Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003021
The Department of Energy (DOE), through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), issued a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Request for Information for Innovative Advanced Transformers" under opportunity number DE-FOA-0003021. The purpose of this notice is to gather public and stakeholder input that may shape a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) focused on the research, development, and demonstration of next-generation transformer technologies. The emphasis is on "innovative advanced transformers" that could be deployed broadly, spanning use cases from distribution-level systems up through transmission-scale applications. In practical terms, DOE is looking to understand technical ideas, needs, barriers, and potential pathways so that any future competitive funding program is aligned with real-world grid challenges and industry readiness.
This RFI is not a funding solicitation and it is not accepting grant applications. Even though the listing references typical grant fields such as "Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement" and includes other cataloging details, those elements should be read as contextual or preliminary metadata rather than an invitation to submit project proposals for award. The RFI is strictly an information-gathering step intended to inform program design, priorities, and requirements if DOE later decides to release an actual FOA. The "ExpectedAwards: 0" field reinforces that no awards are being made under the RFI itself.
The activity area is categorized under Energy, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development, with CFDA number 81.122. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may provide input (for example, private companies, utilities, universities, national labs, nonprofits, consultants, and individuals), subject to any clarifications that may appear in the full text under "Additional Information on Eligibility." This open posture is typical for RFIs, where agencies aim to collect a wide range of viewpoints from manufacturers, grid operators, researchers, and other stakeholders who understand transformer performance needs, supply chain realities, and deployment constraints.
The submission process is straightforward and email-based. Responses had to be submitted electronically to RFI-3021@NETL.DOE.GOV as attachments to an email, with a deadline of 5:00 pm Eastern Time on May 5, 2023. The notice was created on April 7, 2023, giving roughly a month for stakeholders to prepare and submit comments. Because the mechanism is an email with attachments rather than a grants portal application, the intent is clearly to collect narrative feedback, technical perspectives, and recommendations rather than formal budgets, compliance documentation, or other application materials associated with a competitive award.
Overall, this opportunity functions as an early market and technical sounding exercise by DOE/NETL to support potential future investments in transformer innovation. The RFI signals interest in transformers that can be "readily utilized" across multiple grid scales, which generally implies attention not only to performance improvements, but also to manufacturability, interoperability with existing infrastructure, reliability, safety, deployment timelines, and likely cost considerations. If DOE proceeds to a later FOA, the information collected here would typically help define topic areas, performance targets, demonstration expectations, partnership models, and evaluation criteria for funding advanced transformer R&D and demonstrations.Apply for DE FOA 0003021
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information for Innovative Advanced Transformers" 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 Apr 07, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 05, 2023 Responses to this Request for Information must be submitted electronically to RFI-3021@NETL.DOE.GOV no later than 500pm (ET) on May 5, 2023. Responses must be 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 (FAQs): DOE/NETL RFI on Innovative Advanced Transformers (DE-FOA-0003021)
What is DE-FOA-0003021 about?
DE-FOA-0003021 is a Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Request for Information (RFI) titled "Request for Information for Innovative Advanced Transformers." It was issued to gather public and stakeholder input that could shape a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) focused on research, development, and demonstration of next-generation transformer technologies.
Is this a funding opportunity or a grant application process?
No. This notice is an RFI, not a funding solicitation. It is not accepting grant applications and does not make awards. Its purpose is to collect information to help DOE/NETL design a potential future competitive funding program.
Are any awards being made under this RFI?
No. The RFI indicates "ExpectedAwards: 0," which reinforces that no awards are being made under this notice.
Why does the listing mention things like "Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement" if it is not a solicitation?
Those fields should be treated as contextual or preliminary metadata rather than an invitation to submit a project proposal. The RFI is strictly an information-gathering step meant to inform DOE/NETL planning if a future FOA is released.
What is the main purpose of the RFI?
The purpose is to collect technical ideas, needs, barriers, and potential pathways related to innovative advanced transformers so that any future FOA aligns with real-world grid challenges and industry readiness.
What kinds of transformer technologies or use cases is DOE/NETL interested in?
The RFI emphasizes "innovative advanced transformers" that could be deployed broadly across the electric grid, spanning use cases from distribution-level systems through transmission-scale applications. It is focused on next-generation transformer technologies that can be readily utilized across multiple grid scales.
What topics is DOE/NETL trying to learn about through submitted responses?
Based on the notice, DOE/NETL is seeking input on technical ideas, industry needs, barriers, and potential pathways for transformer innovation, with an eye toward practicality and deployment. The description suggests interest in considerations such as performance improvements, manufacturability, interoperability with existing infrastructure, reliability, safety, deployment timelines, and likely cost considerations.
Who is eligible to respond to this RFI?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may provide input, subject to any clarifications in the full text under "Additional Information on Eligibility." Examples mentioned include private companies, utilities, universities, national labs, nonprofits, consultants, and individuals.
Is this opportunity limited to certain industries or organization types?
No. The RFI is open to a wide range of stakeholders. This is typical for RFIs, where agencies aim to collect diverse viewpoints from manufacturers, grid operators, researchers, and others familiar with transformer performance needs, supply chain realities, and deployment constraints.
Which DOE office issued this RFI?
The RFI was issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
How were responses supposed to be submitted?
Responses were to be submitted electronically by email as attachments to RFI-3021@NETL.DOE.GOV.
What was the submission deadline?
The deadline stated in the notice was 5:00 pm Eastern Time on May 5, 2023.
When was the RFI posted?
The notice was created on April 7, 2023.
Does the email-based submission process indicate anything about what DOE wants?
Yes. Because the mechanism is an email with attachments rather than a grants portal application, the intent is to collect narrative feedback, technical perspectives, and recommendations rather than formal application materials such as budgets, compliance documentation, or other items typically required for competitive awards.
What is the CFDA number associated with this notice?
The notice lists CFDA number 81.122.
How is the activity area categorized?
The activity area is categorized under Energy, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development.
What is DOE likely to do with the information submitted in response to this RFI?
The stated purpose is to inform program design, priorities, and requirements if DOE later decides to release a formal FOA. The notice indicates that collected input could help define topic areas, performance targets, demonstration expectations, partnership models, and evaluation criteria for a future funding program on advanced transformer research, development, and demonstrations.
Does responding to the RFI mean an organization will be selected for funding later?
The notice does not state that RFI respondents will be selected for funding. It describes the RFI as an information-gathering step intended to inform a possible future FOA, not a selection process.
What does "innovative advanced transformers" imply in the context of this RFI?
In the context provided, it implies next-generation transformer technologies that can be deployed broadly across grid scales and are aligned with real-world deployment needs. The description points to an interest not only in performance, but also in practical factors like manufacturability, interoperability, reliability, safety, deployment timelines, and cost considerations.
Is this RFI focused on distribution systems, transmission systems, or both?
Both. The RFI explicitly states interest in transformer technologies spanning use cases from distribution-level systems up through transmission-scale applications.
What is the overall intent of this notice in plain terms?
It is an early technical and market "sounding" exercise by DOE/NETL to understand needs and obstacles in transformer innovation and to help shape a potential future competitive funding announcement.
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