Draft NOI Outlines Smart Grid Investment Grants

Funding agency	Department of Energy
Funding available	$3.375 billion
Funding Opportunity Number	DE-FOA-0000058A
Estimated release date of formal FOA	June 17, 2009
Estimated award size	·         Up to $200 million for Smart Grid technologies ·         Up to $5 million for PMU deployment
Where to get  the FOA	The formal FOA will be disseminated electronically through http://www.grants.gov
Application deadline	DOE anticipates issuing the final FOA on June 17, 2009 and will permit applicants to submit applications on or before three separate due dates with the complete obligation of funds to awards accomplished by Sept. 30, 2010. Anticipated due dates: ·         July 29, 2009 ·         Dec. 2, 2009 ·         March 31, 2010 Tip: Apply early. There’s a possibility that all funds may be awarded prior to the second or third due dates.
Objective	To stimulate the rapid deployment and integration of advanced digital technology that is needed to modernize the nation’s electric delivery network for enhanced operational intelligence and connectivity.
Program areas	1.     Deployment and integration of phasor measurement unit (PMU) technology 2.     Smart Grid functions: ·         Area, regional, and national coordination  regimes ·         Distributed energy resource technology ·         Delivery (T&D) infrastructure ·         Information Networks
Project timeframe	Completion within a two-year timeframe
Eligible applicants	·      Electric utilities, such as investor-owned utilities, municipality-owned utilities, and rural electric cooperatives ·      Load serving entities, or load distribution companies, which provide electricity distribution services ·      Retail distributors or marketers of electricity which sell electricity to consumers ·      System operators which coordinate, control, and monitor the operation of the electrical power transmission systems within a single state or region ·      Manufacturers of appliances and equipment to enable Smart Grid functionalities.
Registration requirements for applicants and potential first-tier subrecipients	·      Obtain or update a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number > DUNS website ·      Register with the Central Contractor Registration > CCR website  Note: Applicants not yet registered with CCR should allow at least 10 days to complete the requirements.
Cost sharing requirements	Applicants are expected to provide at least 50% of the project costs but may propose a larger share
Application submission process	1.     Download the application package, application forms and instructions from Grants.gov 2.     Submit applications through the FedConnect portal 3.     Get help with the submission process by e-mailing support@FedConnect.net or by phone to FedConnect Support at 800-899-6665.
Award criteria	Applications will be evaluated against 4 major criteria: 1.     Project approach and feasibility 2.     Overall impact on advancing program goals and achieving public benefits 3.     Extent of job creation and retention 4.     Extent of cost sharing beyond required 50%
Sources of additional information	·         Notice of Intent to file FOA for SGIGs ·         Grant.gov application download page ·         DOE Funding Opportunities