Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002883
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) and the Golden Field Office, issued this notice as a Request for Information (RFI) tied to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Competitive Program authorized under Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The central purpose is not to award funding right now, but to gather practical, on-the-ground feedback from the public to help DOE design a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the competitive portion of EECBG, specifically the part created under Section 40552. The competitive program is intended to support units of local government, including Indian Tribes, that are not eligible to receive EECBG formula grants directly from DOE, with the overarching goals of reducing fossil fuel emissions and lowering energy use within their jurisdictions.
This RFI is essentially DOE asking stakeholders what a strong, workable competitive grant program should look like before DOE finalizes the rules, scoring, structure, and expectations that would appear in a later FOA. DOE highlights that it wants to use the program to unlock additional investment beyond federal dollars, focus resources on communities with high needs, reduce the paperwork and compliance load where possible, and build lasting local capacity so jurisdictions can keep delivering energy savings and emissions reductions over time rather than only during the grant period. DOE also states that information submitted in response to the RFI will be used for internal planning and will not be published.
The questions DOE is seeking input on give a clear picture of what may matter most in a future competition. First, DOE wants ideas on partnership structures and models that could help applicants achieve bigger results, including ways to leverage public and private financing, regional collaborations, and implementation partnerships that extend the reach of federal funding. Second, DOE is looking for input on technical assistance needs, meaning what kinds of support smaller or under-resourced governments and their partners would need to apply successfully and then implement projects effectively. Third, DOE is asking for recommendations on program criteria and metrics, which signals that DOE is thinking carefully about how to measure success, likely including energy saved, emissions avoided, cost effectiveness, and possibly broader community impacts.
DOE also explicitly asks for suggestions on how to reduce administrative burden while still guarding against waste, fraud, and abuse, which points to a desire for a program that is accessible to smaller jurisdictions without weakening oversight. In addition, DOE is requesting input on employment impacts and expanding union jobs, reflecting an interest in how the program can support quality job creation and workforce standards. Equity, environmental justice, and energy justice priorities are another major topic area, indicating DOE intends to prioritize fair distribution of benefits and address communities that have historically faced disproportionate pollution burdens or limited access to clean energy investments. DOE is further seeking feedback on market adoption and industry sustainability, which suggests an emphasis on projects that can scale, encourage durable local markets (for example, contractors, equipment supply chains, and service providers), and avoid one-off efforts that do not persist after funding ends. Finally, DOE calls out Build America, Buy America requirements, signaling that domestic sourcing and compliance expectations may be a meaningful element of any future FOA and that DOE wants early input on how to implement those requirements in a realistic way.
From an administrative standpoint, the public listing identifies this as a discretionary opportunity (not formula funding), with funding activity in the energy category and CFDA number 81.128. The opportunity number is DE FOA 0002883. It was posted December 15, 2022, and the original closing date for submitting information was January 13, 2023. Importantly, the posting makes clear that this is not a FOA and DOE is not accepting applications, does not expect awards under this notice, and may or may not release a future FOA based on what it learns through the RFI process. In other words, the immediate action requested from stakeholders was feedback to shape a possible future competitive grant solicitation, not project proposals or funding requests.Apply for DE FOA 0002883
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Request for Information on Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Competitive Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.128.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 15, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 13, 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 $2.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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FAQs: DOE EECBG Competitive Program Request for Information (RFI) - DE FOA 0002883
What is this opportunity?
This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), issued through the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) and the Golden Field Office. It is tied to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Competitive Program authorized under Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Is this a grant application or a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)?
No. DOE explicitly states this is not a FOA and DOE is not accepting applications under this notice.
Is DOE awarding funding under this notice?
No. DOE does not expect to make awards under this RFI, because its purpose is to gather input rather than fund projects.
What is the purpose of the RFI?
The purpose is to gather practical, on-the-ground feedback from the public to help DOE design a future FOA for the competitive portion of EECBG, specifically the part created under Section 40552.
What is the competitive EECBG program intended to do?
The competitive program is intended to support units of local government, including Indian Tribes, that are not eligible to receive EECBG formula grants directly from DOE. The overarching goals are reducing fossil fuel emissions and lowering energy use within the applicant's jurisdiction.
Who is the competitive program meant to support?
Based on the notice, the competitive portion is intended for units of local government, including Indian Tribes, that do not receive EECBG formula grants directly from DOE.
Why is DOE collecting input now?
DOE is using this RFI to shape the design of a potential future competitive grant program before finalizing elements that would typically appear in a FOA, such as rules, scoring, structure, and expectations.
What topics is DOE asking stakeholders to comment on?
DOE is seeking input on partnership structures, financing leverage and collaboration models, technical assistance needs, program criteria and metrics, administrative burden reduction, safeguards against waste/fraud/abuse, employment impacts and expanding union jobs, equity and environmental/energy justice priorities, market adoption and industry sustainability, and Build America, Buy America requirements.
What kinds of partnership structures is DOE interested in?
DOE is looking for ideas on partnership structures and models that could help applicants achieve bigger results, including regional collaborations, implementation partnerships, and approaches that leverage public and private financing to extend the impact of federal funding.
What does DOE mean by leveraging additional investment?
DOE indicates it wants the competitive program to unlock additional investment beyond federal dollars, including through public and private financing and partnerships that increase the reach and scale of funded efforts.
What technical assistance needs is DOE trying to understand?
DOE is asking what kinds of technical assistance smaller or under-resourced governments and their partners would need to apply successfully and then implement projects effectively.
What kinds of criteria or metrics might DOE use in a future competition?
DOE is requesting recommendations on program criteria and metrics, signaling a focus on how success should be measured. The notice points to potential measures such as energy saved, emissions avoided, cost effectiveness, and possibly broader community impacts.
Is DOE concerned about administrative burden for applicants?
Yes. DOE explicitly asks for suggestions on how to reduce administrative burden while still guarding against waste, fraud, and abuse, with the goal of making the program workable and accessible, including for smaller jurisdictions.
How does DOE plan to balance reduced paperwork with oversight?
The RFI requests stakeholder suggestions on reducing administrative burden without weakening protections against waste, fraud, and abuse, indicating DOE is seeking practical approaches that preserve accountability while making participation easier.
Does the notice address jobs or workforce impacts?
Yes. DOE requests input on employment impacts and expanding union jobs, reflecting interest in quality job creation and workforce standards as part of the program design.
How are equity and environmental justice addressed?
Equity, environmental justice, and energy justice are major topic areas in the RFI. DOE indicates an intent to prioritize fair distribution of benefits and to address communities that have historically faced disproportionate pollution burdens or limited access to clean energy investments.
What does DOE mean by building lasting local capacity?
DOE describes an interest in building enduring local capability so jurisdictions can continue delivering energy savings and emissions reductions over time, rather than only achieving results during the grant period.
What does DOE mean by market adoption and industry sustainability?
DOE is seeking feedback on how to support market adoption and industry sustainability, suggesting an emphasis on projects that can scale, encourage durable local markets (such as contractor networks and supply chains), and avoid one-off efforts that do not persist after funding ends.
Are Build America, Buy America requirements part of this effort?
Yes. DOE calls out Build America, Buy America requirements and asks for early input on how to implement domestic sourcing and compliance expectations in a realistic way in any future FOA.
Will DOE publish the information submitted in response to the RFI?
No. DOE states that information submitted in response to the RFI will be used for internal planning and will not be published.
What is the opportunity type and category listed for this notice?
The public listing identifies this as a discretionary opportunity in the energy category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this notice?
The CFDA number listed is 81.128.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is DE FOA 0002883.
When was this notice posted and when did it close?
It was posted on December 15, 2022, and the original closing date for submitting information was January 13, 2023.
Does this RFI guarantee a future FOA will be released?
No. DOE states it may or may not release a future FOA based on what it learns through the RFI process.
What should stakeholders have submitted under this notice?
The notice sought feedback and recommendations to shape a possible future competitive grant solicitation, not project proposals, applications, or funding requests.
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| Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program Apply for RDBCP REAP RES EEI 2023 Funding Number: RDBCP REAP RES EEI 2023 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Business-Cooperative Service Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002922 “Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis, Manufacturing, and Recycling” Apply for DE FOA 0002921 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002921 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Decarbonization of Water Resource Recovery Facilities (D-WRRF) Apply for DE FOA 0002855 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002855 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $14,000,000 |
| DE-FOA-0002813: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation Apply for DE FOA 0002813 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002813 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent - DE-FOA-0002933 to issue Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002934 titled Underserved & Indigenous Community Microgrids Apply for DE FOA 0002933 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002933 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002920, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office-Wide Funding Opportunity Announcement in Support of Hydrogen Shot Apply for DE FOA 0002919 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002919 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002936 - Industrial Decarbonization and Emissions Reduction Demonstration-to-Deployment Apply for DE FOA 0002935 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002935 Agency: Department of Energy, Headquarters Category: Energy Funding Amount: $500,000,000 |
| AMMTO-BTO and OE FY22 Multi-Topic FOA Apply for DE FOA 0002864 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002864 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): Request for Information (RFI): HOME EFFICIENCY & ELECTRIFICATION REBATE PROGRAMS Apply for DE FOA 0002981 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002981 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent to issue Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002974, Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands - 2023 Apply for DE FOA 0002974 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002974 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office Funding Opportunity Announcement in Support of Hydrogen Shot Apply for DE FOA 0002920 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002920 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
| Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships Apply for DE FOA 0002945 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002945 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $23,000,000 |
| FY23 Reducing Agricultural Carbon Intensity and Protecting Algal Crops (RACIPAC) Apply for DE FOA 0002910 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002910 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) Pilot Demonstrations Apply for DE FOA 0002826 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002826 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $25,000,000 |
| Water Research and Development for Oil and Gas Produced Water and Coal Combustion Residuals Wastewater Associated with Coal Power Plants Apply for DE FOA 0002796 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002796 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,275,000 |
| Large Wind Turbine Materials and Manufacturing Apply for DE FOA 0002960 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002960 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| This is a Notice of Intent to issue Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002969 Apply for DE FOA 0002968 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002968 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program Section 40209 Apply for DE FOA 0002907 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002907 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $100,000,000 |
| Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands - 2023 Apply for DE FOA 0002975 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002975 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
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