Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP 11 REAP ENERGYAUDIT
Apply for RDBCP 11 REAP ENERGYAUDIT
- The Business and Cooperative Programs in the education energy other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.868 Rural Energy for America Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 9, 2011 and posted on May 9, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- Eligible entities include a unit of State, tribal, or local government and their instrumentalities institutions of higher education rural electric cooperatives or a public power entity. The program is design to assist farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance (EA/REDA) grant opportunity is a mandatory USDA Business and Cooperative Programs funding program designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses improve energy performance and explore renewable energy options. The core purpose is to fund third-party assistance that leads to practical, implementable recommendations, such as identifying energy efficiency improvements, quantifying energy savings, and developing the technical groundwork needed to move renewable energy projects closer to being construction-ready. By supporting energy audits and renewable energy development assistance, the program aims to reduce energy costs, increase operational efficiency, and expand the use of renewable technologies in rural America.
Funding for this opportunity was estimated at $2.8 million, with an anticipated 30 awards. Individual awards could be as high as $100,000, and applicants were required to provide cost sharing or matching funds, meaning the grant was not intended to cover 100 percent of project costs. The funding instrument is a grant, and the funding activity categories are listed broadly as education, energy, and other related activities, reflecting that the work typically involves technical analysis, engineering-style assessment, feasibility and development support, and outreach that directly benefits farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses.
Eligible applicants were not individual farmers or small businesses applying on their own through this particular assistance track. Instead, the program targeted organizations and public-serving entities capable of delivering audits and development assistance to those end users. Eligible entities included units of state, tribal, or local government (and their instrumentalities), institutions of higher education, rural electric cooperatives, and public power entities. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations were also eligible. In practice, this structure supports projects where an eligible organization conducts energy audits for multiple producers or businesses, or provides structured renewable energy development support that can include early-stage technical and planning tasks needed before pursuing financing and installation.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number RDBCP 11 REAP ENERGYAUDIT and CFDA number 10.868 (Rural Energy for America Program). The opportunity was posted on May 9, 2011, with a closing date of June 30, 2011, and an archive date of July 30, 2011. The administering agency was USDA Business and Cooperative Programs. For access issues or program questions, the listed contact was Anthony Ashby, Energy Specialist, reachable by phone at 202-720-0661.
REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance (EA/REDA) Grant FAQs
1) What is the REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance (EA/REDA) grant?
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance (EA/REDA) grant is a mandatory USDA Business and Cooperative Programs funding opportunity designed to support third-party assistance that helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses improve energy performance and explore renewable energy options.
2) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to pay for third-party services that produce practical, implementable recommendations. This includes identifying energy efficiency improvements, quantifying potential energy savings, and developing technical groundwork that helps renewable energy projects move closer to being construction-ready.
3) What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
By funding energy audits and renewable energy development assistance, the program aims to reduce energy costs, increase operational efficiency, and expand the use of renewable energy technologies in rural America.
4) Is this opportunity meant to fund equipment purchases or construction?
Based on the description provided, this opportunity is focused on audits and development assistance (technical analysis, assessments, feasibility and planning support) rather than directly funding construction or equipment installation. The goal is to produce the analysis and project development work needed to support implementable next steps.
5) What does "energy audit" mean in the context of this grant?
In this context, an energy audit refers to a structured, technical assessment intended to identify energy efficiency improvements and quantify energy savings opportunities for agricultural producers and rural small businesses.
6) What does "renewable energy development assistance" mean in the context of this grant?
Renewable energy development assistance refers to early-stage support that helps move renewable energy projects forward by developing technical and planning groundwork. The opportunity description emphasizes the goal of getting projects closer to being construction-ready through technical and development-oriented tasks.
7) Who is eligible to apply for the EA/REDA grant?
Eligible applicants are organizations and public-serving entities capable of delivering audits and development assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses. Eligible entities listed include:
- Units of state, tribal, or local government (and their instrumentalities)
- Institutions of higher education
- Rural electric cooperatives
- Public power entities
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
8) Can an individual farmer, rancher, or rural small business apply directly under this track?
No. This particular assistance track is not described as a direct-to-producer/small business application. Instead, it targets eligible organizations that will provide energy audits and renewable energy development assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses as the end users.
9) Who benefits from the work funded by this grant?
The direct applicants are eligible organizations, but the intended beneficiaries are farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses that receive audits and renewable energy development assistance supported by the grant.
10) What types of activities does the grant support?
The opportunity describes work that typically involves technical analysis and engineering-style assessment, feasibility and development support, and outreach that directly benefits agricultural producers and rural small businesses.
11) What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
12) What funding activity categories apply to this opportunity?
The funding activity categories are listed broadly as education, energy, and other related activities. This reflects that the supported work often includes technical assistance, analysis, and outreach tied to energy performance and renewable energy project development.
13) How much funding was available under this opportunity?
Funding was estimated at $2.8 million for this opportunity.
14) How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated roughly 30 awards.
15) What was the maximum award size?
Individual awards could be as high as $100,000.
16) Does the grant cover 100 percent of project costs?
No. Applicants were required to provide cost sharing or matching funds, meaning the grant was not intended to cover 100 percent of project costs.
17) Who administered this funding opportunity?
The administering agency was USDA Business and Cooperative Programs.
18) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is RDBCP 11 REAP ENERGYAUDIT.
19) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 10.868, Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
20) What were the key dates for this opportunity?
- Posted date: May 9, 2011
- Closing date: June 30, 2011
- Archive date: July 30, 2011
21) If someone had questions or access issues, who was the contact person?
The listed contact was Anthony Ashby, Energy Specialist.
22) What phone number was provided for the program contact?
The contact phone number provided was 202-720-0661.
23) How are projects typically structured under this assistance model?
The opportunity description indicates that projects are often organized so an eligible organization conducts energy audits for multiple agricultural producers or rural small businesses, or provides structured renewable energy development support that includes early-stage technical and planning tasks needed before pursuing financing and installation.
24) What does it mean that the program funds "third-party assistance"?
It means the grant supports services delivered by an eligible organization (the applicant) to help end users (agricultural producers and rural small businesses). The funded work is centered on assessment and development support that results in implementable recommendations and technical groundwork.
25) What is meant by "construction-ready" in this description?
As described, the goal of renewable energy development assistance is to move renewable energy projects closer to being ready for construction by completing technical and planning groundwork. The provided summary frames this as early-stage development support rather than installation itself.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Business and Cooperative Programs
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Energy Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
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