Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001167

  • The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Buildings University Innovators Leaders Development (BUILD) 2015" 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 Jan 12, 2015 and posted on Nov 12, 2014.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 11, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
Apply for DE FOA 0001167

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Opportunity Summary:

Buildings University Innovators and Leaders Development (BUILD) 2015 is a U.S. Department of Energy Buildings program funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001167) designed to strengthen the ability of U.S. universities to do serious building energy efficiency research and development, build durable partnerships with industry, and improve manufacturing-focused education tied to real market needs. The program is structured as an annual-type solicitation and, for this cycle, it supports university teams that can move beyond early concepts and actively develop innovations with clear pathways to commercialization. The overall emphasis is not only on technical progress, but also on preparing students to translate building energy efficiency ideas into deployable products, software, or processes that can make a measurable difference in the U.S. building stock.

The funding instrument is a competitive cooperative agreement with a two-year period of performance. Cooperative agreements typically imply more substantial federal involvement than a standard grant, meaning awardees should expect active engagement or coordination with DOE during the project. The opportunity sits in the energy domain under CFDA 81.086 (Conservation Research and Development). DOE anticipated making about five awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $1,000,000. Individual awards could be as high as $200,000, with no stated minimum award floor. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants would need to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall project budget, consistent with the FOA requirements.

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based institutions of higher education, including both public/state-controlled universities and private universities. The intended applicants are university-led teams that integrate engineering and business students, reflecting the program goal of pairing technical development with commercialization planning. The teams are expected to research, develop, and work toward commercialization of innovative building energy efficiency technologies or approaches. In practical terms, that means proposals should show credible technical work plans as well as market awareness, manufacturing considerations, and partnership strategies that increase the likelihood of real-world adoption.

On the technical side, the FOA allows a wide range of solution types, as long as the application is directly relevant to U.S. buildings and offers significant primary energy savings potential. Projects may focus on hardware technologies, software solutions, or manufacturing processes. Target buildings include residential, multifamily, and commercial buildings. This breadth gives teams flexibility to propose innovations such as new high-efficiency components, control algorithms, building energy management software, advanced materials, or improved manufacturing methods that reduce cost and improve performance of energy-saving building products.

From an application logistics standpoint, submissions were handled exclusively through the EERE eXCHANGE portal (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov). Applicants had to register and create an account in that system to apply, and DOE provided an EERE eXCHANGE User Guide accessible through the site’s manuals area after logging in (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx). The FOA was posted November 12, 2014, with an original closing date of January 28, 2015, later extended to February 11, 2015. The opportunity was ultimately archived May 26, 2015. The issuing office is listed as the Golden Field Office. For access issues or questions related to the announcement, the contact provided was Edward W. Campbell, reachable at BUILDFOA@hq.doe.gov.

In short, BUILD 2015 offered two-year, cost-shared cooperative agreements to U.S. universities to help student teams develop building energy efficiency innovations with real commercial promise, while simultaneously strengthening university-industry collaboration and preparing students to navigate both the engineering and business realities of deploying energy-saving technologies in U.S. buildings.

BUILD 2015 (DOE) Grant Opportunity FAQs

What is the BUILD 2015 funding opportunity?

Buildings University Innovators and Leaders Development (BUILD) 2015 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Buildings program funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0001167). It was designed to strengthen U.S. universities' ability to conduct building energy efficiency research and development, create durable partnerships with industry, and improve manufacturing-focused education tied to real market needs.

What is the main purpose or emphasis of the program?

The program emphasizes moving beyond early concepts by actively developing building energy efficiency innovations with clear pathways to commercialization. It focuses not only on technical progress, but also on preparing students to translate ideas into deployable products, software, or processes that can make a measurable impact in the U.S. building stock.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under its Buildings program, with the issuing office listed as the Golden Field Office.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0001167.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is in the energy domain under CFDA 81.086 (Conservation Research and Development).

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a competitive cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

Cooperative agreements typically involve more substantial federal involvement than a standard grant. Awardees should expect active engagement or coordination with DOE during the project period.

How long is the period of performance?

The period of performance is two years.

How many awards did DOE anticipate making?

DOE anticipated making about five awards.

What was the estimated total funding available for the program?

The estimated total program funding level was $1,000,000.

What was the maximum individual award amount?

Individual awards could be as high as $200,000.

Was there a minimum award amount?

No minimum award floor was stated in the provided information.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants would need to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall project budget, consistent with the FOA requirements.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to U.S.-based institutions of higher education, including public/state-controlled universities and private universities.

Are teams expected to be university-led?

Yes. The intended applicants are university-led teams.

What kind of team composition does the program encourage?

The program is aimed at teams that integrate engineering and business students, reflecting the goal of pairing technical development with commercialization planning.

What kinds of activities were teams expected to carry out?

Teams were expected to research, develop, and work toward commercialization of innovative building energy efficiency technologies or approaches.

What should proposals demonstrate beyond technical R&D?

Proposals should include credible technical work plans as well as market awareness, manufacturing considerations, and partnership strategies that increase the likelihood of real-world adoption.

What types of projects were allowed (hardware, software, processes)?

The FOA allowed a wide range of solution types as long as they are directly relevant to U.S. buildings and offer significant primary energy savings potential. Projects could focus on hardware technologies, software solutions, or manufacturing processes.

What building sectors could projects target?

Target buildings include residential, multifamily, and commercial buildings.

Does the opportunity specify example innovations that might fit?

Yes. The opportunity description notes flexibility for innovations such as new high-efficiency components, control algorithms, building energy management software, advanced materials, or improved manufacturing methods that reduce cost and improve performance of energy-saving building products.

What is meant by "clear pathways to commercialization" in this context?

Within the provided description, this means projects should not stop at early concepts; they should actively develop innovations and show credible plans and considerations for reaching real-world deployment, including market awareness, manufacturing considerations, and partnerships that support adoption.

How were applications submitted?

Submissions were handled exclusively through the EERE eXCHANGE portal at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.

Did applicants need to register to apply?

Yes. Applicants had to register and create an account in EERE eXCHANGE to submit an application.

Was there a user guide for the EERE eXCHANGE system?

Yes. DOE provided an EERE eXCHANGE User Guide accessible through the site manuals area after logging in at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx.

When was the FOA posted?

The FOA was posted on November 12, 2014.

What was the application deadline?

The original closing date was January 28, 2015, and it was later extended to February 11, 2015.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on May 26, 2015.

Who was the contact for access issues or questions?

The contact listed was Edward W. Campbell, reachable at BUILDFOA@hq.doe.gov.

What is the overall takeaway of BUILD 2015 based on the description?

BUILD 2015 offered two-year, cost-shared cooperative agreements to U.S. universities to help student teams develop building energy efficiency innovations with real commercial promise, while strengthening university-industry collaboration and preparing students to navigate both engineering and business realities of deploying energy-saving technologies in U.S. buildings.

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