Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Research, Development and Analysis (81.122)

Program

81.122 Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Research, Development and Analysis

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Energy

Authorization

Superconductivity and Competitiveness Act of 1988, Public Law 100-697; Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), Public Law 110-140; Energy Tax Act of 1978, Public Law 95-618; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA); Public Law 111-5
; Energy Security Act of 1980, Public Law 96-294; Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Public Law 102-486; Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), Public Law 109-58; Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, as amended, Public Law 95-91.

Program Number

81.122

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

Through research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, and education and outreach activities, lead national efforts to modernize the electric grid; enhance security and reliability of the energy infrastructure; and mitigate the impact of, and facilitate recovery from, disruptions to the energy supply. Develop cost-effective technology that enhances the reliability, efficiency, and resiliency of the electric grid, while enabling the effective utilization of emerging and renewable generation sources and promoting the rapid deployment and integration of advanced digital "Smart Grid" technology that is needed to modernize the nation�s electric delivery network for enhanced operational intelligence and connectivity.

Types of Assistance

Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)

Uses and Use Restrictions

Assistance provided as cost-shared cooperative agreements or grants to nonprofit and profit institutions and organizations to develop, demonstrate and transfer technologies or information developed to utilities, energy companies, energy regulators, state and local governments and other stakeholders. ARRA funding includes the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program, Smart Grid Demonstration program, Workforce Training, and State and Local Government Assistance.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

All types of domestic entities are eligible to apply, such as profit organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, universities, research organizations, and state and local governments. Not eligible are Federal agencies, Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) Contractors, and nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Profit organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, universities, research organizations, and state and local governments benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The standard application forms as furnished by DOE and required by 10 CFR Part 600 must be used to apply for financial assistance, as further specified in competitive solicitation(s). The application forms must be downloaded from the specific funding opportunity announcement posted on the Grants.gov web site: http://www.grants.gov/.

Award Procedure

All applications which pass an initial review will receive an objective merit review. The objective merit review will be based on evaluation criteria set forth in the competitive solicitation(s) or criteria set forth in 10 CFR Part 600 for Unsolicited Proposals. Evaluations will be conducted by the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability personnel at DOE Headquarters in Washington, DC. This responsibility may also be delegated to DOE Operations Offices and technical experts. Final decisions will be made by the Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 120 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Grants and cooperative agreements may be modified or extended.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching Requirements: As Specified under Section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and EISA, with exceptions, a minimum of 20% cost share is required for research and development. A minimum of 50% is required for demonstration. Higher cost share may be requested. The Smart Grid Investment Grant Program provides grants of up to 50%.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Assistance is available for up to five years, as specified in the solicitation. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: To be determined.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports required as specified in the grant or cooperative agreement. Typically these reports consist of quarterly progress and a final report at the conclusion of the grant or cooperative agreement time period. Expenditure reports required as specified in the grant or cooperative agreement. Typically these reports consist of quarterly expenditure reports and a final report at the conclusion of the grant or cooperative agreement time period. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

None.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In FY 2008 nine cooperative agreements were competitively awarded to increase efficiency in the nation's electricity grid under the Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration. Fiscal Year 2009: In FY 2009 51 new awards were made from ARRA funds, and 17 new awards were made from annual appropriations. Fiscal Year 2010: In FY 2010, approximately $60,000,000 in new solicitations are scheduled to be awarded in the areas of Power Electronics, Advanced Control Methods, Cyber Security and Energy Storage.

Financial Information

Account Identification

89-0318-0-1-999 - OE Annual Appropriations; 89-0328-0-1-999 - OE ARRA ; 89-0224-0-1-999.

Obligations

(Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 08 $38,605,751; FY 09 est $27,491,427; FY 10 est $95,000,000 - Annual Appropriations. (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 08 not reported.; FY 09 est $84,596,387; FY 10 est $4,355,000,000 - Recovery Act Appropriations.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

FY 08 award obligations ranged from $50,000 to $5,200,000 , with the average at $965,000. FY09 award obligations from annual appropriations ranged from $140,000 to $5,200,000, with the average at $785,000. FY09 ARRA award obligations ranged from $250,000 to $8,100,000, with the average at $1,414,000. FY10 award obligations for annual appropriations are expected to be similar. Over the life of the awards, Smart Grid Investment Grant Program awards range from: $300,000 to $200,000,000; Smart Grid Demonstration awards have no specified floor or ceiling, but it is anticipated that awards will range from $25M to $100M.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

The following list represents an overview of regulations, guidelines, and literature: Office of Electricity Delivery and Reliability homepage, at http://www.oe.energy.gov; DOE Financial Assistance Regulations (10 CFR 600); and the DOE Guide to Financial Assistance, both of which may be accessed through the DOE Office of Management home page at http://www.management.energy.gov/policy_guidance.htm.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. National Energy Technology Laboratory: http://www.netl.doe.gov.

Headquarters Office

Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability 1000 Independence Ave SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20585 Phone: 202-586-1411

Web Site Address

http://www.oe.energy.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Projects awarded in FY 2008 under Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration include research and development activities to improve the security of controls systems for energy delivery and increase the use of distributed generation during peak load periods (http://www.energy.gov/news/6170.htm). Fiscal Year 2009: ARRA awards in FY09 focused on improving State Energy Assurance planning, and were individually awarded to states. Awards from annual appropriations funded work including from research and development of microgrids, advanced synchrophasor research and the development of early warning systems and adaptive protection. Fiscal Year 2010: FY 2010 annual appropriations will be awarded to support planned new awards in Power Electronics, Clean Energy Transmission Reliability, Cyber Security and Energy Storage research and development. Remaining ARRA funds will be awarded for the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program, Smart Grid Demonstrations, Workforce Training and Local Government Energy Assurance Initatives.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Selection is based on an objective merit review, program policy factors, the availability of funds, provisions of appropriation law and reports and as otherwise specified in specific solicitation document(s).