Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001683
Apply for DE FOA 0001683
- The Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request For Information (RFI) - Grid Optimization Competition Design" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 11, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 22, 2016 This is a Request for Information only. This RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance. THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA). NO FOA EXISTS AT THIS TIME.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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 Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) issued this notice as a Request for Information (RFI) on the topic of "Grid Optimization Competition Design" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001683). It is not a grant or funding solicitation and it is not accepting applications for financial assistance. Instead, ARPA-E is collecting ideas and technical input that could shape a future program. In other words, this notice is meant to inform ARPA-E's planning process, and it explicitly states that it does not constitute a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and that no FOA exists at this time.
The core purpose of the RFI is to gather feedback on how ARPA-E might design a multi-phase competition intended to speed up both the development and the rigorous evaluation of new methods for "grid optimization." ARPA-E is particularly interested in approaches that could be transformational or disruptive, meaning methods that go beyond incremental improvements and could change the state of the art in how difficult power system optimization problems are solved. The competition concept described is meant to provide a platform where different solution methods can be identified, tested, compared, and assessed in a comprehensive way, rather than only being demonstrated in limited or idealized settings.
Technically, the RFI highlights two major classes of power system optimization problems as key targets: Security Constrained Optimal Power Flow (OPF) and Security Constrained Unit Commitment (UC). These problems sit at the heart of operating an electric grid efficiently and reliably under real-world constraints, including equipment limits and security constraints related to contingencies. By calling out security-constrained versions of OPF and UC, ARPA-E is signaling interest in methods that can handle realistic operational requirements, not just simplified academic formulations.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized under discretionary activities with a science and technology/research and development focus (CFDA 81.135). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning ARPA-E is open to input from any type of organization or individual, subject to any clarifications in the full text of the notice. The notice lists a creation date of October 11, 2016, and an original closing date of November 22, 2016, reflecting the window during which ARPA-E intended to receive responses to the RFI. Any listed award-related fields are not meaningful in the way they would be for an actual grant competition, because this RFI is strictly an information-gathering exercise and not a funding opportunity.
Overall, this RFI is best understood as ARPA-E testing the waters and seeking practical, informed perspectives on what a well-structured grid optimization competition should look like: how it might be phased, what problems and benchmarks it should include, what evaluation criteria would fairly measure performance, and how to encourage breakthroughs in solving challenging optimization tasks that matter for modern grid operations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Is this a grant or funding opportunity?
No. This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Grid Optimization Competition Design" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001683). It is not a grant, not a funding solicitation, and it is not accepting applications for financial assistance.
2) Can I apply for funding under DE-FOA-0001683?
No. ARPA-E is not accepting applications for financial assistance under this notice. The RFI is only collecting ideas and technical input to inform ARPA-E's planning.
3) Does a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) exist for this topic right now?
No. The notice explicitly states it does not constitute a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and that no FOA exists at this time.
4) What is ARPA-E trying to accomplish with this RFI?
The purpose is to gather feedback on how ARPA-E might design a multi-phase competition to speed up both the development and rigorous evaluation of new methods for grid optimization. The input is intended to shape a potential future program.
5) What does ARPA-E mean by "grid optimization" in this RFI?
Within the context provided, "grid optimization" refers to methods for solving difficult power system optimization problems that are central to operating an electric grid efficiently and reliably under real-world constraints.
6) What types of technical problems are the main focus of the RFI?
The RFI highlights two major classes of power system optimization problems as key targets: Security Constrained Optimal Power Flow (OPF) and Security Constrained Unit Commitment (UC).
7) Why does the RFI emphasize "security-constrained" OPF and UC?
By emphasizing security-constrained versions, ARPA-E is signaling interest in methods that can handle realistic operational requirements, including equipment limits and security constraints related to contingencies, rather than only simplified or idealized academic formulations.
8) What kind of solutions is ARPA-E looking for?
ARPA-E is particularly interested in approaches that could be transformational or disruptive, meaning methods that go beyond incremental improvements and could change the state of the art in solving challenging power system optimization problems.
9) What is the competition concept described in the RFI?
The RFI discusses the idea of a multi-phase competition intended to create a platform where different solution methods can be identified, tested, compared, and assessed in a comprehensive way, rather than being demonstrated only in limited or idealized settings.
10) What kind of input is ARPA-E seeking about competition design?
Based on the notice, ARPA-E is seeking perspectives on how a well-structured grid optimization competition should look, including how it might be phased, what problems and benchmarks it should include, what evaluation criteria would fairly measure performance, and how to encourage breakthroughs.
11) Who is eligible to respond to this RFI?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted. ARPA-E is open to input from any type of organization or individual, subject to any clarifications in the full text of the notice.
12) What agency issued this RFI?
The notice was issued by the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
13) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and title for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0001683, and the topic/title is "Grid Optimization Competition Design."
14) What is the CFDA listing associated with this notice?
The notice is categorized under discretionary activities with a science and technology/research and development focus and references CFDA 81.135.
15) What were the dates associated with responding to the RFI?
The notice lists a creation date of October 11, 2016, and an original closing date of November 22, 2016, reflecting the window during which ARPA-E intended to receive RFI responses.
16) Do the listed award details mean funding will be provided?
No. Any award-related fields are not meaningful in the way they would be for an actual grant competition, because this notice is strictly an information-gathering exercise and not a funding opportunity.
17) What is ARPA-E using the RFI responses for?
The RFI is meant to inform ARPA-E's planning process and collect practical, informed perspectives that could shape a future program related to grid optimization competition design.
18) Is the goal to compare solutions under realistic conditions?
Yes. The competition concept is described as a way to comprehensively test, compare, and assess solution methods, moving beyond limited demonstrations or idealized settings.
19) What kinds of operational considerations are implied by the targeted problems?
The targeted security-constrained OPF and UC problems imply real-world grid operating constraints, including equipment limits and contingency-related security constraints, with a focus on reliability and efficiency.
20) If there is no FOA now, could there be one later?
The notice indicates ARPA-E is collecting input that could shape a future program, but it also explicitly states that no FOA exists at this time.
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