Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001460
Apply for DE FOA 0001460
- The DOE-GFO in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0001460: Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines" 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 Dec 16, 2015 and posted on Dec 16, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 08, 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0001460, titled Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines, is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) information-gathering notice tied to the Optima initiative, led jointly by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO). The core idea behind Optima is that fuels and engines should be designed together, rather than independently, so the final combination delivers better performance and improved carbon efficiency than either side could achieve alone. In practical terms, DOE is looking at how next-generation fuels can be matched with advanced engine concepts, particularly advanced compression ignition (ACI) approaches, to improve efficiency while meeting emissions and real-world operability needs.
The RFI is aimed broadly at stakeholders across industry, universities, national laboratories, government agencies, and other interested parties. DOE is asking for input in three main areas. First, they want perspectives on the overall value, feasibility, and level of interest in co-optimizing fuels and engines, including where stakeholders see the biggest opportunities and why. Second, they want technical feedback on fuel and ACI engine interactions, meaning the details of how fuel properties (chemistry, ignition behavior, volatility, sooting tendency, etc.) influence advanced combustion strategies and engine designs, and what research gaps remain. Third, they are explicitly seeking insight into the real-world barriers that could slow or prevent adoption, such as market acceptance challenges, infrastructure limitations, compatibility with existing vehicles and fuel systems, emissions compliance issues, cost, and the broader deployment pathway.
A major purpose of this RFI is program planning rather than procurement. EERE is using the responses to understand what additional research areas are worth pursuing, what capabilities exist outside DOE (especially in universities and collaborative networks), and what technical or non-technical obstacles have not been fully addressed. The information collected is intended to inform DOE strategy and future engagement. DOE also notes that any information they obtain may be used on a non-attribution basis for planning and strategy development, meaning the government may synthesize feedback without publicly tying specific ideas to specific respondents.
This notice is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and it is not an open call for proposals or applications. No awards will be made under this RFI, no projects will be funded as a direct result of submitting a response, and DOE will not reimburse any costs incurred to prepare or submit input. While DOE states it may issue a FOA in the future that is related to the topics discussed here, it may also choose not to, and there is no guarantee of future funding. Importantly, responding (or not responding) to the RFI does not give any advantage or disadvantage if DOE later releases a FOA connected to this subject.
Submission requirements are straightforward and fairly specific. Responses were required to be submitted electronically via email to OptimaRFI@ee.doe.gov by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on January 8, 2016. DOE requested that responses be attached to the email as a Microsoft Word (.docx) document, limited to five pages, using 12-point font and one-inch margins. For large attachments exceeding 25 MB, respondents were advised to compress files (for example, by zipping) to help ensure delivery. Only electronic submissions were accepted. The full RFI was posted on the EERE eXCHANGE website (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov).
The listing metadata includes elements commonly associated with financial assistance listings (for example, it appears under an opportunity number and notes a cooperative agreement instrument type and an energy assistance CFDA number 81.087), but the substance of the announcement makes clear that this specific posting is purely an RFI with zero expected awards and no application process. Any future award size, timing, and quantity, if a related FOA were ever issued, would depend on congressional appropriations and DOE direction at that later time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0001460?
DE-FOA-0001460 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) titled Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines. It is an information-gathering notice tied to DOE's Optima initiative and is intended to collect stakeholder input for program planning and strategy development.
Is this a funding opportunity or a call for grant applications?
No. This notice is explicitly an RFI, not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). DOE is not requesting project proposals or applications under this notice.
Will DOE make any awards or fund any projects under this RFI?
No. DOE states that no awards will be made under this RFI and no projects will be funded as a direct result of submitting a response.
Will DOE reimburse costs to prepare or submit an RFI response?
No. DOE will not reimburse any costs incurred to prepare or submit information in response to this RFI.
What is the Optima initiative and what is the main idea behind it?
Optima is a DOE initiative based on the idea that fuels and engines should be designed together (co-optimized) rather than independently. The goal is to achieve better performance and improved carbon efficiency from the combined fuel-engine system than either side could deliver on its own.
Which DOE offices are leading this effort?
The Optima initiative referenced in the RFI is led jointly by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO).
What kinds of engines and combustion concepts does the RFI emphasize?
The RFI highlights matching next-generation fuels with advanced engine concepts, particularly advanced compression ignition (ACI) approaches, to improve efficiency while meeting emissions and real-world operability needs.
Who was encouraged to respond to the RFI?
DOE aimed the RFI broadly at stakeholders across industry, universities, national laboratories, government agencies, and other interested parties.
What types of input was DOE asking for?
DOE requested input in three main areas: (1) perspectives on the overall value, feasibility, and interest in co-optimizing fuels and engines; (2) technical feedback on interactions between fuel properties and ACI engine strategies/designs, including research gaps; and (3) real-world barriers that could prevent or slow adoption and the broader deployment pathway.
What does DOE mean by "co-optimizing" fuels and engines?
In this context, co-optimization means developing fuel properties and engine/combustion strategies together so they complement each other. DOE is specifically seeking insight into how adjusting fuel characteristics can enable or improve advanced combustion approaches, and how engine concepts might be designed around those fuel characteristics.
What fuel properties and behaviors were considered relevant in the RFI?
The RFI references fuel properties and behaviors such as chemistry, ignition behavior, volatility, sooting tendency, and related characteristics that influence advanced combustion strategies and engine designs.
What kinds of technical gaps was DOE trying to identify?
DOE sought technical feedback on fuel and ACI engine interactions and asked respondents to help identify remaining research gaps related to how fuel properties influence advanced combustion strategies and engine designs.
What "real-world barriers" did DOE specifically mention?
DOE explicitly called out barriers such as market acceptance challenges, infrastructure limitations, compatibility with existing vehicles and fuel systems, emissions compliance issues, cost, and the broader pathway for deployment.
What is DOE planning to do with the information collected?
DOE indicated the RFI is for program planning. Responses are intended to help DOE understand which additional research areas are worth pursuing, what capabilities exist outside DOE (including universities and collaborative networks), and what technical or non-technical obstacles may not be fully addressed.
Will DOE attribute ideas or comments to specific respondents?
DOE notes that information obtained may be used on a non-attribution basis for planning and strategy development, meaning DOE may synthesize and use feedback without publicly tying specific ideas to specific respondents.
Does responding to the RFI improve chances if DOE later releases a related FOA?
No. DOE states that responding (or not responding) to the RFI does not provide any advantage or disadvantage if DOE later releases a FOA connected to this subject.
Could DOE issue a future FOA related to this RFI?
DOE states it may issue a FOA in the future related to the topics discussed, but it may also choose not to. There is no guarantee of future funding.
If a future FOA happens, are award size and timing known now?
No. DOE notes that any future award size, timing, and quantity (if a related FOA were issued) would depend on congressional appropriations and DOE direction at that later time.
What was the submission deadline for RFI responses?
Responses were required to be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on January 8, 2016.
How were responses submitted?
Responses were required to be submitted electronically via email to OptimaRFI@ee.doe.gov. Only electronic submissions were accepted.
What file format did DOE request for responses?
DOE requested that responses be attached to the email as a Microsoft Word (.docx) document.
Were there formatting and length limits for the response?
Yes. DOE requested responses be limited to five pages and formatted with 12-point font and one-inch margins.
What if an email attachment was larger than 25 MB?
For attachments exceeding 25 MB, DOE advised respondents to compress files (for example, by zipping) to help ensure delivery.
Where was the full RFI posted?
The full RFI was posted on the EERE eXCHANGE website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.
The listing shows things like an opportunity number and CFDA 81.087. Does that mean it is financial assistance?
The metadata includes elements commonly associated with financial assistance listings (including an opportunity number, a cooperative agreement instrument type, and CFDA number 81.087), but the substance of the announcement makes clear that this specific posting is purely an RFI with zero expected awards and no application process.
What is the main practical focus of the technical discussion in this RFI?
The practical focus is understanding how next-generation fuels can be matched with advanced compression ignition (ACI) engine approaches to improve efficiency while also meeting emissions requirements and real-world operability needs.
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