Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000153
Apply for DE FOA 0000153
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information PV Manufacturing Initiative" 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 Sep 4, 2009 and posted on Sep 3, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- The University Led consortia is restricted to domestic universities. Industry participants for the Collaborative Industry Led Consortia must have United States based PV research facilities and demonstrated intent for United States manufacturing within 3 years. All other participants must be United States based organizations. National laboratories may not apply as prime applicants but may apply as team members.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Golden Field Office, issued this notice as a Request for Information (RFI) titled "PV Manufacturing Initiative" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000153). Even though it appears in the same systems where grants are often posted, it is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and it is not requesting proposals or accepting grant applications. Instead, DOE is collecting input from stakeholders and technical experts to shape future program strategy around strengthening photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing in the United States. DOE also makes clear that it will not pay for any information submitted in response to the RFI, and that providing feedback does not guarantee a future funding opportunity will be released.
The underlying purpose of the PV Manufacturing Initiative described in the RFI is to better coordinate stakeholders across the solar community and align technology development efforts so the United States can build and sustain a stronger domestic PV manufacturing sector. DOE frames the initiative around three core outcomes: building a robust, U.S.-based PV manufacturing technology base (including the supporting infrastructure and supply chain); developing a highly trained workforce with the practical skills needed for a rapidly expanding PV industry; and accelerating the deployment of new, cutting-edge manufacturing technologies so innovations move more quickly from development into production. In other words, the focus is not only on advancing PV technology in the lab, but also on scaling manufacturing capability, improving processes and equipment, and ensuring the talent pipeline exists to support growth.
To explore how such an initiative might be structured, DOE highlights three models that were under consideration at the time. The first model is a university-led consortium guided by industry, where domestic universities would lead efforts to conduct manufacturing research projects that are directly relevant to industry needs. The second model is a collaborative, industry-led consortium in which industry participants jointly develop and implement manufacturing research projects and share intellectual property (IP), implying a more collective approach to R&D and commercialization. The third model focuses on manufacturing development efforts, potentially through shared or common facilities, aimed at equipment and process development; in that model, individual companies would maintain exclusive ownership of resulting IP, which can be attractive to firms seeking competitive differentiation while still benefiting from shared infrastructure.
Eligibility details are included to clarify who DOE expects to engage, even though this is an information-gathering request rather than an award competition. The university-led consortium concept is restricted to domestic universities. For the industry-led consortium concept, industry participants must have U.S.-based PV research facilities and must show an intent to manufacture in the United States within three years. More generally, all other participants are expected to be U.S.-based organizations. National laboratories are explicitly not allowed to apply as prime applicants, but they may participate as team members, which signals DOE’s interest in leveraging national lab capabilities in support roles rather than as lead entities.
Administrative details indicate this opportunity is categorized as discretionary and tied to the energy area, with CFDA number 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). It lists cost sharing or matching as a requirement, which signals DOE’s expectation that any eventual program built from this RFI might require non-federal contributions, a common approach for manufacturing and deployment-oriented initiatives. The posting date was September 3, 2009, with a closing date of September 30, 2009, and the record later archived on January 3, 2010. The award floor and ceiling are both shown as 0 because this is not an actual funding announcement making awards.
The RFI instructs respondents to retrieve the full document through FedConnect by searching public opportunities and using the reference number. DOE emphasizes that it will review all responses and consider them when forming program strategies. For access or technical issues, FedConnect support is available via support@fedconnect.net, and an agency contact is listed as Andrea Lucero (Andrea.Lucero@go.doe.gov). Overall, the notice functions as an early-stage market and stakeholder sounding process: DOE is testing program design options, gathering practical feedback from universities and industry, and using that input to decide whether and how to pursue a future PV manufacturing program.
PV Manufacturing Initiative (DE-FOA-0000153) - FAQs
1) Is this a grant or funding opportunity I can apply to?
No. This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) titled "PV Manufacturing Initiative" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000153). DOE states it is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and it is not requesting proposals or accepting grant applications.
2) If it is not a FOA, what is DOE asking for?
DOE is collecting input from stakeholders and technical experts to help shape future program strategy aimed at strengthening photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing in the United States. The RFI is being used as an early-stage stakeholder sounding process.
3) Will DOE pay respondents for preparing or submitting RFI information?
No. DOE explicitly states it will not pay for any information submitted in response to this RFI.
4) Does responding to the RFI improve my chances of receiving future funding?
Not necessarily. DOE notes that providing feedback does not guarantee a future funding opportunity will be released.
5) What is the overall purpose of the PV Manufacturing Initiative described in the RFI?
The purpose is to better coordinate stakeholders across the solar community and align technology development efforts so the United States can build and sustain a stronger domestic PV manufacturing sector.
6) What outcomes is DOE targeting through this initiative?
DOE frames the initiative around three core outcomes:
- Building a robust, U.S.-based PV manufacturing technology base, including supporting infrastructure and the supply chain.
- Developing a highly trained workforce with practical skills for a rapidly expanding PV industry.
- Accelerating deployment of new manufacturing technologies so innovations move more quickly from development into production.
7) Is the focus only on PV technology R&D?
No. The RFI emphasizes not just laboratory advances, but also scaling manufacturing capability, improving processes and equipment, and building the talent pipeline needed to support industry growth.
8) What program models is DOE considering?
The RFI highlights three models under consideration:
- University-led consortium guided by industry: Domestic universities would lead manufacturing research projects directly relevant to industry needs.
- Collaborative, industry-led consortium: Industry participants would jointly develop and implement manufacturing research projects and share intellectual property (IP).
- Manufacturing development efforts (potentially shared facilities): Focused on equipment and process development through shared/common facilities, with companies maintaining exclusive ownership of resulting IP.
9) How do the different models handle intellectual property (IP)?
In the industry-led consortium model, the RFI indicates IP would be shared among participants. In the manufacturing development/shared-facility model, individual companies would maintain exclusive ownership of resulting IP while still benefiting from shared infrastructure.
10) Who is eligible to respond or be involved, based on the RFI?
While this is an information-gathering RFI (not an award competition), DOE provides eligibility expectations tied to the models:
- University-led consortium concept: Restricted to domestic universities.
- Industry-led consortium concept: Industry participants must have U.S.-based PV research facilities and show intent to manufacture in the United States within three years.
- Other participants: Expected to be U.S.-based organizations.
11) Can national laboratories participate?
National laboratories are explicitly not allowed to apply as prime applicants. However, they may participate as team members, indicating DOE interest in national lab capabilities in supporting roles.
12) What agency is issuing the RFI?
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Golden Field Office, issued the RFI.
13) What is the CFDA number and program area listed for this notice?
The notice lists CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development) and categorizes the opportunity as discretionary and tied to the energy area.
14) Does this notice require cost sharing or matching?
The record lists cost sharing or matching as a requirement. Even though this is not a funding announcement, this signals DOE’s expectation that an eventual program built from this RFI might require non-federal contributions.
15) Why do the award floor and award ceiling show as 0?
Because this is not an actual funding announcement making awards. The award floor and ceiling are shown as 0 to reflect that no awards are being offered under this RFI.
16) What are the key dates for this RFI?
- Posting date: September 3, 2009
- Closing date: September 30, 2009
- Archive date: January 3, 2010
17) Where does DOE want respondents to retrieve the full RFI document?
The RFI instructs respondents to retrieve the full document through FedConnect by searching public opportunities and using the reference number.
18) Will DOE review the information submitted in response to the RFI?
Yes. DOE states it will review all responses and consider them when forming program strategies.
19) Who do I contact for FedConnect access or technical issues?
FedConnect support is available at support@fedconnect.net.
20) Who is the DOE point of contact listed for this notice?
The agency contact listed is Andrea Lucero at Andrea.Lucero@go.doe.gov.
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