Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002157
The Department of Energy (DOE), through the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and the Golden Field Office, issued this notice as a Request for Information (RFI) focused on "Planning and Operation Models and Data Analytics for Solar Grid Integration" (Opportunity Number: DE FOA 0002157; CFDA: 81.087). The purpose is to gather input from a wide range of stakeholders including industry, universities, national laboratories, government agencies, and other interested parties. DOE is using this RFI to shape its strategic planning and future research directions around integrating distributed solar energy resources into the electric grid, with an emphasis on the tools and methods needed as solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption continues to rise.
The core technical theme is improving how the grid models, monitors, predicts, and controls solar PV systems, particularly distributed PV that is connected across distribution networks rather than concentrated in a few large plants. DOE is signaling that higher solar penetration changes the operating conditions and planning needs for utilities and system operators, so better analytics and operational models are increasingly important. In practical terms, this RFI is about identifying the most useful approaches, data needs, gaps, and priorities for research that can help grid operators understand PV behavior, forecast its output, and manage it reliably alongside other grid resources.
This notice is not a funding opportunity and it is not accepting applications, proposals, or project abstracts. DOE is explicitly stating that this RFI is for information gathering only and does not function as a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). While DOE may decide to issue a related FOA in the future, it also may choose not to, and there is no guarantee that any funding opportunity will result. If a FOA is issued later, responding (or not responding) to this RFI will not give any respondent an advantage or disadvantage in a future competition. DOE also notes that any future award details such as size, number of awards, and timing would depend on Congressional appropriations and agency direction, meaning nothing in the RFI should be treated as a commitment of funds.
DOE indicates that responses will be used on a non-attribution basis for government planning and strategy development. In other words, DOE intends to aggregate and learn from the feedback without publicly crediting specific respondents, and the submission is treated as informational rather than a binding offer. DOE also makes clear it will not reimburse any costs associated with preparing a response, is not obligated to confirm receipt, and is not required to provide comments or feedback on what is submitted. Submitting a response does not obligate DOE to take any next step, and it does not create any contractual or other commitment.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may respond, subject to any clarifications that might appear in the full text. The submission instructions are straightforward and administrative: responses had to be emailed to SETO.RFI.SI@ee.doe.gov by 12:00 pm Eastern Time on August 30, 2019. Submissions were required to be electronic only, included as attachments to an email, and provided specifically as a Microsoft Word (.docx) document. DOE recommended compressing attachments larger than 25 MB to improve deliverability. The response length was capped at ten pages, using 12-point font and 1-inch margins. The posting dates show a creation date of July 26, 2019 and the original closing date of August 30, 2019, aligning with the deadline provided in the instructions.
One detail that often confuses readers is the listing of items like "Award Ceiling" and "Expected Awards" in the source data. Here, "Expected Awards: 0" aligns with DOE's statement that no funding is being awarded under this RFI. The overall message is that DOE is actively scouting ideas, data sources, modeling approaches, and analytics needs around solar PV grid integration, with the intent of using the community's feedback to guide future research planning rather than to select projects for immediate funding.Apply for DE FOA 0002157
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information: Planning and Operation Models and Data Analytics for Solar Grid Integration" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 26, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 30, 2019 Responses must be submitted to SETO.RFI.SI@ee.doe.gov no later than 1200pm (ET) on August 30, 2019. Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically and provided as attachments to an email.. (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 $2.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this DOE notice?
This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and the Golden Field Office. It is focused on "Planning and Operation Models and Data Analytics for Solar Grid Integration."
What is the opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The opportunity number is DE FOA 0002157 and the CFDA listing is 81.087.
Is this a grant or a funding opportunity?
No. DOE states this is not a funding opportunity and it is not accepting applications, proposals, or project abstracts. It is strictly an information-gathering RFI and does not function as a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
What is DOE trying to accomplish with this RFI?
DOE is seeking input to support strategic planning and to guide future research directions related to integrating distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) resources into the electric grid. The emphasis is on identifying useful tools, methods, data needs, gaps, and research priorities as solar PV adoption continues to grow.
What technical topic areas does this RFI focus on?
The core technical theme is improving how the grid models, monitors, predicts, and controls solar PV systems, with particular emphasis on distributed PV connected across distribution networks (rather than a small number of large centralized plants). The RFI emphasizes the need for stronger analytics and operational models as higher solar penetration changes grid operating conditions and planning requirements.
What kinds of input is DOE looking for?
Based on the notice, DOE is looking for feedback on approaches, data sources, modeling methods, analytics needs, gaps, and priorities that would help grid operators understand PV behavior, forecast PV output, and manage PV reliably alongside other grid resources.
Who is DOE asking to respond?
DOE is seeking input from a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, universities, national laboratories, government agencies, and other interested parties.
Who is eligible to respond?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may respond (subject to any clarifications that may be included in the full RFI text).
Does responding to this RFI provide any advantage in a future competition?
No. DOE states that responding (or not responding) to this RFI will not provide an advantage or disadvantage in any future funding competition that might be issued later.
Will DOE definitely issue a future FOA related to this RFI?
No. DOE notes it may decide to issue a related FOA in the future, but it also may choose not to. There is no guarantee that any funding opportunity will result from this RFI.
Does this RFI commit DOE to award funds later?
No. DOE states that nothing in the RFI should be treated as a commitment of funds. Any future award details (such as size, number of awards, or timing) would depend on Congressional appropriations and agency direction.
Why do some listings show items like "Award Ceiling" or "Expected Awards"?
Those fields can appear in source data even when the notice is not funding. In this case, "Expected Awards: 0" aligns with DOE's statement that no funding is being awarded under this RFI.
How will DOE use submitted responses?
DOE indicates responses will be used on a non-attribution basis for government planning and strategy development. This means DOE intends to aggregate and learn from the information provided without publicly crediting specific respondents.
Will DOE provide feedback on submissions or confirm receipt?
DOE states it is not obligated to confirm receipt of responses and is not required to provide comments or feedback on what is submitted.
Will DOE reimburse the cost of preparing an RFI response?
No. DOE states it will not reimburse any costs associated with preparing or submitting a response.
Does submitting a response create any contractual commitment?
No. DOE states that submitting a response does not obligate DOE to take any next step and does not create any contractual or other commitment.
When was the response due?
Responses had to be submitted by 12:00 pm Eastern Time on August 30, 2019.
When was the notice posted?
The posting information indicates a creation date of July 26, 2019 and an original closing date of August 30, 2019, consistent with the stated submission deadline.
How were responses submitted?
Responses were required to be submitted by email to SETO.RFI.SI@ee.doe.gov.
What file format was required for submissions?
Submissions were required to be electronic only, included as email attachments, and provided specifically as a Microsoft Word (.docx) document.
Was there a page limit or formatting requirement?
Yes. The response length was capped at ten pages, using 12-point font and 1-inch margins.
What if the attachment was large?
DOE recommended compressing attachments larger than 25 MB to improve email deliverability.
Is DOE accepting applications, proposals, or project abstracts under this notice?
No. DOE explicitly states it is not accepting applications, proposals, or project abstracts under this RFI.
What is the main takeaway for someone looking for immediate funding?
This notice is focused on collecting information to guide DOE planning and research strategy for solar PV grid integration. It is not selecting projects for immediate funding and does not make any funding awards.
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