Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000829
Apply for DE FOA 0000829
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Better Buildings Commercial Energy Efficiency Solutions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086 Conservation Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 8, 2013 and posted on Mar 7, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 24, 2013 A mandatory Concept Paper is due 03/22/13.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- 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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Opportunity Summary:
The Better Buildings Commercial Energy Efficiency Solutions opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000829) is a U.S. Department of Energy effort, run through the Golden Field Office, aimed at accelerating practical energy efficiency gains in small commercial buildings defined as 50,000 square feet or less. The program is looking for proposals that combine technical approaches with business models and real-world implementation strategies, with the explicit goal of overcoming the barriers that keep small commercial facilities from adopting cost-effective efficiency upgrades. The core performance targets are clear: projects focused on existing buildings should achieve at least 20 percent energy savings, and projects involving new construction should meet or exceed the Architecture 2030 50 Percent Challenge targets, signaling a high bar for energy performance in newly built small commercial spaces.
A key theme of the funding opportunity is moving beyond ideas and pilots that stay small. Applicants are expected to identify the most important market barriers in their chosen niche and show, in a credible way, how the proposed solution will break through those barriers through demonstration and deployment activities that lead to adoption at scale. That means the Department of Energy is not only interested in better technologies (like improved HVAC, lighting, controls, envelope measures, commissioning approaches, or integrated retrofits), but also in the practical mechanisms that make these solutions easy to buy, finance, install, and repeat across many buildings. Strong proposals are expected to show how they will create repeatable, scalable pathways for uptake in the target market, rather than one-off custom projects.
The opportunity emphasizes that teams must be led by a partner with deep, practical knowledge of the small commercial buildings market and a proven track record implementing programs that drive real uptake. In other words, the lead should not only understand energy efficiency in theory, but also understand how small commercial owners and operators make decisions, how contractors and service providers deliver work, what motivates or discourages participation, and how to structure a program so it can be replicated. Proposals should focus on at least one subsector of the small commercial market, which could be defined by building type (for example, small retail, restaurants, small offices, clinics, schools, or mixed-use) and/or by geography. The Department of Energy is looking for solutions that can prove success in a defined submarket first and then show a realistic plan to expand beyond it.
Awards under this announcement are intended to fund three major thrusts: first, the design and development of innovative technical and market-uptake solutions; second, demonstration of those solutions in the field to hit the stated energy performance targets within at least one defined submarket; and third, development or implementation of a plan that positions the model for national scale. A successful application therefore needs to make a convincing case that, by the end of the funding period, the project will have the elements needed to support a robust multi-region or nationwide program. This could include standardized processes, partner networks, contractor training or quality assurance methods, customer acquisition strategies, financing approaches, measurement and verification frameworks, and other infrastructure that makes scaling plausible.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the award instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, meaning recipients should expect substantial federal involvement compared with a typical grant. The total estimated funding is $12,000,000, with an anticipated six awards. The ceiling per award is $2,000,000 (with no stated floor), and cost sharing is required, so applicants need to plan for matching funds or in-kind contributions consistent with the FOA requirements. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 81.086 (Conservation Research and Development). Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the FOA text.
The process requires submission through the EERE Exchange website, and applicants must register and create an account there in order to apply. A mandatory concept paper was required before the full application, with the concept paper due date listed as 03/22/13 and the full application deadline as 04/24/13 (posted 03/07/13 and archived 09/30/13). The full Funding Opportunity Announcement, submission instructions, and where to direct content or submission questions are provided via EERE Exchange, and the listed program contact for access issues is Scott Schmitz at BetterBuildings.CEES@go.doe.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Better Buildings Commercial Energy Efficiency Solutions (DE-FOA-0000829)
What is the Better Buildings Commercial Energy Efficiency Solutions opportunity (DE-FOA-0000829)?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity, run through the Golden Field Office, focused on accelerating practical energy efficiency gains in small commercial buildings by supporting solutions that combine technical approaches with business models and real-world implementation strategies.
Which DOE office is running this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is run through the DOE Golden Field Office.
What types of buildings are targeted by this opportunity?
The target is small commercial buildings defined as 50,000 square feet or less.
Does the opportunity focus on existing buildings, new construction, or both?
Both. The FOA includes performance targets for projects focused on existing buildings and separate performance targets for projects involving new construction.
What are the energy performance targets for existing buildings?
Projects focused on existing buildings are expected to achieve at least 20 percent energy savings.
What are the energy performance targets for new construction?
Projects involving new construction are expected to meet or exceed the Architecture 2030 50 Percent Challenge targets.
What kinds of solutions is DOE looking for (technology vs. business model)?
DOE is looking for proposals that combine technical approaches with business models and implementation strategies. The intent is to overcome barriers that prevent small commercial facilities from adopting cost-effective efficiency upgrades, not just to develop technologies in isolation.
What is meant by "moving beyond ideas and pilots that stay small"?
Applicants are expected to show how their solution will break through key market barriers and lead to adoption at scale through credible demonstration and deployment activities, rather than remaining a one-off or limited pilot.
What types of technical measures are explicitly mentioned as relevant?
Examples mentioned include improved HVAC, lighting, controls, envelope measures, commissioning approaches, and integrated retrofits.
What market or implementation elements are expected in a strong proposal?
Strong proposals are expected to describe practical mechanisms that make solutions easy to buy, finance, install, and repeat across many buildings, and to show repeatable, scalable pathways for uptake in the target market.
Is a specific market focus required?
Yes. Proposals should focus on at least one subsector of the small commercial market, which can be defined by building type and/or geography.
What are examples of small commercial subsectors that could be targeted?
Examples provided include small retail, restaurants, small offices, clinics, schools, and mixed-use buildings.
What is DOE expecting regarding market barriers?
Applicants are expected to identify the most important market barriers in their chosen niche and credibly explain how the proposed solution will overcome those barriers through demonstration and deployment leading to scaled adoption.
Who is expected to lead the project team?
Teams are expected to be led by a partner with deep, practical knowledge of the small commercial buildings market and a proven track record implementing programs that drive real uptake.
What does DOE mean by a lead partner with "deep, practical knowledge"?
The lead is expected to understand how small commercial owners and operators make decisions, how contractors and service providers deliver work, what motivates or discourages participation, and how to structure a program so it can be replicated.
What are the three main thrusts that awards are intended to fund?
Awards are intended to fund: (1) design and development of innovative technical and market-uptake solutions, (2) field demonstration of those solutions to hit the stated energy targets within at least one defined submarket, and (3) development or implementation of a plan positioning the model for national scale.
What does "national scale" mean in the context of this FOA?
DOE is looking for projects that, by the end of the funding period, have elements needed to support a robust multi-region or nationwide program, with a realistic plan to expand beyond the initial submarket.
What kinds of scaling infrastructure does DOE mention?
Examples include standardized processes, partner networks, contractor training or quality assurance methods, customer acquisition strategies, financing approaches, and measurement and verification frameworks.
What is the award instrument for this opportunity?
The award instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?
It means recipients should expect substantial federal involvement compared with a typical grant.
How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding is $12,000,000.
How many awards does DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipates approximately six awards.
What is the maximum award size (ceiling) per project?
The ceiling per award is $2,000,000.
Is there a minimum award amount (floor)?
No floor is stated in the provided information.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required, so applicants need to plan for matching funds or in-kind contributions consistent with the FOA requirements.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 81.086 (Conservation Research and Development).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the FOA text.
How do applicants submit an application?
Applications must be submitted through the EERE Exchange website. Applicants must register and create an account there in order to apply.
Was a concept paper required?
Yes. A concept paper was mandatory prior to the full application.
What were the concept paper and full application due dates listed for this FOA?
The concept paper due date is listed as 03/22/13, and the full application deadline is listed as 04/24/13.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The opportunity was posted 03/07/13 and archived 09/30/13.
Where can applicants find the full FOA and submission instructions?
The full Funding Opportunity Announcement, submission instructions, and directions for content or submission questions are provided via EERE Exchange.
Who is the contact for access issues with EERE Exchange?
The listed program contact for access issues is Scott Schmitz at BetterBuildings.CEES@go.doe.gov.
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