Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001513
Apply for DE FOA 0001513
- The DOE-GFO in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Industrial Assessment Centers" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.117.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 05, 2016 and posted on Apr 05, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 20, 2016. (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 $1,750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) funding opportunity (DOE FOA 0001513) is a U.S. Department of Energy program that has operated since 1976, originally under the name Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Center. It is structured around two connected goals. The first is to deliver practical, plant-level recommendations that help small and medium-sized manufacturers reduce energy and water use, cut waste, improve productivity, strengthen sustainability performance, and stay competitive. The second is workforce-focused: the program is designed to build the next generation of engineers with hands-on skills in energy systems and manufacturing by immersing students in real industrial settings where they learn to diagnose problems and recommend improvements in ways that matter to management.
Awards are made as Cooperative Agreements, meaning DOE remains actively involved in oversight and coordination rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The program is managed by DOE staff along with a DOE-selected Field Manager, and at the time of this announcement DOE was supporting 24 existing IACs that were nearing completion of their five-year project periods. Under this FOA, DOE anticipated making around 30 awards, with an award ceiling of $1,750,000 per award. The opportunity is categorized under the Energy funding activity (CFDA 81.117). The posted closing date for applications was May 20, 2016.
Eligibility is narrow and specifically tied to accredited engineering education. Only a U.S. college or university may apply, and it must be an integral part of its institutional structure with at least one four-year undergraduate program accredited by ABET (through the Engineering Accreditation Commission or the Technology Accreditation Commission) or an equivalent accreditation. A key detail is that the IAC must be housed in the engineering department that holds the relevant ABET (or equivalent) programmatic accreditation, and the engineering college or school must be physically located in the United States. The eligible applicant category listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reinforcing that the program is intended to be run through universities with established engineering programs and the capacity to supervise students conducting on-site technical work.
The work itself centers on conducting on-site assessments for qualifying small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), typically within the center's region. For this program, SMEs are defined as manufacturers with gross annual sales below $100 million, fewer than 500 employees, and annual energy bills ranging from $100,000 to $2.5 million. Faculty and staff lead the effort, while student teams participate directly in plant walk-throughs, data collection, analysis, and reporting. The expected outcomes from these assessments include actionable recommendations that can drive energy and water savings, waste reduction, and productivity gains, along with identifying opportunities tied to smart manufacturing and potential improvements to cybersecurity and related information technologies where relevant to modern industrial operations.
DOE highlights a strong track record for the program: historically, IACs have completed more than 17,000 assessments and produced over 130,000 energy-saving recommendations. The program also emphasizes implementation impact, noting that an average IAC assessment results in roughly 5 to 7 recommendations being implemented annually, translating into real savings and operational improvements for participating facilities. At the same time, the student training value is central. Students gain applied technical experience and professional skills that are difficult to replicate in a classroom, including working with plant and corporate leadership, preparing executive-level briefings and facility-specific written reports, and supporting continuous improvement approaches to energy management and manufacturing performance.
While the main mission is to serve SMEs, the FOA also allows selected centers to complete a limited number of "special assessments" for other facility types when DOE determines they align with IAC program objectives. Examples mentioned include wastewater processing facilities and institutional facilities, as well as other sites that DOE may consider appropriate. This flexibility allows the program to address broader energy and operational challenges beyond traditional manufacturing when it supports DOE's overall goals.
Applications for this opportunity were required to be submitted electronically through the EERE Exchange website (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov). Applicants must register and create an account in the system, and DOE points applicants to the Exchange user guides available at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx. The submission system enforces strict deadlines by disabling the APPLY and SUBMIT buttons at the cutoff time, so late submissions are effectively blocked. For technical submission issues before the deadline, applicants are directed to contact the Exchange helpdesk at EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Questions about the announcement content and submission process are handled as described in the full FOA posted on EERE Exchange.
Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) Funding Opportunity (DOE FOA 0001513) - FAQs
What is the Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) funding opportunity?
The Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) funding opportunity (DOE FOA 0001513) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program that supports university-based centers that conduct on-site industrial assessments and provide practical, plant-level recommendations to improve energy and water efficiency, reduce waste, improve productivity, and strengthen sustainability performance for qualifying manufacturers.
What are the main goals of the IAC program?
The program has two connected goals: (1) deliver actionable recommendations to help small and medium-sized manufacturers reduce energy and water use, cut waste, improve productivity, and remain competitive; and (2) develop the next generation of engineers by giving students hands-on experience in real industrial settings where they learn to diagnose issues and recommend improvements that matter to management.
How long has the IAC program been operating?
The program has operated since 1976, originally under the name Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Center.
What type of award does DOE make under this opportunity?
Awards are made as Cooperative Agreements, which means DOE remains actively involved in oversight and coordination rather than issuing funding with minimal ongoing involvement.
Who manages and oversees the IAC program?
The program is managed by DOE staff along with a DOE-selected Field Manager, with DOE maintaining active involvement due to the Cooperative Agreement structure.
How many awards were anticipated under this FOA?
DOE anticipated making around 30 awards under this funding opportunity.
What is the maximum funding amount per award?
The award ceiling stated for this FOA was $1,750,000 per award.
What is the funding activity category and CFDA number for this opportunity?
This opportunity is categorized under the Energy funding activity, with CFDA number 81.117.
When was the posted closing date for applications?
The posted closing date for applications was May 20, 2016.
Who is eligible to apply for IAC funding under this FOA?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. colleges or universities that are an integral part of their institutional structure and have at least one four-year undergraduate engineering program accredited by ABET (via the Engineering Accreditation Commission or the Technology Accreditation Commission) or an equivalent accreditation.
Does the IAC have to be housed in a specific part of the university?
Yes. A key requirement is that the IAC must be housed in the engineering department that holds the relevant ABET (or equivalent) programmatic accreditation.
Does the engineering college or school need to be located in the United States?
Yes. The engineering college or school must be physically located in the United States.
What applicant category is specifically listed as eligible?
The eligible applicant category listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reflecting the intent that the program be run through universities with established engineering programs and the ability to supervise students performing on-site technical work.
What does an IAC do as part of its core work?
IACs conduct on-site assessments for qualifying small and medium-sized manufacturers, typically within the center's region. Faculty and staff lead the effort, and student teams participate directly in plant walk-throughs, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
What types of recommendations or outcomes are expected from IAC assessments?
Expected outcomes include actionable recommendations that can reduce energy and water use, reduce waste, and improve productivity. Assessments may also identify opportunities related to smart manufacturing and, where relevant to modern industrial operations, potential improvements tied to cybersecurity and related information technologies.
How are qualifying small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) defined for this program?
For this IAC program, SMEs are defined as manufacturers with gross annual sales below $100 million, fewer than 500 employees, and annual energy bills ranging from $100,000 to $2.5 million.
Who participates in the on-site assessments?
Faculty and staff lead the assessments, and student teams are directly involved in on-site walk-throughs, collecting data, performing analysis, and helping prepare reports and briefings.
What is the historical track record of the IAC program?
DOE highlights that IACs have historically completed more than 17,000 assessments and produced over 130,000 energy-saving recommendations.
What does DOE say about implementation impact from IAC assessments?
The program emphasizes implementation impact, noting that an average IAC assessment results in roughly 5 to 7 recommendations being implemented annually.
How does the program support workforce development for engineering students?
The program immerses students in real industrial settings, helping them build applied technical skills and professional skills such as working with plant and corporate leadership, preparing executive-level briefings, producing facility-specific written reports, and supporting continuous improvement approaches to energy management and manufacturing performance.
Are IACs allowed to assess facilities that are not traditional manufacturing SMEs?
Yes, selected centers may complete a limited number of "special assessments" for other facility types when DOE determines they align with IAC program objectives.
What are examples of allowed "special assessments"?
Examples mentioned include wastewater processing facilities and institutional facilities, along with other sites DOE may consider appropriate when aligned with IAC program objectives.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through the EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.
Do applicants need to register on EERE Exchange to apply?
Yes. Applicants must register and create an account in EERE Exchange to submit an application.
Where can applicants find EERE Exchange user guides?
DOE points applicants to the Exchange user guides at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx.
How strict is the submission deadline in EERE Exchange?
The system enforces strict deadlines by disabling the APPLY and SUBMIT buttons at the cutoff time, which effectively blocks late submissions.
Who should applicants contact for technical issues with electronic submission before the deadline?
For technical submission issues before the deadline, applicants are directed to contact the Exchange helpdesk at EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov.
Where are questions about the announcement content and submission process addressed?
Questions about the announcement content and submission process are handled as described in the full FOA posted on EERE Exchange.
How many IACs was DOE supporting at the time of this announcement?
At the time of the announcement, DOE was supporting 24 existing IACs that were nearing completion of their five-year project periods.
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