Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000997
Apply for DE FOA 0000997
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the community development energy environment science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Microgrid Research, Development, and System Design" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.122 Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Research, Development and Analysis.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 7, 2014 and posted on Jan 31, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 28, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $7,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The funding opportunity titled "Microgrid Research, Development, and System Design" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000997) is a competitive federal grant program run through the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). It is structured as a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which typically means award recipients should expect substantial federal involvement during the project period (for example, technical coordination, review checkpoints, and collaborative planning with the agency). The overall purpose of the announcement is to accelerate real-world microgrid development by supporting research, development, and demonstration work that directly addresses barriers preventing microgrids from being adopted more widely in key commercial settings.
At a practical level, the FOA is aimed at moving microgrid concepts closer to deployable, replicable systems by funding efforts that improve the underlying technologies and the system-level design approaches needed to build and operate microgrids effectively. The announcement emphasizes that the priority topics were identified jointly with stakeholders, signaling that the program is intended to be grounded in the needs of industry, utilities, facility owners, and other groups that would actually deploy microgrids. The focus is not just on basic research, but on applied R&D and demonstrations that help overcome recognized technical and integration challenges that have slowed adoption, such as system design complexity, operational control needs, and the difficulty of proving performance and value in commercial environments.
The opportunity anticipates making about six awards, with an estimated total federal funding amount of $7,000,000 across all selected projects. The award ceiling and floor are listed as $0, which usually indicates that the specific funding range per project is defined in the full FOA text rather than in the summary fields, or that awards may vary based on the topic area and negotiated scope. A cost share or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants are expected to contribute a portion of project costs from non-federal sources, an important factor for budgeting and partner selection.
In terms of eligibility, the listing indicates "unrestricted" eligibility, meaning the competition is open to any type of entity as long as it meets any additional eligibility conditions described in the full announcement. This commonly includes universities, private companies, utilities, national laboratories (as permitted), non-profits, and state or local entities, often working in teams. The activity categories connected to the FOA include energy, environment, science and technology, research and development, and community development, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of microgrids and their relevance to both infrastructure resilience and advanced power system engineering.
Key dates show the announcement was posted on January 31, 2014, created in the system on March 7, 2014, and had an application deadline of April 28, 2014 (original and current closing dates match). The associated CFDA number is 81.122, "Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Research, Development and Analysis," which places it within DOE programs focused on improving the reliability, resilience, and modernization of the electric power system.
For applicants or interested parties needing the official full text and submission instructions, the opportunity points to FedConnect as the additional information link and primary access route for the complete announcement package. The contact listed for assistance with accessing the FOA is John R. Hatfield, Contract Specialist at NETL, reachable at 304-285-5235 and John.Hatfield@netl.doe.gov.
Microgrid Research, Development, and System Design (DE-FOA-0000997) - FAQs
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Microgrid Research, Development, and System Design" and the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number) is DE-FOA-0000997.
Which federal agency is running this funding opportunity?
This is a competitive federal grant program run through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
Is this a competitive grant opportunity?
Yes. The announcement describes it as a competitive federal grant program.
What type of award instrument is anticipated?
The FOA is structured as a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement mean for award recipients?
A cooperative agreement typically involves substantial federal involvement during the project period. Based on the description provided, recipients should expect items such as technical coordination, review checkpoints, and collaborative planning with the agency.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The stated purpose is to accelerate real-world microgrid development by supporting research, development, and demonstration work that directly addresses barriers preventing wider microgrid adoption in key commercial settings.
What kinds of projects does the FOA emphasize?
The FOA emphasizes applied research, development, and demonstrations that move microgrid concepts closer to deployable, replicable systems, including efforts that improve underlying technologies and system-level design approaches needed to build and operate microgrids effectively.
Is the FOA focused on basic research or applied work?
The focus is not just on basic research. It emphasizes applied R&D and demonstrations intended to overcome recognized technical and integration challenges that have slowed microgrid adoption.
What barriers or challenges is the FOA trying to address?
The description highlights barriers such as system design complexity, operational control needs, and the difficulty of proving performance and value in commercial environments.
How were the priority topics identified?
The announcement states that priority topics were identified jointly with stakeholders, indicating an intent to align funded work with the needs of groups that deploy microgrids (for example, industry, utilities, and facility owners).
How many awards does DOE/NETL expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making about six awards.
What is the total estimated federal funding available under this FOA?
The estimated total federal funding amount is $7,000,000 across all selected projects.
Is there a minimum or maximum award amount per project listed?
The award ceiling and award floor are listed as $0 in the summary fields. This usually indicates that the specific funding range per project is defined in the full FOA text, or that awards may vary by topic area and negotiated scope.
Is cost share required?
Yes. A cost share (matching) requirement applies, meaning applicants are expected to contribute a portion of project costs from non-federal sources.
What does the cost share requirement imply for applicants?
Because non-federal contributions are expected, budgeting and partner selection can be important considerations for developing a responsive application and a viable project plan.
Who is eligible to apply?
The listing indicates eligibility is "unrestricted," meaning the competition is open to any type of entity as long as it meets any additional eligibility conditions described in the full announcement.
What types of organizations are commonly included under "unrestricted" eligibility?
While the full eligibility details are in the FOA, the description notes that this commonly includes universities, private companies, utilities, national laboratories (as permitted), non-profits, and state or local entities, often working in teams.
What activity categories are associated with this FOA?
The activity categories connected to the FOA include energy, environment, science and technology, research and development, and community development.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 81.122, "Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Research, Development and Analysis."
When was this FOA posted and when were applications due?
Key dates provided are: posted on January 31, 2014; created in the system on March 7, 2014; and an application deadline of April 28, 2014 (original and current closing dates match).
Where can applicants find the full FOA text and submission instructions?
The opportunity points to FedConnect as the additional information link and primary access route for the complete announcement package and official submission instructions.
Who is the point of contact for help accessing the FOA?
The contact listed is John R. Hatfield, Contract Specialist at NETL. Phone: 304-285-5235. Email: John.Hatfield@netl.doe.gov.
What is the overall program trying to achieve in practical terms?
In practical terms, the FOA aims to fund work that helps turn microgrid concepts into deployable and replicable systems by addressing technology improvements and system design approaches, and by demonstrating solutions to real-world integration and performance challenges in commercial settings.
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