Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001635
Apply for DE FOA 0001635
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information - DE-FOA-0001635 - POTENTIAL TECHNICAL FOCUS AREAS FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING-RELATED TRAINEESHIPS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 17, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 14, 2016 All responses to this RFI must be provided as an attachment (in Microsoft Word format) to an e-mail message addressed to AMOTraineeship@ee.doe.gov. Responses must be received no later than 500pm (ET) on October 14th, 2016.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2.00 in funding.
- 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
This opportunity, titled "Request for Information (RFI) - DE-FOA-0001635 - Potential Technical Focus Areas for Advanced Manufacturing-Related Traineeships," is a Department of Energy (DOE) information-gathering notice rather than a funding competition. It comes from DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), and its goal is to collect input from a wide range of stakeholders on what technical areas and workforce needs should shape future DOE-funded graduate traineeship programs tied to advanced manufacturing. Because it is an RFI and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOE is not accepting proposals or making awards under this notice; instead, it is building a knowledge base to inform potential future traineeship funding and program design.
At the core of the RFI is DOE's interest in university-led, graduate-level traineeship programs that are designed to meet national workforce needs aligned with DOE's mission. The notice frames traineeships as a strategic tool for developing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) competencies that directly support DOE priorities around U.S. security and prosperity, especially as they relate to science, energy, and environmental challenges. In practical terms, DOE is looking for feedback on the kinds of advanced manufacturing skills and disciplinary training that are most important for the agency's mission areas, and how traineeships can be structured to reliably produce graduates prepared for DOE-relevant careers.
A key theme is that DOE wants traineeships to address priority workforce gaps that are not already well covered by other federal programs or typical academic training pathways. The RFI emphasizes that DOE-funded traineeships should focus on disciplines and competencies that are particularly relevant to EERE and AMO, especially where existing workforce development efforts are missing, insufficient, or not being applied to DOE mission needs. This signals that DOE is not simply looking for general manufacturing education ideas, but for targeted technical focus areas where specialized, mission-driven training could meaningfully strengthen the advanced manufacturing talent pipeline.
The RFI also provides context by referencing a prior EERE effort: a July 2015 FOA that targeted graduate training in advanced Power Electronics Engineering, aiming to prepare students for careers beyond academia. That effort resulted in two competitively selected awards supporting five-year graduate programs, and it leveraged existing DOE innovation infrastructure, including the wide band gap National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) Institute known as PowerAmerica. By highlighting this example, the RFI suggests DOE may be considering similar traineeship models in other advanced manufacturing domains, potentially built around partnerships, shared facilities, and nationally coordinated innovation assets.
In terms of who DOE wants to hear from, eligibility is broadly open and described as unrestricted. The RFI invites responses from industry, universities, research laboratories, government agencies, and other relevant stakeholders. This broad outreach is typical of RFIs and indicates DOE is trying to capture perspectives from employers who hire advanced manufacturing talent, academic programs that train it, labs that develop and use cutting-edge manufacturing methods, and public-sector groups that understand national and regional workforce constraints.
Submission instructions are straightforward but specific. Responses had to be submitted by email to AMOTraineeship@ee.doe.gov, with the response included as an attachment in Microsoft Word format. The deadline for receipt was 5:00 pm Eastern Time on October 14, 2016. The posting notes that the complete announcement was available through the EERE Exchange website (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov), which is DOE's platform for EERE-related funding and related public notices.
From the source data, the notice is categorized as a discretionary opportunity with an "Other" funding instrument type and an energy-related activity category, listed under CFDA 81.087. The issuing office is identified as the Department of Energy, Golden Field Office. Importantly, the expected number of awards is listed as zero, which is consistent with the fact that an RFI does not provide funding by itself; it is used to shape future program decisions, such as the design of a later FOA that would invite applications for actual traineeship funding.
Overall, the RFI is best understood as DOE AMO and EERE taking an early, public planning step to identify high-value technical focus areas for advanced manufacturing traineeships, clarify where the most important workforce gaps exist, and learn how future graduate training programs could be structured to produce DOE-mission-relevant skills. Stakeholder responses would help DOE decide what topics to prioritize, what competencies matter most, and how to design traineeships that complement rather than duplicate other workforce development efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is DE-FOA-0001635?
DE-FOA-0001635 is a Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) titled "Potential Technical Focus Areas for Advanced Manufacturing-Related Traineeships." It is an information-gathering notice intended to collect stakeholder input that could shape future DOE-funded graduate traineeship programs connected to advanced manufacturing.
Is this a funding opportunity or a competition for grants?
No. This notice is an RFI, not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). DOE is not accepting project proposals, and it is not making awards under this notice.
What is the purpose of this RFI?
The purpose is to gather input from a wide range of stakeholders on (1) which advanced manufacturing technical areas should be prioritized and (2) what workforce needs should guide potential future DOE-supported graduate traineeship programs.
Which DOE offices are leading this RFI?
The RFI comes from DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO). The issuing office is identified as the Department of Energy, Golden Field Office.
What type of traineeships is DOE considering for the future?
DOE is interested in university-led, graduate-level traineeship programs that build STEM competencies aligned with DOE's mission and national workforce needs. The RFI focuses on training that prepares graduates for DOE-relevant careers, including careers beyond academia.
What kinds of input is DOE trying to collect?
Based on the notice, DOE is seeking input on advanced manufacturing skills, disciplines, and competencies that are most important to DOE mission areas, and on how traineeships could be structured to reliably produce graduates prepared for DOE-relevant careers.
What is the main theme behind DOE-funded traineeships mentioned in the RFI?
A key theme is that DOE wants traineeships to address priority workforce gaps that are not already well covered by other federal programs or typical academic training pathways. The intent is to target technical focus areas where specialized, mission-driven training could strengthen the advanced manufacturing talent pipeline.
Is DOE looking for general manufacturing education ideas?
No. The RFI signals interest in targeted technical focus areas that are particularly relevant to EERE and AMO, especially in areas where existing workforce development efforts are missing, insufficient, or not being applied to DOE mission needs.
Who is allowed to respond to this RFI?
Eligibility to respond is described as unrestricted. DOE invites responses from industry, universities, research laboratories, government agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
How were responses required to be submitted?
Responses had to be submitted by email to AMOTraineeship@ee.doe.gov, with the response included as an attachment in Microsoft Word format.
What was the submission deadline for responses?
The deadline for receipt was 5:00 pm Eastern Time on October 14, 2016.
Where was the complete announcement posted?
The posting notes that the complete announcement was available through the EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.
Does this RFI result in any awards?
No. The expected number of awards is listed as zero, which is consistent with the fact that an RFI does not provide funding by itself.
Why does the notice have a DE-FOA number if it is not a funding opportunity?
The notice is cataloged and tracked like other DOE opportunities and public notices, but it is explicitly described as an RFI rather than an FOA. The listing also reflects that the expected number of awards is zero.
What does DOE plan to do with the information it receives?
DOE intends to use stakeholder input to build a knowledge base that can inform potential future traineeship funding and program design, including decisions about which topics to prioritize and what competencies matter most.
Does the RFI mention any prior DOE traineeship effort as an example?
Yes. The RFI references a July 2015 EERE FOA that targeted graduate training in advanced Power Electronics Engineering, which resulted in two competitively selected awards supporting five-year graduate programs.
What features of the 2015 example does the RFI highlight?
It highlights that the prior effort aimed to prepare students for careers beyond academia and leveraged DOE innovation infrastructure, including the wide band gap National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) Institute known as PowerAmerica.
What does referencing PowerAmerica and NNMI suggest about future traineeship models?
Based on the context provided, it suggests DOE may be considering traineeship models in other advanced manufacturing domains that could be built around partnerships, shared facilities, and nationally coordinated innovation assets.
How is this notice categorized in the source data?
The notice is categorized as a discretionary opportunity with an "Other" funding instrument type. It is listed under an energy-related activity category and associated with CFDA 81.087.
If there is no funding, why should stakeholders participate?
The RFI is presented as an early, public planning step. Stakeholder responses can influence how DOE defines high-value technical focus areas, identifies workforce gaps, and designs future graduate traineeship programs that align with DOE mission needs.
Is DOE asking for applications to run traineeship programs under this RFI?
No. DOE is not accepting proposals or making awards under this notice. The RFI is limited to collecting information and perspectives to inform potential future program decisions.
What mission alignment does DOE emphasize for these potential traineeships?
The notice frames traineeships as a strategic tool to develop STEM competencies that support DOE priorities related to U.S. security and prosperity, particularly around science, energy, and environmental challenges.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Energy
Next opportunity: Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment Programs
Previous opportunity: Notice of Intent: Improve access to NPS Archives
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for DE FOA 0001635
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0001635) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Request for Information (RFI): Cellulosic Sugar and Lignin Production Capabilities Apply for DE FOA 0001615 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001615 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY2017 Scientific Infrastructure Support for CINR Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for DE FOA 0001516 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001516 Agency: Department of Energy, Idaho Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| DE-FOA-0001631: Request for Information: Miscellaneous Electric Loads (MELs) Energy Efficiency Research and Development Apply for DE FOA 0001631 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001631 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| RFI: Wind Wildlife Operational and Compensatory Mitigation Apply for DE FOA 0001668 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001668 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent to Issue: DE-FOA-0001660 - Deployment of Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects on Indian Lands - 2016 Apply for DE FOA 0001659 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001659 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Topics for Advanced Combustion Systems of the Future Apply for DE FOA 0001665 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001665 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| University Turbine Systems Request for Information FY17 Apply for DE FOA 0001671 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001671 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Request for Information: Teaming Partner List for Upcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement: Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) - 2017 Apply for DE FOA 0001675 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001675 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) 2017 Apply for DE FOA 0001672 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001672 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent (NOI) DE-FOA-0001680 to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0001647 Apply for DE FOA 0001680 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001680 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Collaboration Opportunity Notice with the National Energy Technology Laboratory Apply for DE FOA 0001687 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001687 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Scaling Up the Next Generation of Building Efficiency Packages Apply for DE FOA 0001518 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001518 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Notice of Intent to issue Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0001630: Building America Industry Partnerships for High Performance Housing Innovation - 2017 Apply for DE FOA 0001690 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001690 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Geothermal Deep Direct-Use Feasibility Studies Apply for DE FOA 0001642 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001642 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Needs Related to Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas, Beneficial Use of Produced Water, Offshore Spill Prevention, Natural Gas Conversion, and Offshore Carbon Dioxide Storage/Enhanced Oil Recovery Apply for DE FOA 0001693 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001693 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| RFI - HydroNEXT: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development of Hydropower in Undeveloped Stream Reaches of the United States Apply for DE FOA 0001685 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001685 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Building America Industry Partnerships for High Performance Housing Innovation - 2017 Apply for DE FOA 0001630 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001630 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Development and Advancement Apply for DE FOA 0001684 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001684 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Solar Forecasting II Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for DE FOA 0001649 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001649 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DE-FOA-0001660: Deployment of Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy on Indian Lands - 2017 Apply for DE FOA 0001660 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001660 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DE FOA 0001635", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.