Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000330
Apply for DE FOA 0000330
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solid State Lighting Product Development Funding Opportunity Round VII" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086 Conservation Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 24, 2010 and posted on May 24, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 14, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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 Solid State Lighting Product Development Funding Opportunity (Round VII), Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000330, was a U.S. Department of Energy solicitation administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Building Technologies (BT) Program. The goal of the opportunity was to fund applied research and development activities that move solid state lighting (SSL) technologies closer to real-world commercial products. Rather than supporting open-ended basic research, this program emphasized product-focused work where the end use, market application, and practical performance targets are clearly spelled out from the start.
A central theme of the announcement is the definition of "product development" as the disciplined, step-by-step use of knowledge from basic and applied research to create or improve commercially viable materials, devices, or systems. Projects were expected to be anchored to a specific market need and to include concrete parameters for success, such as expected price point, efficacy, and other performance requirements that would make the resulting lighting product competitive and adoptable. In other words, applicants needed to show they were not just improving a component in isolation, but building toward something that can realistically be manufactured, sold, and used.
The technical scope covered the continuum from early product concept modeling all the way through building and validating test models and producing prototypes that are ready for field use. The solicitation allowed for short-term applied research when necessary, but only when that research directly supports the defined product pathway. Any applied research included needed to be explicitly tied to overcoming a clear barrier to the specific product being proposed, rather than serving as exploratory science without a direct commercialization line of sight.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this was a discretionary funding opportunity and the anticipated award mechanism was a cooperative agreement, meaning DOE expected substantial involvement during the project period compared to a more hands-off grant. The opportunity fell under the Energy, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development activity category and was associated with CFDA number 81.086 (Conservation Research and Development). DOE indicated an estimated total of $10,000,000 available, with an expectation of making around 10 awards, suggesting a competitive selection process with multiple funded projects likely spanning different SSL product approaches or market segments.
The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, so applicants needed to plan for contributing a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources, consistent with common DOE applied R&D funding structures intended to ensure industry or partner commitment and strengthen the commercialization pathway. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning the call was open to a broad range of entity types (for example, companies, universities, nonprofits, or consortia), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full announcement text.
Key dates show the announcement was posted on May 24, 2010, with an application deadline of July 14, 2010, and the opportunity later archived on September 30, 2010. For access to full details, DOE pointed applicants to FedConnect, and provided a NETL point of contact: Bonnie S. Dowdell, Contract Specialist, reachable at 412-386-5879 and bdowdell@netl.doe.gov, for assistance particularly if applicants had trouble accessing the announcement electronically.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled the Solid State Lighting Product Development Funding Opportunity (Round VII).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000330.
Which agency offered this solicitation?
This was a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) solicitation.
Who administered the solicitation?
The solicitation was administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Building Technologies (BT) Program.
What was the main goal of the program?
The goal was to fund applied research and development activities that move solid state lighting (SSL) technologies closer to real-world commercial products.
Was this opportunity aimed at basic research or product-focused work?
It emphasized product-focused work rather than open-ended basic research. Projects were expected to define the end use, market application, and practical performance targets from the start.
How did the announcement define "product development"?
"Product development" was framed as a disciplined, step-by-step use of knowledge from basic and applied research to create or improve commercially viable materials, devices, or systems.
What kind of project framing did applicants need to show?
Projects were expected to be anchored to a specific market need and include concrete parameters for success, such as expected price point, efficacy, and other performance requirements that would make the resulting lighting product competitive and adoptable.
Did projects need a commercialization pathway?
Yes. The opportunity stressed that applicants should not be improving a component in isolation, but should be building toward something that can realistically be manufactured, sold, and used.
What types of activities were included in the technical scope?
The technical scope covered the continuum from early product concept modeling through building and validating test models and producing prototypes that are ready for field use.
Was any applied research allowed?
Short-term applied research was allowed when necessary, but only when it directly supported the defined product pathway.
How did the solicitation limit applied research activities?
Any applied research needed to be explicitly tied to overcoming a clear barrier to the specific product being proposed, rather than serving as exploratory science without a direct commercialization line of sight.
What type of funding opportunity was this (discretionary or entitlement)?
This was a discretionary funding opportunity.
What award mechanism did DOE anticipate using?
The anticipated award mechanism was a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for DOE involvement?
A cooperative agreement implies DOE expected substantial involvement during the project period compared to a more hands-off grant.
What activity category did this opportunity fall under?
It fell under the Energy, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development activity category.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was associated with CFDA 81.086 (Conservation Research and Development).
How much total funding was DOE expecting to make available?
DOE indicated an estimated total of $10,000,000 available.
About how many awards were expected?
DOE expected to make around 10 awards.
What does the expected number of awards suggest about competitiveness?
With an estimated total funding amount and an expectation of around 10 awards, the solicitation implied a competitive selection process with multiple funded projects likely spanning different SSL product approaches or market segments.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants needed to contribute a portion of total project costs from non-federal sources.
Why was cost sharing included in this opportunity?
Cost sharing was described as consistent with common DOE applied R&D funding structures intended to ensure industry or partner commitment and strengthen the commercialization pathway.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning the call was open to a broad range of entity types (for example, companies, universities, nonprofits, or consortia), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full announcement text.
When was the opportunity posted?
The announcement was posted on May 24, 2010.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was July 14, 2010.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on September 30, 2010.
Where were applicants directed to find the full details?
DOE pointed applicants to FedConnect for access to the full details.
Who was the NETL point of contact for this opportunity?
The NETL point of contact listed was Bonnie S. Dowdell, Contract Specialist.
How could applicants contact the NETL point of contact?
Bonnie S. Dowdell could be reached by phone at 412-386-5879 or by email at bdowdell@netl.doe.gov.
What kind of help was the point of contact associated with?
The point of contact was provided for assistance, particularly if applicants had trouble accessing the announcement electronically.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0000330) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Unconventional Fossil Energy Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for DE FOA 0000312 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000312 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Solid State Lighting U.S. Manufacturing Round 2 Apply for DE FOA 0000334 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000334 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| RFI 1/W Photovoltaic (PV) Systems Balance of Systems (BOS) Apply for DE FOA 0000440 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000440 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Fundamental Developments in Sensors and Controls for Power and Fuel Systems Apply for DE FOA 0000059 Funding Number: DE FOA 0000059 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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