Voucher Opportunity 10 - Manufacturing Conversion, Retooling, and Retrofitting Support (OCED)

Are you a manufacturer interested in opening a new business line / business unit for components needed to the clean energy infrastructure industry? If you need a feasibility and engineering study to convert, retool, or retrofit your existing facility, consider applying to this voucher opportunity. Eligible support under this opportunity includes feasibility studies to convert existing production lines by reviewing equipment, processes, staff qualifications, workforce needs, and site/personnel certifications. Eligible new products for the manufacturer include components that are necessary for the following sectors: clean hydrogen, long duration energy storage, direct air capture, carbon capture, advanced nuclear, industrial decarbonization, and upgrades to the electric grid.

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Technology Commercialization Fund, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) and Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), in collaboration with ENERGYWERX, is offering its Manufacturing Conversion, Retooling, and Retrofitting Support Voucher Opportunity (VO-10) to eligible manufacturers to increase adoption readiness (with a focus on value proposition and market acceptance) of clean energy technologies.

The DOE Voucher Program builds bridges between U.S. entrepreneurs, businesses, technology developers or other relevant partners and third-party voucher providers to advance commercialization of innovative energy technologies. Voucher Opportunity (VO-10) addresses key adoption risk areas related to domestic supply chain availability and is meant to broaden the ecosystem of clean energy manufacturers through supporting activities including:

• Feasibility studies to convert existing production lines including, but not limited to, equipment and process reviews; staff qualifications and workforce needs assessments; and certification support.

The first submission window solicits capability statements from potential voucher providers. A second submission window will be opened soon to solicit requests from potential voucher recipients. Pending availability of funds, additional submission windows may open in the future.

Voucher Projects:Expected max voucher value up to $250,000 of work (actual values vary depending on the details of the provider’s capability statement). As part of the application form, potential providers will submit the details of their capability statement, including the technical scope, deliverables, price, and throughput of the capability. Each voucher provider may submit up to three unique capabilities per voucher opportunity. To do so, please submit the application form once per capability, no more than three separate times. Any additional submissions beyond the three newest capabilities will not be reviewed. Vouchers will be distributed as in-kind support, meaning that ENERGYWERX will directly reimburse the voucher provider for the work they have completed on behalf of the voucher recipients. Only work related to specific technology areas will be eligible to receive a voucher under this opportunity. Voucher recipients need to demonstrate interest in opening a new business line / business unit for components relative to at least one of the following eligible technology areas:

• Advanced nuclear
• Carbon management (including carbon capture and direct air capture)
• Long-duration energy storage
• Clean hydrogen
• Industrial decarbonization
• Upgrades to the electric grid

DOE anticipates issuing up to 20 vouchers.

Voucher Providers: Including but not limited to independent engineering and consulting firms, and national laboratories.

Voucher Recipients: Limited to manufacturers, with an emphasis on small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms, already active and with an existing revenue base focused on a different market. Manufacturers need to demonstrate interest in opening a new business line for components relative to at least one technology area of interest for DOE OCED. For purposes of this Program, a small- or medium-sized manufacturing firm (SMM) must have (1) gross annual sales of less than $100,000,000; (2) fewer than 500 employees at the plant site of the manufacturing firm; and (3) annual energy bills that total more than $100,000 but less than $2,500,000. BIL § 40209(a)(3).

Voucher Providers: How to Participate in VO-10

• Watch the Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session recording: Click Here to Watch
• Submit questions into Slido to be answered during the live Office Hours session
• Review the reources from the Informational Office Session on June 20 2024 from 3:00-3:45 PM ET‍
• Complete the Provider Submission Form: Click Here to Submit for VO-10 (Submissions are due NLT July 9, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET)

This is not the only voucher opportunity currently available through ENERGYWERX. See here for additional information related to other voucher opportunities.

Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session (IW/OSS): DOE will provide further details about Voucher Opportunities. Potential voucher providers can better understand the scope, scale, and intent of the Voucher Program. The virtual IW/OSS will be pre-recorded and can viewed here.

Information Office Hours [June 20, 2024 at 3:00PM ET]: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will host Office Hours on Voucher Opportunity 9 on June 20, 2024 to answer any remaining questions from potential applicants before the submission deadline.

Voucher Provider: Submissions are due NLT July 9, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET

Voucher Provider Timeline

Phase 1 – Voucher Provider Capability Statement Submissions Open [June 3, 2024 – July 9, 2024]: Interested potential voucher providers should complete the application  includ background information on the provider as well as technical scope, deliverables, price, and through of the capability.

• Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session (IW/OSS) [Posted June 4, 2024]: DOE has provided further details about the Voucher Opportunities Program in this pre-recorded webinar. Potential voucher providers can better understand the scope, scale, and intent of the Voucher Program.
• Informational Office Hours Sessions: U.S.Department of Energy (DOE) will host the following Office Hours to answer any remaining questions from potential applicants relating to the topic Voucher Opportunities, before the submission deadline:
  • Voucher Opportunities 1, 2, 4, and 5 on June 18, 2024
  • Voucher Opportunity 3 on June 20, 2024
  • Voucher Opportunities 9 and 10 on June 20, 2024

Phase 2 – DOE Selection [July 2024]: DOE will review submissions based on relevance to the program objectives and will notify selected entities for next steps.

NOTE:  DOE may choose to meet with submitters or ask additional clarifying questions prior to selection.

Phase 3 – Negotiations [August – September 2023]: Subsequently, selected organizations will meet with ENERGYWERX to negotiate the scope of work, budget, timing, and impact.

Complete Provider Submission Form: Click Here to Submit for VO-10 (NLT July 9, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET)

Can multiple voucher providers from different parts of the same company/institution submit up to three capabilities each?

Yes, each individual voucher provider can submit up to three capabilities.

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Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact ENERGYWERX:  info@energywerx.org