Opportunity Information: Apply for RDBCP REAP RES EEI 2015
Apply for RDBCP REAP RES EEI 2015
- The Business and Cooperative Programs in the agriculture business and commerce energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program" 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 Mar 4, 2015 and posted on Mar 4, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by REAP Applications are accepted year round. Grant competition deadlines for Fiscal Year 2015 are April 30, 2015 and June 30, 2015. For applicants requesting grants of 20,000 or less, that wish to have thier application compete for the Grants of 20,000 or less set aside, complete applications are due April 30, 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 $78,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2,000 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- Agricultural Producers
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Opportunity Summary:
The Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program, commonly known as REAP (CFDA 10.868), is a mandatory USDA Rural Development grant opportunity administered through the Business and Cooperative Programs office. Its purpose is to help eligible rural small businesses and agricultural producers finance renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements, supporting both cost savings and clean energy development in agricultural and rural business settings. The funding is positioned at the intersection of agriculture, business and commerce, and energy, reflecting the program's aim to strengthen rural economies while reducing energy use and encouraging on-site generation.
For Fiscal Year 2015, the opportunity anticipated a large volume of awards (about 2,000), supported by an estimated total funding amount of $78,000,000. Individual grant awards range from a minimum (floor) of $1,500 to a maximum (ceiling) of $500,000. The program also includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should be prepared to contribute a portion of project costs from non-grant sources. Because matching is required, the grant is generally intended to leverage other financing rather than cover an entire project budget.
Applications are accepted year-round, but the program uses competitive deadlines to batch and evaluate submissions for award decisions. For FY 2015, the main competition deadlines were April 30, 2015 and June 30, 2015. There was also a specific set-aside competition for smaller requests: applicants seeking $20,000 or less who wanted to be considered under the "Grants of $20,000 or less" set-aside needed to submit a complete application by April 30, 2015. This structure is designed to keep the program accessible to smaller projects while still running broader competitions for larger proposals.
Eligibility is focused on agricultural producers and rural small businesses, with the listing also noting small businesses and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) as eligible applicant types, with clarification referenced in the opportunity's additional eligibility information. In practice, the intent is to prioritize applicants operating in rural areas who can demonstrate a viable project that either produces renewable energy (for example, solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, or other qualifying technologies) or reduces energy consumption through efficiency improvements (such as equipment upgrades, building improvements, or process efficiency measures), consistent with REAP requirements.
To apply, applicants are instructed to use the official Application Package and Application Instructions provided with the announcement to ensure all required forms and supporting documentation are included. The opportunity emphasizes that a complete application requires using those linked materials rather than relying on informal checklists. For questions, or if there are problems accessing the announcement online, applicants are directed to contact USDA Rural Development State Energy Coordinators, with a coordinator list provided via the referenced USDA link. This point of contact is highlighted as the primary resource for navigating requirements, forms, and submission details tied to the applicant's state and project location.
REAP (USDA Rural Development) Grant FAQs
What is the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program (REAP)?
REAP (CFDA 10.868) is a mandatory USDA Rural Development grant opportunity administered through the Business and Cooperative Programs office. It helps eligible rural small businesses and agricultural producers finance renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements, with the goal of reducing energy use, supporting on-site generation, and strengthening rural economies.
Which USDA office administers this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by USDA Rural Development through the Business and Cooperative Programs office.
What is the overall purpose of REAP?
The program is intended to support cost savings and clean energy development in agricultural and rural business settings by helping fund (1) renewable energy systems and (2) energy efficiency improvements.
What types of projects does REAP support?
Based on the listing, REAP supports two broad categories of projects: renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.
What are examples of renewable energy systems mentioned in the opportunity?
Examples listed include solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and other qualifying renewable energy technologies consistent with REAP requirements.
What are examples of energy efficiency improvements mentioned in the opportunity?
Examples listed include equipment upgrades, building improvements, and process efficiency measures that reduce energy consumption, consistent with REAP requirements.
Who is eligible to apply for REAP funding?
Eligibility is focused on agricultural producers and rural small businesses. The listing also notes small businesses and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) as eligible applicant types, with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the opportunity's additional eligibility information.
Does the program prioritize rural applicants?
Yes. The intent described is to prioritize applicants operating in rural areas who can demonstrate a viable project that produces renewable energy or reduces energy consumption through efficiency improvements.
How much funding was anticipated under this opportunity for FY 2015?
For Fiscal Year 2015, the opportunity anticipated an estimated total funding amount of $78,000,000.
About how many awards were expected for FY 2015?
The opportunity anticipated a large volume of awards for FY 2015, estimated at about 2,000 awards.
What is the minimum grant award amount?
The minimum (floor) individual grant award amount is $1,500.
What is the maximum grant award amount?
The maximum (ceiling) individual grant award amount is $500,000.
Is there a matching or cost-share requirement?
Yes. The program includes a cost-sharing (matching) requirement, meaning applicants should be prepared to contribute a portion of project costs from non-grant sources.
Does REAP typically cover the full project cost?
No. Because matching is required, the grant is generally intended to leverage other financing rather than cover an entire project budget.
Are applications accepted year-round?
Yes. Applications are accepted year-round, but the program uses competitive deadlines to batch and evaluate submissions for award decisions.
How does the competitive deadline process work (as described in the listing)?
The opportunity indicates that applications may be submitted year-round, but are grouped into competition rounds based on deadlines, and then evaluated for award decisions within those batches.
What were the main FY 2015 competition deadlines?
For FY 2015, the main competition deadlines were April 30, 2015 and June 30, 2015.
Is there a special set-aside for small grant requests?
Yes. The opportunity describes a set-aside competition for smaller requests under "Grants of $20,000 or less."
What is the deadline for the "Grants of $20,000 or less" set-aside (FY 2015)?
Applicants seeking $20,000 or less who wanted to be considered under the set-aside needed to submit a complete application by April 30, 2015.
Why does the program include a set-aside for grants of $20,000 or less?
The structure is described as a way to keep the program accessible to smaller projects while still running broader competitions for larger proposals.
What should applicants use to prepare and submit an application?
Applicants are instructed to use the official Application Package and Application Instructions provided with the announcement to ensure all required forms and supporting documentation are included.
Can applicants rely on informal checklists instead of the official materials?
No. The opportunity emphasizes that a complete application requires using the linked official materials rather than relying on informal checklists.
Who should applicants contact with questions or if they cannot access the announcement online?
Applicants are directed to contact USDA Rural Development State Energy Coordinators. A coordinator list is provided via the referenced USDA link in the opportunity.
Why are State Energy Coordinators important for this opportunity?
The listing highlights State Energy Coordinators as the primary resource for navigating requirements, forms, and submission details tied to the applicant's state and project location.
What is CFDA 10.868?
CFDA 10.868 is the identifying number associated with this USDA Rural Development grant opportunity for the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program (REAP).
What is the program trying to achieve in rural communities?
The opportunity describes REAP as being positioned at the intersection of agriculture, business and commerce, and energy, aiming to strengthen rural economies while reducing energy use and encouraging renewable energy development and on-site generation.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RDBCP REAP RES EEI 2015) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Feasibility Apply for RDBCP 11 REAP FEASIBILITY Funding Number: RDBCP 11 REAP FEASIBILITY Agency: Business and Cooperative Programs Category: Agriculture Business and Commerce Energy Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| REAP Renewable Energy Systems and Enery Efficiency Improvements Apply for RDBCP 11 REAP RES EEI Funding Number: RDBCP 11 REAP RES EEI Agency: Business and Cooperative Programs Category: Agriculture Business and Commerce Energy Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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