Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000621
Apply for DE FOA 0000621
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Energy Savings through Improved Mechanical Systems and Building Envelope Technologies" 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 May 24, 2012 and posted on Mar 9, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2012 Concept Paper Due 04/17/2012 Full Application Due 06/25/2012. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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.
- In accordance with the Cost Share Waiver granted by the Under Secretary for EERE on February 24, 2012, Recipients and subrecipients that are non profit organizations (as defined in 10 CFR 600.3), institutions of higher education, U.S. National Laboratories, or U.S. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) funded under this FOA are eligible for a waiver of cost share requirements. Eligible entities as listed above are not required to provide a minimum cost share in their applications. For those entities not eligible for a cost share waiver, the cost share must be at least 20 of the total allowable costs for research and development projects (i.e., the sum of the Government share, including FFRDC contractor costs if applicable, and the recipient share of allowable costs equals the total allowable cost of the project) and must come from non Federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Energy, through its EERE Golden Field Office, issued Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0000621 titled "Energy Savings through Improved Mechanical Systems and Building Envelope Technologies" to support building technologies that can deliver major, measurable energy savings and move to a market-ready stage within about five years of the project start. The amendment described here mainly changes the schedule by extending the full application deadline to June 25, 2012 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Aside from updated page and table-of-contents numbering, the rest of the FOA requirements and scope remain the same. Applicants were still required to submit a concept paper by April 17, 2012, with the final (full) application now due on the extended June date.
At a program level, the FOA is aimed at taking building-related innovations that already have proof-of-concept results and pushing them through prototyping and optimization so they can become commercially viable solutions. The emphasis is not on early-stage basic science, but on advancing technologies that have already demonstrated feasibility and now need engineering refinement, performance validation, demonstration planning, and a credible commercialization pathway. Projects are expected to confront and resolve practical barriers that typically prevent promising building technologies from reaching adoption, such as cost, manufacturability, integration into existing building systems, reliability, installation complexity, and customer acceptance. A key point in the announcement is that proposals must go beyond incremental progress toward goals; they must be structured and resourced to actually deliver the stated performance targets and outcomes described in the specific subtopics.
The technical scope is organized into two main topic areas. Topic 1 targets energy-saving HVAC systems, reflecting the large share of building energy use tied to heating and cooling. It includes Subtopic 1.1 on high-performance air-source cold-climate heat pumps, which focuses on improving heat pump operation and efficiency in low-temperature conditions where conventional systems often struggle. Subtopic 1.2 covers alternative space-heating systems, indicating interest in approaches that can reduce energy use or improve performance compared with standard heating methods. Subtopic 1.3 seeks next-generation heat exchangers for electric vapor-compression heat pumps and air conditioners, signaling a push to improve the core thermal components that heavily influence system efficiency, size, and cost. Topic 2 addresses energy-saving building envelope solutions, which reduce heating and cooling loads by improving how the building shell resists heat transfer and manages environmental exposure. It includes Subtopic 2.1 on high-performance thermal insulation, Subtopic 2.2 on advanced roof and attic solutions, and Subtopic 2.3 on highly insulating windows, all aimed at reducing losses through major envelope elements while staying cost-effective and scalable.
From a funding and award standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and anticipates making around 10 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $12,000,000. The FOA allows funding instruments including cooperative agreements and grants. While the listing shows award ceiling and floor as zero (often a placeholder in summaries), applicants would need to consult the full FOA text for any subtopic-specific funding ranges, project period limits, and allowable budget structures. The CFDA number associated with this program is 81.086 (Conservation Research and Development), aligning the effort with applied energy efficiency R&D.
Eligibility is broadly open (unrestricted) to any type of entity, subject to details in the FOA. Cost sharing is generally required, but the FOA includes an important waiver policy: nonprofit organizations (as defined in 10 CFR 600.3), institutions of higher education, U.S. National Laboratories, and U.S. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers can qualify for a waiver of cost-share requirements under a cost share waiver granted on February 24, 2012. Entities not covered by that waiver must provide at least a 20% cost share for R&D projects, and that cost share must come from non-federal sources unless a specific legal allowance applies. This cost-share structure is intended to ensure that projects have real-world commitment and a pathway to adoption, particularly for applicants closer to commercialization.
All applications had to be submitted electronically through the EERE Exchange website, and applicants were required to register and create an account before submitting. The FOA also points applicants to the EERE Exchange user guide for submission instructions and provides a single email point of contact for questions and support: btech@go.doe.gov (also referenced for help accessing the announcement). In short, this FOA is a targeted push to bring near-commercial building efficiency technologies, especially advanced HVAC and envelope components, from proven concepts to prototypes and market-ready solutions with clear performance targets, credible deployment plans, and a strong focus on delivering real energy savings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) number and title?
The FOA is DE-FOA-0000621, titled "Energy Savings through Improved Mechanical Systems and Building Envelope Technologies," issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the EERE Golden Field Office.
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The FOA supports building technologies that can deliver major, measurable energy savings and advance to a market-ready stage within about five years of the project start.
What type of work is DOE looking to fund under this FOA?
The focus is on building-related innovations that already have proof-of-concept results and now need prototyping and optimization to become commercially viable. The FOA emphasizes engineering refinement, performance validation, demonstration planning, and a credible commercialization pathway rather than early-stage basic science.
Does this FOA support basic research or early-stage concepts?
The FOA emphasizes advancing technologies that have already demonstrated feasibility. It is not aimed at early-stage basic science; it is aimed at moving proven concepts toward prototypes and market readiness.
How quickly are funded technologies expected to become market-ready?
The FOA is intended to move technologies to a market-ready stage within about five years from the project start.
What practical barriers should proposals address?
Projects are expected to confront and resolve real-world barriers that often prevent adoption, including cost, manufacturability, integration into existing building systems, reliability, installation complexity, and customer acceptance.
Are incremental improvements acceptable under this FOA?
The FOA highlights that proposals must go beyond incremental progress toward goals. Proposals should be structured and resourced to deliver the stated performance targets and outcomes described in the specific subtopics.
What are the main topic areas covered by the FOA?
The technical scope is organized into two main topic areas: (1) energy-saving HVAC systems and (2) energy-saving building envelope solutions.
What is included under Topic 1 (energy-saving HVAC systems)?
Topic 1 targets HVAC systems and includes: Subtopic 1.1 high-performance air-source cold-climate heat pumps; Subtopic 1.2 alternative space-heating systems; and Subtopic 1.3 next-generation heat exchangers for electric vapor-compression heat pumps and air conditioners.
What is Subtopic 1.1 about?
Subtopic 1.1 focuses on high-performance air-source cold-climate heat pumps, with an emphasis on improving operation and efficiency in low-temperature conditions where conventional systems often struggle.
What is Subtopic 1.2 about?
Subtopic 1.2 covers alternative space-heating systems, indicating interest in approaches that can reduce energy use or improve performance compared with standard heating methods.
What is Subtopic 1.3 about?
Subtopic 1.3 seeks next-generation heat exchangers for electric vapor-compression heat pumps and air conditioners, aiming to improve core thermal components that influence system efficiency, size, and cost.
What is included under Topic 2 (energy-saving building envelope solutions)?
Topic 2 addresses building envelope solutions that reduce heating and cooling loads and includes: Subtopic 2.1 high-performance thermal insulation; Subtopic 2.2 advanced roof and attic solutions; and Subtopic 2.3 highly insulating windows.
What is the intent of the building envelope topic area?
The intent is to reduce heating and cooling loads by improving how the building shell resists heat transfer and manages environmental exposure, while remaining cost-effective and scalable.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making around 10 awards.
What is the estimated total funding available?
The estimated total funding level is $12,000,000.
What funding instruments may be used for awards?
The FOA allows funding instruments including cooperative agreements and grants.
Are there minimum or maximum award amounts listed?
The summary listing shows an award floor and ceiling of zero, which is often a placeholder in summaries. Applicants would need to consult the full FOA for any subtopic-specific funding ranges, project period limits, and allowable budget structures.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number is 81.086 (Conservation Research and Development).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly open (unrestricted) to any type of entity, subject to the specific details in the FOA.
Is cost sharing required?
Cost sharing is generally required. Entities not covered by the waiver policy must provide at least a 20% cost share for R&D projects.
Which organizations may qualify for a cost-share waiver?
Nonprofit organizations (as defined in 10 CFR 600.3), institutions of higher education, U.S. National Laboratories, and U.S. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers may qualify for a waiver of cost-share requirements under a cost share waiver granted on February 24, 2012.
If cost share is required, what sources can it come from?
For entities that must provide cost share, the FOA specifies it must come from non-federal sources unless a specific legal allowance applies.
What is the purpose of the cost-share structure?
The cost-share structure is intended to ensure real-world commitment and a pathway to adoption, particularly for applicants closer to commercialization.
Was a concept paper required?
Yes. Applicants were required to submit a concept paper by April 17, 2012.
What is the full application deadline?
The amendment extended the full application deadline to June 25, 2012 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.
What changed in the FOA amendment?
The amendment mainly changed the schedule by extending the full application deadline. Aside from updated page and table-of-contents numbering, the rest of the FOA requirements and scope remained the same.
How must applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted electronically through the EERE Exchange website.
Do applicants need to register to submit through EERE Exchange?
Yes. Applicants were required to register and create an account in EERE Exchange before submitting.
Where can applicants find submission instructions?
The FOA points applicants to the EERE Exchange user guide for submission instructions.
Who should applicants contact for questions or support?
The FOA provides a single email point of contact: btech@go.doe.gov. This address is referenced for questions, support, and help accessing the announcement.
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