Meta::
In addition to the above criteria, ARPA-E may consider the following program policy factors in determining which Concept Papers to encourage to submit a Full Application and which Full Applications to select for award negotiations:
I. ARPA-E Portfolio Balance. Project balances ARPA-E portfolio in one or more of the following areas:
a. Diversity of technical personnel in the proposed Project Team;
b. Technological diversity;
c. Organizational diversity;
d. Geographic diversity;
e. Technical or commercialization risk; or
f. Stage of technology development.
II. Relevance to ARPA-E Mission Advancement. Project contributes to one or more of ARPA-E’s key statutory goals:
a. Reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources;
b. Stimulation of U.S. manufacturing and/or software development ;
c. Reduction of energy-related emissions;
d. Increase in U.S. energy efficiency;
e. Enhancement of U.S. economic and energy security; or
f. Promotion of U.S. advanced energy technologies competitiveness.
III. Synergy of Public and Private Efforts.
a. Avoids duplication and overlap with other publicly or privately funded projects;
b. Promotes increased coordination with nongovernmental entities for demonstration of technologies and research applications to facilitate technology transfer; or
c. Increases unique research collaborations.
IV. Low likelihood of other sources of funding. High technical and/or financial uncertainty that results in the non-availability of other public, private or internal funding or resources to support the project.
V. High-Leveraging of Federal Funds. Project leverages Federal funds to optimize advancement of programmatic goals by proposing cost share above the required minimum or otherwise accessing scarce or unique resources.
VI. High Project Impact Relative to Project Cost.
VII. Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ). Whether the entity is located in an urban and economically distressed area including a Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) or the proposed project will occur in a QOZ or otherwise advance the goals of QOZ. The goals include spurring economic development and job creation in distressed communities throughout the United States. For a list or map of QOZs go to: https://www.cdfifund.gov/opportunity-zones.