Voucher Opportunity 12 - Grid Innovations Facility and Testing (Recipients)

The Grid Innovations Facility and Testing Voucher Opportunity (VO-12) will connect U.S. small businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs with the resources, capabilities, and facilities needed to spur advancements in next-generation grid technologies to meet pressing industry needs.

This Voucher Opportunity seeks to provide U.S.-based grid technology developers with the testing services needed to increase technical readiness and commercialization potential of innovative electric transmission and distribution technologies (note: energy storage technologies are not in scope). The Grid Innovation Facility and Testing Voucher Opportunity, developed in partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity (DOE-OE) and EnergyWerx, facilitates matchmaking between U.S.-based electric grid Technology Developers (Voucher Recipients) and domestic Test Facilities (Voucher Providers) with relevant testing capabilities. Once matches are made, OE funds the test facilities to provide these testing services to the Technology Developers for projects lasting up to one year.  

Vouchers will be distributed as in-kind support, meaning that EnergyWerx will directly reimburse the Voucher Provider for the work they have completed on behalf of the Voucher Recipients. The value of each Voucher will depend on the services defined in the Providers’ capability statements, with estimated values of support services per Recipient ranging from $50k to $250k.

The first submission window solicited capability statements from potential Voucher Providers. DOE has selected and pre-approved a cohort of Voucher Providers offering a variety of capabilities you might be interested in: View the Pre-Approved Voucher Providers. 

The Grid Innovation Facility and Testing Voucher Program aims to build bridges between U.S. entrepreneurs, businesses, technology developers or other relevant entities and third-party Voucher Providers to advance commercialization and demonstration at scale of innovative grid technologies. Voucher Opportunity (VO-12) includes testing, stress testing, performance validation, and evaluation support for U.S. companies who are currently developing precommercial electric grid technologies.

Vouchers may provide support and expertise to test and validate hardware and/or software for technologies with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) of TRL 6 (engineering/pilot‐scale, similar (prototypical) system validation in a relevant environment) to TRL 8 (actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration). Testing activities should lead to technological risk reduction, improvements in performance, applicability, and durability, and relevant data to accelerate adoption in the United States.

The first submission window solicited proposals from potential voucher providers. The current submission window solicits proposals from potential Voucher Recipients. Pending availability of funds, additional submission windows may open in the future for this Voucher Opportunity. 

Voucher Recipients: U.S.-based companies, small businesses, start-ups, research organizations, or academic institutions developing and commercializing a new electric grid technology for transmission and/or distribution systems.

Voucher Providers (Test Facilities): Domestic national, federal, private, or university labs with one or more testing capabilities directly relevant to electric grid technologies.  

NOTE: Test Facilities may be a part of a larger organization (e.g., national laboratory) with multiple facilities but generally operate independently and with a significant level of autonomy.

Testing Capability (or Capability): The technical support service provided by a test facility to achieve a specific testing objective that advances the understanding or technical readiness of a grid innovation via physical or simulated testing in a controlled environment. Capabilities are provided at a fixed cost, set by the voucher provider, and must be repeatable and time-bound with measurable deliverables and outcomes. Capabilities should include the lab spaces, equipment, procedures, staff (including expertise and labor), time, site access, and other resources to complete the testing objective. Capabilities may include modeling, simulation, analysis, or other software services if paired with an eligible testing service. The Grid Innovation Facility and Testing Voucher Opportunity does not provide funds to establish new testing capabilities or significantly modify existing testing capabilities for the voucher provider. Capability categories and sub-categories are provided in the Downloadable Files section.

Voucher Projects: Electric grid technology testing activities conducted by a selected Voucher Provider-Recipient pair. Vouchers for testing services, worth between $50,000 - $250,000, will be distributed as in-kind support, meaning that EnergyWerx will directly reimburse the Voucher Provider for the work they have completed on behalf of the Voucher Recipients.  

DOE anticipates issuing approximately 16-20 vouchers.

Note: The full list of pre-approved Voucher Provider capabilities is available here. Please carefully read through the descriptions, deliverables, required inputs, applicable technology area(s), and other related information for each capability. DOE will not allow changes to the high-level scope of work defined in the Voucher Provider’s capability submission.

Submission Window: November 17, 2026 - January 14, 2027

• Start the Voucher Opportunity 12 - Recipient Application (Submissions are due no later than January 14, 2027 at 3:00 PM ET)
• View the Pre-Approved Voucher Providers: Click Here to View

The Recipient round for Voucher Opporunity 12 launched on November 17, 2026. Please see the announcement article for more information.

Voucher Recipient Informational Webinars: DOE will present and summarize the details of the Voucher Opportunity. Potential Voucher Recipients will gain a better understanding of the Voucher Program’s scope, scale, and intent and have the opportunity to ask questions of DOE staff.

• Register for the Informational Webinar on December 1, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
  
  • Focuses predominantly on explaining the Recipient Opportunity with some time for questions at the end.
    
• Register for the Informational Webinar on January 5, 2027 at 3:00 PM ET
  
  • Focuses predominantly on explaining the Recipient Opportunity with some time for questions at the end.

For an optimal experience, we recommend downloading the Microsoft Teams software to your computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Phase 1 - Voucher Provider Capability Submissions Opened August 10, 2026 - September 22, 2026 (COMPLETED)

Phase 2 - Voucher Recipient Application and Matchmaking November 17, 2026 - Spring 2027: Electric Grid technology developers will apply to receive testing services and meritorious applications will be matched to one of the capabilities approved from Phase 1.

• Informational Webinar (December 1, 2026 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET): DOE will present and summarize the details of the Grid Innovations Facility and Testing Voucher Opportunity. Potential Voucher Recipients can better understand the scope, scale, and intent of the Voucher Program and ask questions of the DOE staff.
  
  • Register for the 12/01/2026 Informational Webinar
• Informational Webinar (January 5, 2027 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET): DOE will host an Informational Webinar to answer any remaining questions from potential applicants before the submission deadline.
  
  • Register for the 01/05/2027 Informational Webinar
• DOE Selection (Spring 2027): DOE will review submissions based on the selection criteria and will notify selected entities for next steps.
  NOTE: DOE may choose to meet with applicants or ask additional clarifying questions prior to selection.
• Project Agreement Development (Spring 2027): Matched Provider-Recipient pairs will have an option to accept or decline the match. Accepted pairs will then establish project agreements with DOE or EnergyWerx to define the scope of work, budget, timing, and outcomes.

Phase 3 - Project Execution Timing TBD: Matched Provider-Recipient pairs will establish project agreements with DOE or EnergyWerx to define the scope of work, budget, timing, and outcomes. Projects will then have one calendar year to complete testing activities, including four standardized milestones.

Submission Window: November 17, 2026 - January 14, 2027

• Start the Voucher Opportunity 12 - Recipient Application (Submissions are due no later than January 14, 2027 at 3:00 PM ET)
• View the Pre-Approved Voucher Providers: Click Here to View

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible performers (Voucher Providers and Voucher Recipients) must meet the following criteria:

1. Applicant qualifies as a domestic entity.  
2. Applicant must certify that it is not owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of government of Country of Risk.
3. Employees of DOE are not eligible to apply for VO-12.
4. If an applicant for Voucher services is also an approved Voucher Provider with testing capabilities, the applicant may not request services from their own capabilities.
5. National Laboratory (federally funded research and development center [FFRDC]) employees are eligible to apply as voucher recipients but may not:
   
   1. Apply for Voucher services from their own laboratory; or
   2. Use other DOE funds to apply as a Voucher Recipient, develop a test plan, or for any other Voucher activities.

To qualify as a domestic entity, the entity must be organized, chartered or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States; have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States. DOE defines Country of Risk to include China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Belarus. This list is subject to change. DOE retains the prerogative to require additional information from the applicants to verify the applicant meets the eligibility requirements.

Please review the Program Rules document and the Intellectual Property Management Plan included in the Downloadable Files for additional rules and considerations regarding project activities, NEPA, cost share, and intellectual property.

Application Guidance

The Voucher Recipient application form requires information about the applicant, the technology to be tested or evaluated, the objectives of the project, and a prioritized list of capabilities with which to be matched. Potential Voucher Recipients are encouraged to discuss their application with preferred capabilities prior to applying to assess project compatibility with Voucher Provider capabilities. The capabilities requested must be selected from the approved list on the EnergyWerx Capability Tool. Capabilities on the approved list were reviewed during the Phase 1 solicitation.  

Each Voucher Recipient applicant may only submit one application form. In the application form, applicants will be able to list up to 3 capabilities in the priority list to be matched with. Meritorious applications may only be matched to one capability from the priority list. Organizations (e.g., a national laboratory) may have multiple applicants if those applicants are from distinct business units with distinct technologies.

All information provided in the Voucher Recipient application may be shared with one or more Voucher Providers to ensure appropriate matches. As such, Recipient applications should not include proprietary or business sensitive information.  

Review Criteria

The following criteria will be used by DOE to review and select Voucher Recipient applications for Voucher projects.  

• The application demonstrates a direct relevance and benefit to advancing the technology and commercial readiness of a feasible,cost-effective, and scalable transmission and distribution technology thatsupports an affordable, reliable, and secure electric grid.
• The proposed technologies and objectives require physical testing capabilities that are within scope of the identified testing facilities to advance the readiness of the technology.
• The proposed objectives are feasible and achievable given the scope of the voucher opportunity.
• The application involves answering technical and performance questions that require testing at technology readiness level (TRL) 6 (engineering/pilot‐scale, similar (prototypical) system validation in a relevant environment) to TRL 8 (Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration).
• The application clearly indicates that the applicant team can dedicate the time, personnel, materials, and resources needed to work with a testing facility to develop a plan of testing, conduct the tests, and evaluate results to inform refinements to the technology.

DOE retains the prerogative to require additional information from the applicants to verify the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and selection criteria. DOE-OE may disqualify an application for any reason, including but not limited to if the applicant engages with the Grid Innovation Facility and Testing Voucher Program in a manner that, in the sole discretion of the DOE-OE, is indecent, obscene, or lacking in professionalism. This includes but is not limited to the application itself, or any communication to Grid Innovation Facility and Testing Voucher Program staff.  

The selection process for Voucher Recipient applications is competitive and subject to available funding. DOE retains the prerogative to decide whether to fund the proposed project entirely, partially, or not at all. Per DOE-OE’s discretion, applicants may be selected as an alternate to be awarded if funding becomes available. Awarding the Voucher is dependent on successfully establishing an agreement between the matched Voucher Provider and the Voucher Recipient.