download factsheet Download Guide
share Share
contact Contact

DOE Unsolicited Proposals

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has operational responsibility of the DOE Unsolicited Proposal (USP) Program.

An unsolicited proposal is a written proposal for a unique or innovative idea or approach developed outside of the government and made available to government agencies to support their missions. The primary intent of a USP is to secure a government agreement for research and development or other mission-supporting efforts.

Valid USPs, as defined under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.603, undergo an internal technical review by a DOE subject-matter expert to assess:

  • Relevance to DOE’s mission
  • Technical merit
  • The offeror’s capabilities (facilities, techniques, past performance, etc.)
  • Cost realism

A favorable evaluation of a USP does not automatically justify awarding an agreement on a non-competitive basis. Additionally, not all DOE program offices have funds allocated for non-competitive actions. Advertising material, commercial products or commercial service offers or contributions are not unsolicited proposals and will be immediately rejected for further consideration.

Prospective offerors should read the Guide for the Submission of Unsolicited Proposals before applying to ensure they understand program regulations, requirements, and submission instructions. The guide assists individuals, businesses, and organizations by providing an overview of the process and detailing DOE policies and procedures regarding proposal preparation, content, submission, and evaluation.

Failure to follow the guide may result in a proposal being rejected without evaluation.

Interested parties may direct questions about the DOE Unsolicited Proposal Program to DOEUSP@netl.doe.gov.

Additional Helpful Links: