ConnectWerx, a Partnership Intermediary of DOE in collaboration with the Arctic Energy (AE) Office and the Office of Technology Commercialization has established the Arctic Energy Seed Awards which will fund multiple awards to support the execution of projects in the Arctic that focus on the delivery of support, including technical assistance, training towards energy efficiency projects, addressing the energy burden of low-income communities, regional workforce development, and seed funding.  These awards are meant to fund projects such as critical discussions, project development, technology testing, siting studies, kick-starting energy research, workforce development, and other foundational efforts which can help optimize one of the large investments in Arctic Energy projects made by DOE, and/or lead to larger investments. Alaska or U.S. Arctic-based companies, schools, or other entities are encouraged to apply.

Complete the online application and upload the appropriate project information and supporting documentation in the application link below for CWX-022-AE.

Submissions are due no later than December 17, 2025 at 4 PM ET / 12 PM AKST.

Submissions must include the following files as indicated in the below chart, using the required template (hyperlinked below):

Submission Requirements

Responses shall be submitted by the date and time specified above.

Files shall be submitted in Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat format, no larger than 5MB. All files shall be print-capable, without a password. Filenames must contain the appropriate extension and shall not contain special characters. Appropriate files extensions are:

Late submissions will not be accepted. Submissions can be made in advance of the deadline and updated (or files replaced) up to the deadline.

The objective of these Seed Awards is to enable and accelerate the delivery of projects that address energy needs in the Arctic. Energy prices are higher in most areas of Alaska than the rest of the nation, due to factors including locations off the road system, lack of infrastructure, and extreme weather. The Arctic Energy Office intends to provide training and assistance to help facilitate project growth and development through small dollar awards.

How to Participate

1. Review details on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and how to apply
2. Review the Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session (OSS) presentation here
3. Attend the Office Hours on December 4, 2025 at 4 PM ET / 12PM AKST
4. Download the Project Narrative template
5. Complete the Submission Form & upload the Completed Project Narrative in the application link by clicking here. Submissions are due no later than December 17, 2025 at 4 PM ET / 12 PM AKST

December 17, 2025 at 4 PM ET / 12 PM AKST

Review the Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session (OSS) presentation here

Informational Office Hours was held on December 4, 2025 at 4 PM ET / 12 PM AKST

• Watch the Webinar (Video) – Coming Soon!
• View the Presentation (PDF)
• Read the Transcript (PDF)

• November 17, 2025: Opportunity Announcement and Application Open
• November 17, 2025: Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session (OSS) presentation posted
• December 4, 2025 at 4 PM ET / 12 PM AKST: Office Hours for outstanding questions
• December 17, 2025 at 4 PM ET / 12 PM AKST: Application period closes

Applicants must support the execution of projects in the U.S. Arctic. No individual will be eligible, and applications must be connected to one of the performer entities listed on the application.

This PIA will not fund foreign entities or participants that are controlled or owned by non-US entities, but applicants may be involved with other Arctic partners in their work.

Awards will fund multiple awards up to $50,000 each to support the execution of projects in the U.S. Arctic. Awards over $50,000 will be considered by request with additional justification and budget analysis and subject to available funding.

Projects must be in Alaska or for the benefit of the Arctic. Applications from Alaska or Arctic-based companies, schools, or other entities are encouraged.

Project Description and Objectives – 40%

• Concise explanation of key considerations that inform the scope and approach
• Clear explanation of the approach, any tools and methodologies that will be used, and the merit and relevance of the project
• Convincing explanation of how the project, approach, tools and methodologies, and goals will address the gap or need, and how the project may catalyze future investments, savings, or progress.
• Team synergy – how and why the team will work well together

Project Workplan and Budget – 20%

• Clear description of the major tasks
• Expected milestones, duration and budget
• Information presented in the suggested table

Risks & Mitigation Strategies – 20%

• Key risks associated with proposed activities clearly identified
• Associated mitigation strategies for each clearly described

Project Team – 20%

• Expertise clearly demonstrated
• Responsibilities clearly described
• Clear description of organizational capabilities and any additional resources clearly described
• Concise explanation of how and why the team will work well together to execute this project, including past collaborations, complementing expertise, etc.

Please visit ConnectWerx’s Resources page for additional templates and FAQs.

• What is the period of performance?
  • For this project, AE is interested in analysis to be performed within a 12-month period. Upon review of proposals, DOE will consider extending the period of performance (PoP) with ability to add a 6-month option with written agreement.
• What is a PIA and why is DOE pursuing this approach?  
  • Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs) are agreements between the Federal government and non-Federal partners (partnership intermediaries or PIs) designed to increase outreach to and engagement with small business firms, institutes of higher education, and non-traditional partners.
• How will the agreement process work after DOE selection?
  • Upon conclusion of selection from DOE Program Office Representative (POR) and finalization of milestone schedule, ConnectWerx will issue a business-to-business (B2B) agreement to the lead performer for review and execution. The B2B agreement will contain mandatory flow downs from the prime Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) executed between DOE and Advanced Technology International.
• How does invoicing and payments work with ConnectWerx? 
  • Upon completion of milestones, invoices will be submitted to ConnectWerx for review with DOE and payment release. Incremental payments to the performer will be made in accordance with the established milestones and deliverables as written (and approved by DOE POR) in the B2B agreements. The payment schedule for each project is to be determined based on negotiated milestones and deliverables. Please be aware, additional documentation and support for expenditures may be requested as determined by DOE.
• How does an applicant apply? What is required in the application?
  • Information about how to apply, application materials, and deadlines will be available on the opportunity page once the opportunity has been released.
• What is the maximum number of entities that could be funded as part of the collaborative?
  • DOE encourages proposals of various size and scale and will fund projects accordingly within the program budget.
• Is this a grant or an award?
  • Neither. This opportunity is run via a Partnership Intermediary Agreement. PIAs are agreements between the Federal government and non-Federal partners (partnership intermediaries or PIs) designed to support DOE’s missions to expand the development and deployment of transmission solutions, heighten energy security, and strengthen national energy ecosystems.
• What constitutes “Arctic” for this program?
  • The Arctic, for the purposes of this program, is defined as including all of Alaska.
• Can an organization submit more than one proposal?
  • Yes, an organization can submit more than one proposal for this funding opportunity.
• On the application there are questions about previous and pending DOE funding, do these questions pertain to the organization, the project team, or the PI? Is previous DOE funding required in order to apply for this funding opportunity?
  • No, previous DOE Funding is not required for this funding opportunity. The questions on prior DOE funding are for metric purposes only and are not used when evaluating merit of applications. These self-identified answers pertain to the lead applicant organization. This opportunity does not require prior funds to apply.
• What challenges does the Arctic Energy Office consider priorities, and is there a typical scale of project or community size you focus on? Specifically, would a project serving a very small remote community (around 100 people) or providing lower levels of power for remote sensing be considered acceptable? Is the opportunity primarily intended for community- or grid-scale applications?
  • Applicants are responsible for defining and justifying the specific resilience challenge or need their project addresses, and proposals of any scale within the Alaska region are eligible. There is no preference for community size or project scale, and smaller projects, including those serving very small communities or remote-sensing power needs, are welcome as long as the applicant clearly justifies the need.
• Are there guidelines for budgeting regarding indirect costs (i.e.. materials, labor, equipment)? How do invoicing and payments work?
  • Information about indirect costs is not requested in the application materials. Project milestones, corresponding deliverables, and fixed milestone amounts will be established during negotiations. A milestone template is included in the project narrative template. Upon completing each milestone, the awardee will submit the relevant evidence of deliverable acceptance by DOE and invoice ATI/ConnectWerx for review. Incremental payments will be made in accordance with approved milestones and deliverables, with payment terms of NET 30 upon receipt of an acceptable invoice.
• Are Alaskan state government agencies eligible for the award?
  • Yes, state/local/tribal governments are eligible to apply
• Can an application be submitted with potential subcontractors if the final selection of the subcontractors is not completed by the submission deadline?
  • Yes, an application can be submitted with potential subcontractors. Selectees will receive full funding through one agreement with CWX. Selectees are solely responsible for funding and executing necessary agreements with sub-recipients. ConnectWerx and DOE will not be involved in nor assist in these activities.
•  Is engagement with tribal governments or Community organizations expected as part of demonstrating relevance and impact?
  • Engagement with tribal governments or community organizations is not required, but it is welcomed as part of demonstrating relevance and impact.