Distribution Communication and Control Technologies Research, Development, and Demonstration | DE FOA 0003198

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003198

The Distribution Communication and Control Technologies Research, Development, and Demonstration opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0003198) is a U.S. Department of Energy effort administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to support work that advances communications and control technologies used on the electric distribution system. The opportunity is structured as an earmark-category funding action and will be awarded through cooperative agreements, meaning recipients should expect substantial federal involvement during the project, such as coordinated technical oversight, milestone reviews, and active collaboration on project direction and reporting.

At a high level, the program is focused on research, development, and demonstration activities that improve how distribution-grid devices communicate and how the grid is monitored and controlled. This typically aligns with modern grid needs such as higher penetration of distributed energy resources, increased automation, better observability, more resilient operations, and improved interoperability among utility systems and field equipment. The emphasis on "distribution communication and control" points to technologies and approaches that help utilities and partners manage the last-mile grid more effectively, including the coordination of sensors, controllers, software platforms, and secure communications pathways that enable real-time or near-real-time decision-making.

The amendment described in the notice is mainly administrative and clarifying rather than a change in the program's core technical intent. Its stated purpose is to clarify eligibility requirements and to provide three key attachments that are referenced in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Those attachments are: Appendix E, a Statement of Project Objectives template; Appendix F, a Project Management Plan template; and Appendix G, a Budget Justification Worksheet template. In practical terms, these templates are meant to standardize what applicants submit, reduce ambiguity about what DOE expects to see, and make it easier for reviewers to compare proposals consistently across applicants. The eligibility clarification is specifically pointed to Section III.B of the FOA, which is where applicants are instructed to look for the complete and authoritative eligibility rules.

From the published opportunity details, the eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," which usually signals that eligibility may extend beyond a single narrow class of applicants and may include a mix of entities depending on the FOA's definitions (for example, certain nonprofit organizations, industry partners, research organizations, and other nontraditional entities), but the definitive eligibility constraints and any exclusions are in Section III.B as the amendment notes. The activity category is Energy, and the CFDA/assistance listing is 81.122, which is associated with DOE financial assistance programs.

In terms of funding scale and expected awards, the award ceiling is $2,400,000 per award, and DOE anticipates making approximately two awards under this opportunity. The original closing date is March 18, 2024, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of January 18, 2024. Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, applicants should also plan for compliance and project execution expectations typical of DOE cooperative awards, such as defined technical milestones, regular progress reporting, and potentially requirements related to data sharing, cybersecurity considerations, or technology transition planning, depending on the FOA's specific terms.

Overall, this opportunity is aimed at moving distribution-grid communications and control capabilities forward through applied R&D and real-world demonstration, with an amendment that mainly helps applicants by tightening eligibility language and providing required templates for the project objectives, management plan, and budget justification so proposals can be prepared in the format DOE expects.

• The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distribution Communication and Control Technologies Research, Development, 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.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-18. (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 $2,400,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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