Community Microgrid Development Partnership Awards

The Department of Energy Office of Science has issued a solicitation for the Community Microgrid Development Partnership Awards (C-MAP), seeking proposals for improving energy systems in underserved and indigenous communities through microgrid development. The program aims to provide funding and technical assistance to communities and microgrid development companies to incorporate renewable energy and innovative technologies into existing power systems. Eligible entities include non-profit organizations, state/local governments, and federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes, with proposals required to address at least one of four topic areas: Regional Microgrid Community Operations Assistance, Regional Microgrid Community Development Assistance, Microgrid Development, and Microgrid Transformation. Proposals will be evaluated based on technical merit and cost, with a submission deadline of January 31, 2025. Proposing entities must identify a specific underserved or indigenous community in the U.S. or its territories with a population of 10,000 or less that will benefit from the project.

The solicitation does not include a specific set-aside designation and is open to multiple potential contractors across the designated western regions. Award amounts will range from $200,000 to $650,000, with approximately $7.2 million available to fund up to 15 communities or community clusters. The period of performance for selected projects will be 18-24 months, with the place of performance being within the United States. Proposals must demonstrate the ability of proposed microgrids to operate independently from the main grid for multiple days and show potential for advancing microgrid designs toward future implementation funding. The procurement will be executed as a best value, firm-fixed-price subcontract through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), with electronic submissions required and evaluated under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) category 541990 for Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.