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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): DE-FOA-0001285 (U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC): Energy and Water)

1) What is DE-FOA-0001285?

DE-FOA-0001285 is a Department of Energy (DOE) competitive discretionary grant solicitation titled "U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC): Energy and Water." It is intended to create a single U.S.-based research consortium to conduct research and development (R&D) at the intersection of energy systems and water resources.

2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The main goal is to establish a new technical track within the broader U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC), a bilateral initiative designed to accelerate clean energy innovation through coordinated work in both the United States and China, with an emphasis on coupled energy-water challenges.

3) How many awards did DOE expect to make?

The announcement anticipated making one award. In practice, that means the competition was for a single lead consortium arrangement.

4) How much DOE funding was expected to be available?

The FOA listed an estimated total federal funding amount of $12.5 million.

5) What type of award instrument was planned?

DOE structured this opportunity as a cooperative agreement, which typically involves substantial federal involvement during the project period (for example, coordination on planning, milestones, reporting, and adjustments to align with program objectives and the bilateral CERC framework).

6) Is this opportunity meant for a single project or multiple standalone projects?

The FOA required an integrated consortium program. Every responsive application needed to address all five required topic areas as one integrated R&D program, rather than submitting separate standalone projects for individual topics.

7) What are the five required topic areas that every application must cover?

Applicants were required to span five specific topic areas:

• Reducing water use at thermoelectric power plants (including improved cooling and operational strategies to reduce freshwater withdrawals and consumption)
• Treatment and management of non-traditional waters (such as brackish groundwater, produced water, municipal wastewater, industrial effluents, and other impaired waters for treatment and reuse in energy applications)
• Improving sustainable hydropower design and operation (balancing energy generation with environmental performance, ecosystem impacts, and changing flow regimes)
• Climate impact modeling, methods, and scenarios (to better understand how climate variability and change affect coupled energy-water systems)
• Data and analysis to support planning, policy, and decision-making (datasets, tools, and analytical frameworks for stakeholders to evaluate tradeoffs and risks across energy and water infrastructure)

8) What does "reducing water use at thermoelectric power plants" mean in this FOA?

It refers to R&D focused on improving cooling approaches and operational strategies at thermoelectric plants to lower freshwater withdrawals and overall water consumption.

9) What does DOE mean by "non-traditional waters" in this opportunity?

In this context, non-traditional waters generally include brackish groundwater, produced water from oil and gas operations, municipal wastewater, industrial effluents, and other impaired waters that could potentially be treated and reused for energy-related applications.

10) What kinds of hydropower work fit under "sustainable hydropower design and operation"?

The topic area includes approaches that balance electricity generation with environmental performance, ecosystem impacts, and changing flow regimes.

11) What is included in the "climate impact modeling, methods, and scenarios" area?

This area is about strengthening understanding of how climate variability and climate change affect coupled energy-water systems, using modeling methods and scenario approaches.

12) What is meant by "data and analysis to support planning, policy, and decision-making"?

This refers to building datasets, tools, and analytical frameworks that stakeholders (such as utilities, regulators, and planners) can use to evaluate tradeoffs and risks across energy and water infrastructure.

13) Who was expected to apply: a single organization or a team?

DOE’s stated structure centered on forming a consortium, and the solicitation highlighted a partnering facilitation mechanism during the application process. That indicates DOE anticipated multi-organization teams assembled to cover the full breadth of the five required topic areas.

14) What is the relationship between the U.S. consortium and a China-based consortium?

DOE funding supports the U.S. consortium. Chinese agencies were expected to provide comparable support for a counterpart consortium in China. The two sides collaborate under the CERC framework to advance technology development and eventual deployment.

15) Does DOE fund the China-based consortium under this FOA?

No. Based on the description provided, DOE funding supports the U.S. consortium, while Chinese agencies are expected to support a counterpart consortium in China.

16) What does "unrestricted applicants" mean here?

The opportunity was described as open to unrestricted applicants, meaning a wide range of entity types could apply (for example, universities, eligible national laboratories, non-profits, private companies, and other organizations), subject to any eligibility clarifications contained in the FOA itself.

17) Was cost sharing required?

Yes. The announcement stated that cost sharing was required, and applicants needed to provide non-federal contributions according to the terms described in the full FOA.

18) What CFDA numbers were associated with this funding opportunity?

The program was associated with multiple CFDA numbers reflecting cross-cutting DOE involvement: 81.049 (Office of Science Financial Assistance Program), 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development), and 81.089 (Fossil Energy Research and Development).

19) When was the FOA posted and when did it close?

The FOA was posted on March 4, 2015. The application closing date was May 4, 2015.

20) What does it mean that the FOA was archived?

The FOA was later archived on October 1, 2015. Based on the dates provided, that indicates the solicitation period had ended and the listing was moved into an archived status.

21) Was the FOA modified after it was initially posted?

Yes. The modification described was used to publish an updated set of questions and answers (Q&A) for applicants via a revised Attachment 002, with new Q&A items beginning at Question 29.

22) What was the purpose of the updated Q&A attachment?

As described, it was intended to clarify requirements and common proposal issues so that all applicants could compete using the same clarified guidance. The description notes topics such as requirements, consortium structure expectations, allowable costs, cost share interpretations, and teaming arrangements as common areas that Q&A updates often address.

23) Where were applicants directed to find the full official materials?

The announcement pointed applicants to an "Additional Information" link hosted through FedConnect for the full official materials.

24) Who was the point of contact for access issues?

The point of contact listed for access issues was Robert P. Brown, Contract Specialist, at robert.brown@hq.doe.gov.