Open DE-FOA-0003580 CFDA 81.254 Discretionary

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK)

Posted by National Energy Technology Laboratory

Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement — Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) — is cataloged under number DE-FOA-0003580 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 81.254, posted by National Energy Technology Laboratory. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on March 12, 2026 and last updated on April 2, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a cooperative agreement.

Award economics. The award range on file is $1 -- $250,000,000. The agency has projected $1.9 billion in total estimated funding for this announcement. Cost sharing or matching funds are required, meaning applicants must contribute a portion of the project budget from non-federal sources — factor this into your financial plan before drafting the proposal. Federal award ranges are often upper bounds; actual allocations reflect program appropriations, the strength of the applicant pool, and the evaluation committee's scoring.

Deadline and action path. Applications close on May 20, 2026. Every Grants.gov submission requires an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Review the Eligibility section below carefully — federal eligibility categories (nonprofit, state or local government, tribal, individual, educational institution, small business) have distinct registration and reporting requirements. Pre-application outreach to the listed agency contact is permitted and often welcomed — it helps clarify scope and scoring priorities.

Award Range

$1 -- $250,000,000

Close Date

May 20, 2026

Posted

March 12, 2026

Est. Total Funding

$1,900,000,000

Instrument

Cooperative Agreement

Cost Sharing

Required

Description

Modification 000001: Issued to change the Informational Webinar posting date; modified NOFO Part 1, Section II.A.2 - Participant Limitations to clarify that Tennessee Valley Authority is eligible to apply as a subrecipient under all Topic Areas; Section III.F. - Topic Area 1:Grid Resilience (IIJA Section 40101(c)) to clarify the wording around applications that are not of interest; and Section IV.C - Concept Paper to delete the sentence "Each concept paper must be limited to a single concept, technology, or project." Please see the NOFO for a full description of the modification. SPARK is an opportunity to meet load demand growth and resource adequacy, and to address critical national, interregional, and regional needs. OE achieves these goals by stimulating investment in power system infrastructure and building partnerships between states, local governments, tribes, and power system operators to enhance reliability and affordability of the electric grid. Projects submitted under this NOFO must demonstrate measurable improvements in electric grid capacity and system value (usefulness), combining physical capacity gains, which include solutions such as reconductoring or other infrastructure upgrades with operational efficiency and/or flexibility from other Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs). Applications must show how these complementary technologies expand transfer capability, strengthen reliability and resource adequacy, and reduce consumer cost impact while utilizing existing rights of way. DOE will prioritize projects that can be implemented quickly to deliver durable physical upgrades and dynamic operational gains that together increase the value, performance, security, resilience, affordability, and reliability of the nation’s electric grid.

Eligibility

25

Official Listing on Grants.gov

View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.

View on Grants.gov

Agency Contact

Davina Reed

Key Dates

Posted March 12, 2026
Close Date May 20, 2026
Archive Date July 31, 2026
Last Updated April 2, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this grant opportunity?
This is a federal funding opportunity titled "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK)", offered by National Energy Technology Laboratory. It is associated with CFDA program 81.254. Modification 000001: Issued to change the Informational Webinar posting date; modified NOFO Part 1, Section II.A.2 - Participant Limitations to clarify that Tennessee Valley Authority is eligible to a...
Is this opportunity still open?
Yes, this opportunity is currently open for applications. The closing date is May 20, 2026.
How much funding is available?
The award range for this opportunity is $1 -- $250,000,000. Total estimated funding: $1,900,000,000.
How do I apply?
Applications for federal grant opportunities are typically submitted through Grants.gov. Visit the official listing at grants.gov for application instructions, required documents, and submission deadlines.

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.

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