Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000113
Apply for DE FOA 0000113
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Industrial Energy Efficiency Grand Challenge" 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 Jun 4, 2009 and posted on Jun 4, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 14, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $15,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- 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 Industrial Energy Efficiency Grand Challenge (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000113) is a U.S. Department of Energy opportunity administered through the Golden Field Office under the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) portfolio. It is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 81.086, Conservation Research and Development) aimed at supporting early, concept-definition research and development studies that can lead to genuinely transformational changes in how energy-intensive industries manufacture products and use energy. The core focus is industrial process innovation that measurably improves performance at the system level, not just incremental component upgrades.
The central technical requirement is that proposed processes or technologies must be capable of reducing either industrial energy intensity (measured as million Btus per unit of system output) or greenhouse gas emissions (measured in carbon equivalent) by at least 25 percent. In addition to delivering that step-change improvement, projects are expected to make business sense: the work is framed around solutions that can provide a return on investment of 10 percent or greater. In practical terms, DOE is signaling that it wants ideas with a credible path to adoption in real industrial settings, where capital decisions depend on economics as much as engineering performance.
This FOA sits within several DOE strategic objectives. It aligns with DOE's Energy Security Theme from the 2006 Strategic Plan, specifically Goal 1.4 on Energy Productivity, which emphasizes cost-effective improvements in the energy efficiency of the U.S. economy. It also supports EERE's broader mission to strengthen U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality through public-private partnerships that increase energy efficiency and productivity. More specifically, it advances EERE Portfolio Priority 6, which targets increased energy efficiency and reduced energy intensity in industry. The Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) described its own mission around this time as transforming how U.S. industry uses energy, with a stated target of driving a 25 percent reduction in national industrial energy intensity by 2020, consistent with EPAct 2005.
From a program design standpoint, DOE indicates it plans to fund concept definition R&D studies that address "grand challenges" faced by energy-intensive industries. Industrial collaboration is strongly recommended, reflecting DOE's interest in solutions that are grounded in real manufacturing constraints and can be tested, validated, and eventually deployed. Cost sharing is required, meaning applicants must contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources; this is intended to ensure industry buy-in and to leverage federal dollars.
Funding levels are relatively modest and are structured to support a sizable number of exploratory or early-stage projects rather than a small number of large demonstrations. DOE anticipated about 50 awards with an estimated total program funding of $15,000,000. Individual awards were expected to fall between $100,000 (floor) and $300,000 (ceiling). These numbers reinforce that this solicitation is primarily about defining, de-risking, and validating high-impact concepts at an early stage, not building full-scale commercial plants.
Eligibility is listed as "unrestricted," meaning the opportunity is broadly open to many entity types, subject to any clarifications in the full FOA text. This generally implies that companies, universities, national laboratories (as allowed), non-profits, and other organizations may be able to apply, often with teams or partnerships being common for industrial R&D topics, especially where pilot facilities, specialized equipment, or operational data are needed.
Applications had to be submitted electronically through FedConnect (with a note that organizations using system-to-system submissions through Grants.gov could continue to do so). A major practical theme of the announcement is that applicants are responsible for confirming successful transmission by the deadline. The posting emphasizes the administrative steps needed to avoid last-minute submission failures: applicants must be registered in FedConnect and have a DUNS number and an active Central Contractor Registration (CCR) account (the predecessor to later systems like SAM.gov). If the organization is new to FedConnect, the first registrant may need the CCR MPIN to create the company account, and DOE advises allowing at least 21 days to complete registration steps. DOE also notes CCR registrations must be updated annually.
For questions, DOE directed applicants to submit content questions through the FedConnect portal after registering as an interested party, so that questions and DOE responses are visible to the applicant community. DOE indicated it would generally respond within three business days unless an answer had already been posted. Technical issues with the FedConnect submission process were directed to FedConnect Support (support@fedconnect.net, 1-800-899-6665). A named DOE contact was also provided in the announcement materials (Michael Schledorn, michael.schledorn@go.doe.gov), with the general instruction that FedConnect help should be used if applicants have trouble accessing or linking to the full FOA.
Key dates listed in the opportunity data show it was posted June 4, 2009, with an application closing date of July 14, 2009, and an archive date of October 3, 2009. The full, authoritative requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission package were hosted in FedConnect under the FOA reference number, and applicants were instructed to locate it using the FedConnect public opportunities search.
Industrial Energy Efficiency Grand Challenge (DE-FOA-0000113) - FAQs
What is the Industrial Energy Efficiency Grand Challenge (DE-FOA-0000113)?
The Industrial Energy Efficiency Grand Challenge is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity administered through the Golden Field Office under the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) portfolio. It is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 81.086, Conservation Research and Development) focused on early, concept-definition research and development studies for energy-intensive industries.
What is the program trying to achieve?
The program is aimed at supporting genuinely transformational industrial process innovation that improves performance at the system level. It is intended to go beyond incremental component upgrades by enabling new or significantly redesigned processes that change how energy-intensive industries manufacture products and use energy.
What kinds of projects does DOE want to fund under this FOA?
DOE indicated it plans to fund concept definition R&D studies that address "grand challenges" faced by energy-intensive industries. The emphasis is on early-stage work that defines, de-risks, and validates high-impact concepts, rather than building large demonstrations or commercial-scale facilities.
What is the central technical performance requirement?
Proposed processes or technologies must be capable of reducing either (1) industrial energy intensity (measured as million Btus per unit of system output) or (2) greenhouse gas emissions (measured in carbon equivalent) by at least 25 percent.
How is "energy intensity" defined for this opportunity?
Energy intensity is described as million Btus per unit of system output. Proposals are expected to address improvements at the system level, consistent with the FOA's focus on process innovation rather than isolated component changes.
How is the greenhouse gas reduction metric described?
The FOA describes greenhouse gas emissions reduction using a carbon equivalent measure. Technologies or processes should be capable of achieving at least a 25 percent reduction under that metric.
Does the FOA require the project to meet both the energy intensity and greenhouse gas reduction targets?
Based on the stated requirement, the proposed process or technology must be capable of reducing either industrial energy intensity or greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 percent.
Is there an economic requirement in addition to technical performance?
Yes. In addition to delivering the step-change improvement, projects are expected to make business sense. DOE frames the work around solutions that can provide a return on investment (ROI) of 10 percent or greater, signaling interest in concepts with a credible path to adoption in real industrial settings.
Is industrial collaboration required?
Industrial collaboration is strongly recommended. DOE highlights collaboration because it helps ensure solutions are grounded in real manufacturing constraints and can be tested, validated, and eventually deployed.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required, meaning applicants must contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources. DOE notes this is intended to ensure industry buy-in and to leverage federal dollars.
How much funding is available overall?
DOE anticipated a total program funding level of $15,000,000 for this opportunity.
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about 50 awards.
What is the expected award size per project?
Individual awards were expected to range from $100,000 (floor) to $300,000 (ceiling).
Is this FOA intended to fund full-scale demonstrations or commercial plants?
No. The funding levels and stated purpose indicate this solicitation is primarily for early-stage, concept definition R&D studies, not for building full-scale commercial plants.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to many entity types, subject to any clarifications in the full FOA text hosted in FedConnect.
Where does this FOA fit within DOE and EERE goals?
This FOA aligns with DOE's Energy Security Theme from the 2006 Strategic Plan, specifically Goal 1.4 on Energy Productivity, and supports EERE's mission to strengthen U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality through public-private partnerships. It also advances EERE Portfolio Priority 6 focused on increased industrial energy efficiency and reduced energy intensity, and reflects the Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) mission of transforming how U.S. industry uses energy, including a stated target around that time of a 25 percent reduction in national industrial energy intensity by 2020 (consistent with EPAct 2005).
How do applicants submit an application?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through FedConnect. The announcement also notes that organizations using system-to-system submissions through Grants.gov could continue to do so.
What is the main warning DOE gives about submission?
Applicants are responsible for confirming successful transmission by the deadline. The announcement emphasizes completing administrative steps early to avoid last-minute submission failures.
What registrations or identifiers are mentioned as necessary to apply?
The posting highlights that applicants must be registered in FedConnect and have a DUNS number and an active Central Contractor Registration (CCR) account (CCR is described as the predecessor to later systems such as SAM.gov). DOE also notes CCR registrations must be updated annually.
How long should organizations allow for registration steps?
DOE advises allowing at least 21 days to complete registration steps.
What is the CCR MPIN used for in this process?
If an organization is new to FedConnect, the first registrant may need the CCR MPIN to create the company account.
Where are the authoritative requirements and application package located?
The full, authoritative requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission package were hosted in FedConnect under the FOA reference number. Applicants were instructed to locate it using the FedConnect public opportunities search.
How should applicants ask content questions about the FOA?
DOE directed applicants to submit content questions through the FedConnect portal after registering as an interested party, so that questions and DOE responses are visible to the applicant community.
How quickly did DOE expect to respond to questions posted in FedConnect?
DOE indicated it would generally respond within three business days unless an answer had already been posted.
Who should applicants contact for technical problems with FedConnect submission?
Technical issues with the FedConnect submission process were directed to FedConnect Support at support@fedconnect.net or 1-800-899-6665.
Is there a named DOE contact associated with this opportunity?
Yes. The announcement materials list Michael Schledorn (michael.schledorn@go.doe.gov). The materials also instruct applicants to use FedConnect help if they have trouble accessing or linking to the full FOA.
What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The opportunity data lists a posting date of June 4, 2009, an application closing date of July 14, 2009, and an archive date of October 3, 2009.
Which office and DOE portfolio administer this FOA?
This DOE opportunity is administered through the Golden Field Office under the EERE portfolio.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 81.086, Conservation Research and Development.
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