Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) FY23 Multi-Topic FOA | DE FOA 0002997

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) FY23 Multi-Topic Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), number DE-FOA-0002997, from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It provides discretionary federal funding to support industrial decarbonization work across multiple topics.

2) Who is administering the FOA?

The FOA is administered through DOE's Golden Field Office.

3) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 81.086.

4) What type of funding instrument does DOE plan to use?

DOE plans to make awards using cooperative agreements. This means DOE expects to have substantial involvement in the project during performance, compared to more hands-off grant mechanisms.

5) What kinds of activities does the FOA support?

The FOA supports research, development, and prototype- or pilot-scale validation and demonstration of technologies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from U.S. industry while improving energy efficiency and competitiveness.

6) What is the overall goal of the FOA?

The intent is to accelerate adoption of low- and zero-carbon industrial technologies, strengthen domestic manufacturing, improve export competitiveness of U.S. industrial solutions, and contribute to a cleaner and more equitable energy economy.

7) How does this FOA fit into DOE's broader industrial decarbonization strategy?

This FOA is positioned as part of DOE's broader industrial decarbonization technology strategy. It is aligned with the 2022 Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap and the Industrial Heat Energy Earthshot, and it is coordinated across multiple DOE offices to support a pipeline from early research through demonstrations.

8) Which DOE offices are involved in coordination for this FOA?

The FOA is coordinated across multiple DOE offices, including EERE, FECM, NE, and SC, to help create a pipeline from early-stage R&D through demonstration activities.

9) Is this FOA the same as DOE demonstration and deployment initiatives (OCED, MESC, LPO)?

No. The FOA is described as distinct from separate demonstration and deployment initiatives led by other DOE organizations such as OCED, MESC, and LPO.

10) Is this FOA part of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) or Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) programs?

No. It is described as separate from activities funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or the Inflation Reduction Act, including Industrial Demonstration Projects.

11) What industrial areas does the FOA focus on?

The FOA targets both cross-sector industrial decarbonization approaches and several high-emitting industrial subsectors.

12) What does "cross-sector" mean in the context of this FOA?

Cross-sector emphasis refers to approaches that can apply across many types of industrial facilities, such as thermal processing, low-carbon fuel use, and other exploratory concepts that are not limited to a single industry subsector.

13) Which industrial subsectors are specifically named as focus areas?

The FOA specifically highlights sector-focused work for chemicals, iron and steel, food and beverage, cement and concrete, and forest products.

14) How many main topic areas are included in this FOA?

The FOA organizes funding into seven main topic areas.

15) What is Topic 1 about?

Topic 1 focuses on decarbonizing industrial heat.

16) What is Topic 2 about?

Topic 2 supports low-carbon fuels utilization research and development.

17) What is Topic 3a about?

Topic 3a addresses enabling flexible industrial energy use, such as improving a facility's ability to shift or modulate energy consumption to align with cleaner or more available energy supply.

18) What is Topic 3b about?

Topic 3b targets enhanced thermal conductivity materials, meaning materials advances that can improve heat transfer and efficiency in industrial processes.

19) What is Topic 4 about?

Topic 4 aims at decarbonizing chemicals.

20) What is Topic 5 about?

Topic 5 focuses on iron and steel.

21) What is Topic 6 about?

Topic 6 addresses food and beverage products manufacturing.

22) What is Topic 7 about?

Topic 7 targets cement and concrete.

23) What changed in Modification 0001?

Modification 0001 makes two specific corrections: (1) it updates a NAICS code reference for Topic 4 in Section I.B, and (2) it revises the concept paper and full application submission limits language in Section III.F to explicitly allow multiple submissions by a single entity.

24) What NAICS code correction was made under Topic 4 (Decarbonizing Chemicals)?

The NAICS reference was corrected from "basic organic chemicals (NAICS 325519)" to "all other organic chemicals (NAICS 325199)" in Section I.B (page 36) under Topic 4.

25) Why does the NAICS correction matter for applicants?

NAICS references can affect how applicants align their project scope with industry definitions and how proposers map their work to the FOA's targeted areas. The correction clarifies which NAICS category is being referenced for Topic 4.

26) What concept paper and application limit change was made in Modification 0001?

Section III.F (page 64) was revised to change the limits language (from Base Template Option C to Base Template Option A, Alternative 2) to explicitly allow a single entity to submit multiple concept papers and multiple applications to the FOA.

27) Can a single organization submit more than one concept paper?

Yes. The revised language explicitly allows a single entity to submit multiple concept papers.

28) Can a single organization submit more than one full application?

Yes. The revised language explicitly allows a single entity to submit multiple applications.

29) Where are applications submitted?

Applications are submitted through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE system.

30) How are submission deadlines enforced in eXCHANGE?

eXCHANGE enforces hard deadlines. The system automatically disables the APPLY and SUBMIT buttons at the deadline time to ensure consistent enforcement across applicants.

31) What should an applicant do if they have technical issues before the deadline?

If an applicant encounters submission issues before the deadline, they are expected to contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk at exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov for assistance.

32) Can DOE accept a late submission due to technical problems?

DOE will only accept a late application when the issue was beyond the applicant's control, the applicant contacted the helpdesk for assistance, and the application is submitted through eXCHANGE within 24 hours of the posted deadline.

33) What are the key conditions for a late submission to be considered?

Based on the FOA description provided, three conditions must be met: (1) the technical issue was beyond the applicant's control, (2) the applicant contacted the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance, and (3) the application is submitted through eXCHANGE within 24 hours of the posted deadline.

34) What is the helpdesk email for eXCHANGE submission problems?

The eXCHANGE helpdesk can be reached at exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov.

35) What was the original closing date listed for this FOA?

The key administrative details provided list an original closing date of June 23, 2023.

36) What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The award ceiling listed in the provided information is $10,000,000.

37) What does "eligibility: unrestricted" mean here?

Based on the summary data provided, "eligibility: unrestricted" indicates the FOA does not, in that summary, limit applicants to only certain organization types.

38) What outcomes is DOE trying to drive through these cooperative agreements?

The FOA aims to fund practical, scalable industrial decarbonization solutions across heat, fuels, flexible energy use, advanced materials, and major emitting manufacturing subsectors, with active DOE involvement under cooperative agreements to support progress toward measurable emissions reductions and energy efficiency improvements.