The application is due on July 30, 2009 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Please note: Important information re registration and other pre-submission requirements are included in the funding opportunity announcement (FOA). Please refer to the FOA for details.

Anticipated Notice of Selection: July 2009

Anticipated Award Date: September 2009

Total Funding Available: $20,000,000 - $37,000,000

Award Instrument: Cooperative agreements

Program Description

In this FOA the Department of Energy (DOE) seeks to reduce current market barriers to the adoption of solar technologies and establish a nationally coordinated effort to spread solar installation training to the local level. Part of the mission of the DOE Solar Energy Technology Program (SETP) is to accelerate the wide-spread adoption of solar electric technologies and to develop solar heating and cooling technologies to meet the goal of zero energy buildings. SETP is funding cooperative agreements to accomplish this mission through non-R&D activities, including: 1) activities that provide technical, regulatory, institutional, financial and educational solutions to market transformation barriers; and 2) efforts that accelerate demand for new solar technologies.

Topic Areas

Topic Area	Title	Total Funding Available	# of Awards	Award Ceiling/ Floor	Period of Performance
1	Solar America Cities Special Projects	$100K - $2M	5-20	$2M/ None	Up to 2 years
2	Solar Installer Instructor Training
2.1	Regional Resource & Training Providers	$2M - $3.5M	6-10	$3.5M/ None	Up to 5 years
2.2	Administration of the National Consortium for Solar Installer Instructor Training	$2.5M - $6M	1	$6M/ None	Up to 5 years

Eligibility Requirements

Topic Area 1: Eligibility is restricted to the existing 25 Solar America Cities awarded under the FY07 and FY08 Solar City Strategic Partnership Programs. See FOA for list of eligible cities.
Topic Area 2, Category 1: Open to all domestic entities or institutions except federally funded research and development center contractors.
Topic Area 2, Category 2: Open to all domestic entities or institutions except federally funded research and development center contractors.

Cost Sharing

Topic Area 1: The cost share must be at least 50% of the total allowable costs for demonstration projects and must come from non-Federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law. Applications from Local Governments with proposed cost share as low as 10% applicant share shall be considered.
Topic Area 2: Cost sharing is not required. However, applicants are encouraged to leverage resources to support and maximize the impact of their project.