Support Grants For Participation in ARPA-E Grid Optimization (GO) Competition Challenge 3 | DE FOA 0002712

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002712

The grant opportunity titled "Support Grants For Participation in ARPA-E Grid Optimization (GO) Competition Challenge 3" (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002712) is a Department of Energy ARPA-E funding announcement released on February 16, 2022, with an original closing date of April 5, 2022. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning awardees should expect substantial involvement from the government during the period of performance (for example, coordination, milestones, reporting, or technical engagement typical of ARPA-E awards). The listing indicates an award ceiling of up to $4,000,000, eligibility described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity unless the FOA text adds limits), and a funding activity category labeled "Opportunity Zone Benefits" with CFDA number 81.135.

In terms of what ARPA-E is and why it is issuing this funding, the announcement reiterates ARPA-E's congressional mission: to strengthen U.S. economic and energy security by advancing high-impact energy technologies that can reduce foreign energy dependence, cut energy-related emissions (including greenhouse gases), improve energy efficiency, address nuclear waste challenges, and improve the resilience, reliability, and security of energy infrastructure. ARPA-E positions its work as distinct from incremental improvements on established technology "learning curves." Instead, it emphasizes high-risk, high-reward applied research and development intended to create fundamentally new cost and performance trajectories that could ultimately disrupt markets if successful.

The application process is handled entirely through ARPA-E eXCHANGE, ARPA-E's required online portal. Applicants must register in eXCHANGE and submit all required materials there; concept papers or other submissions sent by email or other channels will not be reviewed. ARPA-E also points applicants to the eXCHANGE User Guide for step-by-step submission instructions. For technical issues with the submission system, applicants are directed to email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov and include the FOA name and number in the subject line. For FOA-related questions, applicants are encouraged to check ARPA-E's FAQ page first, and then email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov for questions not already addressed.

One important caveat in the text you provided is that, while the opportunity title references the ARPA-E Grid Optimization (GO) Competition Challenge 3, the embedded "Program Overview" section appears to describe a different ARPA-E program called HESTIA, focused on embodied carbon in buildings and carbon-negative building materials and designs. That section explains goals like using atmospheric CO2 or CH4-derived feedstocks, achieving net carbon-negative outcomes on a life-cycle basis, meeting building-code-relevant performance requirements (such as strength and flammability), demonstrating market advantages over incumbent materials, and addressing end-of-life emissions through reuse or recycling. It also notes that life cycle assessment (LCA) consistency is important and that ARPA-E anticipated a separate solicitation to support LCAs for projects. Because that HESTIA content does not match the GO Competition Challenge 3 title, the safest interpretation is that the summary text you pulled includes a pasted or syndicated program description that may not correspond to this specific GO Competition support-grants FOA. For an accurate understanding of the actual technical scope, eligibility nuances, submission components, and evaluation criteria for Challenge 3 support grants, the controlling document is the official FOA on ARPA-E's website.

Overall, the opportunity is a competitive ARPA-E funding announcement administered under ARPA-E's statutory authority (42 U.S.C. 16538) and governed by the federal assistance regulations in 2 CFR Part 200 (as supplemented by 2 CFR Part 910). Interested applicants should rely on the FOA itself for the definitive statement of objectives, deliverables, budget rules, and any requirements specific to participation in the ARPA-E Grid Optimization Competition Challenge 3, and should plan to submit exclusively through ARPA-E eXCHANGE by the stated deadline.

• The Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Support Grants For Participation in ARPA-E Grid Optimization (GO) Competition Challenge 3" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 16, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 05, 2022. (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 $4,000,000.00 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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