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Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity. Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO).

Program Summary 

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to establish an Energy Innovation Hub (referred to hereafter as the Energy-Water Desalination Hub, or the Hub) to address water security issues in the U.S. For the purpose of this FOA, “desalination” more broadly includes technologies that primarily remove salts. The Hub is a critical component of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) broader Water Security Grand Challenge which will use a coordinated suite of prizes, competitions, early stage research and development (R&D), and other programs to help address the nation’s water security needs. The Energy-Water Desalination Hub will be organized around four topic areas: 1) Materials Research and Development, 2) New Process Research and Development, 3) Modeling and Simulation Tools, and 4) Integrated Data and Analysis.

The mentioned in the FOA will be held on January 7, 2019 at 3 PM ET Eastern Standard Time.

An effective application will include multi-disciplinary experts from industry, manufacturers, universities, non-profits, FFRDCs, states, municipalities, and other key stakeholders with expertise in advanced energy technology applicable to the Energy-Water Desalination Hub that have the facility capabilities, and expertise to address the broad set of challenges. EERE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the widest possible national participation in the formation of the Hub for this FOA. The list allows organizations who may wish to participate in an application, but do not wish to apply as the Prime applicant to the Hub, to express their interest to potential applicants and to explore potential partners. See full solicitation for more information about this list.

Deadlines

ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MST January 9, 2019

Sponsor Concept Paper Deadline: 3:00pm MST February 7, 2019

Sponsor Full Application Deadline: 3:00pm MST May 7, 2019

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

• Technical Description and Impacts (up to 2 pages): Please describe the key technical challenges and opportunities, how the hub will address them in the four topic areas, and how the hub’s proposed R&D, modeling, and/or analysis will overcome the shortcomings, limitations, and challenges compared to the current state of technology.
• Hub and Resource Description (2-3 pages): Please include the following: (a) organizations, key individuals, and their technical roles/responsibilities including hub governance and management roles, (b) skills, qualifications, and relevant experience that demonstrate ability to succeed in the four topic areas, (c) access to equipment and facilities to accomplish effort, (d) how applicant has worked with partners on prior projects/programs, (e) proposed management and operations structure and approach (including how the hub would collaborate across the four topic areas), (f) how the applicant will share data, tools with external stakeholders.
• PI CV / Biosketch
• Budget Overview (up to 1 page): A basic budget outlining project costs is sufficient; detailed OCG budgets are not required.

To access the online application, visit:

Eligibility

Only applicants who have submitted an eligible Concept Paper will be eligible to submit a Full Application.

EERE will accept only new applications under this FOA. EERE will not consider applications for renewals of existing EERE-funded awards through this FOA.

The Hub is intended to be a consortium of multi-disciplinary experts. All members of the Hub consortium must meet the definition of “Qualifying Entities” (institutions of higher ed are qualifying entities). If the consortium is an unincorporated group of qualifying entities working together, the consortium must designate one member to serve as the Prime Recipient/consortium lead. The consortium lead must be the entity that submits the Full Application. The Prime Recipient/consortium lead must be incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a State or territory of the United States with majority domestic ownership or control and have a physical place of business in the United States. The Hub must be established and operated by a consortium of qualifying entities. To be eligible to receive an award for the establishment and operation of the Hub, a consortium must:

1. Be composed of not fewer than two qualifying entities, as defined below;
2. Operate subject to a binding agreement, entered into by each member of the consortium; and
3. Operate as a nonprofit organization.

Limited Submission Guidelines

An entity may only submit one Concept Paper and Full Application for this FOA. If an entity submits more than one Concept Paper and Full Application, EERE will request a determination from the applicant’s authorizing representative as to which application should be reviewed. Any other submissions received listing the same entity as the applicant will not be eligible for further consideration. This limitation does not prohibit an applicant from collaborating on other applications (e.g., as a potential subrecipient or partner) so long as the entity is only listed as the applicant on one Concept Paper and Full Application submitted under this FOA.

Award Information

EERE expects to make a total of approximately $100,000,000 of Federal funding available for one new five year award under this FOA, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. EERE will establish 5 budget periods for the award, however only funding for Budget Period 1 will be authorized initially. Budget Period 1 will have a duration of approximately 12 months of the overall 5 year project period. The first budget period will provide resources, including supporting analysis, for roadmapping and other efforts to identify near and longer term R&D, modeling, and analysis efforts to be conducted by the Hub.

A total of up to $20,000,000 in Federal funds is anticipated to be available for the award for each budget period.

Cost Share: The cost share must be at least 20% of the total allowable costs for research and development projects (i.e., the sum of the Government share, including FFRDC costs if applicable, and the recipient share of allowable costs equals the total allowable cost of the project) and must come from non-Federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law.