Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001685
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and administered by the Golden Field Office, issued a Request for Information (RFI) titled "HydroNEXT: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development of Hydropower in Undeveloped Stream Reaches of the United States" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001685; CFDA 81.087). This is not a funding solicitation by itself, but a market and stakeholder input process meant to shape a potential future funding opportunity. The full RFI was made available through the EERE Exchange website (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov).
The core goal of the RFI is to gather practical feedback from a broad range of stakeholders, including industry, universities, national laboratories, government agencies, and other interested parties, about what it would actually take to develop hydropower in new, currently undeveloped stream reaches in the United States. EERE is specifically looking for information that goes beyond general support or opposition and instead addresses real-world tradeoffs: the expected costs and benefits of pursuing hydropower in these locations, the types of environmental and social impacts that tend to arise, and credible approaches for avoiding, reducing, or otherwise addressing those impacts while keeping projects economically viable.
A major theme is EERE's interest in advanced and/or non-traditional transformative hydropower technologies and project designs. In practice, that points to concepts that could depart from conventional dam-and-reservoir approaches and instead emphasize designs that are more compatible with river ecosystems and community needs. The RFI is framed around the idea that any future DOE support would likely prioritize innovations that can make hydropower development in new stream reaches both cost-competitive and meaningfully lower impact, rather than simply expanding traditional infrastructure into new waterways. EERE is asking stakeholders to inform the focus areas and the structure of a possible forthcoming funding opportunity, meaning respondents are being asked to help DOE decide what research topics to fund, what technical and non-technical barriers matter most, and how a program could be designed to produce usable results.
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and lists "Cooperative Agreement" as the anticipated funding instrument type, which is commonly used when an agency expects substantial involvement in the direction or management of supported projects. At the RFI stage, however, there is no guarantee of awards, and the listing reflects that: the expected number of awards is shown as zero and an award ceiling is not meaningfully defined (the value shown is not indicative of an actual funding cap for an RFI). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could submit feedback, subject to any additional clarifications in the full RFI text.
Responses were required to be submitted electronically as email attachments to HydroNextFOA@ee.doe.gov, with the deadline stated as 5:00 pm Eastern Time on December 16, 2016 (with the record also showing an original closing date of December 15, 2016). The intent of that submission format and deadline was to collect stakeholder input in a structured way so DOE could synthesize themes, identify gaps in existing research and technology, and use that information to design a future funding opportunity aimed at sustainable, lower-impact hydropower development in previously undeveloped U.S. stream reaches.Apply for DE FOA 0001685
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "RFI - HydroNEXT: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development of Hydropower in Undeveloped Stream Reaches of the United States" 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 31, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 15, 2016. (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 $1.00 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.
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HydroNEXT RFI (DE-FOA-0001685) Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is this DOE opportunity?
This is a Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) titled "HydroNEXT: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development of Hydropower in Undeveloped Stream Reaches of the United States." It was issued by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and administered by the Golden Field Office.
2) Is this an actual funding solicitation?
No. The HydroNEXT posting is an RFI, not a funding solicitation. It is a market and stakeholder input process intended to shape a potential future funding opportunity.
3) What is the purpose of the RFI?
The purpose is to collect practical, real-world feedback from stakeholders on what it would take to develop hydropower in new, currently undeveloped stream reaches in the United States. DOE is looking for input that can inform the focus areas and structure of a possible future funding opportunity.
4) What kinds of input is DOE/EERE looking for?
EERE is seeking information that goes beyond general support or opposition and instead addresses real-world tradeoffs, including expected costs and benefits, likely environmental and social impacts, and credible approaches to avoid, reduce, or otherwise address those impacts while keeping projects economically viable.
5) Who is the intended audience for responding to this RFI?
The RFI is aimed at a broad range of stakeholders, including industry, universities, national laboratories, government agencies, and other interested parties.
6) What does "undeveloped stream reaches" mean in this context?
Based on the RFI title and description, it refers to stream segments in the United States where hydropower has not yet been developed and where development would be considered new.
7) What is the overarching goal behind HydroNEXT?
The core goal is to help DOE understand how hydropower could potentially be developed in new stream reaches in a way that is both cost-competitive and meaningfully lower impact, with an emphasis on sustainability and practical feasibility.
8) Is DOE prioritizing any particular technology approach?
Yes. A major theme is EERE's interest in advanced and/or non-traditional transformative hydropower technologies and project designs, particularly concepts that could depart from conventional dam-and-reservoir approaches and instead emphasize compatibility with river ecosystems and community needs.
9) Does the RFI suggest DOE wants to expand traditional hydropower infrastructure into new waterways?
The RFI framing indicates DOE interest in innovations that can reduce impacts and improve cost competitiveness, rather than simply expanding conventional infrastructure into new waterways.
10) What types of barriers is DOE asking stakeholders to identify?
DOE is asking respondents to help identify both technical and non-technical barriers that matter most, along with research gaps and program design considerations that could produce usable results.
11) How will DOE use the information submitted?
DOE intends to synthesize themes from responses, identify gaps in existing research and technology, and use that input to design a future funding opportunity focused on sustainable, lower-impact hydropower development in previously undeveloped U.S. stream reaches.
12) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0001685 and the CFDA listing is 81.087.
13) Where was the full RFI made available?
The full RFI was made available through the EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.
14) How were responses required to be submitted?
Responses were required to be submitted electronically as email attachments.
15) What email address was used for submissions?
Responses were submitted to HydroNextFOA@ee.doe.gov.
16) What was the submission deadline?
The stated deadline was 5:00 pm Eastern Time on December 16, 2016. The record also shows an original closing date of December 15, 2016.
17) Is there any guarantee of awards or funding from this RFI?
No. At the RFI stage there is no guarantee of awards. The posting indicates an expected number of awards of zero and explains that an award ceiling is not meaningfully defined for an RFI.
18) What does it mean that the opportunity is categorized as "discretionary"?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary in the listing, reflecting the nature of the program classification in the posting. The RFI itself is an information-gathering step rather than a commitment to fund projects.
19) What funding instrument type is mentioned, and what does that imply?
The listing mentions "Cooperative Agreement" as the anticipated funding instrument type. This commonly indicates that, if a future funding opportunity is issued and awards are made, DOE may expect substantial involvement in the direction or management of supported projects. The RFI itself does not make awards.
20) Who was eligible to respond?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could submit feedback, subject to any additional clarifications that may be included in the full RFI text.
21) Does responding to the RFI mean an organization will receive funding later?
No. Submitting feedback to an RFI is not the same as applying for funding and does not guarantee eligibility for, preference in, or receipt of any future award.
22) What kinds of impacts is DOE specifically concerned about?
DOE highlights environmental and social impacts that tend to arise with hydropower development, and asks for credible approaches to avoid, reduce, or address those impacts while maintaining economic viability.
23) Why is DOE emphasizing "economically viable" approaches?
The RFI stresses that solutions to environmental and social challenges should be credible while still keeping hydropower projects cost-competitive and economically viable, suggesting DOE is looking for workable approaches rather than purely conceptual ideas.
24) What is the role of the Golden Field Office in this RFI?
The RFI is administered by DOE's Golden Field Office, as stated in the opportunity description.
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