Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001329
Apply for DE FOA 0001329
- The Golden Field Office in the education energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SOLAR TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONALS (STEP)" 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 Jul 30, 2015 and posted on May 14, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 14, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Special district governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Individuals Private institutions of higher education County governments Independent school districts City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
- For Topic 3, eligibility to apply is restricted to current awardees of the Grid Engineering for Accelerated Renewable Energy Deployment (GEARED) FOA Topic 1.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Solar Training and Education for Professionals (STEP) funding opportunity (DOE FOA 0001329) is a U.S. Department of Energy solicitation, administered through the Golden Field Office, focused on strengthening the solar workforce and the broader ecosystem of professionals who influence solar deployment. The announcement notes a modification that extends all submission deadlines, with the application window ultimately running through August 14, 2015 (originally July 29, 2015). Awards are expected to be made through cooperative agreements, meaning recipients should anticipate substantial involvement from DOE during the project period, and cost sharing is required.
Programmatically, STEP is built around several workforce and market enablement goals. One major emphasis is improving coordination across the Solar Training Network (STN), military bases, and the solar industry. The intent is to keep instructors and training programs tightly connected to real employer needs, ensure STN training materials stay current with evolving technologies and practices, and create clearer on-ramps for veterans to enter solar training programs and, ultimately, solar jobs. Another core element is the creation of new credentials, specifically aimed at solar operations and maintenance as well as mid scale installations. This points to a push for standardized, recognized qualifications that can make hiring and career progression more straightforward, while also improving quality and safety in the field.
STEP also reaches beyond traditional installer or technician training by supporting education for professionals in indirect or related sectors that can either accelerate or slow solar adoption. The FOA explicitly calls out audiences such as real estate, finance, insurance, fire and code enforcement, and state regulatory professionals. In practice, this kind of training can help reduce soft costs and friction in the permitting, inspection, financing, underwriting, and property transaction processes by ensuring that decision-makers and gatekeepers understand solar technology, risks, benefits, codes, and relevant policies. Finally, the FOA supports expansion of the GEARED initiative (Grid Engineering for Accelerated Renewable Energy Deployment), signaling an interest in growing education and training capacity tied to grid integration and renewable deployment challenges.
On funding structure, STEP lists an estimated total program funding level of $12,000,000, with individual awards ranging from a floor of $200,000 up to a ceiling of $4,000,000. Although the source data shows "ExpectedAwards: 0," that field is sometimes left blank or not updated in public extracts and does not necessarily mean no awards will be made; applicants would need to rely on the full FOA for definitive award expectations and topic-specific allocations.
Eligibility is broad and includes state and local governments (including counties, cities or townships, and special district governments), tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and other nonprofit entities), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), and even individuals. A key limitation is topic-specific: for Topic 3, eligibility is restricted to current awardees of the GEARED FOA Topic 1, meaning only those existing recipients can apply under that portion of the opportunity.
Applications must be submitted through the EERE Exchange portal (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov), and prospective applicants must register and create an account to apply. The EERE Exchange User Guide is available within the system after login (via the Manuals section), and the FOA indicates that instructions for asking content questions and submission-related questions are contained in the full announcement posted on EERE Exchange. The listed point of contact for access issues is Clay L. Pfrangle, reachable at step@ee.doe.gov.
STEP (DOE FOA 0001329) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the Solar Training and Education for Professionals (STEP) funding opportunity?
STEP (DOE FOA 0001329) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity focused on strengthening the solar workforce and the broader ecosystem of professionals who influence solar deployment. It emphasizes training, education, and market enablement efforts that can support solar adoption at scale.
Which DOE office is administering STEP?
The solicitation is administered through the DOE Golden Field Office.
Was the STEP submission deadline modified?
Yes. The announcement notes a modification that extends all submission deadlines.
What is the final application deadline for STEP?
The extended application window runs through August 14, 2015 (the original deadline was July 29, 2015).
What type of award instrument is DOE expecting to use?
Awards are expected to be made through cooperative agreements.
What does it mean that STEP awards are cooperative agreements?
It means recipients should anticipate substantial involvement from DOE during the project period, consistent with a cooperative agreement structure.
Is cost sharing required under this opportunity?
Yes. The FOA states that cost sharing is required.
What is the estimated total funding available under STEP?
STEP lists an estimated total program funding level of $12,000,000.
What is the minimum and maximum individual award size?
Individual awards are expected to range from $200,000 (minimum) up to $4,000,000 (maximum).
How many awards will DOE make under STEP?
The source data shows "ExpectedAwards: 0," but that field can be blank or not updated in public extracts and does not necessarily mean no awards will be made. For definitive expectations, applicants would need to rely on the full FOA and any topic-specific allocations described there.
What are the main goals or focus areas of STEP?
Based on the description provided, STEP is organized around workforce and market enablement goals, including: improving coordination across the Solar Training Network (STN), military bases, and the solar industry; ensuring training materials and instruction stay aligned with employer needs and evolving technologies; creating clearer pathways for veterans into training and solar jobs; developing new credentials (especially for solar operations and maintenance and mid-scale installations); educating professionals in indirect sectors that influence solar adoption; and supporting expansion of the GEARED initiative.
How does STEP relate to the Solar Training Network (STN)?
One major emphasis is improving coordination across the STN, military bases, and the solar industry. The intent is to keep instructors and training programs connected to real employer needs and to keep STN training materials current as technologies and practices evolve.
How does STEP support veterans and military-connected pathways into solar careers?
STEP aims to create clearer on-ramps for veterans to enter solar training programs and, ultimately, solar jobs by strengthening coordination between training efforts, military bases, and industry.
Does STEP support the creation of credentials or certifications?
Yes. A core element is creating new credentials aimed at solar operations and maintenance as well as mid-scale installations.
Why is STEP emphasizing credentials for operations and maintenance and mid-scale installations?
The stated direction points to a push for standardized, recognized qualifications that can make hiring and career progression more straightforward, while also improving quality and safety in the field.
Is STEP limited to installer or technician training?
No. STEP also supports education for professionals in indirect or related sectors that can accelerate or slow solar adoption.
Which non-solar occupations or sectors are explicitly mentioned as target audiences?
The FOA explicitly calls out professionals in real estate, finance, insurance, fire and code enforcement, and state regulatory roles.
What is the purpose of training professionals in sectors like real estate, finance, insurance, and code enforcement?
This kind of training can help reduce soft costs and process friction in permitting, inspection, financing, underwriting, and property transactions by ensuring decision-makers understand solar technology, risks, benefits, codes, and relevant policies.
What is GEARED, and how does it connect to STEP?
STEP supports expansion of the GEARED initiative (Grid Engineering for Accelerated Renewable Energy Deployment), indicating interest in growing education and training capacity related to grid integration and renewable deployment challenges.
Who is eligible to apply for STEP?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state and local governments (including counties, cities or townships, and special district governments); tribal governments and tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and other nonprofit entities); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits); and individuals.
Are there any topic-specific eligibility restrictions?
Yes. For Topic 3, eligibility is restricted to current awardees of the GEARED FOA Topic 1.
Where must applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted through the EERE Exchange portal at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.
Do applicants need to register to apply?
Yes. Prospective applicants must register and create an account in EERE Exchange to apply.
Where can applicants find help using EERE Exchange?
The EERE Exchange User Guide is available within the system after login, via the Manuals section.
How do applicants ask questions about the FOA content or the submission process?
The FOA indicates that instructions for asking content questions and submission-related questions are contained in the full announcement posted on EERE Exchange.
Who should be contacted for EERE Exchange access issues related to this opportunity?
The listed point of contact for access issues is Clay L. Pfrangle at step@ee.doe.gov.
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