Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003548
Apply for DE FOA 0003548
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Unleashing Tribal Energy Development" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $7,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs is offering a discretionary grant opportunity called "Unleashing Tribal Energy Development" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003548). The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support Tribes in developing energy resources and projects that improve affordability, reliability, and security of energy for Tribal communities. A central theme of the program is strengthening Tribal sovereignty by helping Tribes plan, build, and deploy energy solutions that are controlled by and deliver direct benefits to Tribes and their members, including through energy development, energy efficiency, and expanded energy use.
The NOFO is organized into three Topic Areas that reflect different stages and scales of energy development. Topic Area 1 focuses on community-scale deployment where projects are intended to directly serve electric loads and meet energy needs across one or more Tribal communities. These are construction-oriented efforts, meaning the work generally involves building or installing energy assets and related infrastructure rather than only studying or planning. Topic Area 2 supports the steps that come before construction for community-scale projects. The emphasis here is on completing all pre-development activities needed to get a project ready for deployment, such as project planning, engineering, permitting, interconnection work, environmental and cultural reviews as applicable, financing preparation, and other readiness milestones that enable a community-scale project to move into construction. Topic Area 3 is also pre-development focused, but it targets large-scale commercial development of Tribal energy resources. These projects are meant to prepare Tribal resources for broader commercial deployment and to strengthen Tribal energy and economic infrastructure, positioning Tribes to pursue larger projects that can have substantial long-term economic and infrastructure impacts.
DOE expects to make about $50 million in federal funding available under this NOFO and anticipates making roughly 40 awards, with an award ceiling of $7.5 million per award. DOE also notes that it may choose to make awards in one, multiple, or none of the Topic Areas depending on application quality, program priorities, and available funding, so applicants should pay close attention to the Topic Area fit and the specific requirements in the full NOFO. The eligible applicant pool includes Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments). The administering agency office listed is the Golden Field Office, and the funding activity category is Energy under CFDA number 81.087.
Key dates and administrative details include an original application closing date of 2026-07-24 and a creation date for the opportunity listing of 2026-03-25. Full details, including eligibility nuances, cost share expectations (if any), required application components, selection criteria, and topic-specific requirements, are provided through DOE's Indian Energy Exchange website at https://ie-exchange.energy.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Unleashing Tribal Energy Development (DE-FOA-0003548)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Unleashing Tribal Energy Development".
2) What agency is offering this funding?
This funding is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), specifically the DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs.
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this NOFO?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0003548.
4) What is the purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)?
The purpose is to support Tribes in developing energy resources and projects that improve the affordability, reliability, and security of energy for Tribal communities. A central theme is strengthening Tribal sovereignty by supporting energy solutions that are controlled by Tribes and deliver direct benefits to Tribes and their members.
5) What kinds of projects does this NOFO generally support?
Based on the description provided, the NOFO supports Tribal energy solutions that may include energy development, energy efficiency, and expanded energy use, across different development stages (construction-oriented deployment and pre-development work).
6) How is the NOFO structured?
The NOFO is organized into three Topic Areas that reflect different stages and scales of energy development.
7) What is Topic Area 1?
Topic Area 1 focuses on community-scale deployment where projects are intended to directly serve electric loads and meet energy needs across one or more Tribal communities. These projects are described as construction-oriented, meaning they generally involve building or installing energy assets and related infrastructure rather than only studying or planning.
8) What is Topic Area 2?
Topic Area 2 supports the steps that come before construction for community-scale projects. The emphasis is on completing pre-development activities needed to get a community-scale project ready for deployment.
9) What types of pre-development activities are included under Topic Area 2?
The description lists examples such as project planning, engineering, permitting, interconnection work, environmental and cultural reviews (as applicable), financing preparation, and other readiness milestones needed to move into construction.
10) What is Topic Area 3?
Topic Area 3 is also pre-development focused, but it targets large-scale commercial development of Tribal energy resources. The aim is to prepare Tribal resources for broader commercial deployment and strengthen Tribal energy and economic infrastructure so Tribes are positioned to pursue larger projects with substantial long-term impacts.
11) How do Topic Areas 2 and 3 differ?
Both are pre-development oriented, but Topic Area 2 is tied to community-scale projects preparing for deployment, while Topic Area 3 targets large-scale commercial development intended to position Tribal resources and infrastructure for broader commercial outcomes.
12) How much total funding does DOE expect to make available?
DOE expects to make about $50 million in federal funding available under this NOFO.
13) How many awards does DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipates making roughly 40 awards.
14) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $7.5 million per award.
15) Will DOE definitely fund all Topic Areas?
No. DOE notes it may choose to make awards in one, multiple, or none of the Topic Areas depending on application quality, program priorities, and available funding.
16) What does DOE emphasize about choosing a Topic Area?
Applicants should pay close attention to Topic Area fit and the specific requirements in the full NOFO, since award decisions may vary by Topic Area based on quality, priorities, and funding availability.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant pool includes Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
18) What is the administering agency office listed for this opportunity?
The administering agency office listed is the Golden Field Office.
19) What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Energy.
20) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 81.087.
21) What is the original application closing date?
The original application closing date is 2026-07-24.
22) When was the opportunity listing created?
The creation date for the opportunity listing is 2026-03-25.
23) Where can applicants find the full NOFO and official requirements?
Full details are provided through DOE's Indian Energy Exchange website at https://ie-exchange.energy.gov.
24) Where are details like eligibility nuances, cost share expectations, required application components, and selection criteria provided?
Those details are provided in the full NOFO available through the DOE Indian Energy Exchange website at https://ie-exchange.energy.gov.
25) Does the summary specify whether cost share is required?
No. The summary indicates that cost share expectations (if any) are addressed in the full NOFO, but it does not specify cost share requirements in the information provided here.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DE FOA 0003548) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
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| Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator Notice of Funding Opportunity Apply for DE FOA 0003589 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003589 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) Grant Apply for BIA EMDP 2026 Funding Number: BIA EMDP 2026 Agency: Bureau of Indian Affairs Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) Grant FY 2026 Apply for BIA TEDC 2026 Funding Number: BIA TEDC 2026 Agency: Bureau of Indian Affairs Category: Energy Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| DE-FOA-0003646 Notice of Intent to Issue DE-FOA-0003647 Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT) Apply for DE FOA 0003646 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003646 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NOI: PROSPECT Program: Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies Apply for DE FOA 0003662 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003662 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Annual Recurring University Training and Research Apply for DE FOA 0003215 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003215 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Staff Support for Regional Engagement with the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Storage & Transportation on Radioactive Materials Transportation Planning Apply for DE FOA 0003617 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003617 Agency: Idaho Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,700,000 |
| Staff Support to Tribal Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee for Engagement with the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy on Radioactive Materials Transportation Planning Apply for DE FOA 0003618 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003618 Agency: Idaho Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Request for Information - Gauging Investor Interest in the Development and Commercialization of Subsurface Energy Technologies Apply for DE FOA 0003671 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003671 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT) Apply for DE FOA 0003647 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003647 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program Apply for RUS PART 2026 Funding Number: RUS PART 2026 Agency: Rural Utilities Service Category: Energy Funding Amount: $100,000,000 |
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