DOE Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program
U.S. Department of Energy — Office of Electricity (OE, successor to GDO)
$5M to $500M per project
Grid modernization grants, all entity sizes
GRIP is a $10.5B federal program (funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) awarding grants and cooperative agreements to modernize the U.S. electric grid. Three funding tracks cover grid resilience, grid innovation, and transmission facility financing. Smaller grid-technology companies, utilities, electric cooperatives, and municipalities can apply — smaller cooperatives and technology providers are explicitly targeted in the grid-resilience track.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $3,000,000 – $500,000,000
- Realistic amount
- Electric cooperatives and smaller utilities typically receive $5M–$50M for grid hardening projects. Technology companies…
- Deadline
- Between cycles — GRIP Round 1 ($3.5B) awarded 2023; SPARK (Smart Power Applications for Renewables Knowledge) Round 3 selections expected August 2026. Monitor energy.gov/oe and grants.gov for new FOAs.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- U.S.-based entity — eligible applicants include electric utilities, rural electric cooperatives, states, municipalities, tribes, and for-profit technology companies. Most FOAs allow any entity type as prime or sub.
- Cost-sharing varies by track: grid resilience projects typically require 50% non-federal match; smart grid projects may require 20–50% depending on entity type.
- SAM.gov UEI registration required for all applicants.
- Projects must be located in the United States and directly benefit the U.S. grid.
- Technology companies and vendors typically enter as subcontractors to a utility or cooperative prime — not as standalone applicants.
- No small business size standard restriction — large and small firms both eligible, though some FOAs have provisions favoring smaller cooperatives for rural resilience.
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Minimum project size: $1,000,000
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Hardware for grid hardening — undergrounding cables, storm-hardened poles, advanced distribution management systems (ADMS)
- Energy storage systems (batteries, flywheels) for grid resilience
- Smart grid technology — advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), grid sensors, SCADA upgrades, cybersecurity improvements
- Transmission line construction or upgrade costs for new capacity
- Engineering, design, and environmental review costs for eligible projects
- Workforce training directly related to new grid technology deployment
- Project management and reporting costs
- Cybersecurity enhancements for critical grid infrastructure
Ineligible expenses
- General operating costs of the utility or company not tied to the specific project
- Retail electric rate subsidies or electricity bill assistance programs
- Lobbying and advocacy activities
- Basic R&D not tied to near-term deployment (that belongs in DOE ARPA-E or DOE Science)
- Projects located outside the United States
- Administrative overhead above negotiated indirect cost rates
How to apply
-
1
Identify target FOA on grants.gov
Monitor grants.gov under DOE/GDO and the energy.gov/gdo site for active FOAs. The GRIP program has multiple FOAs (grid resilience, smart grid, transmission are separate). Read eligibility requirements — some tracks are limited to utilities and cooperatives as prime applicants.
~80 hrs
-
2
Register in SAM.gov and grants.gov
Obtain UEI via SAM.gov (7–10 business day processing) and register on grants.gov. Both are required before submitting. Renewal is annual — verify current status.
~80 hrs
-
3
Form team or pursue subcontractor role
If your firm is a technology vendor (smart meters, grid software, EV charging infrastructure, sensors), approach utilities and co-ops in your service area who are prime applicants. Negotiate a teaming agreement or subcontract. If your firm IS a utility/co-op, recruit technology vendors to your team.
~80 hrs
-
4
Prepare and submit full application
Typical application includes: project narrative (40–60 pages), budget and budget justification, project management plan, community benefit plan, letters of commitment from cost-share partners. Submit via grants.gov workspace (not EERE eXCHANGE — GRIP uses grants.gov directly).
~80 hrs
-
5
DOE merit review and award negotiation
DOE reviews over 3–6 months. Selected applicants negotiate cooperative agreement terms. First funding disbursements begin after award execution and financial system setup (typically 3–6 months post-selection).
~80 hrs
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 221, 517, 541330, 541512
Electric co-ops under 50,000 meters are the most accessible prime applicant path. If you're a technology vendor, partner with a rural co-op — their applications score better on 'underserved communities' criteria.
Deadline & timing
GRIP was a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program administered by DOE. The Grid Deployment Office (GDO) was restructured into the Office of Electricity (OE) in late 2025. GRIP SPARK Round 3 selections are anticipated August 2026 for the smart grid innovation track. Future GRIP competition rounds are subject to DOE budget priorities under the new OE structure. Monitor energy.gov/oe/grid-resilience-and-innovation-partnerships-grip-program for current status.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.