Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002420
The Vehicle Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2021 Research Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), numbered DE-FOA-0002420, is a discretionary federal funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory. It falls under the Energy funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 81.086. In practical terms, this FOA is aimed at supporting research and development work that aligns with DOE's Vehicle Technologies Office mission, which generally focuses on advancing vehicle and transportation technologies that improve energy efficiency, reduce petroleum dependence, lower emissions, and strengthen U.S. technology leadership. The funding is provided through cooperative agreements, meaning DOE expects a more hands-on partnership than a typical grant, with substantial federal involvement in technical direction, project coordination, and ongoing oversight as projects are carried out.
The opportunity was created on December 10, 2020, and the original closing date for applications was April 7, 2021. DOE anticipated making approximately 24 awards under this announcement, with an award ceiling listed at $5,575,000 per award. While individual awards can vary based on topic area and proposed scope, the ceiling indicates the upper bound for a single project under this FOA and signals that DOE was prepared to fund mid-sized to relatively large R&D efforts rather than only small pilot studies. Because the instrument type is a cooperative agreement, applicants typically need to plan for structured project management, clear milestones and deliverables, and regular reporting and review points that allow DOE to remain actively engaged and ensure the work stays aligned with program goals.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the FOA was open to a broad range of applicant types, subject to any clarifications that would have appeared in the full eligibility language within the announcement itself. In DOE FOAs of this kind, "unrestricted" commonly implies that universities, national laboratories, for-profit companies (including startups and established manufacturers), state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and other qualified entities may apply, sometimes as single applicants and often as multi-organization teams. Given the nature of vehicle technology R&D, collaborative applications are common, especially when they combine complementary strengths such as fundamental research capability, engineering development, testing infrastructure, manufacturing know-how, and commercialization pathways.
Overall, this FOA represents a competitive DOE funding mechanism intended to move transportation-related energy technologies forward through targeted research, development, validation, and potentially early-stage demonstration work. With multiple expected awards and a multi-million-dollar ceiling per project, the announcement suggests a portfolio approach: DOE planned to fund several distinct projects that collectively advance key technical areas in vehicle efficiency and performance, with close DOE involvement to maximize impact and ensure that federally funded work translates into measurable technology progress.Apply for DE FOA 0002420
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Vehicle Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2021 Research Funding Opportunity Announcement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 10, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 07, 2021. (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 $5,575,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 24 candidate(s).
- 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.
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FAQs: Vehicle Technologies Office FY 2021 Research FOA (DE-FOA-0002420)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Fiscal Year 2021 Research Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), numbered DE-FOA-0002420. It is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
Which federal program and category does it fall under?
The FOA is in the Energy funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 81.086.
What is the overall purpose of the FOA?
The FOA is intended to support research and development (R&D) that aligns with DOE VTO's mission. As described, that mission generally centers on advancing vehicle and transportation technologies that:
- Improve energy efficiency
- Reduce petroleum dependence
- Lower emissions
- Strengthen U.S. technology leadership
What types of projects does this FOA aim to fund?
Based on the description provided, this FOA targets transportation-related energy technologies through targeted R&D, which may include validation and potentially early-stage demonstration work. The emphasis is on measurable technology progress that supports vehicle efficiency and performance goals.
What funding instrument is used (grant, contract, or something else)?
The FOA uses cooperative agreements as the funding instrument.
What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?
A cooperative agreement indicates DOE expects a more hands-on partnership than a typical grant. The description states DOE anticipates substantial federal involvement, which can include:
- Technical direction
- Project coordination
- Ongoing oversight during project execution
Applicants should be prepared for structured management, clear milestones and deliverables, and regular reporting and review points to support DOE's active engagement.
Who is the sponsoring agency and administering entity?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the opportunity is offered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
When was the FOA created?
The opportunity was created on December 10, 2020.
What was the application closing date?
The original closing date for applications was April 7, 2021.
How many awards did DOE expect to make?
DOE anticipated making approximately 24 awards under this FOA.
What is the maximum award size (ceiling) under this FOA?
The award ceiling was listed at $5,575,000 per award. This reflects the upper limit for a single project award under the announcement.
Does the ceiling mean every project will receive $5,575,000?
No. The ceiling indicates the maximum potential amount for an individual award. The description notes that individual awards can vary based on the topic area and the proposed scope of work.
What does the award ceiling suggest about the scale of projects DOE wanted?
The multi-million-dollar ceiling suggests DOE was prepared to fund mid-sized to relatively large R&D efforts, not only small pilot studies. It also indicates DOE intended to assemble a portfolio of projects across key technical areas.
What is meant by eligibility being "unrestricted"?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to a broad range of applicant types, subject to any clarifications that would appear in the full FOA eligibility language.
What kinds of organizations are commonly included under "unrestricted" eligibility for DOE FOAs like this?
As described, "unrestricted" commonly implies that eligible applicants may include:
- Universities
- National laboratories
- For-profit companies (including startups and established manufacturers)
- State and local governments
- Nonprofit organizations
- Other qualified entities
Are collaborative or multi-organization applications expected or allowed?
The description indicates collaborative applications are common for vehicle technology R&D, especially when teams combine complementary strengths such as:
- Fundamental research capability
- Engineering development
- Testing infrastructure
- Manufacturing know-how
- Commercialization pathways
What should applicants plan for in terms of project execution and oversight?
Because DOE expects substantial involvement under a cooperative agreement, applicants should plan for:
- Structured project management
- Defined milestones and deliverables
- Regular reporting
- Periodic reviews that support DOE oversight and alignment with program goals
How does DOE describe the overall funding strategy for this FOA?
The FOA suggests a portfolio approach: DOE planned to fund multiple distinct projects (about 24) that collectively advance key technical areas in vehicle efficiency and performance, with close DOE involvement to maximize impact.
What is the main takeaway for prospective applicants?
This FOA represents a competitive DOE mechanism to move transportation-related energy technologies forward through R&D, validation, and possibly early demonstration. Awards are cooperative agreements with active DOE engagement, and project sizes can be significant, up to $5,575,000 per award.
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| Advanced Coal Waste Processing: Production of Coal-Enhanced Filaments or Resins for Advanced Manufacturing and Research and Development of Coal-Derived Graphite Apply for DE FOA 0002470 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002470 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Carbon Capture Research and Development For Natural Gas and Industrial Point Sources and Front End Engineering Design Studies for Carbon Capture Systems at Industrial Facilities and Natural Gas Plants. Apply for DE FOA 0002410 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002410 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
| ADVANCED COAL WASTE PROCESSING: PRODUCTION OF COAL-ENHANCED FILAMENTS OR RESINS FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF COAL-DERIVED GRAPHITE Apply for DE FOA 0002405 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002405 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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