Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003439
The Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), through its Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO), is offering funding under Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) DE-FOA-0003439 titled "Advanced Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies to Drive National Goals." The grant is set up to fund research, development, and demonstration work that helps move clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies from the lab toward real-world deployment. The program is designed to support national decarbonization priorities by pushing technology innovation, reducing costs, and expanding adoption of clean hydrogen in sectors where cutting emissions is especially difficult.
A key theme of the opportunity is alignment with major federal strategies and initiatives. Projects are expected to support the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, including its "whole-of-government" approach that coordinates multiple agencies to tackle barriers to clean hydrogen at scale. The NOFO also ties directly to the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, with an emphasis on enabling wider clean hydrogen use in critical transportation segments such as heavy-duty vehicles. In addition, the funding is positioned to advance the Hydrogen Energy Earthshot goal of reaching clean hydrogen at $1 per kilogram by 2031, and to contribute to DOE's H2@Scale initiative, which focuses on improving hydrogen production, transport, storage, and end use across multiple parts of the economy.
The NOFO is intentionally split into two documents to make the process easier to navigate. Part 1 contains the NOFO-specific content applicants need to focus on first, including the program goals, topic areas, eligibility rules, and the criteria reviewers will use to evaluate applications. Part 2 contains the broader, standard DOE/EERE requirements that apply across many funding opportunities, including detailed instructions for submission, requirements that apply after selection, award negotiation expectations, and post-award compliance and reporting obligations. Applicants are expected to read and follow both parts, since Part 1 tells you what the program wants to fund and how proposals will be judged, while Part 2 covers the full set of administrative and legal requirements that come with receiving a DOE cooperative agreement.
Funding will be issued through cooperative agreements, which generally means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, through technical coordination, milestone reviews, and ongoing project management engagement), rather than a hands-off grant structure. The opportunity is managed through DOE's Golden Field Office. The program anticipates making about 22 awards, with an award ceiling of $10,000,000 per project, indicating that DOE is looking for efforts large enough to meaningfully advance technology readiness, validation, scale-up, or demonstrations that can accelerate market adoption.
Eligibility is broad for domestic applicants and includes institutions of higher education, for-profit companies, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and Indian Tribes as defined by federal statute. The listing of eligible applicant types also explicitly includes small businesses, other than small businesses (larger for-profits), public and private universities, school districts, special district governments, and certain housing authorities and tribal organizations. At the same time, several participation limits are clearly spelled out: DOE/NNSA federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) cannot apply as the prime recipient but may participate as subrecipients; the same prime-recipient restriction applies to non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs and to other federal agencies and instrumentalities (other than DOE), which may only join as subrecipients. Foreign entities can participate, but only with explicit written waiver requests: a foreign entity applying as the main applicant must include a waiver request, and applicants proposing foreign subrecipients must include a separate waiver request for each foreign subrecipient. The NOFO also states that certain 501(c)(4) nonprofits that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible to apply, which is an important screening detail for organizations that might otherwise assume nonprofit status alone is sufficient.
The application deadline listed for the opportunity is January 31, 2025. Overall, this NOFO is aimed at building out the technology base and practical demonstrations needed to make clean hydrogen and fuel cells cheaper, easier to deploy, and more widely used, while directly supporting federal cost and decarbonization targets in transportation and other high-impact sectors.Apply for DE FOA 0003439
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies to Drive National Goals" 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 2024-10-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-31. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 22 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and number of this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Department of Energy (DOE) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) DE-FOA-0003439 titled "Advanced Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies to Drive National Goals."
Which DOE office is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), through EERE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO).
What is the overall purpose of this NOFO?
The NOFO is intended to fund research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) efforts that move clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies from laboratory work toward real-world deployment. It is designed to support national decarbonization priorities by driving technology innovation, lowering costs, and expanding adoption of clean hydrogen in sectors where emissions are difficult to reduce.
What kinds of activities does the NOFO aim to support?
Based on the description provided, the NOFO supports RD&D activities that can advance technology readiness, validation, scale-up, and demonstrations that help accelerate market adoption of clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
How does this NOFO connect to national decarbonization goals?
The opportunity is positioned as supporting national decarbonization priorities by enabling innovation and wider deployment of clean hydrogen and fuel cells, especially in hard-to-decarbonize sectors.
Which federal strategies and initiatives are projects expected to align with?
The NOFO emphasizes alignment with major federal strategies and initiatives, including the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap (and its whole-of-government approach), the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, DOE's Hydrogen Energy Earthshot, and DOE's H2@Scale initiative.
What does the NOFO say about the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap?
Projects are expected to support the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, including its "whole-of-government" approach that coordinates multiple agencies to address barriers to deploying clean hydrogen at scale.
How is transportation addressed in this funding opportunity?
The NOFO ties directly to the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and highlights enabling broader clean hydrogen use in critical transportation segments, such as heavy-duty vehicles.
What is the Hydrogen Energy Earthshot target referenced in the opportunity?
The NOFO is positioned to advance the Hydrogen Energy Earthshot goal of reaching clean hydrogen at $1 per kilogram by 2031.
What is the H2@Scale initiative and how does it relate to this NOFO?
The NOFO notes that it contributes to DOE's H2@Scale initiative, which focuses on improving hydrogen production, transport, storage, and end use across multiple parts of the economy.
How is the NOFO document organized?
The NOFO is split into two parts. Part 1 contains NOFO-specific information such as goals, topic areas, eligibility, and the criteria used to evaluate applications. Part 2 contains standard DOE/EERE requirements, including submission instructions, selection and award negotiation expectations, and post-award compliance and reporting obligations.
Do applicants need to read both Part 1 and Part 2?
Yes. Applicants are expected to read and follow both parts. Part 1 explains what the program wants to fund and how applications will be reviewed, while Part 2 covers the broader administrative and legal requirements tied to receiving and managing a DOE cooperative agreement.
What kind of award instrument will DOE use?
Funding will be issued through cooperative agreements.
What does it mean that awards are "cooperative agreements"?
As described, a cooperative agreement generally means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period. Examples mentioned include technical coordination, milestone reviews, and ongoing project management engagement, rather than a more hands-off grant structure.
Which DOE office is managing this opportunity?
The opportunity is managed through DOE's Golden Field Office.
How many awards does DOE expect to make under this NOFO?
The program anticipates making about 22 awards.
What is the maximum (ceiling) amount per award?
The award ceiling is $10,000,000 per project.
What does the award ceiling suggest about the intended project scope?
With a ceiling of $10,000,000 per project, the NOFO indicates DOE is looking for efforts large enough to meaningfully advance technology readiness, validation, scale-up, or demonstrations that can accelerate market adoption.
Who is eligible to apply as a prime applicant?
Eligibility is broad for domestic applicants and includes institutions of higher education, for-profit companies, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and Indian Tribes as defined by federal statute.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicant types explicitly include small businesses.
Are larger for-profit companies eligible?
Yes. The listing of eligible applicant types explicitly includes "other than small businesses" (i.e., larger for-profit companies).
Are public and private universities eligible?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes public and private institutions of higher education.
Are state and local government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes state and local governments, and the listing of eligible applicant types also mentions entities such as school districts and special district governments.
Are Indian Tribes eligible to apply?
Yes. Indian Tribes (as defined by federal statute) are included as eligible applicants. The eligibility listing also mentions certain tribal organizations.
Can a DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) apply as the prime recipient?
No. DOE/NNSA FFRDCs cannot apply as the prime recipient, but they may participate as subrecipients.
Can a non-DOE/NNSA FFRDC apply as the prime recipient?
No. Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs are also restricted from applying as the prime recipient and may only participate as subrecipients.
Can other federal agencies apply as the prime recipient?
No. Other federal agencies and instrumentalities (other than DOE) may only join as subrecipients, not as the prime recipient.
Can foreign entities participate in projects?
Yes, but only with explicit written waiver requests. A foreign entity applying as the main applicant must include a waiver request, and applicants proposing foreign subrecipients must include a separate waiver request for each foreign subrecipient.
If a project includes multiple foreign subrecipients, how many waiver requests are needed?
The NOFO states that a separate waiver request is required for each foreign subrecipient.
Are all nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?
Not necessarily. The NOFO states that certain 501(c)(4) nonprofits that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible to apply.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline listed is January 31, 2025.
What is the main outcome DOE is trying to achieve with this NOFO?
The NOFO is aimed at building the technology base and practical demonstrations needed to make clean hydrogen and fuel cells cheaper, easier to deploy, and more widely used, while supporting federal cost and decarbonization targets in transportation and other high-impact sectors.
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| Next Generation of Academia-Based Cyber Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) Apply for DE FOA 0003501 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003501 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
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| Solar with Wildlife and Ecosystem Benefits 2 (SolWEB2) Apply for DE FOA 0003492 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003492 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
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| U.S. Advanced Nuclear Energy Licensing Cost-Share Grant Program Apply for DE FOA 0003339 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003339 Agency: Idaho Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $8,000,000 |
| Sustainable Propane and Renewable Chemicals (SPARC) Apply for DE FOA 0003518 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003518 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
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| DE-FOA-0003520 Maximizing Algal System Yield (MASY) Apply for DE FOA 0003520 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003520 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
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