Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001261
Apply for DE FOA 0001261
- The Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OPEN 2015" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135 Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 14, 2015 and posted on Jan 7, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 29, 2015 The submission deadline for Full Applications is 6/29/2015. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit at least 48 hours in advance of the submission deadlines.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $125,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 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.
- Please see Section III.A of DE FOA 0001261 for more information on eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
OPEN 2015 (DE FOA 0001261) is a competitive funding opportunity from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) under CFDA 81.135 to support high-impact, advanced energy research and development. The agency is using cooperative agreements, which typically means awardees should expect substantial technical involvement from the government during the project (for example, active program management, milestone tracking, and coordination with ARPA-E staff). The program is broadly open in terms of who can apply (the listing describes eligibility as unrestricted, with details deferred to Section III.A of the FOA), and it is aimed at science and technology R&D efforts that can meaningfully advance energy technologies.
This notice is specifically a modification to the original Funding Opportunity Announcement, and its main purpose is administrative and process-focused: it updates the FOA to clarify deadlines, tighten submission requirements, and spell out how ARPA-E will evaluate full applications and applicant responses to reviewer feedback. In practical terms, the modification adds or highlights key dates (including when questions must be submitted and when full applications are due), revises instructions for the required forms, and provides more explicit guidance on the expected content and format of both Full Applications and Replies to Reviewer Comments. ARPA-E also emphasizes that applicants should use the official templates made available through ARPA-E eXCHANGE, because those templates align with the agency's required structure and review process.
From a review standpoint, the modification is important because it inserts specific evaluation criteria for Full Applications (Section V.A.2) and separate evaluation criteria for Replies to Reviewer Comments (Section V.A.3). That signals a multi-step process where initial submissions can lead to reviewer feedback and applicants may be asked to respond, with those responses themselves being judged against stated standards. The FOA update also adds Program Policy Factors (Section V.B.1), which are the broader considerations ARPA-E uses when making final selections beyond pure technical merit, and it adds information on anticipated announcement and award dates (Section V.B.4) to help applicants understand the expected timeline from submission to decision.
The modification further expands the administrative framework by adding information on Full Application Notifications (Section VI.A.3), Administrative and National Policy Requirements (Section VI.B), and Reporting Requirements (Section VI.C). Collectively, these additions clarify what happens after submission (notifications), what compliance obligations apply if selected (administrative and national policy rules), and what ongoing deliverables awardees must provide (periodic reporting, likely including technical progress and financial or milestone-related updates). It also introduces criteria related to how ARPA-E will address Frequently Asked Questions (Section VII.A) and adds information on Class Waivers (Section VIII.F), which can matter for issues like certain regulatory or contractual requirements that may be waived under defined circumstances.
Key funding details are sizable: ARPA-E anticipated making about 50 awards with an estimated total funding level of $125,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $1,000,000 (floor) to $10,000,000 (ceiling). A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should plan to contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources according to the FOA's terms. The opportunity was originally posted January 7, 2015, with an original closing timeline tied to early-stage submissions, and then extended/modified with a later closing date for full applications.
The submission timeline provided in the notice lays out a staged application path. Notices of Intent were due February 20, 2015, Concept Papers were due February 27, 2015, and Full Applications were due June 29, 2015. ARPA-E strongly encouraged applicants to submit at least 48 hours before each deadline to reduce the risk of last-minute technical issues. A critical process rule is that concept papers must be submitted through ARPA-E eXCHANGE, and ARPA-E explicitly states it will not review or consider concept papers sent by other methods. Applicants are directed to retrieve the FOA from the ARPA-E website and to use the ARPA-E eXCHANGE User Guide for step-by-step submission instructions.
For access and support, the primary portal is ARPA-E eXCHANGE (the agency's online system for FOA materials, templates, and submissions). Applicants who have trouble obtaining the full announcement electronically are given a point of contact: Renee E. Sperling (202-287-6341, renee.sperling@hq.doe.gov). The opportunity ultimately archived on September 30, 2015, which indicates the solicitation period and related administrative lifecycle ended after that date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - OPEN 2015 (DE FOA 0001261) ARPA-E
1) What is OPEN 2015 (DE FOA 0001261)?
OPEN 2015 (DE FOA 0001261) is a competitive funding opportunity from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) under CFDA 81.135. It supports high-impact, advanced energy research and development (R&D) focused on science and technology efforts that can meaningfully advance energy technologies.
2) Who is offering this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is offered by ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy), a U.S. Department of Energy entity focused on catalyzing advanced energy technologies through high-impact R&D.
3) What type of award does ARPA-E plan to use for this FOA?
ARPA-E is using cooperative agreements. This typically means award recipients should expect substantial technical involvement from the government during the project, such as active program management, milestone tracking, and coordination with ARPA-E staff.
4) What does “substantial technical involvement†mean in practice?
Based on the FOA description, it can include active program management by ARPA-E, tracking and managing milestones, and ongoing coordination with ARPA-E staff throughout the project period.
5) Is this notice a new FOA or a modification to an existing FOA?
This notice is a modification to the original Funding Opportunity Announcement. The update is described as administrative and process-focused, with clarifications to deadlines, submission requirements, and evaluation procedures.
6) What is the main purpose of the FOA modification?
The modification updates the FOA to clarify deadlines, tighten submission requirements, and provide more explicit guidance on how ARPA-E will evaluate Full Applications and applicant Replies to Reviewer Comments. It also revises instructions for required forms and highlights the need to use official templates provided through ARPA-E eXCHANGE.
7) What is the overall funding amount and expected number of awards?
ARPA-E anticipated making about 50 awards with an estimated total funding level of $125,000,000.
8) What is the expected award size (minimum and maximum)?
Individual awards were expected to range from $1,000,000 (floor) to $10,000,000 (ceiling).
9) Is cost sharing required?
Yes. A cost sharing (matching) requirement applies, meaning applicants should plan to contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources according to the FOA’s terms.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
The listing describes eligibility as unrestricted, with eligibility details deferred to Section III.A of the FOA.
11) What kind of projects is ARPA-E looking to support?
The opportunity is aimed at high-impact science and technology R&D efforts that can meaningfully advance energy technologies.
12) What are the key submission steps and deadlines?
The notice describes a staged application path with these key dates: Notices of Intent were due February 20, 2015; Concept Papers were due February 27, 2015; and Full Applications were due June 29, 2015.
13) Does ARPA-E recommend submitting before the deadline?
Yes. ARPA-E strongly encouraged applicants to submit at least 48 hours before each deadline to reduce the risk of last-minute technical issues.
14) Where must Concept Papers be submitted?
Concept Papers must be submitted through ARPA-E eXCHANGE. ARPA-E explicitly states it will not review or consider Concept Papers submitted by other methods.
15) What is ARPA-E eXCHANGE and why is it important?
ARPA-E eXCHANGE is ARPA-E’s online portal for FOA materials, official templates, and submission of required application components. Applicants are instructed to use the official templates available through eXCHANGE because they align with ARPA-E’s required structure and review process.
16) What documents or guidance should applicants use for submission?
Applicants are directed to retrieve the FOA from the ARPA-E website and use the ARPA-E eXCHANGE User Guide for step-by-step submission instructions. The modification emphasizes using official templates made available through ARPA-E eXCHANGE.
17) How will Full Applications be evaluated under the modification?
The modification adds specific evaluation criteria for Full Applications in Section V.A.2 of the FOA, making clearer how ARPA-E will assess full submissions.
18) What are “Replies to Reviewer Comments,†and how are they evaluated?
The modification indicates a multi-step review process where applicants may receive reviewer feedback and be asked to respond. It adds separate evaluation criteria for Replies to Reviewer Comments in Section V.A.3, meaning these replies can be judged against stated standards.
19) What are “Program Policy Factors†and why do they matter?
The modification adds Program Policy Factors (Section V.B.1), described as broader considerations ARPA-E uses when making final selections beyond pure technical merit.
20) When should applicants expect award decisions?
The modification adds information on anticipated announcement and award dates (Section V.B.4) to help applicants understand the expected timeline from submission to decision. Specific dates are referenced as being in the FOA sections added/updated by the modification.
21) What happens after a Full Application is submitted?
The modification adds information on Full Application Notifications (Section VI.A.3), which clarifies what happens after submission in terms of notifications to applicants.
22) What compliance obligations apply if selected?
The FOA modification adds Administrative and National Policy Requirements (Section VI.B), which identifies compliance obligations that apply if an applicant is selected for an award.
23) What reporting requirements should awardees expect?
The modification adds Reporting Requirements (Section VI.C). The notice describes ongoing deliverables such as periodic reporting, likely including technical progress and financial or milestone-related updates.
24) How does ARPA-E handle questions and FAQs for this opportunity?
The modification introduces criteria related to how ARPA-E will address Frequently Asked Questions (Section VII.A).
25) What are “Class Waivers,†and where are they addressed?
The modification adds information on Class Waivers (Section VIII.F). These can matter for certain regulatory or contractual requirements that may be waived under defined circumstances, as described in the FOA.
26) When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The opportunity was originally posted January 7, 2015. It was archived on September 30, 2015, indicating the solicitation period and related administrative lifecycle ended after that date.
27) What if an applicant cannot obtain the full announcement electronically?
Applicants who have trouble obtaining the full announcement electronically are given a point of contact: Renee E. Sperling (202-287-6341, renee.sperling@hq.doe.gov).
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