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

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Electricity (OE), has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the title "Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK)", as part of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, Round 3. This initiative is supported by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and aims to address urgent national, interregional, and regional electric grid needs by enhancing the capacity, reliability, and flexibility of the U.S. power system. With approximately $1.9 billion in available funding, SPARK targets investments in reconductoring and advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) to meet load demand growth and resource adequacy across the country. The SPARK NOFO offers funding across three key topic areas: Grid Resilience, Smart Grid, and Grid Innovation. Topic Area 1 emphasizes resilience through upgrades like reconductoring and deployment of technologies such as dynamic line ratings and topology optimization. Topic Area 2 supports the integration of smart grid technologies with ATT deployment for real-time monitoring and operational efficiency. Topic Area 3 focuses on large-scale, multi-jurisdictional infrastructure solutions to improve cross-regional power transfer and to support new large loads. Across all topic areas, projects must demonstrate quantifiable benefits including increased transfer capacity, improved reliability, reduced congestion and consumer costs, and rapid deployment capability. The DOE is prioritizing proposals that can be implemented quickly and provide durable, scalable infrastructure outcomes. Eligibility is limited to domestic entities, with variations by topic area. For Grid Resilience, eligible applicants include grid operators, fuel suppliers, generators, and transmission owners. Smart Grid applications may be submitted by states, local governments, non-profits, and educational institutions. Grid Innovation eligibility includes state and local government units, Indian tribes, and public utility commissions. All applicants must operate within the U.S., and performance of work must be conducted domestically unless a waiver is granted. Foreign entities must meet strict waiver criteria to participate. Small utilities, defined as those selling no more than 4 million MWh/year, may qualify for a reduced cost share requirement of 25%, while other applicants are subject to a 50% cost share requirement. Cost sharing must come from non-federal sources and cannot be fulfilled through federal loans or deferred/anticipated revenue. Applicants must follow a two-step submission process, beginning with a required Concept Paper due April 2, 2026, followed by a full application due May 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. The anticipated notification of selection is expected in August 2026, with awards issued between October 2026 and January 2027. Projects may have a performance period of up to 48 months and will be structured with a single budget period including Go/No-Go decision points. Applications are to be submitted through the DOE’s Infrastructure eXCHANGE platform, and applicants must register in SAM, obtain a UEI, and complete Grants.gov registration prior to submission. Submissions will be reviewed based on responsiveness, technical merit, and alignment with program objectives. The DOE will evaluate how well proposed projects increase transmission capacity, improve grid resilience, and deliver cost savings to consumers. Required components include a technical volume, project management plan, budget justification, environmental documentation, and a summary slide. Projects must be at or beyond Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 to be considered, and proposed ATT components must meet a minimum of TRL 6. DOE maintains substantial involvement post-award through cooperative agreements and requires compliance with cybersecurity, data rights, and Buy America provisions. The DOE encourages proposals that demonstrate replicability, offer clear paths to scale, and support rapid permitting and interconnection. Projects aligning with Executive Order 14154 (Unleashing American Energy) and the Administration's energy security goals will receive priority. For additional questions, applicants can contact the DOE at [email protected]. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read both NOFO Part 1 and Part 2 to ensure compliance with all requirements.

Projects must demonstrate quantifiable grid improvements and include rapid deployment capabilities; smart grid integration must be paired with ATT or reconductoring.