Closed
California state funding opportunity
GFO-20-301 – BRIDGE 2020: Bringing Rapid Innovation Development to Green Energy
CA Energy Commission
- Portal ID3072
- Grant IDGFO-20-301
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
The purpose of this solicitation is to competitively award follow-on funding for the most promising energy technologies that have previously received an award from an eligible California Energy Commission (CEC) program or United States federal agency.
BRIDGE 2020 seeks to 1) help start-up companies minimize the time between when their successful publicly-funded project ends and new public funding becomes available; and 2) mobilize more early-stage capital in the clean energy space by providing non-dilutive, matching investments in promising clean energy companies alongside investors and commercial partners. This provides increased support for the most promising clean energy technologies that have already attracted interest from the market as they are developed and continue their path to market adoption. Eligible projects must fall within the following project groups: Group 1: Energy Efficiency (Total funding available: $10 million); or Group 2: Energy Storage (Total funding available: $10 million); or Group 3: Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Advanced Sensing (Total funding available: $10 million); or Group 4: Advanced Power Electronics/Power Conditioning (Total funding available: $10.5 million); or Group 5: Zero- and Negative-Carbon Emission Generation (Total funding available: $10.5 million) As mentioned previously, the purpose of this solicitation is to help clean energy start-up companies bridge the gap from their previous public funding awards to private investment. As a result, this solicitation has special requirements including: Prior Funding Requirement: Projects must have previously received a funding award from the CEC or an eligible U.S. federal agency. (please see Section II.A.1. for the full list of federal agencies) Demonstrated Success: Applicants must provide documentation that they met key technical performance targets under their previous publicly funded award. Applicants are required to submit a Previous Project Evaluation Form (Attachment 14) with their proposal. Multiple Application Deadlines: There are multiple application due dates for this solicitation to provide an opportunity for applicants who have not yet secured private sector investment or do not have completed project results from their previous award to apply. Please carefully read the Key Activities Schedule (See Section I. E.) and Evaluation and Award Process (See Section IV.) portions of this solicitation. Commercialization: This solicitation requires the prime applicant to be a for-profit commercial entity with rights to the intellectual property being advanced under the proposed project. Applicants whose technology received funding while being developed at an academic institution, national laboratory, or non-profit private research institution are eligible as long as the core intellectual property resides with the applicant. Match Funding Requirement: Applicants must have received a private investment within the last 18 months for their technology. This solicitation has a 50% match funding requirement. Please carefully read the Applicant Requirements (Section II.A.1.) and the Match Funding (Section I.D.2.) portions of this solicitation.
Timeline
Key dates
-
July 24, 2020
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
October 9, 2020
Applications close -
See solicitation
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Business
- Individual
- Additional info on eligibility
- Open to all private, for-profit entities and individuals that have previously received a funding award from an eligible CEC program or U.S. federal agency that provides energy research for applied research of the technology identified in the proposal. The below entities are not eligible to be prime applicants: Public and private universities National Labs Utilities Private non-profit research organizations End-use customers of the proposed technology
- Geography
- Not applicable
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- CA Energy Commission
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
Angela Hockaday
1-916-654-5186
Angela.Hockaday@energy.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- State
- Funding method
- Reimbursement(s)
- Notes
- This solicitation will award projects funded by the EPIC, an electricity ratepayer surcharge established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in December 2011.[1] The purpose of the EPIC program is to benefit the ratepayers of three investor-owned utilities (IOUs), including Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Diego Gas and Electric Co., and Southern California Edison Co.
Government Grants Consulting
Federal, state, and local grant funding is highly competitive, and the gap between a complete application and a winning one usually comes down to strategy, compliance, and execution. GTC 360° Advisors supports organizations across the entire grant lifecycle — from identifying the right opportunities to managing the award long after it is won. The questions below cover how our grant consulting practice works and the organizations we serve.
What is government grant consulting, and how does GTC 360° Advisors help?
Government grant consulting means guiding an organization through the full grant lifecycle — research, eligibility review, strategy, writing, submission, and post-award compliance. GTC 360° Advisors manages this end to end, pairing grant writers, project managers, financial analysts, and compliance analysts to maximize the odds of an award and keep it in good standing afterward.What types of organizations can GTC 360° Advisors help win grants?
GTC 360° Advisors supports municipalities, state agencies, nonprofits, school districts, tribal governments, higher education institutions, and private companies pursuing grant funding. Clients have included the City of Los Angeles, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, Virginia Commonwealth University, and nonprofit partners such as the Walton Family Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners.What federal agencies has GTC 360° Advisors secured funding from?
GTC 360° Advisors has secured funding from agencies including the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Commerce (EDA and NIST), Education, and State, as well as FEMA, EPA, NSF, NIH, HRSA, SAMHSA, and the CDC. The firm has won over $860 million and counting in federal and state contracts and grants for its clients.Does GTC 360° Advisors handle state and local grants, or only federal?
GTC 360° Advisors pursues grant funding at the local, state, federal, and international levels. The firm’s advisor network is positioned in every state to help clients identify and compete for regional and state-level funding in addition to federal opportunities.What is GrantSignal AI, and how does it help find grant opportunities?
GrantSignal AI is GTC 360° Advisors’ AI-powered funding intelligence platform. It aggregates federal, foundation, and other public funding sources into a single dashboard, then uses AI to match opportunities to an organization’s mission, eligibility, and capacity — rather than relying on simple keyword search — and sends alerts as new, winnable opportunities appear.Does GTC 360° Advisors provide grant compliance and post-award management?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors manages grants through close-out, including compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Davis-Bacon labor standards, Section 3, environmental review requirements, and funder reporting obligations. The firm builds compliance systems and reporting frameworks so clients stay in good standing with federal and state grantors.What is GTC 360° Advisors’ track record on grant applications?
GTC 360° Advisors has historically maintained an 88%-plus win rate on the grant applications it has submitted, including a 100% win rate in 2024 across several highly competitive programs. Recent wins include $180 million in EDA Tech Hubs funding for three consortia and $20 million in EDA Recompete funding for the City of Birmingham, Alabama.Can nonprofits and higher education institutions work with GTC 360° Advisors on grants?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors regularly supports nonprofits and universities with grant strategy, writing, and administration, including current work with the Walton Family Foundation, Blue Meridian Partners, Texas A&M University, the Montana State University System, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Working With GTC 360° Advisors
Every engagement is scoped around the organization in front of us — its goals, its deadline, and the internal capacity it already has. Pricing, team assignments, and project milestones are agreed before any work begins, so there are no surprises mid-project. Below are the questions prospective clients and partners ask us most often.
How much does it cost to work with GTC 360° Advisors?
Pricing is customized to the scope, timeline, and budget of each engagement, with both hourly and fixed-fee options available depending on the deliverable. GTC 360° Advisors prices transparently, with no hidden fees for administrative or incidental work, and structures fees so clients gain a full team of senior professionals for less than the cost of a single in-house hire.What is the process for getting started with GTC 360° Advisors?
Engagements typically start with a conversation about your organization’s goals, funding needs, or growth targets, followed by a scoped proposal outlining services, team, and pricing. From there, GTC 360° Advisors assigns team members matched to the work and begins with research, strategy, or capture planning, depending on the engagement.How long does it take to see results from a grant or contract engagement?
Timelines vary by opportunity: some grant or contract cycles run a few months from research to submission, while others (large infrastructure or multi-year programs) take longer and continue through post-award management. GTC 360° Advisors sets clear project timelines and milestones at the start of every engagement so clients know what to expect.Does GTC 360° Advisors work with organizations outside the United States?
GTC 360° Advisors primarily supports U.S.-based government contracts, grants, and business development, but its public affairs and business development services extend internationally through its global partner network for clients running cross-border campaigns.Can I join the GTC 360° Advisors Network as a consultant or subject matter expert?
Yes. GTC 360° Advisors welcomes applications from experienced firms and freelancers who align with its mission and values to join the GTC 360° Advisors Network, giving members access to mutual marketing, referrals, and new client opportunities.How do I contact GTC 360° Advisors to discuss a project?
You can reach GTC 360° Advisors at info@gtc360.com or through the contact form at gtc360.com/join-our-network. The firm typically responds to discuss goals, funding needs, or growth targets and outline next steps for an engagement.
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