Software Licensing Opportunity: GLASS Software for Real-Time Optimization of Power Transmission Capacity
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of Energy (DOE), through Battelle Energy Alliance (Idaho National Laboratory - INL), has issued a Special Notice for Software Licensing Opportunity: GLASS Software for Real-Time Optimization of Power Transmission Capacity. This notice seeks to identify potential licensees for INL's General Line Ampacity State Solver (GLASS) software, designed to enhance power transmission capacity without costly hardware expansion. Responses are due March 10, 2026.
Scope of Technology
GLASS is a high-performance software platform that calculates the real-time current-carrying capacity of overhead power transmission lines. It integrates weather and line current data with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to provide accurate insights into the thermal state of transmission networks. Unlike hardware-heavy solutions, GLASS uses minimal data inputs and extrapolates across unmonitored spans. It outputs results in a simple, interoperable format compatible with existing utility enterprise systems. The software has evolved to compute steady-state ampacity, transient temperature, transient ampacity, and True Dynamic Line Rating, validated against IEEE and CIGRE standards.
Problem Addressed
- Transmission bottlenecks: Static line ratings underestimate real capacity, leading to congestion and efficiency losses.
- High monitoring costs: Traditional DLR solutions require expensive hardware or dense sensor networks.
- Integration challenges: Many DLR solutions require proprietary hardware or external portals.
Solution & Advantages
GLASS offers a software-only, plug-and-play solution that:
- Uses limited real-world weather and current data.
- Applies precomputed CFD models for accuracy across unmonitored spans.
- Calculates real-time and forecasted ampacity values to maximize grid utilization.
- Outputs standardized text files for easy integration.
Key advantages include higher capacity utilization (up to 40% above static limits), lower infrastructure costs, seamless integration, proven reliability, and flexible deployment with any utility-grade data historian or enterprise system.
Market Applications
Potential applications include electric utilities (enhancing grid flexibility, reducing congestion, integrating renewables), grid operators (improving situational awareness), and software vendors (incorporating GLASS as a DLR module).
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice (Software Licensing Opportunity)
- Set-Aside: None
- Response Due: March 10, 2026, 06:00 AM EST
- Published: February 3, 2026, 03:34 PM EST
- Place of Performance: Idaho Falls, ID, United States
Contact Information
For inquiries, contact Javier Martinez at javier.martinez@inl.gov.