Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000607
Apply for DE FOA 0000607
- The Headquarters in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SunShot Incubator Program Soft Cost Reduction" 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 Feb 21, 2012 and posted on Nov 15, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 5, 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 $7,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The SunShot Incubator Program - Soft Cost Reduction (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000607) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity under the SunShot Initiative, a national effort aimed at cutting the total installed cost of solar energy systems by about 75 percent by the end of the decade. The big-picture goal behind this cost target is to help solar reach "grid parity," meaning solar electricity can compete directly with conventional power without needing subsidies. DOE frames this as a competitiveness and innovation push: supporting advanced research and development, strengthening U.S. manufacturing, and accelerating the commercialization of cutting-edge solar technologies and business approaches.
What makes this specific Incubator round notable is its emphasis on "soft costs" within the balance of systems (BOS) category. In solar, BOS covers everything besides the panels themselves, and soft costs are the non-hardware parts that can still drive up project price and slow deployment. These can include customer acquisition, permitting and interconnection processes, system design and engineering work, financing and contracting, installation labor planning, inspection timelines, and other administrative or process-related expenses. DOE highlights that this focus is a response to marketplace changes, reflecting the growing reality that as module prices fell, non-module costs became a larger share of the total installed price. In practical terms, the opportunity is meant to back solutions that remove long-standing bottlenecks in solar project development and make it faster, cheaper, and simpler to deploy systems at scale.
The program uses DOE's "Incubator" model, which is designed to spur early-stage companies to take on specific commercialization problems and bring new ideas into the market quickly. This particular funding opportunity is positioned as the first Incubator solicitation explicitly encouraging either brand-new startup businesses or new business units within an existing commercial company to focus specifically on soft cost solutions. The intent is to broaden innovation beyond hardware by funding approaches that can improve the surrounding ecosystem of solar deployment, where paperwork, transaction costs, and inconsistent local processes often create delays and added expense.
Administratively, this opportunity is a discretionary grant program using a Cooperative Agreement as the funding instrument, which typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period compared with a standard grant. The activity category is Energy, and the CFDA listing is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). The total estimated funding amount listed is $7,000,000, and the posting date was November 15, 2011, with an application closing date of March 5, 2012. The archive date is June 5, 2012. The eligible applicants are small businesses, and the announcement specifies that cost sharing or matching is required, meaning awardees must contribute a portion of project costs from non-federal sources.
For applicants looking for the full announcement, DOE pointed to FedConnect for the official documents and details. The contact listed for access issues or questions was Carrie N. Brown at DOE Headquarters, reachable by phone at 202-287-1556 or by email at carrie.brown@hq.doe.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "The SunShot Incubator Program - Soft Cost Reduction."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000607.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
What broader initiative does this opportunity fall under?
It is part of DOE's SunShot Initiative, a national effort focused on reducing the total installed cost of solar energy systems.
What is the big-picture goal of the SunShot Initiative as described here?
The stated goal is to cut the total installed cost of solar energy systems by about 75 percent by the end of the decade, helping solar reach "grid parity" so it can compete directly with conventional power without subsidies.
What does "grid parity" mean in this context?
In this opportunity description, "grid parity" means solar electricity can compete directly with conventional power without needing subsidies.
What is the main focus of this Incubator round?
This round emphasizes "soft cost" reduction within the balance of systems (BOS) category for solar energy systems.
What is "balance of systems (BOS)" in solar?
BOS refers to everything in a solar energy system besides the panels themselves.
What are "soft costs" for solar projects?
Soft costs are the non-hardware parts of solar deployment that can increase project price and slow down development. Examples mentioned include customer acquisition, permitting and interconnection processes, system design and engineering work, financing and contracting, installation labor planning, inspection timelines, and other administrative or process-related expenses.
Why is DOE focusing on soft costs in this opportunity?
The description explains that as solar module prices fell, non-module costs became a larger share of total installed price. DOE frames this as a response to marketplace changes and an effort to address long-standing bottlenecks that delay projects and add expense.
What types of solutions is the program trying to support?
Based on the description, the program aims to support solutions that remove bottlenecks in solar project development and make it faster, cheaper, and simpler to deploy solar systems at scale, particularly by reducing process and administrative costs.
What is the DOE "Incubator" model?
The Incubator model is described as a DOE approach designed to spur early-stage companies to tackle specific commercialization problems and bring new ideas into the market quickly.
What is notable about this particular Incubator solicitation?
This solicitation is described as the first Incubator round explicitly encouraging either brand-new startup businesses or new business units within an existing commercial company to focus specifically on soft cost solutions.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicants are small businesses.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The announcement specifies that cost sharing or matching is required, meaning awardees must contribute a portion of project costs using non-federal sources.
What type of funding instrument will DOE use for awards?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?
The description notes that a Cooperative Agreement typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period compared with a standard grant.
Is this a discretionary grant program?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary grant program.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Energy.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding amount listed is $7,000,000.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date was November 15, 2011.
When was the application closing date?
The application closing date was March 5, 2012.
What is the archive date?
The archive date is June 5, 2012.
Where can applicants find the official announcement and documents?
DOE directed applicants to FedConnect for the official documents and details.
Who is the contact person listed for questions or access issues?
The contact listed is Carrie N. Brown at DOE Headquarters.
How can the listed contact be reached?
Carrie N. Brown can be reached by phone at 202-287-1556 or by email at carrie.brown@hq.doe.gov.
What kinds of barriers is this funding opportunity trying to address?
The description highlights paperwork, transaction costs, and inconsistent local processes as common sources of delays and added expense in solar deployment, and indicates the opportunity aims to fund approaches that improve this surrounding ecosystem.
Does this opportunity focus on solar hardware improvements?
This specific Incubator round is described as focusing on non-hardware "soft cost" solutions within BOS rather than panel hardware itself.
How does DOE frame the purpose of the SunShot effort beyond cost targets?
DOE frames it as a competitiveness and innovation push, including supporting advanced research and development, strengthening U.S. manufacturing, and accelerating commercialization of cutting-edge solar technologies and business approaches.
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