Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001680

This Notice of Intent (NOI), numbered DE-FOA-0001680, signals that the Department of Energy (DOE), through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and specifically the Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO), planned to release a forthcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled the "Fuel Cell Technologies Office Annual FOA" (referenced as DE-FOA-0001647). In practical terms, the document is an early heads-up to researchers, companies, universities, and other potential applicants that a competitive federal funding opportunity was being prepared, with the actual application instructions, deadlines, and requirements to be provided later when the FOA formally posted.

The purpose of the coming FOA is rooted in FCTO's broader mission within EERE: to advance fuel cell and hydrogen technologies that can deliver clean, secure, and affordable energy while strengthening domestic energy security and cutting both petroleum dependence and emissions. The technical thrust is not just about improving fuel cells themselves, but also about addressing the full hydrogen ecosystem needed for fuel cell deployment. That includes hydrogen production, hydrogen delivery infrastructure, and hydrogen storage, along with non-technical hurdles that can slow adoption, such as hydrogen codes and standards. The NOI frames these efforts as research, development, and demonstration (RD&D), meaning the portfolio can span fundamental materials work through applied engineering and validation activities, depending on the final FOA topics and subtopics.

A central feature highlighted in the NOI is that the anticipated FOA would include four topics, with the first three explicitly designed to leverage national laboratory consortia created under DOE's Energy Materials Network (EMN) in FY 2016. These consortia support priorities linked to the Materials Genome Initiative and advanced manufacturing, emphasizing faster materials discovery, data sharing, and coordinated national-lab capabilities. The three named consortia are ElectroCat, HydroGEN, and HyMARC. While the NOI does not list detailed subtopic requirements in the excerpt provided, it clearly communicates an expectation that applicants would make active use of consortium capabilities (for example, specialized testing, modeling, synthesis, characterization, or shared protocols) and would share results through consortium data portals, reinforcing an ecosystem approach rather than isolated project work.

To help potential applicants prepare and to lower barriers to accessing these shared resources, FCTO indicated it would host public webinars and/or recurring public teleconferences with technical representatives from each consortium. The goal was to let applicants ask practical questions about what each consortium can do and how to engage, and to ensure fair access by recording and publicly posting the sessions. Interested parties were directed to subscribe to FCTO updates through the provided email subscription link so they could track these events and any related announcements.

From an administrative and compliance standpoint, the NOI emphasizes that it is not the FOA itself. There is no application due date because applications are not accepted under an NOI, and all details are explicitly subject to change. The agency also states it would not respond to questions about the NOI; instead, a formal Q and A process would be offered after the FOA is released. The FOA was expected to be issued in fall 2016 and administered through the EERE Exchange portal (eere-exchange.energy.gov). Applicants were advised to register in EERE Exchange to receive official notifications and, importantly, because submissions would only be accepted through that platform once the FOA opened.

The source data associated with the notice further characterizes the opportunity as a discretionary funding action using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. A cooperative agreement typically implies substantial federal involvement during the period of performance compared with a standard grant, such as active DOE engagement in project milestones, coordination, and oversight. The activity category is Energy, with CFDA number 81.087, and the issuing agency is listed as the DOE Golden Field Office. Eligibility is described as "unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to many entity types, subject to any clarifications that would appear in the eventual FOA text. The posting date is October 5, 2016, and because this is only an NOI, there is no closing date and no expected awards listed at the NOI stage.

  • The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent (NOI) DE-FOA-0001680 to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0001647" 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 Oct 05, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by This is a Notice of Intent, no application due date necessary.. (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 $2.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
Apply for DE FOA 0001680

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FAQs: DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office Annual FOA (Notice of Intent DE-FOA-0001680)

1) What is DE-FOA-0001680?

DE-FOA-0001680 is a Notice of Intent (NOI) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It serves as an early announcement that DOE planned to release a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) related to fuel cell and hydrogen technologies.

2) Is DE-FOA-0001680 the actual funding opportunity I can apply to?

No. The NOI is not the FOA and does not accept applications. It is a heads-up that the competitive FOA was being prepared, with full instructions and requirements to be provided later when the FOA is formally posted.

3) What FOA is this NOI referring to?

The NOI indicates a forthcoming FOA titled the "Fuel Cell Technologies Office Annual FOA," referenced as DE-FOA-0001647.

4) Who is sponsoring and administering this opportunity?

The opportunity is sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE), through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO). The issuing agency is listed as the DOE Golden Field Office.

5) What is the main purpose of the planned FOA?

The planned FOA is intended to support research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) that advances fuel cell and hydrogen technologies to enable clean, secure, and affordable energy, strengthen domestic energy security, and reduce petroleum dependence and emissions.

6) What technical areas does the NOI say the FOA will cover?

Based on the NOI, the scope is broader than fuel cells alone and includes the hydrogen ecosystem needed for deployment, such as hydrogen production, hydrogen delivery infrastructure, hydrogen storage, and non-technical barriers like hydrogen codes and standards.

7) What does RD&D mean in the context of this planned FOA?

RD&D stands for research, development, and demonstration. The NOI indicates the portfolio could span fundamental materials research through applied engineering and validation activities, depending on how final topics and subtopics are defined in the FOA.

8) How many topics were expected in the planned FOA?

The NOI states the anticipated FOA would include four topics.

9) What are the national laboratory consortia mentioned, and why do they matter?

The NOI highlights three DOE national laboratory consortia created under the Energy Materials Network (EMN) in FY 2016: ElectroCat, HydroGEN, and HyMARC. The first three FOA topics were expected to be designed to leverage these consortia, meaning applicants would be expected to actively use consortium capabilities and share results through consortium data portals.

10) What kinds of consortium capabilities might applicants be expected to use?

The NOI describes applicants using shared consortium resources such as specialized testing, modeling, synthesis, and materials characterization, along with shared protocols. The intent is coordinated work across national-lab capabilities rather than isolated projects.

11) Will applicants be expected to share data or results?

Yes, the NOI signals an expectation that results would be shared through consortium data portals (as applicable), supporting data sharing and coordinated research efforts.

12) How can potential applicants learn how to work with ElectroCat, HydroGEN, or HyMARC?

FCTO indicated it would host public webinars and/or recurring public teleconferences with technical representatives from each consortium. These sessions were intended to help applicants understand capabilities and engagement pathways.

13) Would the webinars/teleconferences be publicly available after they occur?

Yes. The NOI indicates the sessions would be recorded and publicly posted to ensure fair access to information.

14) How can I stay informed about webinars and official updates?

The NOI directs interested parties to subscribe to FCTO updates using the provided email subscription link so they can track events and related announcements.

15) Is there an application deadline listed in the NOI?

No. Because this is an NOI (not an FOA), there is no application due date and applications are not accepted under the NOI.

16) When was the FOA expected to be issued?

The NOI states the FOA was expected to be issued in fall 2016.

17) Where would the FOA be posted and where would applications be submitted?

The NOI indicates the FOA would be administered through the EERE Exchange portal (eere-exchange.energy.gov) and that submissions would only be accepted through that platform once the FOA opened.

18) Do I need to register anywhere in advance?

Yes. The NOI advises potential applicants to register in EERE Exchange to receive official notifications and because the platform would be required for submitting an application once the FOA is released.

19) Can details change between the NOI and the FOA?

Yes. The NOI emphasizes that it is not the FOA and that all details are subject to change until the FOA is formally posted.

20) Will DOE answer questions about the NOI?

No. The NOI states the agency would not respond to questions about the NOI itself. A formal question-and-answer process would be offered after the FOA is released.

21) What type of funding instrument is associated with this opportunity?

The source information characterizes the planned action as a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.

22) What does it mean that the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically implies substantial federal involvement during the period of performance compared with a standard grant, such as active DOE engagement in project milestones, coordination, and oversight.

23) What is the activity category and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The activity category is Energy, and the CFDA number listed is 81.087.

24) Who is eligible to apply based on the NOI?

Eligibility is described as "unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to many entity types, subject to any clarifications and limits that would appear in the eventual FOA text.

25) What is the posting date of the NOI?

The posting date listed is October 5, 2016.

26) Does the NOI list the number of expected awards or total funding?

No. The NOI stage does not list a closing date, expected awards, or other award specifics.

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