Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000970
Apply for DE FOA 0000970
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pre Commercial Synchrophasor Research and Demonstration" 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 Sep 26, 2013 and posted on Sep 26, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 2, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $18,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 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 "Pre Commercial Synchrophasor Research and Demonstration" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000970) is a discretionary federal grant program administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Its core goal is to speed up the real-world deployment of production-grade software that uses synchrophasor data, with the intent of strengthening the reliability of the bulk power system and/or improving the economic efficiency of planning and operating that system. In practical terms, the program is aimed at moving synchrophasor-enabled applications beyond early research or prototypes and into more mature, operationally credible tools that utilities, grid operators, and other stakeholders can use in day-to-day planning and operations.
Synchrophasor data generally refers to high-speed, time-synchronized measurements (often from phasor measurement units, or PMUs) that provide detailed visibility into grid conditions across wide geographic areas. By focusing on software applications that rely on this kind of data, the opportunity is targeting technologies that can make better use of real-time or near-real-time grid awareness. Examples of the kinds of outcomes implied by the announcement include improved situational awareness, earlier detection of instability, better disturbance analysis, and more efficient operational decision-making. The emphasis on "production grade" and "pre-commercial" signals that the government is looking for solutions that are close to being deployable at scale, with attention to performance, robustness, cybersecurity considerations where relevant, integration with utility/ISO tools, and the ability to function in operational environments rather than controlled lab settings.
The program is listed under the funding activity category of Energy and is associated with CFDA number 81.122, which corresponds to "Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Research, Development and Analysis." The estimated total funding amount is $18,000,000, and the agency anticipated making about 7 awards, suggesting mid-sized competitive awards spread across multiple projects rather than one large flagship effort. The announcement indicates a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning recipients would be expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the project costs, a common feature in demonstration-oriented energy programs intended to ensure industry commitment and help validate that the project has market pull and stakeholder buy-in.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional clarifications in the full text of the announcement. In these kinds of DOE/NETL opportunities, eligible applicants often include utilities, independent system operators, transmission operators, technology vendors, universities, national laboratories, and consortia or partnerships that combine operational grid access with software development expertise. Because the objective is deployment of production-grade applications, strong proposals would typically be expected to show access to real synchrophasor data streams, credible deployment partners, a clear path to integration with existing operational practices, and measurable metrics tied to reliability and economic efficiency improvements.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on September 26, 2013, with an application closing date of December 2, 2013 (both original and current closing dates match). The listing shows award ceiling and floor values as 0, which often indicates that specific minimum/maximum award amounts were not captured in the summary fields and would instead be spelled out in the full funding opportunity announcement. Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact Sheldon E. Funk, Contract Specialist, at 304-285-0204 or via email at sheldon.funk@netl.doe.gov. The additional information link is provided through FedConnect, which is commonly used for distributing full FOA documents, amendments, and submission instructions.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a push to convert synchrophasor-based concepts into field-ready software products and demonstrations that can materially improve how the bulk power system is monitored, analyzed, and operated, with federal funds helping to de-risk late-stage development and early deployments while requiring recipients to share in the cost to reinforce commercial relevance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled Pre Commercial Synchrophasor Research and Demonstration.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0000970.
Which federal organization administers this grant?
This is a discretionary federal grant program administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
What is the main goal of the program?
The core goal is to speed up real-world deployment of production-grade software that uses synchrophasor data, with the intent of strengthening the reliability of the bulk power system and/or improving the economic efficiency of planning and operating that system.
What does "pre-commercial" and "production-grade" mean in the context of this FOA?
The opportunity is aimed at moving synchrophasor-enabled applications beyond early research or prototypes and into more mature tools that are operationally credible. The emphasis suggests solutions should be close to deployable at scale and suitable for use in real operational environments (not just labs), with attention to performance, robustness, and integration considerations.
What types of projects is the program trying to support?
The program targets software applications that rely on synchrophasor data and that can improve real-time or near-real-time grid awareness. The overall intent is to support late-stage development and demonstration efforts that help move software toward deployment in day-to-day planning and operations.
What is synchrophasor data?
Synchrophasor data generally refers to high-speed, time-synchronized measurements (often from phasor measurement units, or PMUs) that provide detailed visibility into grid conditions across wide geographic areas.
What outcomes or benefits does the FOA imply these projects should deliver?
Examples of outcomes implied include improved situational awareness, earlier detection of instability, better disturbance analysis, and more efficient operational decision-making. The FOA frames these outcomes around improving bulk power system reliability and/or economic efficiency.
What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The funding activity category is Energy.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 81.122, which corresponds to Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Research, Development and Analysis.
How much total funding is expected to be available?
The estimated total funding amount is $18,000,000.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipated making about 7 awards.
Does this program require cost sharing or matching funds?
Yes. The announcement indicates a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning recipients would be expected to contribute non-federal resources toward project costs.
Why is cost sharing included in a program like this?
As described, cost sharing is common in demonstration-oriented energy programs to help ensure industry commitment and to reinforce commercial relevance by requiring recipients to share in project costs.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional clarifications in the full text of the announcement.
What types of applicants are commonly included in DOE/NETL opportunities like this?
Based on the description provided, eligible applicants in these types of opportunities often include utilities, independent system operators, transmission operators, technology vendors, universities, national laboratories, and consortia or partnerships that combine operational grid access with software development expertise.
What characteristics would typically strengthen a proposal for this FOA?
Strong proposals would typically be expected to show access to real synchrophasor data streams, credible deployment partners, a clear path to integration with existing operational practices, and measurable metrics tied to reliability and economic efficiency improvements.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on September 26, 2013.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is December 2, 2013 (the original and current closing dates match).
Are there stated minimum or maximum award amounts?
The listing shows the award ceiling and floor values as 0, which often indicates those values were not captured in the summary fields and may be provided in the full funding opportunity announcement instead.
Where can applicants find the full announcement and updates?
An additional information link is provided through FedConnect, which is commonly used for distributing full FOA documents, amendments, and submission instructions.
Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing help were directed to contact Sheldon E. Funk, Contract Specialist, at 304-285-0204 or by email at sheldon.funk@netl.doe.gov.
What is the bulk power system focus mentioned in the description?
The FOA frames its purpose around strengthening the reliability of the bulk power system and/or improving the economic efficiency of planning and operating that system, using production-grade synchrophasor-based software.
Is this opportunity more focused on research or deployment?
It is positioned as a push toward deployment and demonstration of production-grade, pre-commercial software rather than early-stage research or prototype-only work.
What kinds of operational considerations are hinted at for software projects?
The description highlights the need for solutions that can function in operational environments and notes considerations such as performance, robustness, cybersecurity considerations where relevant, and integration with utility/ISO tools and operational practices.
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