ESTCP released a solicitation on February 3, 2026, offering a competitive FY 2027 funding opportunity to researchers across federal agencies, academia and industry.  

The solicitation invites pre-proposals responding to five selected topics, designed to advance energy and water resilience for Department of War (DoW) installations. Key topics include:  

• Improve Energy Resilience with Long-Duration Energy Storage: This topic seeks demonstrations of long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies that can sustain military installations through extended grid outages, meeting requirements such as a 14-day islanded operation. Proposals should validate the technology’s ability to integrate with microgrids and enhance installation energy resilience while reducing reliance on vulnerable diesel fuel infrastructure. For this topic, proposers with the DoW should refer to the version labelled “DoW-Only.”
• Improving the Cyber Resilience of DoW Installation Energy Systems: Proposals for this topic should focus on innovative solutions to strengthen the cybersecurity posture of facility control systems and critical energy infrastructure at installations. Topics of interest include secure connectivity alternatives, advanced honeypot environments, and AI-driven defensive tools that improve threat detection, response, and mission resilience.
• Improving Energy Resilience of DoW Installations: This topic invites demonstrations of technologies and approaches that enhance overall energy resilience for military installations, helping them maintain critical operations amid disruptions. The emphasis is on scalable, high-impact solutions that reduce dependence on external energy supplies and address resilience challenges across varied operational contexts. For this topic, proposers with the DoW should refer to the version labelled “DoW-Only.”
• Solutions to Improve Energy Efficiency and Performance of DoW Buildings: This topic solicits demonstrations of technologies and integrated systems to increase building energy efficiency and performance at military facilities. Projects should deliver measurable reductions in energy use, maintenance burden, and lifecycle costs while improving occupant comfort, envelope performance, and system reliability.
• Water Resilience on DoW Installations: This topic seeks demonstrations of innovative technologies and methodologies that improve water resource management and infrastructure resilience supporting military missions. Areas of interest include reducing potable water demand, enhancing storage and treatment, improving monitoring and leak detection, and strengthening overall water system reliability under stress. 

The pre-proposal deadline is March 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the BAA (Broad Agency Announcement) or Federal call instructions and ensure alignment with the applicable topic. For more information about how to apply to the solicitation, visit www.serdp-estcp.mil/workwithus.  

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