Request for Information on Improving Cybersecurity Posture of Rural and Municipal Utilities | DE FOA 0002877

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002877

The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response and administered via the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), issued a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Request for Information on Improving Cybersecurity Posture of Rural and Municipal Utilities" (DE-FOA-0002877). The purpose is to gather input from the public to help DOE shape how it will carry out the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance (RMUC) Program authorized under Section 40124 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In practical terms, DOE is using this RFI as a listening exercise to determine what types of cybersecurity investments and assistance will be most useful for smaller electric utilities and how future program funding and support should be structured.

The RMUC Program is focused on strengthening the cybersecurity posture of rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and small investor-owned electric utilities. DOE indicates that the program is meant to support real, operational improvements, including building day-to-day cyber operating capabilities, obtaining cybersecurity services, deploying technology that improves defenses, and expanding participation in threat intelligence and information-sharing efforts. The overarching theme is resilience for the power sector: helping smaller utilities that often have limited staff and budgets reduce risk, detect threats earlier, respond more effectively, and align with better security practices without having to build everything from scratch.

This announcement is not a funding opportunity and DOE is not accepting grant applications under this posting. Instead, DOE plans to use the feedback it receives for internal planning and design work. The information gathered may influence future solicitations, such as formal Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), Broad Agency Announcements, or other competitive processes tied to implementing the RMUC Program. While the listing includes standard grants.gov-style fields (for example, "FundingInstrumentType: Grant" and a CFDA/Assistance Listing number 81.008), the key point is that this specific action is strictly an RFI, meaning it is intended to inform future program decisions rather than to make awards now.

The opportunity is listed as open-ended in terms of who may respond, with eligibility shown as "Unrestricted" subject to any additional clarifications in the full text. That typically means DOE is willing to hear from a broad range of stakeholders, such as utilities, state and local government entities, cybersecurity vendors and service providers, researchers, industry groups, and others with relevant experience. Responses were required to be submitted electronically by email to DE-FOA-0002877@NETL.DOE.GOV, with a deadline of 5:00 pm Eastern Time on December 19, 2022 (the RFI was posted with a creation date of October 20, 2022). Because it is an RFI, the expected number of awards is listed as zero, reflecting that DOE is collecting input rather than making selections for funding under this notice.

• The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the employment, labor and training, energy, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information on Improving Cybersecurity Posture of Rural and Municipal Utilities" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.008.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 20, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 19, 2022 Responses to this Request for Information must be submitted electronically to DE-FOA-0002877@NETL.DOE.GOV no later than 500pm (ET) on December 19, 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 $2.00 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.

Apply for DE FOA 0002877

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