Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002969
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - State Manufacturing Leadership Program (Section 40534) is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) that is designed to help state governments speed up the adoption of advanced manufacturing tools among small- and medium-sized manufacturers. The central aim is to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of a state's manufacturing sector by accelerating deployment of smart manufacturing technologies and high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities across a broad base of smaller firms that often lack the resources to implement these systems on their own. In practical terms, the program is geared toward helping states act as conveners and implementers, building the leadership capacity, partnerships, and support mechanisms needed to move modern digital manufacturing from pilot projects into wider real-world use.
This opportunity was released as Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number DE-FOA-0002969 and is categorized as a discretionary grant program using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. A cooperative agreement typically indicates a more hands-on federal role than a traditional grant, meaning DOE may expect active collaboration during project execution, such as participation in planning, technical coordination, reporting, and milestone review. The funding activity category is Energy, and the associated CFDA number is 81.253, which is used for federal assistance tracking and reporting.
Eligibility is limited to state governments, reflecting the program's policy design: states are positioned to coordinate statewide manufacturing extension resources, workforce and economic development entities, universities and national lab relationships, and regional industry partners. While the applicant must be a state government, successful projects commonly rely on implementation partners such as manufacturing centers, universities, community colleges, industry associations, and other ecosystem organizations that can deliver technical assistance and deploy solutions at the firm level. The focus on small- and medium-sized manufacturers suggests the program is intended to close common capability gaps in digitalization, data analytics, automation integration, cybersecurity readiness, and access to advanced computing and modeling resources.
The FOA was created on March 31, 2023, with an original closing date of May 30, 2023. DOE anticipated making up to 25 awards, with an award ceiling of $2,000,000 per project. That funding level implies the program is meant to support scalable, state-led deployment efforts rather than isolated one-off demonstrations. While the public summary does not list required activities in detail, the stated purpose indicates projects would likely center on statewide strategies and practical deployment pathways that help manufacturers adopt smart manufacturing systems (for example, sensor-based monitoring, connected production data systems, digital twins, advanced controls, and optimization software) and leverage high-performance computing where it can improve product design, process simulation, materials modeling, supply chain analysis, and energy or emissions performance.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as an implementation-oriented program that helps states build and coordinate a "manufacturing modernization pipeline" for smaller manufacturers, combining technical assistance, access to computing and digital tools, and coordinated partnerships. The intended outcome is faster diffusion of advanced manufacturing capabilities at the state level, improving productivity and energy performance while supporting broader infrastructure-law goals around industrial competitiveness and modernization.Apply for DE FOA 0002969
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - State Manufacturing Leadership Program (Section 40534)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.253.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 31, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 30, 2023. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - State Manufacturing Leadership Program (Section 40534)?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity designed to help state governments accelerate adoption of advanced manufacturing tools among small- and medium-sized manufacturers. The program focuses on moving smart manufacturing and high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities from limited pilots into broader real-world use across a state's manufacturing base.
Which federal agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and is administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
What is the FOA number for this opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number is DE-FOA-0002969.
What type of funding is this (grant, contract, etc.)?
This is a discretionary grant program using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.
What does it mean that the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates a more active federal role than a traditional grant. Based on the description provided, DOE may expect active collaboration during project execution, such as participation in planning, technical coordination, reporting, and milestone review.
What is the main goal of the program?
The central aim is to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of a state's manufacturing sector by accelerating deployment of smart manufacturing technologies and high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities across smaller firms that often lack the resources to implement these systems on their own.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state governments.
Can universities, community colleges, manufacturing centers, or industry associations apply directly?
No. The applicant must be a state government. However, the opportunity description notes that successful projects commonly rely on implementation partners such as manufacturing centers, universities, community colleges, industry associations, and other ecosystem organizations.
Why is eligibility limited to state governments?
The program is designed around the idea that states are positioned to coordinate statewide manufacturing extension resources, workforce and economic development entities, university and national laboratory relationships, and regional industry partners.
Who are the intended beneficiaries of the program activities?
The program is geared toward small- and medium-sized manufacturers, particularly those that lack resources to adopt modern digital manufacturing systems without external coordination and support.
What kinds of capability gaps is the program intended to address for small- and medium-sized manufacturers?
The description highlights common gaps such as digitalization, data analytics, automation integration, cybersecurity readiness, and access to advanced computing and modeling resources.
What technologies or approaches are implied by "smart manufacturing" in this program?
The summary suggests smart manufacturing systems could include sensor-based monitoring, connected production data systems, digital twins, advanced controls, and optimization software.
How does high-performance computing (HPC) fit into this opportunity?
HPC is positioned as a capability states can help manufacturers access and use where it can improve product design, process simulation, materials modeling, supply chain analysis, and energy or emissions performance.
What is the focus of projects funded under this opportunity?
The opportunity is best understood as implementation-oriented. It is geared toward statewide strategies and practical deployment pathways that help manufacturers adopt smart manufacturing and leverage HPC, supported by partnerships and coordinated support mechanisms.
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making up to 25 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) per project?
The award ceiling is $2,000,000 per project.
What does the $2,000,000 award ceiling suggest about the type of projects DOE expects?
The described funding level implies projects are meant to support scalable, state-led deployment efforts rather than isolated one-off demonstrations.
When was the FOA created?
The FOA was created on March 31, 2023.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was May 30, 2023.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Energy.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number is 81.253, which is used for federal assistance tracking and reporting.
What role are states expected to play in these projects?
The program is geared toward helping states act as conveners and implementers by building leadership capacity, partnerships, and support mechanisms needed to accelerate the deployment of modern digital manufacturing tools across smaller firms.
What kinds of partnerships are implied or encouraged by the opportunity description?
While the applicant must be a state government, the description indicates projects commonly rely on partnerships that may include manufacturing centers, universities, community colleges, industry associations, workforce and economic development entities, and relationships involving national laboratories.
What are the intended outcomes of the program?
The intended outcome is faster diffusion of advanced manufacturing capabilities at the state level, improving productivity and energy performance while supporting broader infrastructure-law goals around industrial competitiveness and modernization.
Is this program more focused on planning or on implementation?
Based on the description provided, it is implementation-oriented: it emphasizes accelerating deployment, building a statewide "manufacturing modernization pipeline," and moving digital manufacturing from pilots into wider real-world use.
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