Through research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, and education and outreach activities, modernize and expand America's electric delivery system to ensure a more reliable and robust electricity supply, and enhance economic and national security.

Develop cost-effective technology

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that enhances the reliability, efficiency, and resiliency of the electric grid, while enabling the effective utilization of emerging generation and demand-side management technologies and practices.

Assure the security of the nation's energy infrastructure through research and programs to assess the critical functions of the nation's energy infrastructure and reduce its vulnerability, and to develop an effective emergency response system to protect and restore its capabilities in case of disruption or attack.

In FY 2006 projects were solicited in the area of High Temperature Superconductivity (HTS) and five awards were made in FY 2007. Two of the research projects will help increase reliability and efficiency of HTS power delivery cables, and the remaining three projects will place an emphasis on HTS fault current limiters. These projects are in progress, and many will complete their first phases in mid-2009. In FY 2007 projects were solicited in the area of Visualization and Controls and Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration (RDSI). Five awards were made at the end of the fiscal year for Visualization and Controls to develop and integrate technologically- advanced controls and cyber-security devices into our electric grid and energy infrastructure. In FY 2008 nine cooperative agreements were competitively selected to increase efficiency in the nation's electricity grid under the Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Assistance may be used in the form of cost-shared cooperative agreements or grants to nonprofit and profit institutions and organizations to develop and transfer technologies or information developed through analysis and research to utilities, energy companies, energy regulators, state and local governments and other stakeholders.

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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

None.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

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 Procedures

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

None.

Authorization

Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, as amended, Public Law 95-91; Energy Tax Act of 1978, Public Law 95-618; Energy Security Act of 1980, Public Law 96-294; Superconductivity and Competitiveness Act of 1988, Public Law 100-697; Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Public Law 102-486; Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), Public Law 109-58.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 120 days.

Appeals

None.

Renewals

Grants and cooperative agreements may be modified or extended.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

As Specified under Section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, 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.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Assistance is available for up to five years, as specified in the solicitation.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

As specified in the grant or cooperative agreement.

Typically these reports consist of quarterly progress and expenditure reports and a final report at the conclusion of the grant or cooperative agreement time period.

Audits

"Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive 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 that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

None.

Financial Information

Account Identification

89-0224-0-1-999.

Obigations

(Project Grants, Cooperative Agreements); FY 07 $14,454,137; FY 08 $20,938,266; and FY 09 est $20,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Individual awards in FY 07 ranged from $84,975 to $12,806,881 with the average award at $4,430,000. FY 08 new awards have just been made.

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.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Chicago Operations Office: http://www.ch.doe.gov. National Energy Technology Laboratory: http://www.netl.doe.gov.

Headquarters Office

Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, 202-586-1411, http://www.oe.energy.gov under Contact Us for e-mail addresses.

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).