Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000740
Apply for DE FOA 0000740
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SunShot Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies (SEEDS)" 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 Aug 31, 2012 and posted on Jun 13, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 5, 2012 Concept Papers are due on 07/13/2012. Full Applications are due on 10/05/2012. Applicants must submit a Concept Paper by the due date to be eligible to submit a Full Application.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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 SunShot Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies (SEEDS) funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0000740) is a U.S. Department of Energy initiative, administered through the Golden Field Office, designed to push solar energy forward by studying how solar innovations emerge, spread, and get adopted in real markets. Rather than funding new hardware development directly, SEEDS focuses on the dynamics around innovation and deployment: how decisions are made, what slows adoption, what accelerates it, and which business and policy conditions help solar technologies scale. The DOE intent is to generate practical, evidence-based methods that can materially improve how the solar ecosystem operates, from research and manufacturing to project development, installation, and policymaking.
The amendment described in the notice mainly changes the timeline by extending the full application deadline to October 5, 2012 (originally September 17, 2012). A key eligibility gate is that applicants must submit a concept paper by July 13, 2012 in order to be eligible to submit a full application. In other words, the concept paper is not optional; it is a required prerequisite for moving forward to the full application stage.
In terms of scope and funding scale, DOE indicated it would invest up to $9 million over three years to support research in this area. The opportunity is listed under the Energy funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development. Awards are expected to be issued via grants and/or cooperative agreements, and cost sharing or matching is required, meaning recipients should expect to contribute a portion of project costs in accordance with the rules laid out in the full FOA.
SEEDS emphasizes building and applying a wide mix of analytical approaches. That includes developing analytical, numerical, and computational tools and methods; implementing pilot test strategies meant to alter current business practices or policy practices; and then assessing those pilots to determine measurable impact and whether the approaches can scale. The program description makes clear that DOE is looking for systematic investigations that can lead to viable, field-tested methods for transforming day-to-day operations across the solar value chain. A major theme is real-world applicability: selected projects are expected to be carried out alongside industry partners so that findings can be applied, tested, refined, and adjusted in real time instead of remaining purely academic.
Administratively, the FOA is hosted on the EERE Exchange platform, and applications must be submitted through EERE Exchange rather than by email or paper submission. The opportunity notice points applicants to the EERE Exchange user guide (available after logging into the system) and notes that the full FOA includes specific instructions for where to direct questions about the announcement content versus technical questions about application submission. For assistance accessing the announcement or related grants management issues, the notice lists a grants management specialist contact (Kenneth L. Outlaw) and provides an email address associated with the SunShot SEEDS FOA for questions about FOA content.
SunShot SEEDS (DE-FOA-0000740) FAQs
What is the SunShot Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies (SEEDS) funding opportunity?
SunShot SEEDS (DE-FOA-0000740) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity administered through the Golden Field Office. It supports studies and pilot efforts focused on how solar innovations emerge, spread, and get adopted in real markets, with the goal of improving real-world solar deployment outcomes.
What is the main purpose of SEEDS?
The purpose is to produce practical, evidence-based methods that improve how the solar ecosystem operates, including how decisions are made and how barriers to adoption can be reduced across the solar value chain (research, manufacturing, project development, installation, and policymaking).
Does SEEDS fund new solar hardware development?
No. SEEDS is not described as a program for directly funding new hardware development. Instead, it focuses on the dynamics around innovation and deployment, such as decision-making, adoption barriers, accelerators, and the business and policy conditions that help solar technologies scale.
Who is administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is a DOE initiative administered through the Golden Field Office.
What changed in the amendment mentioned in the notice?
The amendment primarily changes the timeline by extending the full application deadline to October 5, 2012, from the original deadline of September 17, 2012.
What is the full application deadline?
The full application deadline (as extended by the amendment) is October 5, 2012.
What was the original full application deadline before the amendment?
The original full application deadline was September 17, 2012.
Is a concept paper required to apply?
Yes. Submitting a concept paper is a required prerequisite. Applicants must submit a concept paper to be eligible to submit a full application.
What is the concept paper deadline?
The concept paper deadline is July 13, 2012.
Can an applicant submit a full application without submitting a concept paper?
No. The notice describes the concept paper as a key eligibility gate and states that it is not optional. If a concept paper is not submitted by the deadline, the applicant is not eligible to submit a full application.
How much funding does DOE expect to invest, and over what time period?
DOE indicated it would invest up to $9 million over three years to support research under this opportunity.
What funding category is this opportunity listed under?
The opportunity is listed under the Energy funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 81.087, Renewable Energy Research and Development.
What type of awards are expected?
Awards are expected to be issued via grants and/or cooperative agreements.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing (matching) is required. Recipients should expect to contribute a portion of total project costs in accordance with the rules described in the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
What kinds of methods and approaches does SEEDS emphasize?
SEEDS emphasizes building and applying a mix of analytical approaches, including developing analytical, numerical, and computational tools and methods.
Does SEEDS support pilot testing in real-world settings?
Yes. The program description includes implementing pilot test strategies aimed at altering current business practices or policy practices, and then assessing those pilots for measurable impact and scalability.
What is DOE looking for in terms of project outcomes?
DOE is looking for systematic investigations that can lead to viable, field-tested methods for transforming day-to-day operations across the solar value chain, with a strong emphasis on real-world applicability and measurable impacts.
Are industry partners expected to be involved?
Yes. The description states that selected projects are expected to be carried out alongside industry partners so findings can be applied, tested, refined, and adjusted in real time rather than remaining purely academic.
Where is the FOA hosted, and how are applications submitted?
The FOA is hosted on the EERE Exchange platform, and applications must be submitted through EERE Exchange (not by email or paper submission).
Can applications be submitted by email or on paper?
No. The notice specifies that applications must be submitted through EERE Exchange rather than by email or paper submission.
Where can applicants find instructions for using EERE Exchange?
The notice points applicants to the EERE Exchange user guide, which is available after logging into the system.
How should applicants know where to send questions about the FOA versus technical submission issues?
The notice states that the full FOA includes specific instructions on where to direct questions about announcement content versus technical questions related to application submission.
Who is the listed contact for assistance with accessing the announcement or grants management issues?
The notice lists a grants management specialist contact: Kenneth L. Outlaw.
Is there an email address provided for questions about FOA content?
Yes. The notice provides an email address associated with the SunShot SEEDS FOA for questions about FOA content (the specific address is referenced in the notice but not reproduced in the summary provided here).
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