Fiscal Year 2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Batteries Funding Opportunity Announcement
This funding opportunity provides financial support for research and development projects focused on improving battery technologies, particularly for electric vehicles, and is open to a wide range of applicants including educational institutions, nonprofits, and government entities.
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) *Fiscal Year 2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Batteries Funding Opportunity Announcement* (FOA), under number DE-FOA-0003383, focuses on advancing research, development, and deployment (RDD&D) in key areas of battery technologies. The FOA is part of DOE's strategy to support a clean energy economy and address the climate crisis, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. A total of approximately $42.95 million in federal funding is expected to be available for 16-20 awards, with individual projects ranging from $1.35 million to $4.2 million. The funding will support projects across five topic areas, including improvements to lead-acid batteries for electric vehicles, strategies to mitigate electric vehicle fire risks, and cost reductions in battery manufacturing. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, state and local governments, and Indian tribes, among others. The FOA requires that a Concept Paper be submitted by September 9, 2024, to be eligible for full application submission by October 30, 2024. Successful applicants are expected to be notified in March 2025, with negotiations for awards continuing through June 2025. Recipients are required to provide cost-sharing for most topics, with some areas (e.g., certain university-led projects) having a reduced or zero-cost share requirement. Applicants must register and submit their proposals through the EERE eXCHANGE portal and meet several registration requirements including SAM.gov and UEI registration. The FOA encourages collaboration, and diversity, equity, and inclusion are highlighted as key goals, requiring applicants to include a detailed plan to foster an inclusive environment and benefit underserved communities.
Award Range
Not specified - $4,200,000
Total Program Funding
$42,950,000
Number of Awards
20
Matching Requirement
Yes - While it is not possible to explain what specifically qualifies for cost sharing in one or two sentences, in general, if a cost is allowable under the cost principles applicable to the organization incurring the cost and is eligible for reimbursement under an EERE grant or cooperative agreement, it is allowable as cost share. Conversely, if the cost is not allowable under the cost principles and not eligible for reimbursement, it is not allowable as cost share. In addition, costs may not be counted as cost share if they are paid by the federal government under another award unless authorized by federal statute to be used for cost sharing. The rules associated with what is allowable as cost share are specific to the type of organization that is receiving funds under the grant or cooperative agreement, though are generally the same for all types of entities. The specific rules applicable to: FAR Part 31 for For-Profit entities, (48 CFR Part 31); and • 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles for all other non-federal entities. In addition to the above regulations, other factors may also come into play such as timing of donations and length of the project period. For example, the value of 10 years of donated maintenance on a project that has a project period of five years would not be fully allowable as cost share. Only the value for the five years of donated maintenance that corresponds to the project period is allowable and may be counted as cost share. Additionally, EERE generally does not allow pre-award costs for either cost share or reimbursement when these costs precede the signing of the appropriation bill that funds the award. In the case of a competitive award, EERE generally does not allow pre-award costs prior to the signing of the Selection Statement by the EERE Selection Official.
Eligible Applicants
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
August 8, 2024
Application Closes
October 30, 2024
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