2023 Funding Opportunity Announcement for Energy Improvements at Nonprofits - Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) – Renew America’s Nonprofits | DE FOA 0003066

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003066

The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of State and Community Energy Programs and administered by the DOE Golden Field Office, released this discretionary funding opportunity under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act). The program is called Renew America's Nonprofits, and it is designed to fund energy efficiency improvements in nonprofit facilities in a way that can scale nationally. The bigger picture goal is to modernize infrastructure while also supporting a cleaner and more equitable energy economy, aligning with federal targets of a zero-carbon electricity system by 2035 and economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050.

At its core, the FOA is looking for projects that deliver energy efficiency upgrades and do so using models that can be replicated and expanded. DOE is emphasizing approaches that create innovative partnerships, leverage additional funding, and capture economies of scale rather than isolated one-off retrofits. The work funded under this announcement supports Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Section 40542 and reflects a broader federal priority to direct benefits toward disadvantaged communities and energy communities, meaning applicants are expected to think about who benefits, how benefits are distributed, and how the work can be sustained beyond the grant period.

A defining feature of this funding opportunity is the "aggregation model." Instead of DOE issuing hundreds of small awards directly to individual nonprofits, DOE plans to make a smaller number of larger awards to organizations that serve as Prime recipients. These Prime recipients are responsible for assembling a bundle of energy efficiency projects across multiple nonprofit facilities and then providing the technical, administrative, and project support needed to get those upgrades planned and completed. DOE anticipates awarding roughly 5 to 15 grants under this model, with the intent that the bundled portfolios will collectively cover hundreds of nonprofit facilities. In practice, this means many nonprofits may participate as subrecipients or partner sites within a larger coordinated application led by a Prime.

The funding instrument for awards is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination, reporting, oversight, and technical engagement) rather than a hands-off grant. The opportunity is listed under the Energy activity category and is associated with CFDA number 81.086. The stated award ceiling is up to $9,000,000 per award, and DOE expected to make up to 15 awards.

Eligibility is aimed at nonprofit organizations, specifically including nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, as stated in the opportunity listing. Because eligibility rules can be nuanced and sometimes differ between prime applicants and other team members, organizations typically need to verify whether they intend to apply as a Prime recipient, a subrecipient, or another type of partner and confirm that structure fits the FOA's requirements.

To help organizations form the multi-entity teams needed for bundled applications, DOE is maintaining a "Teaming Partner List." This is essentially a matchmaking resource where organizations can signal that they want to join a project team or find partners for an application. Interested organizations can add themselves to the list by completing a Microsoft form available through the Renew America's Nonprofits webpage (https://www.energy.gov/scep/renew-americas-nonprofits) or by emailing their information to Nonprofits@doe.gov with the subject line "Teaming Partner Information."

Key administrative details from the listing include the FOA number DE-FOA-0003066, an original closing date of August 3, 2023, and an initial posting/creation date of May 24, 2023. In summary, this opportunity is built around scaling energy efficiency upgrades across many nonprofit facilities through a smaller set of well-resourced Prime recipients that can aggregate projects, deliver measurable energy improvements, and target benefits to disadvantaged and energy communities while supporting long-term national decarbonization goals.

• The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2023 Funding Opportunity Announcement for Energy Improvements at Nonprofits - Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) – Renew America’s Nonprofits" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 24, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 03, 2023. (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 $9,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for DE FOA 0003066

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