Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000099

  • The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Act Building America Energy Efficient Housing Partnerships" 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 Aug 24, 2009 and posted on Jun 29, 2009.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2009. (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 $31,250,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • All types of domestic entities are eligible to apply, except other Federal agencies, Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) Contractors, and nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995.
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Opportunity Summary:

The Recovery Act Building America Energy Efficient Housing Partnerships opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000099) was a U.S. Department of Energy solicitation administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory on behalf of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, specifically the Building Technologies Program. Its main purpose was to fund industry-led teams that could carry out the Building America research program aimed at improving the energy performance of both new and existing homes. In practical terms, DOE was looking for coordinated partnerships that could move housing energy efficiency from research into real-world designs, construction practices, and retrofit approaches, using field validation and industry implementation rather than purely academic study.

The announcement offered support through cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE expected substantial involvement during the project, such as collaboration on technical direction, milestones, and reporting, rather than a hands-off grant. The opportunity was part of Recovery Act funding, tying it to broader economic stimulus goals alongside energy savings, which often implied an emphasis on near-term impact, deployment readiness, and measurable outcomes.

There were two distinct program areas. Area of Interest 1, Building America Teams, focused on comprehensive industry teams that would implement the Building America program for new and existing homes. This area generally aligned with the program's long-running mission: developing, demonstrating, and accelerating adoption of integrated, whole-house energy efficiency solutions, including high-performance envelopes, efficient mechanical systems, ventilation and indoor air quality strategies, moisture control, and other building-science-driven practices that can be replicated by builders and developers. Area of Interest 2, Building America Retrofit Teams, provided a more limited but explicit option for teams to concentrate on stimulating the existing home retrofit market. That second area signaled DOE's interest in jumpstarting scalable retrofit approaches, which could include repeatable retrofit packages, streamlined assessment methods, contractor-ready guidance, and strategies that address the common barriers in retrofit adoption such as cost, disruption to occupants, split incentives, and inconsistent performance.

Funding levels were significant, with individual awards ranging from a floor of $2,500,000 up to a ceiling of $31,250,000, indicating DOE anticipated large, multi-partner efforts capable of delivering field results at scale. The opportunity fell under CFDA 81.086, Conservation Research and Development, and it included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning awardees were expected to contribute non-federal resources to help fund the work, a common mechanism DOE uses to ensure applicants have real skin in the game and to leverage federal dollars into larger total project investment.

Eligibility was broad across domestic entities, but with clear exclusions. Other federal agencies were not eligible, and neither were Federally Funded Research and Development Center contractors. Also excluded were certain nonprofit organizations, specifically 501(c)(4) nonprofits that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995. Beyond those restrictions, the solicitation allowed a wide range of U.S.-based applicants, which in the context of Building America typically could include private companies, universities, national laboratories operating in allowable roles, trade organizations, state or local entities, and multi-organization consortia, provided they fit the eligibility rules and could meet cost share requirements.

Key administrative details included the posting date of June 29, 2009, an original closing date of August 24, 2009, and a later current closing date of September 30, 2009, with archiving on October 29, 2009. The managing agency was NETL, and applicants needing access help were directed to the FedConnect help desk, with additional contact emails provided for program or submission support. Overall, the grant opportunity was designed to fund sizeable, collaborative teams to advance and deploy energy-efficient housing solutions under the Building America umbrella, with a special emphasis, in one track, on energizing the market for existing-home retrofits.

FAQs: Recovery Act Building America Energy Efficient Housing Partnerships (DE-FOA-0000099)

What is the Recovery Act Building America Energy Efficient Housing Partnerships opportunity?

This was a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000099) that supported the Building America research program through industry-led partnerships. It was administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on behalf of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Building Technologies Program.

What was the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The main purpose was to fund coordinated, industry-led teams that could improve the energy performance of both new and existing homes by moving Building America research into real-world housing designs, construction practices, and retrofit approaches. The emphasis was on field validation and practical industry implementation rather than purely academic research.

Which DOE offices and programs were associated with this solicitation?

The solicitation was associated with DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and its Building Technologies Program, with NETL administering the opportunity on DOE's behalf.

What type of federal financial assistance was used?

Awards were issued as cooperative agreements. This generally indicates DOE expected substantial involvement during the project (for example, collaboration on technical direction, milestones, and reporting) rather than a hands-off grant structure.

Why is this called a "Recovery Act" opportunity?

The funding was tied to Recovery Act (economic stimulus) funding. As described, this connection often implied a focus on near-term impact, deployment readiness, and measurable outcomes, alongside energy savings goals.

What were the two program areas (Areas of Interest)?

There were two distinct Areas of Interest:

  • Area of Interest 1: Building America Teams - Comprehensive industry teams implementing the Building America program for new and existing homes.
  • Area of Interest 2: Building America Retrofit Teams - Teams focused more specifically on stimulating the existing home retrofit market.

What did Area of Interest 1 (Building America Teams) focus on?

Area 1 focused on integrated, whole-house energy efficiency solutions for both new and existing homes. The description highlights approaches such as high-performance building envelopes, efficient mechanical systems, ventilation and indoor air quality strategies, moisture control, and other building-science-based practices intended to be replicable by builders and developers.

What did Area of Interest 2 (Building America Retrofit Teams) focus on?

Area 2 provided an option for teams to concentrate on the existing home retrofit market. It emphasized scalable retrofit approaches and could include repeatable retrofit packages, streamlined assessment methods, contractor-ready guidance, and strategies to address common barriers like cost, disruption to occupants, split incentives, and inconsistent performance.

How much funding was available per award?

Individual awards ranged from a minimum of $2,500,000 to a maximum of $31,250,000, signaling that DOE anticipated large, multi-partner efforts capable of delivering field results at scale.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity fell under CFDA 81.086, Conservation Research and Development.

Was cost sharing (matching) required?

Yes. The solicitation included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning awardees were expected to contribute non-federal resources to help fund the work.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad across domestic (U.S.-based) entities, with specific exclusions. The opportunity contemplated coordinated partnerships and, in the Building America context described, could include a wide range of U.S.-based applicants and multi-organization consortia, as long as they fit the eligibility rules and could meet the cost share requirement.

Who was not eligible to apply?

The solicitation explicitly excluded:

  • Other federal agencies
  • Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors
  • Certain nonprofit organizations, specifically 501(c)(4) nonprofits that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995

What kinds of teams did DOE want to fund?

DOE was looking for coordinated, industry-led partnerships capable of translating research into practice through field validation and industry implementation. The structure and award sizes implied multi-partner teams able to deliver results at scale in real housing settings.

What kinds of housing did the program target?

The opportunity targeted both new and existing homes. Area of Interest 1 addressed new and existing housing broadly, while Area of Interest 2 specifically emphasized existing-home retrofits.

What types of activities or outcomes were emphasized?

Based on the description, the emphasis was on practical deployment and measurable outcomes: validated designs, construction practices, and retrofit approaches that could be implemented by industry (builders, developers, contractors) rather than remaining only in research settings.

When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date was June 29, 2009.

What were the closing dates?

The original closing date was August 24, 2009, and the later "current closing date" was September 30, 2009.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on October 29, 2009.

Which agency administered this solicitation?

The managing/administrating agency listed was the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), administering on behalf of DOE.

Where could applicants get help with submission access issues?

Applicants needing access help were directed to the FedConnect help desk. The opportunity description also notes that additional contact emails were provided for program or submission support.

What was the overall goal of the Retrofit Teams track in particular?

The Retrofit Teams track (Area of Interest 2) signaled DOE's interest in jumpstarting scalable retrofit approaches and addressing adoption barriers in the existing-home market, with an orientation toward contractor-ready, repeatable solutions.

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