Connected Communities 2.0: Innovations to Manage Growing Transportation, Building, and Industrial Loads to the Grid (Part B): Topic Area 1A: Smart Charge Management (SCM) of Electric Vehicles (EVs) for Grid Support and Integration - FY 2024
Agency: | U.S. Department of Energy |
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CFDA: | 81.086 |
Federal FON: | DE-FOA-0003136 |
Office: | Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) Office of Electricity (OE) |
Multipart Grant: | Yes |
Next Due: | 10/10/2024 (Multiple) |
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Solicitation Date: | 07/22/2024 |
Match Required: | Yes |
Match Type: | Cash/In-Kind |
Actual Funds: | $65,000,000 (Estimated) |
Range: | $15,000,000 (Max) |
Award Range: | $3,000,000 (Min) / $6,000,000 (Max) |
Summary:
The purpose of this program is to address major new loads from transportation, industry, and buildings on the electric grid by providing new tools for users, planners, and operators of the electric grid. This program is designed to validate technology in real world situations and share outcomes in ways that will enable these practices to be replicated by other jurisdictions and to inform technical assistance and stakeholder engagement. The learnings from these projects should enable electric system planners and operators, strategic planners, regulators such as public utility commissions (PUCs), and other stakeholders to understand and plan for new load growth and peak loads driven by electrification, growth in manufacturing, and new computing developments; and to plan for physical and cyber threats to reliability and resilience, while keeping costs affordable for customers and ratepayers.
Funding will support research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) at the grid edge, which is the portion of the electric grid between the feeder and the plug, to evaluate how to right-size future electricity infrastructure using various technical measures, which can also improve customer benefits and grid resilience. Grid edge technical measures include a wide range of technologies such as low power appliances, managed electric vehicle (EV) charging, demand-flexible building systems, thermal energy networks with energy storage, batteries, and rooftop solar.
Projects supported through this program will be expected to:
- Demonstrate how smart and coordinated management of EVs and other distributed energy resources (DERs), including the integration of efficiency, smart electrical panels, solar, heat pumps, controls, EV charging, and storage can together provide grid support, reduce system costs, and improve the economics of customer technology adoption, at a scale sufficient to enable confidence in wide-scale adoption
- Demonstrate approaches that enable acceptance by utilities, PUCs, and communities of smart change management, technical measures at the grid edge, and innovative planning strategies as valid methods towards right-sizing investments in the distribution system
- Demonstrate approaches towards improved resilience for communities, end-use customers, and the overall grid in the face of growing loads, extreme weather events, cyber threats, and increasing resilience on the electric grid through the use of grid edge technical measures
Funding will be provided for the following program components:
- (Part A): Topic Area 1: Connected Communities 2.0
- (Part B): Topic Area 1A: Smart Charge Management (SCM) of Electric Vehicles (EVs) for Grid Support and Integration
The purpose of the Topic Area 1A: Smart Charge Management (SCM) of Electric Vehicles (EVs) for Grid Support and Integration component is to conduct wide-scale demonstrations of SCM in various unique urban, suburban, and rural use cases to create confidence in SCM technology as an approach to effectively utilize the flexibility and value that EVs provide to the grid. SCM entails communication between the vehicles and/or charging equipment and the grid distribution network to balance the charging needs of multiple electric vehicles with the ability of the grid to supply the requested energy. SCM can be used to help ensure electricity rates remain affordable during the EV transition by ensuring effective and optimized use of grid assets and preventing overbuilding.
Approaches used in these demonstrations must be scalable and interoperable, leveraging EVs and/or electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) from many manufacturers. Demonstrations should also collect data to show the economic value created for all stakeholders with their approach, striving for a model which is widely replicable.
An optional webinar is scheduled for this program. Refer to the Application section for details.
Last Updated: August 09, 2024
Eligibility Notes:
Eligible applicants are:
- Institutions of higher education
- For-profit entities
- Nonprofit entities
- State and local governmental entities
- Federally recognized Indian tribes
The funding agency strongly encourages teams from different organizations, scientific disciplines, and technology sectors to form interdisciplinary and cross-sector teams that span organizational boundaries in order to enable and accelerate the achievement of scientific and technological outcomes that were previously viewed as extremely difficult, if not impossible. Applicants are highly encouraged to include individuals from groups historically under-represented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) on their project teams. Applicants are encouraged to include one or more of the following entities on their teams:
- Electric vehicle (EV) original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
- Charging equipment manufacturers
- Charging network operators
- Grid service aggregators
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories
- Clean Cities and Communities coalitions, additional information on which can be found online at cleancities.energy.gov/coalitions/locations
Projects are expected to have utilities as a primary or a substantial contributing partner, including financially, along with other partners who can engage with the local public utilities commissions (PUCs) or the governing authority for the utility. This is to ensure that there is a pathway to implement project findings and work with PUCs for program development or investment analysis.
Applicants may submit more than one concept paper and full application to this program, provided that each application describes a unique, scientifically distinct project and provided that an eligible concept paper was submitted for each full application. Each concept paper must be limited to a single concept or technology.
Only new applications will be accepted. Applications for renewals of existing awards issued by the funding agency will not be considered.
DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), except for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), are eligible to participate as a subrecipient; however, they are not eligible to apply as a prime recipient. LBNL as a whole is not eligible due to its role as the Connected Communities National Coordinator.
Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDs are eligible to participate as a subrecipient; however, they are not eligible to apply as a prime recipient.
Federal agencies and instrumentalities, other than DOE, are eligible to participate as a subrecipient; however, they are not eligible to apply as a prime recipient.
Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are not eligible to apply.
Eligible Applicants:
Local GovernmentAcademic Institutions
Consortia
Native American Tribe
Non Profits
Private Sector
State Government
Application Notes:
Mandatory concept papers must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on August 20, 2024.
Concept papers must be submitted online at eere-exchange.energy.gov.
Concept papers must include:
- Cover page (1 page max)
- Technology description (4 pages max)
- Addendum (2 pages max)
Concept papers must be submitted in .pdf format and must be formatted on standard-sized pages with margins no smaller than one inch on every side. Concept papers must be formatted in black Calibri font no smaller than 12-point, although figures and tables may be 10-point. References must be included as footnotes or endnotes, which will count toward the maximum page requirements, in a font no smaller than 10-point. Page numbers must be included in the footer of every page. The control number must be prominently displayed on the upper right corner of the header of every page and included in the file name.
Concept papers will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- The applicant clearly describes the proposed connected community project, including the technologies and approach being demonstrated, grid services provided, location, building/plant/vehicle use types, systems, business models, and all other salient information
- The applicant clearly describes how the connected community project data will be leveraged to develop methods to right-size grid investments, especially distribution grid investments, while decarbonizing and electrifying buildings, industry, and transportation, as well as to achieve power sector decarbonization
- The applicant clearly describes how the connected community project will sustain or improve customer resilience in a manner that yields reliable, replicable, and scalable frameworks, especially for utilities, regulators, and others to leverage in future planning scenarios
- The project has potential to be replicated, scaled, and validated
- The applicant clearly describes how the technology is unique and innovative, and how the technology will advance the current state of the art
- The applicant describes a strategy for community engagement and how the project addresses concerns of energy equity and community benefits more broadly
- The applicant has identified risks and challenges of the technology, regulatory, and financial aspects of the proposal including possible mitigation strategies, and has shown the impact that funding and the proposed project would have on the relevant field and application
- The applicant has the qualifications, experience, capabilities, and other resources necessary to complete the proposed project
- The proposed work, if successfully accomplished, would clearly meet the program objectives
The funding agency will encourage a subset of applicants to submit full applications; other applicants will be discouraged from submitting a full application. An applicant that receives a discouraged notification may still submit a full application; however, by discouraging the submission of a full application, the funding agency intends to convey its lack of programmatic interest in the proposed project in an effort to save the applicant the time and expense of preparing a full application that is unlikely to be selected for award negotiations.
Full applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on October 10, 2024.
Full applications must be submitted online at eere-exchange.energy.gov.
Full applications must include:
- SF 424
- Technical volume (20 pages max)
- Resumes (3 pages max per resume)
- Letters of commitment (1 page max per letter)
- Statement of project objectives (10 pages max)
- Budget justification workbook
- Summary/abstract for public release (1 page max)
- Summary slide (1 page max)
- Subrecipient budget justification (if applicable)
- DOE work proposal for FFRDC (if applicable)
- Authorization from cognizant contracting officer for FFRDC (if applicable)
- SF LLL
- Foreign entity waiver requests and foreign work waiver requests (if applicable)
- Current and pending support
- Impacted Indian tribes documentation (if applicable)
- Transparency of foreign connections
- Potentially duplicative funding notice (if applicable)
- Technology description spreadsheet
Full applications must be formatted on standard-sized pages with margins no smaller than one inch on every side, and must be formatted in black Calibri font no smaller than 12-point, although figures and tables may be 10-point. References must be included as footnotes or endnotes, which will count toward the maximum page requirements, in a font no smaller than 10-point. Page numbers must be included in the footer of every page. The control number must be prominently displayed on the upper right corner of the header of every page and included in the file name. The maximum file size that may be uploaded is 50 MB. If a file exceeds 50 MB but is still within the maximum page limit, it must be broken into parts and denoted to that effect. Files must be formatted and named according to the specifications detailed on pages 45-46 of the NOFA file.
The following are required in order to submit an application:
- Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
- SAM (System for Award Management) registration
Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.
An optional webinar will be held for this program as follows:
July 29, 2024
10:30 a.m. ET
Registration: events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com
Full applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Technical merit, innovation, and impact (50 percent)
- Project research and execution plan (25 percent)
- Team and resources (25 percent)
Refer to the NOFA file and Application folder for additional application information.
Match Required: | Yes |
---|---|
Match Type: | Cash/In-Kind |
Actual Funds: | $65,000,000 (Estimated) |
Range: | $15,000,000 (Max) |
Award Range: | $3,000,000 (Min) / $6,000,000 (Max) |
---|
Match Notes:
Applicants must provide at least 50 percent of the total project costs for demonstration projects via cash or in-kind contributions.
Matching contributions may be provided by the prime recipient, subrecipients, or third parties. Vendors/contractors may not provide matching contributions, and any partial donations of goods or services is considered a discount and is not allowable.
Unless otherwise allowed by law, matching contributions may not come from federal sources.
Matching contributions may not include the same cash or in-kind contributions used to meet the matching requirements of another project or program.
Funding Notes:
Approximately $65 million is expected to be available to support approximately 8 to 20 cooperative agreements for this program overall, with approximately $15 million available to support an anticipated 4 to 6 cooperative agreements expected to range from $3 million to $6 million through this component.
Funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis.
Award notifications are expected to be made in winter 2025, and award negotiations are expected to take place in spring 2025.
The project period is anticipated to run from 36 months up to 60 months, and will be comprised of one or more budget periods. Project continuation will be contingent upon several elements, including satisfactory performance and a go/no-go decision by the funding agency.
Applicants selected for award negotiations must request prior written approval to charge pre-award costs. In addition, award recipients must obtain written authorization from their contracting officer before incurring any major construction costs.
Funds will not support:
- Applications that fall outside the technical parameters of this program
- Applications for proposed technologies that are not based on sound scientific principles
- Applications that do not include elements of buildings, industrial plants, vehicles, and/or local generation or storage
- Applications that do not include energy efficiency, whether for buildings, industry, or transportation, to achieve the objectives of this program
- Applications proposing only the construction of new buildings or major grid upgrades
- Applications that lack an engaged utility partner or do not include connections to the local public utility commission (PUC)/investment decision authority/community organization
- Applications that do not have a line of sight and concrete plan for adoption and implementation such as through customer programs or through new distribution planning and analysis methodologies
- Foreign travel costs
- Lobbying
Contacts:
Program Staff
CCPilotsFOA@ee.doe.gov
Agency Address
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Forrestal Building
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20585
Contact Notes:
Questions should be directed to the program staff no later than three business days prior to the full application deadline. Questions and answers will be posted online at eere-exchange.energy.gov, and the funding agency will attempt to respond to questions within three business days, unless a similar question and answer has already been posted online.
Concept papers and full applications must be submitted online at eere-exchange.energy.gov.
The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.
Files:
NOFA File: US17039B_NOFA_FY2024.pdf (1.8 Mb)Application File: US17039B_Application_FY2024.zip (6.0 Mb)
Award File: US17039B_Award_FY2024.pdf (161.1 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17039B_WebinarPresentation_FY2024.pdf (620.6 Kb)
File Notes:
The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The Application folder contains the required forms for submission. The WebinarPresentation file contains the slides from the webinar held for this program. The Award file contains information on previous award recipients.
August 9, 2024
The presentation slides from the webinar held for this program have been released and attached as the WebinarPresentation file.
Grant Keywords
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Community DevelopmentEnergy
Transportation
Science/Technology