Funding Opportunities
Please see the full FOA in EERE Exchange. The research and development (R&D) activities to be funded under this FOA will support the government-wide approach to the climate crisis by driving the innovation that can lead to the deployment of clean energy technologies, which are critical for climate protection. Specifically, this FOA will fund innovative solar photovoltaics (PV) R&D that reduces the cost of PV modules, reduces carbon and energy intensity of PV manufacturing processes, and optimizes PV technology for new, specialized markets. SETO’s PVRD program works to accelerate the deployment of solar energy technologies by funding innovative R&D in PV cell and module technologies, balance-of-system components, reliability tracing and tracking, metrology, and other key research questions in PV. To accelerate toward these deployment targets and augment SETO’s ongoing PV research portfolio,12 this FOA will fund R&D on innovative cell- and minimodule-level technologies focused on three major goals: •Enable cost reduction on an LCOE basis through development of durable, high-efficiency cell and module PV technology •Identify pathways to reduce the carbon intensity and energy intensity of industrial processes required to fabricate PV cells and modules •Increase technical viability of PV cells and modules tailored for emerging integrated PV sectors, such as building-integrated PV (BIPV) and vehicle-integrated PV. This FOA will fund innovative R&D projects that aim to advance the state of the art in various cell and module technologies to accomplish these goals of cost reduction, lower carbon intensity, and viability of dual-use markets. This FOA is separated into two topic areas: •Photovoltaic Advances in Cell Efficiency, Reliability, and Supply Chain (PACERS): Applications in four PV supply chain, cell, and module technology spaces are of particular interest: low-carbon synthesis of metallurgical-grade silicon (MGS, here defined as silicon that is 98% pure as defined by the 5/5/3 standard)13 production, crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV, III-V PV, and organic PV (OPV). However, proposals for any industrial process, cell, or minimodule-level research that enables the goals of this FOA will be considered, excluding areas specified as not of interest in Section I.C., such as perovskite technology, which is addressed in other funding programs, and CdTe technology, which is addressed in Topic Area 2. •Building Academic Capabilities in Cadmium Telluride: Applications describing advanced R&D projects requiring the procurement or upgrade of CdTe equipment are of interest. Proposals should detail work that will enhance fabrication, characterization, or analytical capabilities while also benefiting the larger CdTe PV research community.
Amendment 000001 - DOE is amending this FOA to extend the Full Application Submission deadline, update the Replies to Reviewer Comments deadline, update the Expected Date for DOE Selection Notifications, and update the Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations. Inflation Reduction Act Funding for Advanced Biofuels Bioenergy Technologies Office’s 2024 Systems Development and Integration (SDI) FOA is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. IRA Section 60108(b) authorized $10 million to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for new grants to industry in advanced biofuels. EPA and DOE entered an Interagency Agreement to transfer the funds to DOE and allow DOE to manage a FOA with substantial involvement from EPA. The FOA’s topic areas are of mutual interest for both the EPA’s priority in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and DOE BETO’s priority in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge as well as SDI’s priority in supporting four demonstration-scale integrated biorefineries by 2030. For both topic areas, the application must discuss how the proposed technology would meet the RFS definition of advanced biofuel, which means using allowable feedstocks, producing allowable fuel types, and with lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reductions of at least 50% compared to petroleum base baseline.
A critical complement to improving how Federal agencies conduct PPCE activities is the development of methods to evaluate the extent to which the efforts they adopt and implement are effective. Also, as agencies pilot, implement, or experiment with approaches to their PPCE activities, they need support in measuring and evaluating whether and how those changes are an improvement relative to the status quo. Currently, Federal agencies do not have a shared set of valid quantitative or qualitative metrics or well-developed evaluation plans that would enable them to rigorously measure the effectiveness of different approaches to PPCE.
This Challenge aims to develop a PPCE evaluation toolkit, informed by rigorous research and validated approaches for social science measurement, that Federal agencies can use to build evidence to improve their PPCE activities in furtherance of reaching a wide and diverse audience and augmenting public trust. OMB and GSA are interested in Solvers developing evaluation tools to help generate evidence regarding the effectiveness of various PPCE approaches, such as:
What approaches increase awareness of PPCE opportunities among members of affected communities?
How do motivators and barriers to PPCE vary across demographic factors and lived experiences? What features of PPCE activities serve to build on those motivators and/or mitigate barriers to participation?
How does participation in PPCE opportunities affect perceptions of related Federal program or policy decisions and the leaders or agencies who make and implement them? and
What measures, data sources, and analytic methods provide actionable information about the relative effectiveness of PPCE approaches in terms of their contributions to increasing reach, improving diversity and inclusivity, eliciting substantive involvement and nuanced input from participants, and promoting trust in Federal decision-making?
This Challenge includes a two-phase process to propose and develop an evaluation toolkit that provides Federal agencies with guidance, methods, and metrics to effectively plan, collect, and measure key aspects of their PPCE activities. Specifically, this Challenge is expected to address Federal agency needs for generating and applying credible evidence to their adoption of appropriate and effective PPCE activities. Solvers will be eligible for up to $195,000 of prize funds from GSA. Additionally, the top-scoring Solver may have the opportunity to collaborate with a Federal agency in a pilot implementation of the Solver’s evaluation toolkit as part of a PPCE activity, to the extent allowable (more information further below).
[1] For example, see Holley, K. (2016). The Principles for Equitable and Inclusive Civic Engagement: A Guide to Transformative Change. Columbus, OH: The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at the Ohio State University (highlighting six principles of equitable and inclusive civic engagement: 1) embracing the gifts of diversity; 2) realizing the role of race, power and injustice; 3) radical hospitality: invitation and listening; 4) trust-building and commitment; 5) honoring dissent and embracing protest; and 6) adaptability to community change). Examples across the Federal Government include White House, “Fifth Open Government National Action Plan to Advance a More Inclusive, Responsive, and Accountable Government.” 28 Dec. 2022; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Public Participation Guide: Internet Resources on Public Participation.” 31 Jan. 2024; and U.S. Dep’t of Transp., “Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making.” Nov. 2023.
DOE's ETIPP works alongside coastal, remote, and island communities seeking to transform their energy systems and increase energy resilience. These communities have unique physical features that fundamentally shape what energy options are available. For many of these communities, access to resilient, affordable, sustainable, and clean energy resources is a priority. ETIPP helps communities to assess and advance the solutions that best meet their needs.
In addition to supporting communities in their energy system transformation, ETIPP is also committed to the Justice40 Initiative. This government-wide initiative has a goal of delivering 40% of the overall benefits of relevant federal investments in climate and energy to disadvantaged communities, and it tracks performance toward that goal. Applications that demonstrate their project will directly benefit a disadvantaged community are strongly encouraged.
Purpose:
The CCOG-RM grant PY 24-25 is awarded to develop and implement radio talk shows aimed at reaching domestic and foreign Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (MSFW) and their families to provide timely information regarding various programs, benefits, and services offered through EDD and their partners.
Description:
The Employment Development Department (EDD) announces the availability of up to $100,000. Wagner-Peyser 10 percent Governor's Discretionary funds for Campesino de California Outreach Grant-Radio Media (CCOG-RM) Program Year 2024-25 (PY 24-25) available through this Solicitation for Proposals (SFP). The EDD anticipates funding one organization for the CCOG-RM PY 24-25 grant opportunity.
The purpose of the program is to create and broadcast 24 semi-monthly, 30-minute hosted radio talk show programs in Spanish and recorded in video format media. Additionally, the awardee must create complementing media posts to publish on its website and use social media outlets to publicize the radio talk show videos and communicate additional information as necessary.
Eligible applicants for the CCOG-RM PY 24-25 SFP include public and private non-profit organizations, education institutions, community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations. Individuals are not eligible apply.
Proposals must be received by 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, May 31, 2024. An informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. PT. Pre-registration is recommended for all attendees. Please refer to the EDD’s Workforce Development Solicitation for Proposals website link below for the pre-registration instructions.
https://edd.ca.gov/en/jobs_and_training/WDSFP_Workforce_Development_Sol…
The EDD encourages applicants to submit a Notice of Intent to apply by May 21, 2024 by noon to WSBSFP2@edd.ca.gov. To view this SFP, visit the EDD Workforce Development Solicitations for Proposals webpage.
Grant Program Summary
Our Town is the NEA’s creative placemaking grants program. Through project-based funding, the program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities over the long term. Our Town projects engage a wide range of local stakeholders in efforts to advance local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes in communities. Competitive projects are responsive to unique local conditions, develop meaningful and substantive engagement in communities, center equity, advance artful lives, and lay the groundwork for long-term systems change.
Applying for a federal grant can be time consuming, we estimate that after registering, the process to draft and submit an application takes approximately 26 hours.
A full grant program description can be found under Grant Program Details below. For detailed instructions on how to apply, see Application Instructions below.
Summary of MAP Program Requirements
Geographic Scope: National, must take place on US National Forests and Grasslands or adjacent public lands, and demonstrate benefit to National Forest System lands
Funding Source: Federal funds via the US Forest Service
Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments and organizations, and universities
Match Requirements: 1:1 nonfederal cash match
Program Areas: All MAP applications must focus on in-person community engagement, and have a stewardship component
Project Timing: Eligible projects are no more than 18 months in duration, and start two months after the application deadline
Letters of Support: All applications must include a letter of support from the District Ranger of each National Forest or Grassland unit included in a proposal
Environmental Compliance: All permitting and environmental compliance work (including but not limited to NEPA) must be complete before submitting a MAP application
Administrative: Applicant must have or be able to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) if selected for funding
Recent Program Update
In 2023, the National Forest Foundation (NFF) announced changes to its flagship competitive grant program, the Matching Awards Program (MAP). The adjustments were a result of over two years of work to collect feedback to align the program with current National Forest System needs, and the NFF strategic plan.
The resulting program, MAP: Connecting People to Forests, focuses primarily on in-person community engagement and completion of appropriate stewardship activities. Program goals are to create lasting change that will allow all communities, especially underserved communities, opportunities to benefit from activities on National Forest System lands or adjacent public lands.
Refer to the summary and the Request for Proposals (RFP) linked below for full information.
Through this R-STEP Opportunity, The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is requesting applications from state-based collaboratives aiming to increase state and local capacity for large-scale renewable energy planning and siting. R-STEP will also serve as a platform for Collaboratives to share learnings and best practices with other stakeholders.
A single application should be submitted by a team of organizations interested in working together to form a collaborative. DOE highly encourages state energy offices (or equivalent state agencies) and university extension offices to lead or participate in applications but recognizes that the organizations best suited to perform these activities will vary from state to state. Applicants are encouraged to team with other organizations including, but not limited to: Tribal governments, universities, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations. DOE also recommends that teams include organizations familiar with the needs of local communities in the state. They should have experience providing educational or technical assistance services to local communities and have technical expertise on renewable energy siting topics (e.g., environmental impacts, tax policies, land use, zoning ordinance development).
Applications should:
1. Focus on plans to establish or expand a state-level initiative that improves decision-making by state, local, and/or Tribal governments on large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting;
2. Prioritize equitable and inclusive community engagement both to identify local needs and disseminate technical resources; and
3. Be submitted by cross-disciplinary collaboratives with experience engaging local communities and technical expertise on siting issues.
Applicants can request up to $2 million to execute proposed activities over the course of up to 3 years (36 months).
Applications should primarily focus on activities that expand the planning and evaluation capacity of state and local decision makers regarding the siting of large-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage infrastructure. Where there is appreciable need within a state, proposals may include activities related to other clean energy technologies, such as geothermal power, agrivoltaics, offshore wind, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Applicants must provide sufficient detail and reasoning to justify the technologies included in the scope of activities. In addition, applicants are encouraged to consider whether and how software tools, including those that utilize machine learning (ML) or similar technology, could improve the efficacy, speed, and/or environmental justice outcomes of renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting.
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office), through the Department of Energy (DOE), has made available $54 million in new federal funding for projects that will expand community e-mobility access and provide clean reliable energy. The funding will drive innovation in equitable clean transportation and is aligned with strategies detailed in the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization. This program will make strategic investments at the local level that address key barriers to expanding access to electrified mobility options for individuals without home charging; accelerate the transition to electrified fleets; and mature the implementation of managed charging systems to mitigate impacts and optimize usage of the grid.
The funding is administered by the Joint Office through DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Topic areas in the Joint Office’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 funding opportunity include:
Solving for No-Home Charging: Expanding Charging Access for Privately Owned E-Mobility
Expanding E-Mobility Solutions through Electrified Micro, Light and Medium-Duty Fleets
Managed Charging for Clean Reliable Energy.
This FOA aims to help meet the goal that 40% of the benefits of the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in clean energy and climate solutions are delivered to Disadvantaged Communities (DACs), as defined by the Department pursuant to the Executive Order, and to drive creation of accessible, good-paying jobs with the free and fair chance for workers to join a union.
Read the Joint Office’s FY2024 Communities Taking Charge Accelerator. Applicants must submit a concept paper by May 20, 2024, and full applications are due July 16, 2024.
Summary
FSA is announcing the availability of cooperative agreement funding for up to $10 million to monitor, assess, and evaluate conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with the Conservation Reserve Program. Projects are expected to inform policy and/or improve delivery of the Conservation Reserve Program. For 2024, applications will be accepted from eligible entities for projects addressing at least one of the following priorities:
Ecosystem Benefits
Assess CRP’s impact on natural resources such as climate mitigation/adaptation, wildlife habitat, water quality/quantity, and soil health.
Bottom Up, Middle Out
Evaluate CRP’s role in strengthening farm operations’ viability and resilience. Develop program delivery strategies that improve the CRPs function to support economic growth and stability within rural communities.
Citizen Science
Identify ways for agricultural producers to monitor conditions on and share lessons learned from enrolled CRP acres.
Evaluating CRP in the Big Picture
Evaluating and developing strategies of how CRP fits into a larger framework of natural resources management and conservation.
Applications will be accepted from all non-Foreign, non-Federal entities (see Section C-Eligible Applicants). Projects may be between 1 and 5 years in duration. The minimum amount for an award is $500,000, while the maximum amount for an award is $5 million.
Applicants are encouraged to visit the MAE website (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/economic-and-policy-anal…) to learn more about the MAE program and past projects.
For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov.
Key Dates
Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 31, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.
For inquiries specific to the content of the NOFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NOFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NOFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.
The agency anticipates making selections by July 12, 2024, and expects to execute awards by September 30, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.