Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001473
Apply for DE FOA 0001473
- The DOE-ARPAE in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "RFI Energy Efficiency Optimization for Connected and Automated Vehicles" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 04, 2016 and posted on Jan 04, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 01, 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 $1.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The opportunity titled "RFI Energy Efficiency Optimization for Connected and Automated Vehicles" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001473) is a Department of Energy ARPA-E Request for Information, posted January 4, 2016, with responses due February 1, 2016. Despite appearing in the grants system and listing instruments like grants and cooperative agreements, this notice is not a funding opportunity and it is not accepting applications for financial assistance. Its only purpose is to gather technical and programmatic input that ARPA-E may use to shape and design potential future research and development programs. In other words, it is a market and technology sounding exercise meant to help ARPA-E understand what is possible, what is emerging, and what gaps remain before any formal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) might exist.
ARPA-E is specifically asking researchers and developers across multiple disciplines to provide ideas and information on advanced energy efficiency optimization technologies for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). The focus is on technologies that can reduce the energy use tied to automotive transportation beyond what is already expected to show up in future vehicles through normal industry evolution. The RFI is centered on "full vehicle and powertrain control" and the broader ecosystem of controls, analytics, and optimization that become possible when vehicles are both automated and connected. ARPA-E highlights interest in automotive vehicle control, powertrain control, and transportation analytics, which signals that they are looking not only at component-level improvements, but also at system-level strategies that coordinate propulsion, motion planning, and operational decisions in ways that cut fuel or electricity consumption.
The types of concepts ARPA-E is seeking include new and emerging approaches to controlling the overall vehicle and its powertrain, methods to optimize individual vehicle operation (whether a human is driving or automation is engaged), and strategies that use connectivity to enable better control decisions. Connectivity here can imply vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure information sharing, access to traffic and signal timing data, routing and speed harmonization, predictive control based on real-time conditions, and coordinated behaviors that reduce stop-and-go driving, unnecessary acceleration, or inefficient powertrain operation. The RFI language also leaves room for advanced control architectures, algorithms, and operational concepts that could apply across internal combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, and other advanced powertrains, as long as the end result is meaningful reductions in energy consumed per trip or per mile.
Eligibility is effectively open, described as "unrestricted," meaning any type of entity can provide input, subject to any clarifications in the full text. The activity category is research and development (science and technology), and the CFDA number listed is 81.135, which is commonly associated with ARPA-E. The listing includes placeholders such as an award ceiling of 1 dollar and expected awards of 1, which is typical of RFIs appearing in grant portals even though they do not actually result in awards. The key practical takeaway is that participation would have been limited to submitting information and perspectives to ARPA-E by the stated deadline, not submitting a proposal for funding.
Overall, the RFI is best understood as ARPA-E testing the landscape for high-impact, beyond-incremental ideas in energy efficiency optimization for the coming era of connected and automated driving. The agency is signaling interest in control and optimization as a major lever for transportation energy reduction, and is collecting input to decide whether and how to structure a future program that could later solicit competitive R&D proposals under a formal FOA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "RFI Energy Efficiency Optimization for Connected and Automated Vehicles"?
It is a Department of Energy ARPA-E Request for Information (RFI) titled "Energy Efficiency Optimization for Connected and Automated Vehicles" with Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001473. The RFI was posted on January 4, 2016, and responses were due February 1, 2016.
Is DE-FOA-0001473 an actual funding opportunity?
No. Even though it appears in grants systems and may display financial assistance instruments (such as grants or cooperative agreements), this notice is not a funding opportunity and it is not accepting applications for financial assistance.
If it is not offering funding, what is the purpose of this notice?
The purpose is to gather technical and programmatic input that ARPA-E may use to shape and design potential future research and development programs. It is a market and technology sounding exercise to help ARPA-E understand what is possible, what is emerging, and what gaps remain before any formal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) might be issued.
What does "RFI" mean in this context?
RFI stands for Request for Information. In this case, it means ARPA-E is asking the community to submit ideas, perspectives, and technical input, rather than submitting grant applications for funding.
Who is issuing this RFI?
The RFI is issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) through ARPA-E (the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy).
What topic area is ARPA-E asking about?
ARPA-E is asking for ideas and information on advanced energy efficiency optimization technologies for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), with an emphasis on approaches that reduce transportation energy use beyond what is expected through normal industry evolution.
What kinds of vehicles or powertrains are relevant to the RFI?
The RFI leaves room for concepts that could apply across internal combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, and other advanced powertrains, as long as the result is meaningful reductions in energy consumed per trip or per mile.
What does ARPA-E mean by focusing on "full vehicle and powertrain control"?
The RFI centers on full vehicle and powertrain control and the broader ecosystem of controls, analytics, and optimization that become possible when vehicles are both automated and connected. This signals interest beyond component-level improvements, including system-level strategies that coordinate propulsion, motion planning, and operational decisions to reduce fuel or electricity consumption.
What disciplines or technical areas does ARPA-E appear to be targeting?
ARPA-E explicitly highlights interest in automotive vehicle control, powertrain control, and transportation analytics, and is seeking input from researchers and developers across multiple disciplines.
What types of concepts is ARPA-E seeking through this RFI?
Examples of concept types described include: new and emerging approaches to controlling the overall vehicle and its powertrain; methods to optimize individual vehicle operation (whether a human is driving or automation is engaged); and strategies that use connectivity to enable better control decisions.
What does "connectivity" imply in this RFI?
Connectivity can include vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure information sharing, access to traffic and signal timing data, routing and speed harmonization, predictive control based on real-time conditions, and coordinated behaviors that reduce stop-and-go driving, unnecessary acceleration, or inefficient powertrain operation.
Is ARPA-E only interested in component improvements?
No. The RFI indicates interest in both system-level and control/optimization approaches, not only component-level improvements. The emphasis is on coordinating vehicle control, powertrain control, analytics, and operational strategies to reduce energy use.
What is the intended impact ARPA-E is looking for?
ARPA-E is looking for high-impact, beyond-incremental ideas that can reduce the energy use tied to automotive transportation beyond what is expected to appear in future vehicles through normal industry evolution.
What is the activity category for this notice?
The activity category is research and development (science and technology), reflecting the RFI's focus on potential future R&D directions.
Who is eligible to respond?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity can provide input (subject to any clarifications in the full text of the notice).
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 81.135, which is commonly associated with ARPA-E.
Why does the listing show things like an award ceiling of $1 and expected awards of 1?
Those values are described as placeholders that can appear when RFIs are posted in grant portals, even when the notice does not actually result in awards. The key takeaway is that the RFI is for information gathering, not awarding funds.
Does submitting a response to this RFI result in a grant, cooperative agreement, or other award?
No. This notice is not accepting applications for financial assistance and is not intended to make awards. Participation would have been limited to submitting information and perspectives by the stated deadline.
What was the deadline to respond to the RFI?
Responses were due February 1, 2016.
When was the RFI posted?
The RFI was posted on January 4, 2016.
What might happen after an RFI like this?
ARPA-E may use the submitted input to decide whether and how to structure a future program. If ARPA-E chooses to move forward, it could later release a formal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that solicits competitive R&D proposals.
What is the most practical takeaway for someone reviewing this listing in a grants system?
The practical takeaway is that this listing is an RFI intended for submitting technical/programmatic input by the deadline, not a call for funding applications.
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