The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking for innovative back-up power solutions that will help critical facilities continue to operate during electrical outages. Winning solutions will be affordable, easy-to-use, and environmentally friendly power sources that can provide on-site power generation for critical facilities that provide essential services to communities across the United States. This Challenge is seeking to identify and catalyze existing cutting-edge technologies with a TRL of 6 or higher that can be used to continue essential facility operations in an event of a power failure or disruption lasting more than 36-hours.

In Stage 1 the judges will choose up to fifteen Stage 1 Finalists to advance to Stage 2.  During Stage 2, we will hold a live demonstration of your solution and a second judging process.

The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Unlike fundamental research, the USDA SBIR/STTR programs support small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive technologies and enable the application of research advancements from conception into the market. The STTR program aims to foster technology transfer through formal cooperative R&D between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. Topic areas include biofuels, rural and community development, natural resource conservation, aquaculture, plant production and protection engineering, small and mid-sized farms (sustainability and profitability) and more.

The purpose of the REAP TAG Program is to enable applicants to provide technical assistance to Agricultural Producers and Rural Small Businesses applying to REAP, with priority for Applicants assisting distressed or disadvantaged communities and for Applicants pursuing projects using underutilized technologies or seeking grants under $20,000. REAP TAG funds can be used for a wide variety of activities including recruitment of Renewable Energy or energy efficiency projects, identification of electrical engineering services, preparation of REAP applications for Agency financial assistance, as well as preparing reports and assessments necessary to request financial assistance.

This program is specifically focused on conducting research, development and demonstrations (RD&D) to develop and implement replicable microgrid solutions for underserved and Indigenous communities in remote, rural, and islanded regions throughout the United States.

DOE’s Office of Electricity’s research partners will develop and demonstrate advanced microgrid-enabling technologies, including renewable generation and storage systems, multi-nodal small-scale high-voltage direct current, advanced demand-side management strategies, and microgrid control systems.  The FOA also includes opportunities to address non-technical barriers to deployment of microgrids in these communities, such as lack of local technical expertise and supply chain challenges.

The State-Based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants (CTG)
program will provide States the ability to develop and implement a state workforce energy program that prepares workers to deliver energy efficiency, electrification, and clean energy improvements, including those covered under the Home Energy Performance-Based, Whole House Rebate Program (HOMES) and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program (HEAR).

The goals of the program are to:1. Reduce the cost of training contractor employees by providing workforce development tools for contractors, their employees, and individuals including, but not limited to, subsidizing available training, testing and certifications.2. Provide testing and certifications of contractors trained and educated to install home energy efficiency and electrification technologies and deliver residential energy efficiency and electrification improvements. 3. Partner with nonprofit organizations to develop and implement a State sponsored
workforce program that attracts and trains a diverse set of local workers to deliver the influx of new federally-funded energy efficiency and electrification programs—including but not limited to the IRA-funded Home Energy Rebate programs.

NOAA Ocean Exploration is soliciting proposals that support NOAA Ocean Exploration’s education priorities, which include increasing the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the education program; and developing education resources to complement virtual and hybrid education delivery.

NOAA Ocean Exploration is soliciting proposals that:  Connect NOAA Ocean Exploration’s exploration resources to the expanded delivery of  virtual and hybrid professional development experiences for educators; thus increasing   the opportunities to provide high quality education content and experiences to the public  about ocean exploration. Expand the available audience for NOAA Ocean Exploration  education content, in terms of quantity, diversity, and geographic location.  Invest in projects and partners that are leading STEM education programming for diverse  youth in middle school, high school, undergraduate, and/or community college to learn   about the ocean, develop or advance STEM skills, and increase awareness of ocean   science and exploration careers.  Invest in a future ocean workforce that is more representative of U.S. demographics by  funding projects that minimize barriers to entry and retention of diverse learners from communities historically marginalized from ocean science and exploration industries.

The fund will provide grants to support two-to-three national clean financing institutions, enabling them to partner with the private sector to provide accessible, affordable financing for tens of thousands of clean technology projects nationwide. These national nonprofits will enable individuals, families, nonprofits, governments, small businesses, and others to access the capital they need to deploy a diverse suite of clean technology projects in their homes, businesses, and communities, which will reduce pollution while creating jobs, accelerating progress toward energy security, and lowering energy costs. By mobilizing significant amounts of private capital, these national nonprofits will ensure that every dollar of public funds generates several times more in private investment. At least 40% of the funds from the National Clean Investment Fund will be dedicated to low-income and disadvantaged communities, including those that are rural communities, Tribal communities, communities with environmental justice concerns, energy communities, and persistent poverty counties.

The Clean Communities Investment Accelerator will provide grants to support two-to-seven hub nonprofit organizations, enabling them to provide funding and technical assistance such as such as providing training, market analysis, technical support, and structuring expertise as well as financial market-building act to public, quasi-public, not-for-profit, and non-profit community lenders working in low-income and disadvantaged communities—supporting the goal that every community in the country has access to the capital they need to deploy clean technology projects. These hub nonprofits will enable hundreds of community lenders to finance clean technology projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities while also mobilizing private capital and building the enduring capacity of community lenders to finance these projects for years to come.

EPA is seeking applications from eligible entities to establish and operate an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) for EPA Region 8. The Region 8 EJ TCTAC will provide technical assistance, training, and other eligible forms of assistance, resources, and support to program participants throughout EPA Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming). To community groups, nonprofits, local governments and others to build capacity for navigating federal, state and private grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding.

In addition, these EJ TCTACs will provide guidance on engagement with governmental processes, community outreach, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants, removing barriers and improving accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. Each of the technical assistance centers will also create and manage communication channels to ensure the communities they serve have direct access to resources and information.

ARPA-E seeks proposals for novel scalable superconducting manufacturing methods that can increase the production rate and significantly reduce the cost of high-quality superconducting tapes or wires with uniform performance parameters. Projects as part of this Exploratory Topic will work to develop novel fabrication methods for HTS tape or wire that can concurrently increase continuous tape length, reduce electrical variation along the tape, increase overall production rate while also, significantly reducing the production costs and maintaining a high level of tape performance.

The goal of the prize is to develop robust, domestic recycling options for fiber-reinforced composites and rare earth elements can lessen the United States’ need to extract and process raw materials, which can, in turn, reduce damage to the environment. Additionally, recycling rare earth elements would safeguard domestic manufacturing by improving resilience to price volatility and supply chain disruption.

During the first phase, Initiate!, competitors will prepare a submission package that highlights a concept for wind material recycling focused on economic and environmental sustainability. Up to 20 winners will be selected to receive $75,000 in cash each and an invitation to compete in the second phase of the competition.