Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001903
The Department of Energy's Water Power Technology Office (WPTO), housed within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), issued this Request for Information (RFI) to gather public and industry input on how the United States should define, measure, and benchmark Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) technology performance. Rather than offering grant funding for projects, this opportunity is a solicitation for written feedback intended to help DOE refine performance metrics and readiness definitions used to evaluate MHK systems and subsystems operating in U.S. marine environments. The goal is to improve consistency and usefulness of the metrics DOE and the broader community rely on when assessing technology progress, comparing concepts, and documenting the status of the U.S. MHK industry.
WPTO is specifically asking respondents to comment on four main areas. First, DOE wants feedback on the performance metrics already listed in a referenced document titled "Existing Ocean Energy Performance Metrics," with an emphasis on how well those metrics translate to real-world performance in U.S. marine resources. That includes practical commentary on how the metrics should be applied, what assumptions they depend on, and what their advantages and limitations are. In other words, DOE is looking for insight into whether these metrics are meaningful, measurable, comparable across devices, and representative of the conditions and constraints common in U.S. waters.
Second, WPTO is requesting suggestions for additional performance metrics that are not included in the existing metrics document. This is an invitation to propose new or missing measurements that would better capture device performance, reliability, maintainability, survivability, grid integration behavior, environmental interactions, or any other factors that determine whether an MHK technology can succeed commercially. The RFI is essentially asking the community to identify gaps in the current metric set and recommend ways to close them so that evaluations of MHK technologies are more complete and aligned with the needs of developers, test centers, regulators, investors, and utilities.
Third, DOE is seeking input on baseline reference values that can document the current state of the U.S. MHK industry, organized by metric and by resource type. This is about establishing credible starting points or benchmarks (for example, typical ranges or representative values) that describe where the industry is today. Those baseline values can then support clearer tracking of progress over time, enable more realistic target-setting, and help distinguish improvements that are truly meaningful from changes that are simply due to different testing conditions or reporting methods. The emphasis on "resource type" signals that DOE recognizes performance and cost profiles differ across wave, tidal, ocean current, river current, or other MHK resource categories, and wants the benchmarks to reflect those differences.
Fourth, WPTO is asking for feedback on Technology Readiness Level (TRL) definitions referenced in the metrics document, specifically as they apply to the U.S. MHK industry. The intent here is to ensure the TRL language and thresholds make sense for MHK development pathways, where progressing from lab and tank testing to open-water demonstrations can involve unique permitting, environmental review, survivability challenges, and infrastructure constraints. Respondents are being asked to comment on whether the TRL definitions are clear, appropriately staged, and aligned with what "readiness" realistically means for MHK devices and subsystems in U.S. deployment conditions.
Administratively, this RFI is listed under DOE's Golden Field Office as a discretionary opportunity in the energy category, with CFDA number 81.087. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may submit feedback unless otherwise clarified in the official text. There is no expectation of awards (ExpectedAwards: 0) and no meaningful award ceiling for this RFI, reinforcing that it is not a funding solicitation but an information-gathering request. Submissions were required to be sent by email as a Microsoft Word attachment to WPTORFI@ee.doe.gov, with the original response deadline of July 31, 2018.Apply for DE FOA 0001903
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "RFI: Marine and Hydrokinetic Metrics" 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 May 21, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2018 All responses to this RFI must be provided as an attachment (in Microsoft Word format) to an e-mail message addressed to WPTORFI@ee.doe.gov. (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 (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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Is this a grant or funding opportunity?
No. This opportunity is a Request for Information (RFI) from the Department of Energy (DOE). It is a solicitation for written feedback, not a funding solicitation, and it does not provide grant awards for projects.
2) What is the purpose of this DOE RFI?
The purpose is to gather public and industry input on how the United States should define, measure, and benchmark Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) technology performance. DOE intends to use the feedback to refine performance metrics and readiness definitions used to evaluate MHK systems and subsystems operating in U.S. marine environments.
3) Which DOE office issued this RFI?
The RFI was issued by the Department of Energy's Water Power Technology Office (WPTO), which is housed within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
4) What technologies does this RFI focus on?
The RFI focuses on Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) technologies, including systems and subsystems operating in U.S. marine environments.
5) Why is DOE collecting input on MHK performance metrics?
DOE is aiming to improve the consistency and usefulness of the metrics used to assess technology progress, compare concepts, and document the status of the U.S. MHK industry. The overall goal is to make evaluations more meaningful and more comparable across technologies and conditions relevant to U.S. waters.
6) What are the main topic areas DOE wants comments on?
DOE requested input on four main areas: (1) feedback on existing performance metrics in a referenced document, (2) suggestions for additional performance metrics not currently included, (3) baseline reference values (benchmarks) describing the current state of the U.S. MHK industry by metric and by resource type, and (4) feedback on Technology Readiness Level (TRL) definitions as applied to the U.S. MHK industry.
7) What is the referenced metrics document?
DOE referenced a document titled "Existing Ocean Energy Performance Metrics" and asked respondents to comment on the performance metrics listed there, including how well they translate to real-world performance in U.S. marine resources.
8) What kind of feedback is DOE seeking about the existing metrics?
DOE is looking for practical commentary on how the existing metrics should be applied, what assumptions they depend on, and their advantages and limitations. DOE is also seeking insight into whether the metrics are meaningful, measurable, comparable across devices, and representative of common conditions and constraints in U.S. waters.
9) Can respondents propose new metrics?
Yes. DOE explicitly invited suggestions for additional performance metrics that are not included in the existing metrics document, including recommendations that would close gaps in the current metric set.
10) What kinds of additional metrics does DOE appear interested in?
Based on the RFI description, DOE is open to metrics that better capture device performance and factors affecting commercial success, such as reliability, maintainability, survivability, grid integration behavior, environmental interactions, or other relevant considerations.
11) What are "baseline reference values" in the context of this RFI?
Baseline reference values are benchmark values intended to document the current state of the U.S. MHK industry. DOE asked for baseline values organized by metric and by resource type so progress can be tracked more clearly over time and targets can be set more realistically.
12) Why does DOE want baselines organized by resource type?
The RFI notes that performance and cost profiles differ across MHK resource categories, and DOE wants benchmarks that reflect those differences. Examples of resource types mentioned include wave, tidal, ocean current, and river current.
13) What is DOE asking related to Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)?
DOE requested feedback on TRL definitions referenced in the metrics document, specifically as they apply to the U.S. MHK industry. DOE wants to ensure the TRL language and thresholds make sense for MHK development pathways and deployment conditions in the United States.
14) What kinds of MHK-specific TRL issues does DOE highlight?
The RFI description notes that moving from lab and tank testing to open-water demonstrations can involve unique challenges for MHK, such as permitting, environmental review, survivability, and infrastructure constraints. DOE asked respondents to comment on whether TRL definitions are clear, appropriately staged, and aligned with what readiness realistically means under U.S. conditions.
15) Who can submit input (eligibility)?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may submit feedback unless otherwise clarified in the official RFI text.
16) Are any awards expected from this opportunity?
No. The RFI indicates ExpectedAwards: 0, reinforcing that DOE does not expect to make awards because the RFI is an information-gathering request rather than a project funding program.
17) Is there an award ceiling or funding amount associated with this RFI?
No. The opportunity notes there is no meaningful award ceiling, which is consistent with it being an RFI rather than a funding opportunity.
18) Under what DOE office is this RFI listed administratively?
Administratively, the RFI is listed under DOE's Golden Field Office as a discretionary opportunity in the energy category.
19) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 81.087.
20) How were submissions required to be sent?
Submissions were required to be sent by email as a Microsoft Word attachment.
21) What email address was used for submissions?
Responses were to be emailed to WPTORFI@ee.doe.gov.
22) What was the response deadline?
The original response deadline was July 31, 2018.
23) What is DOE ultimately trying to improve with this RFI?
DOE is trying to improve the consistency and usefulness of how MHK performance is measured and described, so the community can better assess technology progress, compare different concepts more fairly, and document the status of the U.S. MHK industry using clearer and more aligned metrics and readiness definitions.
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