Opportunity Information: Apply for DE PS36 09GO39007 RFI
Apply for DE PS36 09GO39007 RFI
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information Solar Policy and AnalysisRegional Centers (SPARCs)" 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 Apr 8, 2009 and posted on Apr 3, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 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).
- DOE is issuing this Request for Information for information and feedback from all solar industry stakeholders, specifically institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Golden Field Office, issued a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Solar Policy and Analysis Regional Centers (SPARCs)" under funding opportunity number DE-PS36-09GO39007. This notice is strictly an information-gathering request rather than a funding solicitation, meaning DOE is not accepting grant applications, is not making awards, and has set the award floor and ceiling at $0. The purpose is to collect input that can help DOE shape future program strategies related to solar energy commercialization, with a particular emphasis on how regional policy research and analysis could be organized and delivered through the concept of SPARCs.
At a high level, DOE is exploring the potential creation of Solar Policy and Analysis Regional Centers that would produce and distribute accurate, timely policy research and analysis at the local, state, and regional levels. The underlying idea is that solar deployment is heavily influenced by policies and market conditions that vary by jurisdiction, so having credible, region-specific analysis could help decision-makers and market participants navigate issues such as incentives, permitting, interconnection rules, utility regulation, and other policy drivers that affect the pace and cost of solar adoption. DOE indicates that these centers would be intended to support solar commercialization and to provide benefits to stakeholders nationwide by improving the quality and accessibility of policy intelligence and analytical resources.
This RFI falls under the broader DOE energy activity category and is associated with CFDA number 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development. It also explicitly notes that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, though that point is largely informational given that this is not a funding opportunity. Instead, the central action requested from the public is to provide information and feedback that DOE can review and consider as it refines its approach. DOE makes clear that it will not pay for any information submitted in response to the RFI and that responding does not create any promise or expectation of a subsequent Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). In other words, the agency is testing ideas, gathering perspectives, and building situational awareness, but it is not committing to launch a funded program.
In terms of who DOE wants to hear from, eligibility is intentionally broad and aimed at "all solar industry stakeholders," with a specific callout to institutions of higher education. That wording suggests DOE is particularly interested in perspectives from universities and research institutions that may have regional expertise, policy analysis capability, convening power, and experience translating research into practical guidance. At the same time, the open invitation to stakeholders implies input could also come from state and local governments, non-profits, industry associations, utilities, developers, financiers, and other groups involved in solar deployment or solar-related policy.
The timing details show the RFI was posted on April 3, 2009 (with a creation date of April 8, 2009). The original closing date was April 30, 2009, later extended to May 7, 2009, and the record was archived on August 3, 2009. Interested parties at the time were directed to access the full RFI by using the link provided on the announcement page (described as being available by scrolling to the bottom of the page). Questions about the RFI content were to be submitted through the "Submit Question" feature within DOE's Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) at http://e-center.doe.gov, which indicates DOE wanted questions tracked and managed through its official procurement portal rather than via informal channels.
Contact information included both a technical access route and a program contact. For difficulties accessing the announcement electronically or issues linking to the opportunity, DOE referenced the IIPS HelpDesk (iipshelpdesk@e-center.doe.gov). A named contact was also provided: Andrea Lucero (Andrea.Lucero@go.doe.gov). Overall, the notice functions as a structured request for stakeholder input on whether and how DOE might establish regional solar policy and analysis centers, what those centers should do, and how they could most effectively support solar commercialization across diverse regional policy environments, without promising that a funded program will follow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Solar Policy and Analysis Regional Centers (SPARCs) RFI
What is this DOE notice about?
This notice is a Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) titled "Solar Policy and Analysis Regional Centers (SPARCs)" issued through DOE's Golden Field Office under funding opportunity number DE-PS36-09GO39007. Its purpose is to gather public input that can help DOE shape potential future strategies related to solar energy commercialization, especially around regional policy research and analysis.
Is this a grant or funding opportunity?
No. This is strictly an information-gathering RFI, not a funding solicitation. DOE is not accepting grant applications under this notice and is not making awards.
What is the award amount for this opportunity?
The award floor and the award ceiling are both listed as $0. This reflects that DOE is not awarding funding under this RFI.
Does DOE plan to make awards based on responses to this RFI?
No. DOE states it is not making awards and will not pay for information submitted in response to the RFI.
Does responding to the RFI guarantee there will be a future funded program or FOA?
No. DOE specifically notes that responding does not create any promise or expectation of a subsequent Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The RFI is intended to gather perspectives and inform DOE planning, without committing DOE to launch a funded program.
What is DOE trying to learn or accomplish through this RFI?
DOE is collecting feedback to help refine future program strategies related to solar commercialization. A central theme is exploring whether and how regional policy research and analysis could be organized and delivered through the concept of Solar Policy and Analysis Regional Centers (SPARCs).
What are SPARCs (Solar Policy and Analysis Regional Centers)?
SPARCs are a concept DOE is exploring: regional centers that would produce and distribute accurate, timely solar policy research and analysis at local, state, and regional levels. The intent is to improve decision-making and market understanding in areas where solar deployment is influenced by jurisdiction-specific policy and market conditions.
Why is DOE focusing on regional policy and analysis for solar?
DOE notes that solar deployment is heavily influenced by policies and market conditions that vary by jurisdiction. Region-specific analysis can help stakeholders navigate policy and regulatory factors that affect the pace and cost of solar adoption.
What kinds of topics might SPARCs address?
DOE highlights policy drivers that influence solar adoption, including incentives, permitting, interconnection rules, utility regulation, and other jurisdiction-specific policy and market conditions.
Who is encouraged to respond to this RFI?
DOE seeks input from all solar industry stakeholders and specifically calls out institutions of higher education. The notice implies that input may also be relevant from organizations involved in solar deployment or solar-related policy across jurisdictions.
Are universities and research institutions specifically included?
Yes. DOE explicitly calls out institutions of higher education as a group it wants to hear from, suggesting interest in regional expertise, policy analysis capacity, and experience translating research into practical guidance.
Is there any eligibility restriction to provide feedback?
The RFI describes eligibility broadly as "all solar industry stakeholders," indicating DOE is open to a wide range of perspectives rather than limiting participation to a narrow set of entities.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. However, this is largely informational because the RFI is not a funding opportunity and DOE is not providing funds for responses.
Will DOE pay for the preparation or submission of information?
No. DOE states it will not pay for any information submitted in response to the RFI.
What DOE program/category is this RFI associated with?
This RFI is associated with the DOE energy activity category and references CFDA number 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development.
What is the funding opportunity number for this RFI?
The funding opportunity number is DE-PS36-09GO39007.
When was the RFI posted and when did it close?
The RFI was posted on April 3, 2009 (with a creation date of April 8, 2009). The original closing date was April 30, 2009, and it was later extended to May 7, 2009.
Is this RFI still active?
No. The record indicates it was archived on August 3, 2009.
How were interested parties instructed to access the full RFI?
Interested parties were directed to access the full RFI using the link provided on the announcement page, described as being available by scrolling to the bottom of the page.
How were questions about the RFI supposed to be submitted?
Questions about the RFI content were to be submitted through the "Submit Question" feature within DOE's Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) at http://e-center.doe.gov. This indicates DOE wanted questions handled through its official portal.
Who should be contacted for technical problems accessing the opportunity online?
For difficulties accessing the announcement electronically or issues linking to the opportunity, DOE referenced the IIPS HelpDesk at iipshelpdesk@e-center.doe.gov.
Who is the named contact for this RFI?
The named contact listed is Andrea Lucero at Andrea.Lucero@go.doe.gov.
What is the overall intent of DOE's SPARCs concept as described in the RFI summary?
The notice describes an intent to support solar commercialization and to benefit stakeholders nationwide by improving the quality and accessibility of policy intelligence and analytical resources, especially where policy varies by local, state, and regional jurisdiction.
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