Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003048
The GRID OVERHAUL WITH PROACTIVE, HIGH-SPEED UNDERGROUNDING FOR RELIABILITY, RESILIENCE, AND SECURITY SBIR/STTR opportunity (GOPHURRS SBIR/STTR), Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0003048, is a Department of Energy ARPA-E solicitation aimed squarely at small businesses proposing high-risk, high-reward technologies that could dramatically change how medium-voltage electric distribution lines are placed underground. The program centers on urban and suburban medium-voltage distribution networks in roughly the 5 to 46 kV range (think primary feeders and laterals), where outages are costly and where overhead lines are vulnerable to storms, vegetation, accidents, and other disruptions. ARPA-E is looking for ideas that are not just incremental improvements to today’s construction methods, but technologies that could create a new cost and performance trajectory for undergrounding and make it broadly feasible at scale.
The core problem GOPHURRS is trying to solve is that undergrounding distribution lines is widely recognized as a strong reliability and resilience measure, but the price tag is typically the deal-breaker. The FOA highlights common reliability metrics like SAIDI (duration of interruptions) and SAIFI (frequency of interruptions), noting typical U.S. values on the order of about 5 to 8 hours of outage duration and roughly 1.5 interruptions per customer, contributing to an estimated economic burden of about $79 billion per year. Underground systems can substantially reduce outage exposure compared with overhead systems, but burying distribution lines can cost five to ten times more than overhead construction, which keeps undergrounding from being adopted at the pace and scale that reliability goals would suggest. On top of cost, current undergrounding practices can bring safety and community impacts, including accidental strikes on other buried utilities, hazards associated with manhole work, and long periods of road closures, detours, and surface disruption.
GOPHURRS sets an aggressive target: reduce the cost of undergrounding electric power distribution grids by at least 50 percent, while also cutting the time and cost of underground installation by a factor of two relative to traditional trenching approaches. A major theme is shifting the default construction paradigm from “digging” (open trenching) to “drilling,” with the goal of leaving the surface nearly untouched. In practice, that means ARPA-E is interested in trenchless, highly automated approaches that can rapidly create underground pathways and install conduit with minimal excavation, minimal traffic disruption, and fewer opportunities for human error.
Technically, the FOA points to several areas where breakthroughs are needed. One is autonomous or highly automated subsurface drilling and installation systems that can move quickly along the intended route while simultaneously installing conduit. Another is the ability to avoid underground obstacles and uncertainties in real time. Because dense urban and suburban corridors contain a maze of legacy infrastructure and unpredictable subsurface conditions, the program emphasizes advanced “look-ahead” sensing and situational awareness to detect existing utilities, buried structures, and geological anomalies before they become failures, delays, or safety incidents. The overall intent is to reduce damage to existing infrastructure and to make undergrounding more repeatable, faster, and safer for both workers and nearby communities.
The program also addresses long-term operational performance, not just construction speed. It specifically calls out cable joints as a frequent weak point in underground distribution systems, since joints are often among the first components to fail in service. As a result, GOPHURRS is interested in improved cable joint designs and installation systems that can reduce lifecycle cost and improve reliability over time. That focus reflects a broader ARPA-E view that a lower upfront construction cost is not enough if the resulting system is expensive to maintain or prone to premature failures; the technology needs to support dependable, long-lived underground networks.
From an administrative and eligibility standpoint, this is an SBIR/STTR opportunity run by ARPA-E within DOE. Eligible applicants are small businesses, and ARPA-E anticipates making a portfolio of awards rather than backing only one approach. The public listing indicates an expected 14 awards and an award ceiling of $4,241,580 (noting that actual award size can vary by project scope and ARPA-E negotiation). The funding instruments referenced include cooperative agreements, grants, and other mechanisms typical of ARPA-E, and awards are governed by federal assistance rules under 2 CFR Part 200 (as supplemented by 2 CFR Part 910).
For anyone intending to apply, the process is tightly tied to ARPA-E’s submission portal. Applicants must retrieve the full FOA from the ARPA-E website and submit required materials through ARPA-E eXCHANGE; concept papers or application components submitted by other channels are not reviewed. The opportunity listing also provides support routes for technical portal issues (ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov, with the FOA name and number in the subject line) and a separate path for FOA questions (ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov), plus an ARPA-E FAQ page. The timeline information in the listing shows a creation date of March 30, 2023, and an original closing date of May 9, 2023.
Taken together, DE-FOA-0003048 is essentially a push to make underground medium-voltage distribution buildouts faster, cheaper, less disruptive, and more reliable by combining trenchless construction, automation, obstacle-avoidance sensing, and more dependable cable interconnection solutions. The end state ARPA-E is aiming for is undergrounding that is no longer a niche, high-cost option used only in special corridors, but a practical, scalable approach that materially improves reliability, resilience, and security for everyday urban and suburban electric service.Apply for DE FOA 0003048
- The Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "GRID OVERHAUL WITH PROACTIVE, HIGH-SPEED UNDERGROUNDING FOR RELIABILITY, RESILIENCE, AND SECURITY SBIR/STTR (GOPHURRS SBIR/STTR)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 30, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 09, 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 $4,241,580.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 14 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the GOPHURRS SBIR/STTR funding opportunity?
The GRID OVERHAUL WITH PROACTIVE, HIGH-SPEED UNDERGROUNDING FOR RELIABILITY, RESILIENCE, AND SECURITY SBIR/STTR opportunity (GOPHURRS SBIR/STTR) is a Department of Energy ARPA-E solicitation for small businesses proposing high-risk, high-reward technologies to dramatically change how medium-voltage electric distribution lines are placed underground.
What is the FOA number for this opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number is DE-FOA-0003048.
Who is running this solicitation?
This is an ARPA-E solicitation within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), offered under the SBIR/STTR framework.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are small businesses, since this is an SBIR/STTR opportunity.
What problem is ARPA-E trying to solve with GOPHURRS?
The program targets the high cost, slow deployment, and community/safety impacts of undergrounding medium-voltage distribution lines. While undergrounding can improve reliability and resilience, it is typically too expensive and disruptive to deploy broadly using current methods.
What grid segment and voltage range does GOPHURRS focus on?
GOPHURRS is centered on urban and suburban medium-voltage electric distribution networks in roughly the 5 to 46 kV range, such as primary feeders and laterals.
Why does the FOA emphasize urban and suburban distribution corridors?
Outages in these areas can be especially costly, and overhead lines in dense corridors are vulnerable to storms, vegetation, accidents, and other disruptions. Urban/suburban undergrounding also faces complicated subsurface conditions and legacy infrastructure, making it a strong testbed for breakthrough approaches.
What reliability metrics are referenced in the opportunity description?
The FOA references common reliability metrics including SAIDI (duration of interruptions) and SAIFI (frequency of interruptions). It notes typical U.S. values on the order of about 5 to 8 hours of outage duration and roughly 1.5 interruptions per customer.
What economic impact of outages is mentioned?
The opportunity description cites an estimated economic burden of about $79 billion per year associated with outages.
Why is undergrounding not already widely adopted if it improves reliability?
Cost is identified as the main barrier. The FOA notes that burying distribution lines can cost five to ten times more than overhead construction, which limits adoption at the scale that reliability goals might suggest.
What cost and schedule targets does GOPHURRS set?
GOPHURRS sets aggressive targets to: (1) reduce the cost of undergrounding electric power distribution grids by at least 50 percent, and (2) cut the time and cost of underground installation by a factor of two relative to traditional trenching approaches.
Is ARPA-E looking for incremental improvements to existing undergrounding methods?
No. The solicitation is aimed at technologies that are not just incremental improvements, but could create a new cost and performance trajectory that makes undergrounding broadly feasible at scale.
What construction paradigm shift does the program emphasize?
A major theme is shifting the default paradigm from open trenching ("digging") to trenchless approaches more like "drilling," with the goal of leaving the surface nearly untouched.
What kinds of technical approaches are encouraged?
The FOA highlights interest in trenchless, highly automated approaches that can rapidly create underground pathways and install conduit with minimal excavation, minimal traffic disruption, and fewer opportunities for human error.
What does the FOA say about automation and autonomy?
One area called out is autonomous or highly automated subsurface drilling and installation systems that can move quickly along the intended route while simultaneously installing conduit.
How does the opportunity address the challenge of unknown or congested subsurface conditions?
Because urban/suburban corridors often contain a maze of legacy infrastructure and unpredictable conditions, the program emphasizes advanced "look-ahead" sensing and situational awareness to detect existing utilities, buried structures, and geological anomalies in real time.
What is the goal of "look-ahead" sensing in this program?
The intent is to avoid underground obstacles and uncertainties before they become failures, delays, or safety incidents, reducing damage to existing infrastructure and improving repeatability, speed, and safety.
Does GOPHURRS focus only on construction speed and upfront cost?
No. The program also addresses long-term operational performance and lifecycle cost, recognizing that low upfront cost is not enough if systems are expensive to maintain or prone to premature failures.
Why are cable joints specifically mentioned in the FOA?
Cable joints are identified as a frequent weak point in underground distribution systems, since joints are often among the first components to fail in service.
What kinds of cable-joint improvements are in scope?
The FOA expresses interest in improved cable joint designs and installation systems intended to reduce lifecycle cost and improve long-term reliability.
What community and safety issues with traditional undergrounding does the FOA highlight?
Current practices can cause accidental strikes on other buried utilities, hazards associated with manhole work, and long periods of road closures, detours, and surface disruption. The program aims for approaches that minimize these impacts.
How many awards does ARPA-E expect to make under this opportunity?
The public listing indicates ARPA-E expects to make about 14 awards, suggesting a portfolio approach rather than backing only one technical pathway.
What is the maximum award amount mentioned?
The listing indicates an award ceiling of $4,241,580, noting that actual award size can vary by project scope and ARPA-E negotiation.
What funding instruments may be used?
The opportunity references cooperative agreements, grants, and other mechanisms typical of ARPA-E.
What federal assistance rules govern awards?
Awards are governed by federal assistance rules under 2 CFR Part 200, as supplemented by 2 CFR Part 910.
Where do applicants find the full FOA and submission requirements?
Applicants must retrieve the full FOA from the ARPA-E website and follow the instructions provided there.
How must applications be submitted?
Required materials must be submitted through ARPA-E eXCHANGE. Submissions (including concept papers or application components) sent through other channels are not reviewed.
What should applicants do if they have technical issues with ARPA-E eXCHANGE?
For technical portal issues, the listing provides ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov and instructs applicants to include the FOA name and number in the subject line.
Where should general FOA questions be sent?
The listing provides ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov for FOA questions, and it also references an ARPA-E FAQ page.
What dates are provided for this opportunity listing?
The timeline information in the listing shows a creation date of March 30, 2023, and an original closing date of May 9, 2023.
What is the intended end state ARPA-E is aiming for with GOPHURRS?
The end state described is undergrounding that becomes faster, cheaper, less disruptive, and more reliable, making it a practical, scalable option for everyday urban and suburban electric service rather than a niche choice reserved for special corridors.
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