Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003074
The "Scaling the U.S. Solar Manufacturing Workforce RFI" (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0003074) is a U.S. Department of Energy request for information issued through the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and administered by the Golden Field Office. Rather than being a traditional grant solicitation for project funding, it is an RFI, meaning DOE is primarily seeking input from stakeholders to shape its understanding and future actions. The focus is specifically on the workforce needed to operate U.S.-based manufacturing facilities that produce photovoltaic (PV) modules and the related components and materials that feed into module production. In practical terms, DOE is looking for real-world perspectives on what it will take to staff, train, and retain enough qualified workers to expand domestic solar manufacturing at scale.
The opportunity sits in the energy funding activity category under CFDA number 81.087, and it is listed as discretionary with a funding instrument type of "Other," which aligns with the fact that an RFI is about gathering information and market intelligence rather than making awards. The listing shows an award ceiling of 2 and expected awards as blank, which further reinforces that this is not structured like a standard competitive grant program where multiple funded projects are anticipated. The key deliverable here is not a proposed workplan or budget, but substantive feedback that can help DOE identify gaps, bottlenecks, and promising solutions related to the solar manufacturing labor force.
Eligibility is marked as "Unrestricted," which signals DOE is open to hearing from a wide range of respondents. That typically includes manufacturers, suppliers, trade associations, labor organizations, workforce development boards, community colleges and universities, training providers, state and local agencies, and other entities with relevant experience. Because the topic is workforce scaling, useful respondents are those who can speak to hiring demand, skills requirements, training capacity, certification needs, recruitment and retention challenges, and the realities of operating modern PV manufacturing lines in the United States.
Timing-wise, the RFI was created on April 7, 2023, with an original closing date of June 2, 2023. That window reflects the standard intent of RFIs: to collect time-bound input that can be synthesized and used to inform DOE planning, potential future funding opportunities, technical assistance efforts, partnerships, or program design decisions. The overall goal is to help SETO understand both the obstacles and the opportunities involved in building a robust domestic solar manufacturing workforce, especially for hands-on manufacturing roles tied to PV modules and the upstream and adjacent parts of the supply chain.
In short, this opportunity is a federal information-gathering effort aimed at strengthening U.S. solar manufacturing by identifying what stands in the way of workforce growth and what approaches are most likely to work. It is best viewed as a chance to influence DOE strategy and future program directions by providing concrete, experience-based input on workforce needs for PV manufacturing operations in the United States.Apply for DE FOA 0003074
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Scaling the U.S. Solar Manufacturing Workforce RFI" 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 2023-04-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-06-02. (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): Scaling the U.S. Solar Manufacturing Workforce RFI (DE FOA 0003074)
What is the "Scaling the U.S. Solar Manufacturing Workforce RFI"?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) focused on the workforce needed to operate U.S.-based manufacturing facilities that produce photovoltaic (PV) modules, along with the related components and materials that feed into PV module production.
Is this a grant solicitation or a request for project funding?
No. This is an RFI, not a traditional grant solicitation. The purpose is for DOE to gather input from stakeholders (real-world insights, constraints, and ideas), rather than to fund projects through proposals, budgets, or workplans.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE FOA 0003074.
Which DOE office issued this RFI?
The RFI was issued through the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and is administered by the Golden Field Office.
What is DOE trying to learn or accomplish through this RFI?
DOE is looking for concrete, experience-based input to understand what it will take to staff, train, and retain enough qualified workers to expand domestic solar manufacturing at scale. The intent is to identify gaps, bottlenecks, and promising solutions tied to the PV manufacturing labor force in the United States.
What areas of the solar supply chain are included in the scope?
The scope includes PV module manufacturing and the related components and materials that feed into module production, including upstream and adjacent parts of the supply chain that support PV module manufacturing operations.
What kind of roles or workforce needs are emphasized?
The emphasis is on the workforce needed to operate modern PV manufacturing lines in the United States, especially hands-on manufacturing roles. DOE is also seeking insight into skills requirements, training capacity, and recruitment and retention challenges.
What is the key deliverable for this opportunity?
The key deliverable is substantive feedback. Unlike a funding solicitation, DOE is not primarily looking for a project narrative, workplan, or budget; it is looking for information that can inform DOE planning and future actions.
What types of input are likely to be useful to DOE?
Input that reflects real conditions and operational experience, such as hiring demand, skills and competency requirements, training program capacity, certification needs, recruitment pipelines, retention barriers, and practical challenges involved in scaling the PV manufacturing workforce.
Who is eligible to respond?
Eligibility is listed as "Unrestricted," meaning DOE is open to hearing from a wide range of respondents with relevant insight.
What types of organizations does DOE expect to hear from?
Based on the scope and eligibility, relevant respondents typically include manufacturers, suppliers, trade associations, labor organizations, workforce development boards, community colleges and universities, training providers, state and local agencies, and other entities with direct experience related to PV manufacturing workforce needs.
What is the CFDA number and funding activity category?
The opportunity is listed under the energy funding activity category with CFDA number 81.087.
What does it mean that the funding instrument type is listed as "Other"?
"Other" aligns with the fact that this is an RFI, which is designed for information-gathering and market intelligence rather than making financial awards through a standard grant or cooperative agreement structure.
Does the listing indicate that DOE plans to make awards?
The listing shows an award ceiling of 2 and leaves expected awards blank, which reinforces that this is not structured like a standard competitive grant program where DOE expects to fund multiple projects.
What does "discretionary" mean in this listing?
The opportunity is listed as discretionary, which is consistent with DOE collecting input for planning and future decision-making rather than operating a formula-driven award program.
When was the RFI created and when did it close?
The RFI was created on April 7, 2023, and the original closing date was June 2, 2023.
Why is the response window time-bound?
RFIs typically operate on a defined timeline so the agency can synthesize responses and use the information to inform planning, potential future funding opportunities, technical assistance efforts, partnerships, or program design decisions.
How might DOE use the information submitted to this RFI?
DOE may use the input to shape its understanding of workforce obstacles and opportunities and to inform future actions, such as potential future funding opportunities, technical assistance, partnerships, or program design related to scaling the U.S. solar manufacturing workforce.
What is the practical value of responding if there is no direct project funding?
The value is the opportunity to influence DOE strategy and future program directions by sharing concrete perspectives on workforce needs and solutions for PV manufacturing operations in the United States.
What is the main topic focus: solar deployment or solar manufacturing?
The focus is specifically on solar manufacturing workforce needs, particularly the workers required to operate U.S.-based PV module manufacturing facilities and the supporting supply chain that feeds into module production.
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