DOE Clean Energy Demonstrations (formerly OCED) — [DISCONTINUED]
U.S. Department of Energy — Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC, successor to OCED)
Varies — $5M to $500M+
Industry-scale clean energy demonstrations
⚠️ DISCONTINUED: DOE reorganized in November 2025, dissolving the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) as a standalone entity. All OCED new-competition FOAs (hydrogen hubs, carbon capture, industrial decarbonization, long-duration storage) were cancelled or paused. Existing awards remain in place but no new competitions are expected under the OCED banner. Entities should monitor DOE's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management for any successor programs. The $3.7B Industrial Demonstrations Program Phase 2 FOA that had been anticipated is not expected to proceed. Previously, OCED funded large-scale demonstration projects bridging the gap between R&D and commercial deployment — SMBs typically entered via teaming with prime applicants.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $1,000,000 – $500,000,000
- Realistic amount
- SMBs functioning as subcontractors or teaming partners typically see $1M–$20M contract or subaward portions. Standalone…
- Deadline
- No active competitions — OCED dissolved November 2025. No new FOAs anticipated.
- Status
- discontinued
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- U.S.-based entity — may include for-profit companies (any size), universities, national labs, state/local governments, tribal nations, and non-profits. Many FOAs explicitly welcome teams combining multiple entity types.
- Cost-sharing is typically required: 20% for universities/non-profits, 50% for for-profit commercial entities. Some programs (especially industrial decarbonization) require 50% match.
- SAM.gov UEI registration required for all prime applicants. Subcontractors and team members may not need SAM registration directly but must be verified by the prime.
- Technology readiness level (TRL): OCED programs target TRL 6–8 (demonstration readiness, not basic research). Applicants must show the technology has been validated at pilot scale.
- Most FOAs require a concept paper first (typically 5–10 pages). DOE uses the concept paper to provide non-binding feedback before applicants invest in a full application.
- Financial capability assessment: large awards require demonstration that the applicant can manage the award size (audited financials, prior federal award experience).
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Construction and installation of demonstration-scale clean energy equipment and systems
- Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor costs for demonstration facilities
- Equipment, materials, and supplies directly related to the demonstration project
- Personnel costs for project staff (scientists, engineers, project managers, safety officers)
- Subcontracts to team members for their specific scopes of work
- Independent validation and verification (IV&V) activities
- Community benefit plan implementation activities (local hiring, workforce development)
- Data management, reporting, and project evaluation costs
Ineligible expenses
- Basic research not tied to demonstration readiness — that belongs in DOE Office of Science
- Commercial deployment beyond the demonstration scope (OCED funds proof-of-concept at scale, not full commercial rollout)
- Lobbying or political activity
- Costs that do not meet federal cost principles (FAR Part 31 / 2 CFR 200 Subpart E)
- Indirect costs exceeding negotiated indirect cost rate agreements (iCRA)
- Pre-award costs without advance DOE written approval
How to apply
-
1
Monitor and identify target FOA
Subscribe to OCED mailing list at energy.gov/oced. Review current and anticipated FOAs. Identify which program aligns with your technology (hydrogen, storage, CCUS, industrial decarbonization). Download the FOA from eere-exchange.energy.gov and read eligibility and cost-share requirements before investing further.
~160 hrs
-
2
Register in SAM.gov and submit UEI
All prime applicants must have active SAM.gov registration with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Allow 7–10 business days for initial SAM registration. Registration must be current (renewed annually). Subcontractors register via the prime's team agreement, not directly.
~160 hrs
-
3
Submit concept paper
Most OCED FOAs require a concept paper (5–15 pages) describing your project's innovation, team, and approach. DOE responds within 4–6 weeks with 'encouraged' or 'discouraged' feedback. Proceed to full application only if encouraged — the signal is meaningful, not a rubber stamp.
~160 hrs
-
4
Prepare and submit full application via EERE eXCHANGE
Full applications submitted via eere-exchange.energy.gov. Typical components: project narrative (50–80 pages), budget justification, statement of project objectives, team resumes, letters of commitment from cost-share partners. Allow 4–6 weeks for preparation.
~160 hrs
-
5
Merit review and negotiation
DOE conducts multi-stage merit review (technical, management, cost). Review takes 4–8 months. Selected applicants receive a notice of intent to award, followed by negotiation of award terms (milestones, reporting, IP). Final cooperative agreement execution can take additional 2–4 months.
~160 hrs
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 221, 324, 325, 331, 335
OCED's stated 'small business' window is rarely standalone — join a prime applicant's team instead. The Community Benefits Plan requirement (local hiring, equity, workforce development) is now scored and can differentiate a team.
Deadline & timing
OCED was dissolved in DOE's November 2025 reorganization. New FOAs for hydrogen hubs, carbon capture, industrial decarbonization, and long-duration storage demonstrations are not expected under the OCED framework. Existing awards (e.g., H2Hubs, selected IDP Phase 1 projects) continue under their cooperative agreements. Monitor energy.gov and grants.gov for any successor FOAs from the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) or Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.
Programs that stack well
- ARPA-E IGNIITE 2026 — Inspiring Generations of New Innovators to Impact Technologies in Energy
- American-Made Program Prize Challenges
- DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Funding Opportunity Announcements
- Advanced Energy Project Credit (Section 48C)
- Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit (Section 45X)
- SBIR Phase II — Department of Energy
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.