Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000677
Apply for DE FOA 0000677
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance Core Technology Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089 Fossil Energy Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 16, 2012 and posted on Mar 16, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 30, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 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.
- All types of entities are eligible to apply, except other Federal agencies, Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) Contractors, and nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995. The National Energy Technology Laboratory is neither eligible to receive an award nor to be proposed as a team member.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Core Technology Program funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000677) was a U.S. Department of Energy effort, administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), aimed at accelerating the commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for stationary power generation. The program sat within the Office of Fossil Energy's Fuel Cell Program and was structured to support a coordinated portfolio of research projects that tackle foundational science and engineering problems holding back real-world SOFC deployment. A key theme is that the work funded under this announcement is meant to benefit multiple SECA industry teams rather than a single proprietary development path, helping to avoid duplicated R&D across different groups and pushing the entire field forward in a more unified way.
Technically, the announcement focused on the core barriers that determine whether SOFC systems can move from promising prototypes to commercially viable products, especially when operating on coal-derived synthesis gas (syngas). That fuel choice matters because syngas from coal can introduce contaminants and challenging operating conditions that stress fuel cell materials and components. The FOA emphasized the need for "engineering scientific solutions" to issues that SECA industry teams were facing, with particular weight placed on improving SOFC stack reliability, robustness, and endurance to levels that make sense for commercial stationary power applications. At the same time, applicants were expected to keep cost-reduction objectives in view, reflecting the SECA model of pairing performance and durability improvements with pathways to lower manufacturing and system costs.
From an organizational standpoint, the opportunity was designed for broad participation across the U.S. research ecosystem. Universities, national laboratories, small businesses, and other R&D organizations were all within the intended audience, and the stated eligibility was generally unrestricted across entity types, with a few notable exclusions. Other federal agencies could not apply, federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) contractors were excluded, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations that engaged in lobbying after December 31, 1995 were also ineligible. NETL itself could not receive an award and could not be named as a team member, which is a common structure when the administering lab is acting in a federal program management role rather than as a performer.
In practical grant terms, this was a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the award instrument, signaling that DOE anticipated substantial involvement during the project period (for example, collaboration on milestones, reviews, and technical direction consistent with cooperative agreements). The FOA anticipated about five awards, with an estimated total funding level of $2.5 million and an award ceiling of $500,000 per project (with no stated minimum award floor). Cost sharing was required, meaning recipients needed to contribute a portion of the total project cost from non-federal sources, which typically serves as a commitment and leverage mechanism for applied energy technology development.
Timing details place the FOA in 2012, posted March 16, 2012 with an application deadline of April 30, 2012, and later archived July 30, 2012. The CFDA number associated with it was 81.089 (Fossil Energy Research and Development). Applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement were directed to a NETL contracting contact (Meghaan D. Hampton), reflecting that full technical scope, topic areas, and submission instructions were hosted through the federal posting systems (noted as FedConnect in the listing).
Overall, the opportunity was essentially a targeted R&D call to solve the cross-cutting technology problems that limit SOFC stack durability and real-world operation on coal-derived syngas, while keeping an eye on cost and manufacturability. By making the resulting advances broadly available to SECA industry teams, the program aimed to speed commercialization of SOFC-based stationary power systems and reinforce U.S. leadership in fuel cell and high-efficiency power generation technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Core Technology Program funding opportunity announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0000677. It was a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) effort administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to accelerate commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for stationary power generation.
What is the main goal of the SECA Core Technology Program under this FOA?
The main goal was to support a coordinated portfolio of research projects that address core science and engineering barriers preventing SOFC systems from moving from prototypes to commercially viable stationary power products, with a particular emphasis on reliability, robustness, and endurance.
Which DOE office or program area did this FOA fall under?
The FOA sat within the Office of Fossil Energy's Fuel Cell Program.
What technology area does the FOA focus on?
The FOA focused on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), specifically the technical and engineering challenges that limit SOFC stack and system performance in real-world stationary power applications.
What kind of applications were emphasized (end use)?
The emphasis was on stationary power generation using SOFC-based systems.
Why does the FOA highlight operation on coal-derived synthesis gas (syngas)?
The FOA highlighted coal-derived syngas because it can introduce contaminants and challenging operating conditions that stress fuel cell materials and components, creating durability and performance risks that must be solved for commercial deployment.
What types of technical problems was the FOA trying to solve?
The FOA aimed at "engineering scientific solutions" to foundational science and engineering problems faced by SECA industry teams, with particular weight on improving SOFC stack reliability, robustness, and endurance for commercial stationary power use.
Was cost reduction part of the scope?
Yes. Applicants were expected to keep cost-reduction objectives in view, reflecting the SECA model of pursuing performance and durability improvements alongside pathways to lower manufacturing and system costs.
Is this FOA intended to support proprietary work for a single company or team?
No. A key theme was that funded work should benefit multiple SECA industry teams rather than a single proprietary development path, helping avoid duplicated R&D and advancing the field in a more unified way.
Who was the intended applicant community?
The opportunity was designed for broad participation across the U.S. research ecosystem, including universities, national laboratories, small businesses, and other research and development organizations.
Was eligibility restricted to specific organization types?
Eligibility was described as generally unrestricted across entity types, with certain specific exclusions listed in the announcement details.
Which organizations were not eligible to apply?
The following were excluded: other federal agencies; federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) contractors; and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations that engaged in lobbying after December 31, 1995.
Can NETL receive an award or be listed as a project team member?
No. NETL could not receive an award and could not be named as a team member, consistent with NETL serving in an administering/program management role for this FOA.
What type of award instrument was expected?
The FOA was a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the award instrument.
What does it mean that the award instrument is a cooperative agreement?
It signals DOE anticipated substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaboration on milestones, reviews, and technical direction consistent with cooperative agreements.
Was cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing was required, meaning recipients needed to contribute a portion of the total project cost from non-federal sources.
How many awards were anticipated?
The FOA anticipated about five awards.
What was the estimated total funding level for this FOA?
The estimated total funding level was $2.5 million.
What was the maximum award amount per project?
The award ceiling was $500,000 per project.
Was there a minimum award amount stated?
No minimum award floor was stated in the provided information.
When was this FOA posted and when were applications due?
The FOA was posted March 16, 2012, with an application deadline of April 30, 2012.
When was this FOA archived?
The FOA was archived July 30, 2012.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with this FOA was 81.089 (Fossil Energy Research and Development).
How were applicants directed to get help if they could not access the full announcement?
Applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement were directed to a NETL contracting contact, Meghaan D. Hampton.
Where were full technical scope and submission instructions hosted?
The listing noted that full topic areas, technical scope, and submission instructions were hosted through federal posting systems, noted as FedConnect in the listing.
What is the overall intent of this FOA in plain terms?
It was a targeted R&D call to solve cross-cutting technology problems limiting SOFC stack durability and real-world operation on coal-derived syngas, while also keeping an eye on cost and manufacturability, with results intended to benefit multiple SECA industry teams to speed commercialization of SOFC stationary power systems.
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