Application Notes:

Mandatory concept papers must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on March 28, 2024.

The due date for the concept paper has been extended to 5:00 p.m. ET on April 12, 2024. Additional information is included in the revised NOFA file.

Concept papers must be submitted online at infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov.

Concept papers must include:

• Cover page (1 page max)
• Statement of need (5 pages max)
• Energy auditor training program plan (5 pages max)
• Addendum (optional; 2 pages max)

Concept papers must be submitted in .pdf format and be formatted on standard-sized pages using at least one-inch margins and black Calibri font no smaller than 12-point, although figures and tables may be 10-point. References must be included as footnotes or endnotes, which will count toward the maximum page requirements, in at least 10-point font. The control number must be prominently displayed on the upper right corner of the header of every page and included in the file name. Page numbers must be included in the footer of every page. The maximum file size that may be uploaded is 50 MB. If a file exceeds 50 MB but is still within the maximum page limit, it must be broken into parts and denoted to that effect.

Concept papers will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Statement of need demonstrates the need for assistance to train energy auditors to conduct energy audits or surveys of commercial and residential buildings
• Applicant clearly describes the proposed project that provides a proposed training curriculum for energy audit trainees; identification of the covered certification(s) that those trainees will receive on completion of that training curriculum; expected per-individual cost of training; and plan for connecting trainees with employment opportunities
• Applicant has identified opportunities for the program to support, coordinate, or collaborate with the State Energy Program, Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program, State-Based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants, Home Energy Rebates, Building Energy Codes, or other relevant programs
• Proposed work, if successfully accomplished, would clearly meet the program objectives

The funding agency will encourage a subset of applicants to submit full applications, and other applicants will be discouraged from submitting a full application. An applicant that receives a discouraged notification may still submit a full application; however, by discouraging the submission of a full application, the funding agency intends to convey its lack of programmatic interest in the proposed project in an effort to save the applicant the time and expense of preparing a full application that is unlikely to be selected for award negotiations.

Full applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on June 28, 2024.

The due date for the full application has been extended to 5:00 p.m. ET on July 12, 2024. Additional information is included in the revised NOFA file.

Full applications must be submitted online at infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov.

Full applications must include:

• Statement of need
• Energy auditor training program plan
• Resumes for each project manager and senior/key personnel (3 pages max each)
• Community benefits plan: job quality and equity
• Community benefits plan budget and budget justification
• Letters of commitment (if applicable)
• Community partnership documentation (optional; 10 pages max)
• SF 424
• Budget justification workbook
• Summary/abstract for public release (1 page max)
• Summary slide (1 page max)
• Subrecipient budget justification (if applicable)
• SF LLL
• Transparency of foreign connections
• Potentially duplicative funding notice
• Current and pending support

Full applications must be formatted on standard-sized pages using at least one-inch margins and black Calibri font no smaller than 12-point, although figures and tables may be 10-point. References must be included as footnotes or endnotes, which will count toward the maximum page requirements, in a font no smaller than 10-point. The control number must be prominently displayed on the upper-right corner of the header of every page and included in the file name. Page numbers must be included in the footer of every page. The maximum file size that may be uploaded is 50 MB. If a file exceeds 50 MB but is still within the maximum page limit, it must be broken into parts and denoted to that effect. Files must be formatted and named according to the specifications detailed on pages 31-32 of the NOFA file.

The following are required in order to submit an application:

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• SAM (System for Award Management) registration

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.

A recording of a webinar held for this program can be found online at www.youtube.com.

Full applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Technical merit and impact (40 percent)
• Project management, objectives, activities, and workplan (20 percent)
• Team and resources (10 percent)
• Sustainability plan (10 percent)
• Community benefits plan (20 percent)

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Notes:

Matching funds are not required for this program; however, the funding agency encourages applicants to consider how they could leverage philanthropic and private sector cash and/or in-kind contributions to advance their goals and amplify the impact of the federal funds. If matching funds are proposed, they must be included in the budget and budget narrative, and applicants selected for award negotiations will be bound by the matching funds proposed in their full applications.

In-kind contributions may include volunteer personnel hours, donated existing equipment, and donated existing supplies.

Matching funds may not include:

• Funds from other federal sources
• Fee or profit

Funding Notes:

An unspecified amount of funding is available to support approximately 20 to 30 awards for this program overall, with up to approximately $18 million available through this component to support an anticipated 10 to 15 awards expected to range from $200,000 to $2 million.

Award notifications are expected to be made on October 24, 2024.

The project period is expected to last 36 months and be comprised of one or more budget periods; however, the funding agency will consider applications that contain justification for a project period longer or shorter than 36 months.

Applicants selected for award negotiations must request prior written approval to charge pre-award costs.

Funds may not be used for:

• Foreign travel costs
• Lobbying
• Certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment, as detailed on page 90 of the NOFA file
• Fee or profit
• Translating purchased curriculum that is copyrighted
• Training trainers

For FY 2024, four awards ranging from $900,000 to $2 million were distributed through this component. Refer to the Award file for details.

November 13, 2024
Information regarding FY 2024 awards through this program and component has been released and attached as the Award file. A sample of award recipients has been added to the Eligibility section, and a brief summary of the awards has been added to the Financial section.

June 18, 2024
An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file.

May 9, 2024
An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file.

April 4, 2024
A revised solicitation containing updated due dates for the concept paper and full application has been released and attached as the NOFA file. In addition, a list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file. All relevant sections have been updated accordingly.