Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002247
This opportunity, titled "Understanding Workforce Development Needs for Activities Within the High-Performance Materials Supply Chain" (Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0002247), is a Department of Energy effort run through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) under the Fossil Energy (FE) portfolio. It is not a traditional grant solicitation for research projects; it is a Request for Information (RFI). In practice, that means the government is gathering input to shape future planning, potential programs, and possible future funding directions rather than immediately awarding money for proposed work.
The core goal of the RFI is to collect detailed perspectives from a wide range of stakeholders on workforce challenges tied to the fossil energy sector and related high-performance materials supply chains. DOE is looking for information from industry, universities, national and private research laboratories, government agencies, and other relevant groups. The emphasis is on understanding how the workforce is being affected by multiple pressures at once, including supply chain impacts, both recent and longer-term reductions in fossil power generation capacity, and disruptions in oil and gas markets. Put simply, FE wants a clearer picture of what is happening to the talent pipeline, what skills are becoming scarce or misaligned, where workers are being displaced, and what kinds of training or transition strategies might realistically help.
A major theme is the connection between workforce readiness and supply chain resilience. The title points to "high-performance materials," which typically refers to specialized materials and components used in demanding energy applications (for example, advanced alloys, corrosion-resistant materials, coatings, composites, and other engineered materials that enable high-temperature, high-pressure, or otherwise harsh operating environments). DOE is signaling interest in how workforce capabilities affect the ability to develop, manufacture, qualify, and deploy these materials across the supply chain. The RFI is meant to surface where gaps exist, such as shortages of skilled trades, technicians, materials scientists, quality and inspection professionals, manufacturing engineers, and operators, as well as gaps in certification pathways, apprenticeship capacity, or specialized training infrastructure.
The RFI also focuses on market and structural changes affecting fossil energy employment. DOE is explicitly asking stakeholders to consider the consequences of declining fossil generation capacity over time, which can reduce demand for certain job categories while increasing the need for others (for example, maintenance and retrofit skills, decommissioning skills, environmental compliance expertise, or work connected to efficiency and emissions controls). In parallel, the oil and gas market disruptions referenced in the notice point to volatility-driven hiring freezes, layoffs, and churn, all of which can weaken long-term workforce development because fewer people enter the field and experienced workers exit permanently. DOE is looking to understand both the near-term shocks and the longer-run shifts, including what those changes mean for regional labor markets and for companies that rely on specialized talent that is not easily replaced.
In terms of who can respond, the eligibility is effectively open ("Unrestricted"), consistent with an information-gathering exercise. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and lists the funding instrument type as "Other," which aligns with the RFI nature rather than a standard assistance award. Although the listing includes an award ceiling and expected awards fields, the key practical takeaway is that an RFI is primarily about submitting comments, data, and recommendations, not competing for an immediate funded award.
Administrative details include a posting/creation date of July 20, 2020, and an original closing date of August 31, 2020. The activity category is Energy, and the CFDA number is 81.089, which corresponds to DOE fossil energy-related assistance listings. The sponsoring agency is the National Energy Technology Laboratory.
Overall, this RFI is DOE/NETL asking the field to help map the workforce problem: what specific workforce shortages and skill mismatches exist across the fossil energy and related high-performance materials supply chains, how supply chain disruptions and market changes are altering workforce needs, and what mitigation options stakeholders believe would work in the real world. The intended outcome is to inform DOE about actionable solutions such as targeted training programs, reskilling and upskilling pathways, partnerships between employers and educational institutions, credentialing and certification strategies, and other approaches that could stabilize critical talent pipelines and strengthen supply chain capability during a period of rapid change.Apply for DE FOA 0002247
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding Workforce Development Needs for Activities Within the High-Performance Materials Supply Chain" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-07-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-08-31. (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 $2.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Understanding Workforce Development Needs for Activities Within the High-Performance Materials Supply Chain" and the Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0002247.
Is this a grant solicitation that will fund research projects right away?
No. This is a Request for Information (RFI), not a traditional grant solicitation. The purpose is to gather input to support DOE planning, potential future programs, and possible future funding directions rather than to immediately award funding for proposed work.
What does it mean that this opportunity is an RFI?
An RFI is an information-gathering process. Instead of submitting a proposal to compete for an award, stakeholders submit comments, data, and recommendations to help the government understand needs and shape future actions.
Which agency is running this RFI?
This is a Department of Energy effort run through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) under the Fossil Energy (FE) portfolio.
What is DOE trying to learn through this RFI?
DOE is seeking detailed perspectives on workforce challenges connected to the fossil energy sector and related high-performance materials supply chains, including shortages, skill mismatches, displacement trends, and realistic training or transition strategies.
Who is DOE looking to hear from?
Responses are sought from a broad range of stakeholders, including industry, universities, national and private research laboratories, government agencies, and other relevant groups.
Who is eligible to respond?
Eligibility is effectively open (listed as "Unrestricted"), which is typical for an RFI intended to collect broad input.
What is the connection between workforce readiness and supply chain resilience in this RFI?
A major theme is that workforce capability affects the ability to develop, manufacture, qualify, and deploy specialized materials and components across the supply chain. DOE is seeking input on how workforce gaps may weaken supply chain resilience for high-performance materials used in demanding energy applications.
What does DOE mean by "high-performance materials" in this context?
The notice points to specialized materials and components used in demanding energy applications, such as advanced alloys, corrosion-resistant materials, coatings, composites, and other engineered materials designed for high-temperature, high-pressure, or otherwise harsh operating environments.
What kinds of workforce roles or skill areas are highlighted as potential gaps?
The RFI indicates interest in gaps such as shortages of skilled trades, technicians, materials scientists, quality and inspection professionals, manufacturing engineers, and operators, as well as gaps in certification pathways, apprenticeship capacity, and specialized training infrastructure.
What workforce pressures is DOE asking stakeholders to consider?
DOE highlights multiple overlapping pressures, including supply chain impacts, recent and long-term reductions in fossil power generation capacity, and disruptions in oil and gas markets.
Why does declining fossil power generation capacity matter for workforce planning?
DOE is asking stakeholders to consider how declining capacity can reduce demand for certain job categories while increasing the need for others, such as maintenance and retrofit skills, decommissioning skills, environmental compliance expertise, or work tied to efficiency and emissions controls.
How do oil and gas market disruptions relate to workforce development needs?
The RFI points to volatility-driven hiring freezes, layoffs, and churn. DOE is interested in how these shocks can weaken long-term workforce development by reducing entry into the field and leading experienced workers to exit permanently.
Is DOE focused on short-term disruptions, long-term shifts, or both?
Both. DOE is looking to understand near-term shocks as well as longer-run changes, including implications for regional labor markets and for employers that rely on specialized talent that is not easily replaced.
What kinds of responses is DOE hoping to receive?
DOE is seeking detailed input such as comments, data, and recommendations that describe specific workforce shortages and skill mismatches, how market and supply chain changes are altering needs, and what mitigation options are likely to work in practice.
What types of solutions does DOE expect stakeholders to discuss?
The RFI is intended to inform actionable approaches such as targeted training programs, reskilling and upskilling pathways, partnerships between employers and educational institutions, credentialing and certification strategies, and other methods to stabilize talent pipelines and strengthen supply chain capability.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Energy.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 81.089, corresponding to DOE fossil energy-related assistance listings.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is listed as "Other," which aligns with the RFI format rather than a standard assistance award.
What is the posting date and the closing date shown for this RFI?
The posting/creation date is July 20, 2020, and the original closing date is August 31, 2020.
Does the listing of award ceiling or expected awards mean DOE will make awards through this RFI?
Not necessarily. Even if the listing includes award-related fields, the practical takeaway stated here is that an RFI is primarily about submitting information, not competing for an immediate funded award.
What is the overall intended outcome of DOE collecting this information?
The intended outcome is to help DOE map the workforce challenges affecting fossil energy and related high-performance materials supply chains and to inform DOE planning around practical, real-world solutions to workforce and supply chain capability issues during a period of rapid change.
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