Notice of Request for Information (RFI) on Critical Water Issues Prize Competition

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), seeks information from the public to understand the key technical and other barriers that may prevent long-term access to low-cost water supplies that could be best addressed through challenges and prize competitions. DOE may use the information provided through this Request for Information (RFI) to develop challenges and prize competitions to address low-cost water problems. For the purposes of this RFI, challenges and prize competitions are tools and approaches the Federal government and others can use to engage a broad range of stakeholders, including the general public, to develop solutions to difficult problems. Challenges and prize competitions rely on competitive structures to drive innovation among participants and usually offer rewards (financial and/or other) to winners and/or finalists. This RFI is not designed to solicit input on DOE's broader water research and development (R&D) efforts.