Turn Key Open Source Software Solutions for Energy Management of Small to Medium Sized Buildings | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the funding opportunity number and who issued it?

This discretionary funding opportunity is DE-FOA-0000822, issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through its Golden Field Office.

What problem is this FOA trying to address?

The FOA focuses on reducing wasted energy in the small-to-medium commercial building sector by accelerating practical building automation. The premise described is that buildings account for more than 40 percent of total U.S. energy use, and a meaningful share of that energy is lost because many buildings lack building controls or have Building Automation Systems (BAS) that are underused or poorly configured.

Which buildings are targeted by this opportunity?

The opportunity targets small and medium U.S. buildings where the lack of effective building automation is most widespread. The notice describes small buildings as around 5,000 square feet and medium buildings as roughly 5,000 to 50,000 square feet, noting that more than 90 percent of U.S. buildings fall into these size categories.

Why does DOE emphasize small and medium commercial buildings?

Because these facilities commonly do not have a centralized BAS to monitor and control major building systems, and they often lack dedicated controls engineering staff, large capital budgets, or complex existing automation infrastructure. The FOA aims to make energy management capabilities easier to deploy and operate in these settings.

What is the main objective of the FOA?

The core objective is to develop a "turn key" BAS solution tailored specifically to small and medium sized buildings, with an emphasis on open source software.

What does "turn key" mean in the context of this FOA?

Based on the description provided, it refers to a BAS solution that can be deployed with minimal friction in typical smaller facilities, particularly those without specialized staff, large budgets, or extensive existing automation systems.

Is the FOA specifically looking for open source solutions?

Yes. The FOA emphasizes open source software as part of the desired "turn key" building automation system approach.

What type of award does DOE plan to use?

Awards are structured as cooperative agreements, rather than a more hands-off grant.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

In this FOA, it means the government typically expects substantial involvement during the project, such as technical direction, milestones, and regular progress reviews.

What is the funding activity category and CFDA number?

The funding activity category is Energy. The FOA is associated with CFDA 81.086, Conservation Research and Development.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants must contribute a portion of the total project cost from non-federal sources, as defined in the full FOA.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), with specific caveats referenced in the full FOA text.

Can DOE/NNSA FFRDCs and DOE GOGO laboratories apply?

Yes. The notice states DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and DOE Government Owned Government Operated (GOGO) laboratories may apply as prime recipients or subrecipients.

Are there any conflict-of-interest restrictions related to FFRDCs or GOGOs?

Yes. Individuals from FFRDCs and GOGOs who participated in preparing the FOA are not allowed to participate in the application process.

Where do applicants submit their application?

The application process is handled exclusively through DOE's EERE eXCHANGE portal. Applicants must register and create an account to submit materials.

Is there guidance available for using the EERE eXCHANGE portal?

Yes. The FOA points applicants to an online user guide hosted on the EERE site for help navigating the system.

How are questions handled for this opportunity?

Questions about the content of the announcement and questions about the mechanics of submission are directed according to the instructions in the full FOA posting on EERE eXCHANGE.

Who should be contacted for EERE eXCHANGE access issues?

For access issues, the notice provides a grants management contact: Carlo DiFranco at BEM@go.doe.gov.

What are the key dates for this FOA?

The FOA was posted March 28, 2013. A mandatory concept paper was due April 22, 2013. The full application closing date was June 24, 2013. The archive date is listed as September 30, 2013.

Is a concept paper required?

Yes. The FOA includes a mandatory concept paper with a due date of April 22, 2013.

What does the archive date mean for this opportunity?

The record lists an archive date of September 30, 2013, indicating the opportunity was archived as of that date.

How much total funding is available and what are the award sizes?

The summarized record shows total funding and award size fields (ceiling and floor) as zero. This typically indicates the funding amounts were not captured in the extract and would need to be confirmed in the full FOA on EERE eXCHANGE.

Does this summary provide the exact funding amounts?

No. The information provided indicates that funding totals and award ranges are not included in this extract and should be verified in the full FOA on EERE eXCHANGE.

What is the overarching goal for building owners and operators?

The goal described is to make energy management capabilities more accessible, easier to install, and easier to operate in small and medium buildings, so these facilities can capture energy efficiency gains that may otherwise be missed due to lack of controls or poorly used BAS.