Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001106

  • The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Zero Emission Cargo Transport (ZECT) Demonstration" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086 Conservation Research and Development.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Apr 29, 2014 and posted on Apr 29, 2014.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments City or township governments Special district governments.
  • Eligibility for prime applicants is restricted to local governments, ports, metropolitan transportation authorities, air pollution control districts, or combinations of those governments, authorities, districts, and entities.
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Opportunity Summary:

The Zero Emission Cargo Transport (ZECT) Demonstration funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001106) was a U.S. Department of Energy initiative run through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Office of Vehicle Technologies (OVT) Program. Its main purpose was to fund real-world demonstration projects that would speed up the rollout and market adoption of electric transportation technologies in the cargo transport sector. In practical terms, the program was aimed at helping ports and related public-sector transportation stakeholders put electric cargo-moving equipment and vehicles into service, prove performance in day-to-day operations, and reduce the barriers that keep these technologies from scaling.

This opportunity was offered as a discretionary grant program using cooperative agreements, meaning DOE expected to be actively involved during the project period rather than simply awarding funds and stepping back. The activity category was Energy, and it fell under CFDA 81.086 (Conservation Research and Development). The announcement anticipated making around two awards, with an estimated total federal funding amount of $10,000,000. The ceiling for an individual award was also listed as $10,000,000, while the floor was $0, indicating DOE did not set a minimum award size in the public summary. A cost share or matching contribution was required, so recipients would need to bring non-federal funds or allowable in-kind resources to the table as part of the project budget, consistent with typical DOE demonstration funding structures.

Eligibility for prime applicants was limited and intentionally targeted. Only certain public or quasi-public entities could lead projects, including local governments, ports, metropolitan transportation authorities, and air pollution control districts. The announcement also allowed combinations of those governments, authorities, districts, and entities, which suggests DOE anticipated multi-stakeholder partnerships where, for example, a port authority could team with a city, regional transportation agency, and an air district to deploy equipment, build charging infrastructure, and evaluate results across multiple operational areas. While the eligible applicant categories listed county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments, the additional eligibility language clarified that the lead applicant needed to be within the specific set of public entities tied to goods movement and air quality oversight.

From a project standpoint, the core emphasis was on accelerating the introduction and penetration of electric transportation technologies into cargo transport. That typically points to demonstration-scale deployments rather than early-stage research, with an intent to validate technology performance, operational fit, emissions benefits, and replicability. In the cargo context, this often includes port drayage operations, cargo handling equipment, and other freight-related transportation assets where electrification can deliver significant local air quality improvements and reduce petroleum consumption. Because the award mechanism was a cooperative agreement, awardees would generally be expected to collect operational data, report results, and coordinate closely with DOE on milestones, technical progress, and broader program learning that can inform future deployments.

Key dates for the opportunity show it was posted and created on April 29, 2014, with an application deadline (original and current closing date) of June 11, 2014. The opportunity later moved to archive status on September 30, 2014, meaning it was no longer open for applications after the close date and subsequent administrative wrap-up. For access issues or questions tied to the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Diane M. Franklin at NETL (304-285-4609, franklin@netl.doe.gov), and applicants were directed to the EERE Exchange system for the full electronic announcement and submission details.

Overall, ZECT was structured as a focused, deployment-oriented DOE funding opportunity intended to push electrification into freight and cargo operations by backing a small number of high-impact demonstration projects led by ports and other local public agencies, with required cost sharing and close DOE involvement to ensure the projects produced credible, transferable results.

Zero Emission Cargo Transport (ZECT) Demonstration (DE-FOA-0001106) FAQs

What was the Zero Emission Cargo Transport (ZECT) Demonstration funding opportunity?

The Zero Emission Cargo Transport (ZECT) Demonstration was a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) discretionary grant funding opportunity intended to support real-world demonstration projects that accelerate the rollout and market adoption of electric transportation technologies in the cargo transport sector.

What was the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) for ZECT?

The Funding Opportunity Number was DE-FOA-0001106.

Which DOE offices ran and supported this opportunity?

The initiative was run through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Office of Vehicle Technologies (OVT) Program.

What was the main purpose of the ZECT Demonstration program?

The program aimed to fund demonstration projects that put electric cargo-moving equipment and vehicles into service in day-to-day operations, prove performance in real conditions, and reduce barriers that prevent these technologies from scaling across the cargo transport sector.

What types of projects was ZECT designed to support?

ZECT emphasized deployment-focused demonstration projects designed to accelerate the introduction and penetration of electric transportation technologies into cargo transport. The description indicates an intent to validate operational performance, fit within existing operations, emissions benefits, and replicability for broader adoption.

What kinds of cargo transport operations did ZECT focus on?

The opportunity was aimed at the cargo transport sector, with practical emphasis on ports and related public-sector transportation stakeholders. The description references freight-related transportation assets and use cases where electrification can reduce petroleum use and deliver local air quality improvements, including port-related operations.

Was this a research grant or a demonstration/deployment grant?

Based on the stated goals, ZECT was structured as a demonstration and deployment-oriented opportunity rather than early-stage research, with the intent to prove performance in real-world operations and support market adoption.

What award mechanism did DOE use for ZECT?

DOE offered ZECT as a discretionary grant program using cooperative agreements.

What does it mean that ZECT awards were cooperative agreements?

A cooperative agreement indicates DOE expected to be actively involved during the project period, rather than simply making an award and stepping back. The opportunity description also notes expectations such as coordinating on milestones and technical progress and producing credible results that can inform future deployments.

Which agency category and CFDA number applied to this opportunity?

The activity category was Energy. The opportunity fell under CFDA 81.086 (Conservation Research and Development).

How many awards did DOE anticipate making under ZECT?

The announcement anticipated making around two awards.

What was the estimated total federal funding available?

The estimated total federal funding amount was $10,000,000.

What was the maximum (ceiling) federal funding per award?

The ceiling for an individual award was listed as $10,000,000.

Was there a minimum (floor) award amount?

The floor was listed as $0, which indicates DOE did not set a minimum award size in the public summary.

Was cost sharing required?

Yes. A cost share or matching contribution was required, meaning recipients needed to provide non-federal funds or allowable in-kind resources as part of the overall project budget.

Who was eligible to apply as the prime (lead) applicant?

Eligibility for prime applicants was limited to certain public or quasi-public entities, including local governments, ports, metropolitan transportation authorities, and air pollution control districts. The description also indicates the lead applicant needed to be within the specific set of public entities tied to goods movement and air quality oversight.

Did the opportunity allow partnerships or multi-entity applications?

Yes. The announcement allowed combinations of eligible governments, authorities, districts, and entities, signaling that DOE anticipated multi-stakeholder partnerships (for example, a port authority teaming with a city, regional transportation agency, and an air district).

Were county and city governments included in the eligible applicant categories?

The eligible applicant categories listed county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments. However, the additional eligibility language clarified that the lead applicant needed to be one of the targeted public entity types connected to goods movement and air quality oversight.

What was DOE looking to accomplish through the demonstrations?

The stated intent was to speed up rollout and market adoption of electric cargo transport technologies by proving performance in day-to-day operations, documenting operational fit, reducing barriers to scaling, and producing results that are credible and transferable to future deployments.

What kinds of awardee responsibilities were implied by the FOA description?

Because the awards were cooperative agreements, awardees were generally expected to coordinate closely with DOE on milestones and technical progress and to collect operational data and report results to support broader program learning.

When was the ZECT opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted (and created) on April 29, 2014.

What was the application deadline for ZECT?

The application deadline (original and current closing date) was June 11, 2014.

Is the ZECT funding opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity moved to archive status on September 30, 2014, and it was no longer open for applications after the closing date and subsequent administrative wrap-up.

Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement and submission instructions?

Applicants were directed to the EERE Exchange system for the full electronic announcement and submission details.

Who was the point of contact for this opportunity?

The listed point of contact was Diane M. Franklin at NETL.

What contact information was provided for the point of contact?

Diane M. Franklin could be reached at 304-285-4609 and franklin@netl.doe.gov.

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