Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Smart Manufacturing: Advanced Sensors, Controls, Platforms, and Modeling for Manufacturing | DE FOA 0001263

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001263

This funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0001263) comes from the U.S. Department of Energy, administered through the Golden Field Office, and it seeks to stand up DOE's third Manufacturing Innovation Institute under the Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative (CEMI). The institute focus is Smart Manufacturing, specifically advanced sensors, controls, digital platforms, and modeling approaches that can modernize how factories manage and optimize energy use. The overall goal is to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in clean energy manufacturing and improve manufacturing competitiveness more broadly by increasing energy productivity and making better use of domestic energy resources.

At the heart of the FOA is the idea of building an industry-led consortium that can drive research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) in Smart Manufacturing technologies. The institute is expected to advance cost-effective information and communication technologies that enable real-time monitoring, management, and control of energy across multiple layers of manufacturing operations. That scope is intentionally broad: it spans individual unit processes on the factory floor, entire facilities, company-wide enterprise systems, and even supply-chain level coordination. In practical terms, the DOE is looking for an integrated ecosystem where data from sensors and equipment can be turned into actionable intelligence through control systems, analytics, and modeling, then deployed at scale to reduce energy waste, improve productivity, and increase flexibility and responsiveness.

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically means DOE will be actively involved in project oversight and collaboration rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal interaction. The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding under the Energy funding activity category, with CFDA number 81.087. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, implying a wide range of applicants may apply, though the nature of a Manufacturing Innovation Institute generally points toward multi-organization teams that include industry, academia, nonprofits, and potentially state or local entities working together in a structured partnership.

In terms of size and competitiveness, DOE anticipated making one award with an award ceiling of $70,000,000. That signals a single, large institute selection rather than multiple smaller projects. The original closing date for applications was January 29, 2016, and the FOA was created on September 15, 2015.

Two formal modifications are noted in the posted description. Modification 0001 updated the background section (Section I.B.) to add information about a Teaming Partner List, which is typically used to help prospective applicants identify and connect with potential collaborators. Modification 0002 changed an administrative date on the cover page for when "Concept Paper Encourage/Discourage Notifications" were sent, revising it from 11/20/15 to 11/24/15. These modifications do not change the core technical intent of the solicitation, but they matter for applicants tracking timelines and guidance for forming teams.

The FOA and all submission steps run through DOE's EERE Exchange portal (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov). Applications had to be submitted through that system to be considered, and applicants were required to register and create an account in the Exchange. DOE also pointed applicants to the EERE Exchange user's guide (hosted at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx) for step-by-step instructions, and the full FOA includes directions for where to send questions about the announcement itself versus technical issues with application submission.

• The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Smart Manufacturing: Advanced Sensors, Controls, Platforms, and Modeling for Manufacturing" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-09-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-01-29. (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 $70,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

Apply for DE FOA 0001263

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