• Learn About OCED Projects
  For more information about OCED’s project portfolio, please visit the OCED website.
• Search for OCED Funding Opportunities
  Interested applicants may view and download OCED Funding Opportunity Announcements on OCED eXCHANGE.

Required System Registrations

Applicants must register with the systems listed below to apply to a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). In some cases, high demand may result in longer than expected wait times to register for certain systems. Therefore, applicants should start and complete the registration processes as early as possible.  

• OCED eXCHANGE: Applicants must register with and submit FOA application materials through OCED eXCHANGE, OCED’s online application portal. See detailed instructions on how to apply at Financial Opportunities: Manuals (energy.gov). The “Apply” and “Submit” buttons will be automatically disabled after the listed submission deadlines. If an applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the applicant should contact the OCED eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (OCED-exchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov).
   
• Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management: Each applicant (unless the applicant is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR § 25.110) is required to: 
  • (1) register in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov before submitting an application;
    • Designating an Electronic Business Point of Contact and obtaining a special password called a Marketing Partner ID Number (MPIN) are important steps in SAM registration.
  • (2) provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) number in the application; and
  • (3) maintain an active SAM registration with up to date information while it has an active federal award, an application, or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency.
    
    DOE may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DOE is ready to make a federal award, the DOE will determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award.
    
    NOTE: Entities should start the UEI and SAM registration process as soon as possible. If entities have technical difficulties with the UEI validation or SAM registration process, they should utilize the Help feature on SAM.gov. Additional entity validation resources can be found here: GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base - Validating your Entity. 
     
• Grants.gov: To receive email updates on FOA amendments, applicants must register with Grants.gov.  Click the “register” link in the top right corner of the grants.gov page, and then the “get registered now” button on the Register page, and complete the required information.
   
• FedConnect: Register in FedConnect at https://www.fedconnect.net. To create an organization account, your organization’s SAM MPIN is required. For more information about the SAM MPIN or other registration requirements, review the FedConnect Ready, Set, Go! Guide at https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/Marketing/Documents/FedConnect_Ready_Set_Go.pdf. 

Read the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) carefully and follow all the application submission requirements. Applying to a FOA can take several weeks, and please note that some FOAs require applicants to submit a letter of intent or concept paper before submitting the application. Application submission deadlines are on the cover page of each FOA. Submit all letters of intent, concept papers, and applications via OCED eXCHANGE (unless stated otherwise in the FOA). 

If there are any inconsistencies between the FOA and any non-legally binding DOE communications, such as presentations or DOE staff statements, the FOA takes precedence. Applicants may submit questions via email to the address identified in the FOA Questions/Agency Contacts section.

The following resources are provided to assist with application submission.  

• Applicant Eligibility Guidance
• Project Management
  • Integrated Project Schedule Guidance
• Preparing your Budget
  • Cost Sharing Guidance
  • Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and Rate Proposal Guidance
  • DOE Cost Estimating Guide  
• Merit Review
  • DOE Merit Review Guide  

• Recipient Initiated Audit Guidance
• Accounting System Audit Guidance
• DOE Guide to Financial Assistance  
• Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations