Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003104
The Department of Energy (DOE), through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), released a Request for Information (RFI) tied to an upcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) numbered DE-FOA-0003104, titled "Cybersecurity, Physical Security and Supply Chain Risk Management for the Energy Sector." This is not the final grant solicitation itself, but a pre-solicitation market and stakeholder feedback step where DOE is gathering input to shape the final FOA design, priorities, requirements, and evaluation approach. The RFI was created on September 6, 2023 (with the note that it was intended to post on September 5, but a system issue delayed the Grants.gov posting to September 6). Responses to the RFI are due by October 11, 2023, and DOE points responders to FedConnect for the official instructions and submission details at: https://www.fedconnect.net/fedconnect/docDE-FOA-0003104ampagencyDOE.
At a high level, the opportunity signals DOE interest in strengthening the security and resilience of the energy sector across three tightly related risk areas: cybersecurity (protecting operational technology and information technology from digital threats), physical security (protecting facilities, assets, and personnel from physical threats and disruptions), and supply chain risk management (reducing risks introduced through vendors, components, software, services, and dependencies). The framing suggests DOE is looking for practical, sector-relevant ideas that can help energy organizations anticipate, withstand, respond to, and recover from both malicious attacks and broader disruptions that can affect critical infrastructure. Because this is an RFI, the immediate "deliverable" is information: concepts, recommendations, and perspectives that can inform how DOE structures the eventual competitive grant program.
The funding mechanism associated with the eventual FOA is expected to be a discretionary grant. The activity areas listed for the opportunity include Business and Commerce, Energy, and Environment, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 81.008, which is commonly associated with DOE research, development, and demonstration-type assistance. Eligibility is described as "unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to any type of entity, though DOE notes that final eligibility conditions may be clarified in the full text under "Additional Information on Eligibility." In practice, DOE energy security and resilience programs often attract a wide range of potential participants, including private companies, utilities, universities, national laboratories and research organizations, state and local governments, and nonprofits, as well as multi-party teams combining technology developers with end users.
While the RFI itself is simply requesting input, the record includes several data points that hint at the scale DOE is considering for the eventual grant awards. The posting lists an expected number of awards of 20, and it includes an "award ceiling" value of 2 (the listing does not specify the unit, but ceilings in these postings typically refer to a maximum amount per award and are often expressed in millions of dollars). Those figures should be treated as preliminary planning signals rather than firm commitments until the final FOA is released, because RFIs are commonly used to refine budgets, topic areas, and the number and size of awards based on stakeholder feedback and program priorities.
For anyone considering engagement, the key action is to review the RFI instructions on FedConnect and submit a response by October 11, 2023. RFIs typically ask respondents to comment on needs and gaps in the field, propose technical or programmatic approaches, identify barriers to adoption and deployment, suggest metrics for success, and recommend how DOE can structure the funding opportunity to produce usable outcomes for industry. In this case, relevant input would likely include perspectives on securing energy-sector operational environments, improving the resilience of critical infrastructure to cyber and physical threats, and strengthening supply chain assurance practices that reduce vulnerabilities introduced by third parties. The overall takeaway is that DOE is preparing a competitive grant program focused on improving the energy sector's security posture and resilience, and it is using this RFI window to gather practical feedback before finalizing the FOA.Apply for DE FOA 0003104
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the business and commerce, energy, environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cybersecurity, Physical Security and Supply Chain Risk Management for the Energy Sector Request for Information" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.008.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 06, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 11, 2023 Posted date from STRIPES and to Fedconnect was 9/5/2023 but a system error did not allow posting on grants.gov until 9/6/2023.. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- 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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FAQs: DOE/NETL RFI for Upcoming FOA DE-FOA-0003104
What is DE-FOA-0003104?
DE-FOA-0003104 is the identifier for an upcoming Department of Energy (DOE) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Cybersecurity, Physical Security and Supply Chain Risk Management for the Energy Sector." The information provided describes a Request for Information (RFI) tied to that future FOA.
Is this a grant application I can submit right now?
No. The posting described is an RFI, not the final competitive grant solicitation. The immediate request is for information and feedback that DOE will use to shape the final FOA design, priorities, requirements, and evaluation approach.
What agency is running this opportunity?
The opportunity is being released by the Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
What is the purpose of the RFI?
The purpose is to gather market and stakeholder input before DOE finalizes the competitive FOA. Responses are intended to inform how DOE structures the eventual program, including priorities, requirements, and how submissions may be evaluated.
When was the RFI created and posted?
The RFI was created on September 6, 2023. The record notes it was intended to post on September 5, 2023, but a system issue delayed the Grants.gov posting to September 6, 2023.
When are RFI responses due?
Responses are due by October 11, 2023.
Where do I find the official instructions for responding to the RFI?
DOE directs respondents to FedConnect for the official instructions and submission details at https://www.fedconnect.net/fedconnect/docDE-FOA-0003104ampagencyDOE.
What topics is DOE focused on in this RFI?
The RFI signals DOE interest in strengthening energy-sector security and resilience across three related areas: cybersecurity, physical security, and supply chain risk management.
What does DOE mean by "cybersecurity" in this context?
In the information provided, cybersecurity is framed as protecting operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) from digital threats.
What does DOE mean by "physical security" in this context?
Physical security is described as protecting facilities, assets, and personnel from physical threats and disruptions.
What does DOE mean by "supply chain risk management" in this context?
Supply chain risk management is described as reducing risks introduced through vendors, components, software, services, and dependencies.
What kind of input is DOE looking for through the RFI?
The description indicates DOE is looking for practical, sector-relevant ideas and feedback that can help shape the FOA. RFIs like this typically request input such as: needs and gaps in the field; technical or programmatic approaches; barriers to adoption and deployment; metrics for success; and recommendations on how DOE should structure the funding opportunity to produce usable outcomes for industry.
What is the immediate "deliverable" for this opportunity?
Because this is an RFI, the immediate deliverable is information (concepts, recommendations, and perspectives) rather than a project proposal for funding.
What is the expected funding mechanism for the eventual FOA?
The information provided states the funding mechanism associated with the eventual FOA is expected to be a discretionary grant.
What activity areas are associated with this opportunity?
The activity areas listed are Business and Commerce, Energy, and Environment.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number provided is 81.008, which is commonly associated with DOE research, development, and demonstration-type assistance.
Who is eligible to respond or participate based on the information provided?
Eligibility is described as "unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to any type of entity. The description also notes that final eligibility conditions may be clarified in the full text under "Additional Information on Eligibility."
What kinds of organizations commonly engage in DOE energy security and resilience programs?
The description notes these programs often attract a wide range of potential participants, including private companies, utilities, universities, national laboratories and research organizations, state and local governments, nonprofits, and multi-party teams that combine technology developers with end users.
Does DOE indicate how many awards might be made under the eventual FOA?
The posting includes an expected number of awards of 20. The description emphasizes these figures should be treated as preliminary planning signals until the final FOA is released.
Does DOE indicate a potential award size or maximum amount?
The record includes an "award ceiling" value of 2, but it does not specify the unit. The description notes that ceilings in these postings typically refer to a maximum amount per award and are often expressed in millions of dollars, but this should be treated as preliminary until the final FOA is released.
How firm are the award count and award ceiling details at the RFI stage?
They are not firm commitments. The description explains that RFIs are commonly used to refine budgets, topic areas, and the number and size of awards based on stakeholder feedback and program priorities.
What is the main action item for interested organizations right now?
The main action is to review the RFI instructions on FedConnect and submit a response by October 11, 2023.
What is the overall goal DOE is signaling for the eventual FOA?
The overall framing suggests DOE is preparing a competitive grant program focused on improving the energy sector's security posture and resilience, including the ability to anticipate, withstand, respond to, and recover from malicious attacks and broader disruptions affecting critical infrastructure.
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