Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001225
Apply for DE FOA 0001225
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SUNSHOT TECHNOLOGY TO MARKET (INCUBATOR ROUND 10, SOLARMAT ROUND 3, SUNPATH ROUND 2)" 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 Apr 1, 2015 and posted on Jan 29, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 29, 2015 Applicants must submit a Concept Paper by 300 pm ET on March 3, 2015 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: For profit organizations other than small businesses Individuals Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The SUNSHOT Technology to Market funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0001225) is a U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) program run through the Golden Field Office. It supports the Tech to Market subprogram, which focuses on helping high-impact solar technologies and solutions move out of the lab and into widespread commercial use. The central idea is to speed up near-term, disruptive innovation that can take root in the United States by funding research, development, and demonstration work aimed at overcoming technical, institutional, and market barriers that slow adoption of solar.
This FOA combines what were previously separate annual solicitations organized by technology maturity stage: Incubator (Round 10), SolarMat (Round 3), and SUNPATH (Round 2). By rolling them into one combined announcement, DOE is trying to streamline the application and selection process while still covering a range of development stages. The program is specifically aimed at solutions that can remove barriers through both technology innovation and business innovation, with an emphasis on practical market readiness rather than purely academic research.
The topics DOE is trying to spur include hardware innovations and manufacturing improvements, software and systems solutions, approaches that reduce costs across the solar value chain, and "non-cost" capability improvements (for example, solutions that improve performance, reliability, bankability, interoperability, grid friendliness, or deployment speed even if they are not strictly cost-down measures). A major through-line is reducing the delivered cost of solar energy while also reducing risk associated with integrating solar onto the electric grid, meaning the funded work should help make solar easier and safer to plan, finance, install, operate, and interconnect at scale.
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, which generally means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project (for example, active technical management, milestones, and regular reporting). A cost share is required, so applicants should expect that DOE will not cover 100% of total project costs and that the recipient must contribute an agreed portion from non-federal sources. The listing is under CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
Eligibility is oriented toward commercialization-focused participants. The eligible applicant types listed include for-profit organizations (including but not limited to small businesses), small businesses specifically, and individuals. The description also notes the program "seeks to fund for-profit entities" developing products and solutions, reinforcing that this is meant to push real-world offerings toward market success rather than fund basic research alone.
This particular posting is a modification whose purpose is to revise the Full Application due date. Originally, the closing date was April 22, 2015, and applicants had to submit a concept paper by 3:00 pm ET on February 24, 2015 to be eligible to submit a full application. The modified schedule sets the current closing date to April 29, 2015, and shifts the concept paper deadline to 3:00 pm ET on March 3, 2015 as the gate required to submit a full application. In other words, submission is a two-step process: a concept paper first (mandatory for full application eligibility), then an invited or eligible full application by the closing date.
All application materials must be submitted through the EERE Exchange portal (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov). Applicants must register and create an account in EERE Exchange, and DOE provides an online user guide within the system. Questions about the announcement and submission process are handled through the contact points listed in the full FOA, and the provided contact email for access issues or general inquiries is sunshot.t2m@ee.doe.gov. The full FOA text and official requirements are housed on EERE Exchange, which is the authoritative source for instructions, evaluation criteria, required attachments, cost share details, and any topic area specifics.
FAQs: SUNSHOT Technology to Market (Tech to Market) Funding Opportunity (DE-FOA-0001225)
What is this funding opportunity?
The SUNSHOT Technology to Market funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0001225) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) program run through the Golden Field Office. It provides funding to help high-impact solar technologies and solutions move out of the lab and into widespread commercial use.
What is the main goal of the Tech to Market program?
The Tech to Market subprogram is focused on speeding up near-term, disruptive innovation that can take root in the United States. It funds research, development, and demonstration efforts intended to overcome technical, institutional, and market barriers that slow the adoption and commercialization of solar solutions.
What kinds of work does DOE want to fund under this FOA?
This FOA emphasizes practical market readiness rather than purely academic research. It supports work aimed at removing barriers through both technology innovation and business innovation, including research, development, and demonstration activities that help solar solutions reach commercial success.
Which previous solicitations are combined into this one announcement?
This FOA combines what were previously separate annual solicitations organized by technology maturity stage: Incubator (Round 10), SolarMat (Round 3), and SUNPATH (Round 2). DOE combined them to streamline the application and selection process while still covering a range of development stages.
What topic areas or solution types are of interest?
DOE is seeking solutions that address barriers across the solar value chain, including:
- Hardware innovations and manufacturing improvements
- Software and systems solutions
- Approaches that reduce costs across the solar value chain
- "Non-cost" capability improvements that strengthen market readiness (for example, improved performance, reliability, bankability, interoperability, grid friendliness, or deployment speed)
Is the focus only on reducing cost?
No. A major theme is reducing the delivered cost of solar energy, but DOE also explicitly highlights "non-cost" capability improvements. That includes solutions that reduce risk and improve the ease and safety of planning, financing, installing, operating, and interconnecting solar at scale.
How does this FOA relate to solar grid integration and risk reduction?
The FOA emphasizes reducing risk associated with integrating solar onto the electric grid. Funded work is expected to help make solar easier and safer to plan, finance, install, operate, and interconnect at scale.
What is the funding instrument used for awards?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project, such as active technical management, milestones, and regular reporting.
Is cost share required?
Yes. A cost share is required, meaning DOE will not cover 100% of total project costs. The recipient must contribute an agreed portion from non-federal sources. The full FOA hosted in EERE Exchange is the authoritative source for the cost share details.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The listing is under CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is oriented toward commercialization-focused participants. The eligible applicant types listed include for-profit organizations (including but not limited to small businesses), small businesses specifically, and individuals.
Is this opportunity intended for for-profit commercialization efforts?
Yes. The description notes that the program seeks to fund for-profit entities developing products and solutions, reinforcing that the intent is to push real-world offerings toward market success rather than fund basic research alone.
What is the application process?
The submission process is two-step. Applicants must submit a concept paper first, and that concept paper is mandatory to be eligible to submit a full application. After the concept paper step, eligible applicants then submit the full application by the closing date.
Is a concept paper required?
Yes. A concept paper is required as a gate for full application eligibility.
What are the deadlines in this modified posting?
This posting is a modification that revises the Full Application due date. The modified schedule sets:
- Concept paper deadline: 3:00 pm ET on March 3, 2015
- Closing date (full application due date): April 29, 2015
What were the original deadlines before this modification?
Originally, the closing date was April 22, 2015, and the concept paper deadline was 3:00 pm ET on February 24, 2015.
Where do applicants submit application materials?
All application materials must be submitted through the EERE Exchange portal at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.
Do applicants need to register to apply?
Yes. Applicants must register and create an account in EERE Exchange to submit materials.
Is there guidance available for using EERE Exchange?
Yes. DOE provides an online user guide within the EERE Exchange system.
Where can applicants find the official FOA text and requirements?
The full FOA text and official requirements are housed on EERE Exchange, which is the authoritative source for instructions, evaluation criteria, required attachments, cost share details, and any topic area specifics.
Who should applicants contact with questions or technical issues?
Questions about the announcement and submission process are handled through the contact points listed in the full FOA. For access issues or general inquiries, the provided email is sunshot.t2m@ee.doe.gov.
What office runs this program?
This SETO program is run through the DOE Golden Field Office.
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