golden Field Office. Additional details and access to the announcement were provided through FedConnect, and a point of contact was included for help accessing the full announcement: Scott Schmitz (720-356-1774, scott.schmitz@go.doe.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this opportunity?
This is a Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Fuel Cell Technologies Program (FCT) to collect ideas for possible future H Prize competition topics. It is a request for public input, not a call for project applications.
Is this an active funding opportunity or a grant application?
No. DOE is not accepting applications or project proposals under this notice. The RFI is intended to gather suggestions that could inform a future prize competition, but it does not award funding.
What is DOE asking respondents to submit?
DOE is asking for well-defined suggestions for prize competition topics that could drive technology advancements and speed up commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Respondents should describe what breakthrough should be targeted and how success should be measured.
What technology areas is DOE interested in for potential prize topics?
DOE is looking for proposed prize topics tied to three areas of interest: hydrogen production, hydrogen distribution, and hydrogen utilization.
How specific should a proposed prize topic be?
Submissions are expected to focus on specific technologies, components, or systems within the areas of hydrogen production, distribution, or utilization, and explain what advancement would represent a meaningful leap forward for the market.
What does DOE mean by "performance-based outcomes" for a potential future prize?
DOE indicates that any future prize would be awarded only if the announced technical criteria are actually met. In other words, the focus would be on achieving verified performance results rather than simply participating.
What kinds of evaluation criteria does DOE want suggested?
DOE is asking respondents to propose clear, testable criteria that could be used to judge whether an entry meets or exceeds required performance levels. These criteria should be objective and measurable.
What validation or verification details should be included in an RFI response?
DOE wants recommended validation procedures that would allow independent, third-party verification. The measures should be objective and repeatable, rather than based on subjective claims.
Will DOE definitely launch an H Prize competition based on this RFI?
No. DOE explicitly states it may or may not decide to announce a competition in the future, and there is no guarantee that a prize competition will result from this request for information.
If DOE launches a future competition, does responding to this RFI provide an advantage?
No. DOE states that responding to the RFI does not provide any advantage or disadvantage if a competition is later announced, in order to ensure fairness for all potential future competitors.
What happens if multiple competitors meet the baseline requirements in a future prize competition?
DOE indicates that if multiple competitors meet the baseline requirements, a winner would be selected based on performance across additional criteria categories that would be established ahead of time.
How much could the prize be if a future H Prize competition is announced?
DOE notes that a future prize amount could be up to $1,000,000. However, this RFI itself does not award funds and is not a competition announcement.
Does this RFI listing show an award amount, award floor, or award ceiling?
No. The listing shows no estimated total funding and no award floor or ceiling because the notice is an RFI for collecting input rather than distributing awards.
Is cost sharing or matching required to respond to this RFI?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for submitting an RFI response.
Who is eligible to respond?
The opportunity is open to unrestricted applicants, meaning it is broadly open to any entity type (subject to any eligibility clarifications in the full text of the announcement).
What is the funding instrument type for this notice?
Procedurally, it is categorized as a discretionary opportunity with the funding instrument type listed as "Other."
What is the activity category associated with this notice?
It is associated with the energy activity category.
What are the key dates for this RFI?
The posted date is March 20, 2012. The submission deadline was extended to May 31, 2012 (originally April 20, 2012). The opportunity was later archived on January 19, 2013.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The notice was archived on January 19, 2013, and the submission deadline was May 31, 2012.
What is the funding opportunity number and title?
The funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0000680 and the title is "Hydrogen Prize Topic."
Which DOE office is listed for this opportunity?
The agency is listed as the Golden Field Office.
Where were additional details and access to the announcement provided?
Additional details and access to the announcement were provided through FedConnect.
Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?
The point of contact listed for help accessing the full announcement is Scott Schmitz at 720-356-1774 or scott.schmitz@go.doe.gov.
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