ARLINGTON, VA. – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced today a call for initial proposals on cleaner coal infrastructure projects in emerging markets. Overseas project sponsors or their U.S. private sector partners are invited to submit an initial concept paper (not to exceed five pages) to USTDA no later than March 30, 2018 by 5:00 p.m. EST to be considered for funding.

USTDA’s call for proposals is in response to the Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth and will facilitate U.S. industry’s engagement in coal projects in emerging markets, where coal contributes a significant share of total energy consumption. In addition to this call for initial project proposals, USTDA is hosting a series of coal-fired power emissions monitoring and control reverse trade missions in Spring 2018 to connect U.S. businesses to new export opportunities and to support the infrastructure development goals of multiple partner countries.

Proposals should feature a brief description of the project’s size and status, including project location, economic fundamentals, equipment and technology requirements, legal and regulatory considerations, potential U.S. exports, and the purpose and amount of USTDA funding requested. The proposal should also outline the sponsor’s experience, potential options for financing the project, risks that the project faces, and estimated potential for U.S. content in the project’s implementation.

USTDA’s Director for Congressional and Public Affairs, Thomas R. Hardy, highlighted the importance of this initiative: “Through this call for initial proposals, USTDA is actively seeking to facilitate the development of cleaner coal infrastructure projects overseas that will support American jobs and provide our partner countries with access to more efficient, Made-in-the-USA fossil fuel technologies.”

USTDA is looking for proposals that will allow it to build upon its success in markets such as Namibia, where a USTDA-funded study supported the rehabilitation of a coal-fired power plant that is now supplying power during peak hours, using American-manufactured equipment.

Review of proposals is anticipated to take approximately one month, depending on the volume received. USTDA will request more thoroughly developed proposals (including terms of reference and budget) for those projects that are determined to be the most competitive for USTDA funding.

For questions, please first refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section detailed within the General Funding Request Guidelines and submit initial proposals and other questions to innovation@ustda.gov.

You can learn more about USTDA’s history and funding approach, including a model grant agreement and project proposal guidelines on our website, www.ustda.gov.

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