Apply by Oct. 10, 2019
The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) has issued an FY20 call for applications to the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF). DOE expects to make available approximately $24-$26 million of funding for awards under this solicitation.
Proposal Eligibility Declarations are mandatory. Proposal Eligibility Declarations consist of information requested via an online form and an attachment for upload. Both must be submitted through PROPS, and online portal, by 4 p.m. Central Time on Oct. 10, 2019.
For full TCF details and instructions — including eligible DOE Program/Technology areas and submission templates – please review the complete Fiscal Year 2020 Solicitation document.
OTT anticipates making eligibility notifications by Nov. 5, 2019.
Full proposals are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on Dec. 12, 2019, also through PROPS. The applicant’s points of contact should receive an email acknowledging receipt of the proposal within one business day of submission. Facility Tech Transfer Offices should receive a summary of their proposals within three business days following the submission deadline.
Please contact TCFsubmissions@inl.gov if a receipt is not received. Also, please feel free to reach out to Argonne’s Technology Commercialization and Partnerships Division (TCP) in case of questions (see specific contacts below).
OTT anticipates making selection announcements in spring 2020.
Topic 1 projects focus on DOE Facility-developed technologies that have commercial promise and have the potential to attract a private partner. The target TCF funding for each Topic 1 award is $100,000-$250,000. The target period of performance for a Topic 1 award is 6-18 months.
Topic 2 projects will focus on technologies for which DOE Facilities have already identified a commercial partner willing to execute a partnership agreement. Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) are the preferred agreement type for all TCF projects, although OTT may approve other agreement types. The target TCF funding for each Topic 2 award is $250,000-$1,500,000. The target period of performance for a Topic 2 award is 12-36 months.
Partners can be any non-federal entity, including private companies, state or local governments — or entities created by a state or local government — universities or non-profit organizations.
All projects require matching funds of at least 50 percent of the total project cost, which must come from non-federally-appropriated funds. If a DOE facility is providing the matching funds, it must be a cash contribution. If a private partner is providing the matching funding, it can be a cash or in-kind contribution.
The TCF program requires that participants have previously secured relevant intellectual property, whether that be a patent, patent application or software copyright.
Argonne has fared particularly well in the TCF program, achieving a roughly 50 percent success rate in terms of the number of awards relative to the number of entries. Since the program began in FY16, Argonne has earned the most funding ($15 million) and second-most awards (38) among all DOE labs. Last year, Argonne earned $4.6 million in TCF funding for 12 projects. The goal is for Argonne to sustain or improve upon its TCF successes.
OTT has provided an informational webinar that offers an overview of the solicitation.
TCP is available to help with proposal development and, in the case of Topic 2, identification of and engagement with commercialization partners. For assistance with a proposal, please contact David McCallum (TCP) at ext. 2-4338. For assistance with identifying and engaging with commercialization partners, please contact Hemant Bhimnathwala (TCP) at ext. 2-2354.