Grid-Enhancing Data Analytics Demonstrations for Operations, Monitoring and Control | DE FOA 0003127

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003127

The Department of Energy, through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the Office of Electricitys Grid Controls and Communications Division, is soliciting proposals under the Sensor and Data Analytics (SDA) Program to demonstrate grid-enhancing data analytics for real-world operations, monitoring, and control. The core purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve electric grid reliability and resilience by moving beyond research-only efforts and into practical demonstrations that combine field data, sensors, and advanced analytics in ways that directly support utility planning and operational decision-making. The FOA is framed around building capabilities needed for a "grid of the future," meaning a grid that can better anticipate problems, detect disturbances earlier, respond faster, and operate more efficiently under changing conditions such as extreme weather, evolving load patterns, and increased deployment of distributed energy resources.

A key emphasis is on demonstrations that are grounded in actual utility environments and real operational needs. DOE strongly encourages direct partnerships with both data providers and power sector utilities, since that is how analytics tools can be validated against the constraints utilities face every day, including data quality limitations, latency requirements, cybersecurity considerations, and the need to integrate with existing control room systems and operational workflows. In practice, this focus signals that competitive applications will likely include clear utility use cases, access to meaningful datasets, and demonstration plans that show how the proposed analytics will be tested and used to inform decisions rather than simply produce research outputs.

This opportunity is issued as a discretionary funding program and will be awarded using a cooperative agreement, which typically means DOE expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, through technical reviews, milestone approvals, and active program management). The funding opportunity number is DE FOA 0003127, associated with CFDA number 81.122, and it is categorized under the Energy funding activity area. The application closing date listed is 2024-04-04. DOE indicates an expected 7 awards, with an award ceiling of up to 7,000,000 per award, suggesting a limited number of relatively sizable demonstration projects rather than a large number of small grants.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," but the amendment language clarifies an important boundary for federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs): DOE/NNSA FFRDCs may participate only as subrecipients and cannot serve as the prime recipient. The amendment also adds terms addressing Foreign National Participation and Export Control Responsibilities (referencing April 2023 language), which highlights that applicants should be prepared to manage compliance obligations tied to participation by foreign nationals and any export-controlled information, software, hardware, or technical data that could arise in advanced grid sensing, communications, or analytics work. Finally, the mention of "Domestic utility" in the description reinforces that the intended demonstration setting is within the US utility context, aligning with the FOAs operational focus and likely reflecting requirements or expectations around where the work is performed and where grid benefits accrue.

Overall, the grant is best understood as a push to accelerate the deployment-readiness of sensor-driven, data-intensive grid analytics by funding utility-connected demonstrations that prove performance, integration feasibility, and operational value. Competitive proposals would be expected to show credible access to relevant grid data streams, a strong partnership structure that includes utility participation, and a clear pathway for how the demonstrated analytics could be scaled or adopted to measurably improve reliability and resilience.

• The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Grid-Enhancing Data Analytics Demonstrations for Operations, Monitoring and Control" 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 2023-12-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-04. (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 $7,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for DE FOA 0003127

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