Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands - FY 2024
| Agency: | U.S. Department of Energy |
|---|---|
| CFDA: | 81.087 |
| Federal FON: | DE-FOA-0003298 |
| Office: | Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs |
| Multipart Grant: | No |
| Next Due: | 05/30/2024 (Application) |
|---|---|
| Solicitation Date: | 02/27/2024 |
| Match Required: | Yes |
| Match Type: | Cash/In-Kind |
| Actual Funds: | $50,000,000 (Estimated) |
Summary:
The purpose of this program is to maximize the deployment of energy solutions for the benefit of American Indians and Alaska Natives and help build the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to implement those energy solutions. This program also intends to promote energy independence and economic development, with the ancillary benefit of providing employment on tribal lands through the use of commercially proven, warrantied clean energy technologies that Native Americans and Alaska Natives believe are best suited to meet their needs, their location, and their available energy resources. Projects selected for funding are expected to reduce or stabilize energy costs, increase energy security and resiliency, and provide electric power to unelectrified tribal buildings. Projects must also demonstrate the potential for economic and environmental benefits to the Indian tribe and tribal community.
Funding will allow tribes, intertribal organizations, and tribal energy development organizations to achieve the following:
- Topic Area 1: installing clean energy-generating systems and/or energy efficiency measures for tribal buildings; subtopic areas include:
- Subtopic Area 1.a: clean energy-generating systems
- Subtopic Area 1.b: energy efficiency measures
- Subtopic Area 1.c: clean energy-generating systems and energy efficiency measures
- Topic Area 2: deploying community-scale clean energy-generating systems or energy storage on tribal lands; subtopic areas include:
- Subtopic Area 2.a: community-scale clean energy-generating systems
- Subtopic Area 2.b: community-scale energy storage
- Topic Area 3: installing integrated energy systems for autonomous operation, independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid, to power a single facility or multiple essential tribal building(s) during emergency situations or for tribal community resilience; subtopic areas include:
- Subtopic Area 3.a: powering essential tribal buildings
- Subtopic Area 3.b: tribal community resilience
- Topic Area 4: providing electric power to tribal buildings that would otherwise remain unelectrified; subtopic areas include:
- Subtopic Area 4.a: integrated energy systems for electrification
- Subtopic Area 4.b: energy infrastructure for electrification
Refer to pages 16-35 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding, and requirements related to, each topic and subtopic area.
In addition to the ability to consider geographic distribution, technology diversity, and the optimum use of available funding to achieve programmatic objectives, additional consideration in the selection of applications for funding may be given to:
- Proposed projects that serve tribal communities with high energy costs
- Proposed projects that serve tribal communities not connected to the traditional centralized electrical power grid
- The degree to which the proposed project will employ the procurement of U.S. iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials
- Applicants that have not previously received funding from the Office of Indian Energy
Refer to pages 76-77 of the NOFA file for other factors that the funding agency may consider in making funding selections.
An optional webinar is scheduled for this program. Refer to the Application section for additional information.
Last Updated: March 25, 2024
Eligibility Notes:
Eligible applicants are:
- Indian tribes, including Alaska Native regional corporations and village corporations
- Intertribal organizations
- Tribal energy development organizations
Applications from a consortium of Indian tribes will be accepted but must be submitted by a single Indian tribe acting as the applicant representing the consortium. Applications may also be submitted on behalf of Indian tribes by an authorized tribal organization, provided evidence of that authority is supplied as part of the application.
Projects must be located on tribal land.
In addition to the ability to consider geographic distribution, technology diversity, and the optimum use of available funding to achieve programmatic objectives, additional consideration in the selection of applications for funding may be given to:
- Proposed projects that serve tribal communities with high energy costs
- Proposed projects that serve tribal communities not connected to the traditional centralized electrical power grid
- The degree to which the proposed project will employ the procurement of U.S. iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials
- Applicants that have not previously received an award from the Office of Indian Energy
Applicants must submit an applicant tribal council resolution or declaration of commitment and cost sharing file for the application.
Applicants may submit more than one application to this program, including more than one application under a particular topic area or subtopic area; however, each application must be for a distinctively different project and each application must address only one subtopic area.
Only new applications will be accepted. Applications for renewals or continuations of existing awards will not be considered.
Eligible Applicants:
ConsortiaNative American Tribe
Tribal Organizations/Institutions
Application Notes:
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on May 30, 2024.
Applications must be submitted online at ie-exchange.energy.gov/Login.
Applications must include:
- SF 424
- Summary slide (1 page max)
- Technical volume (15 pages max, excluding the cover page and table of contents)
- Workplan (5 pages max, excluding the milestone table)
- Eligibility statements and evidence (3 files max)
- Applicant tribal council resolution or declaration of commitment and cost sharing file (as applicable)
- Participant letters of commitment and cost sharing file (3 files max)
- Resumes (2 pages max per resume)
- Budget justification workbook
- Subrecipient budget justification workbook (3 files max)
- Budget support (3 files max)
- Cost-share reduction request (if applicable)
- Applicant registration certifications
- SF LLL
- Potentially duplicate funding notice
- Site and resource maps and graphics
- Studies and analyses
- Design and engineering
- Economics
Applications must be formatted on standard-sized pages with one-inch margins and must use 11-point black Arial font. Figures or tables may use 10-point font. Files must be submitted in the type and format specified on pages 50-52 of the NOFA file. The maximum file size is 50 MB. The control number assigned during the registration process must be prominently displayed on the upper-right corner of the header of every page, and page numbers must be included in the footer of every page.
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.
An optional informational webinar for this program is scheduled as follows:
March 14, 2024
3:00 p.m. ET
Registration: register.gotowebinar.com
Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Goals and objectives (10 percent)
- Project and outcomes (50 percent)
- Roles, responsibilities, capabilities, and commitment (30 percent)
- Workplan (10 percent)
As part of the evaluation process, the funding agency may request additional information regarding proposed projects.
Refer to the NOFA and Guide files for additional application information.
| Match Required: | Yes |
|---|---|
| Match Type: | Cash/In-Kind |
| Actual Funds: | $50,000,000 (Estimated) |
Match Notes:
In general, applicants must provide 20 percent of the total project costs via nonfederal cash or in-kind contributions. A cost-share reduction to 10 percent may be considered based on poverty rate and median household income of the tribal community relative to the statewide median household income. Matching requirements will not be reduced to less than 10 percent.
Applicants may use funding or property received from state or local governments to meet the match requirement, as long as such funding was not provided to the state or local government by the federal government.
Matching funds must be contributed to projects incrementally over the life of the award.
Refer to pages 42-46 of the NOFA file for additional details regarding the program's matching requirements.
In general, costs incurred by federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) may not be used as matching contributions.
Matching contributions may not include:
- Pre-award costs
- Revenues or royalties from the prospective operation of an activity beyond the project period
- Proceeds from the prospective sale of an asset of an activity
- Federal funding or property, unless allowed by law
- Any form of cost sharing received after the project period or prior to awards
- Costs used as matching contributions for other programs
- Expenditure reimbursed under a separate federal program
Funding Notes:
Approximately $50 million is expected to be available to support an anticipated 10 to 20 awards through this program. The number of awards available and the minimum and maximum award amounts will vary according to topic area, as follows:
- Topic Area 1: an anticipated one to three awards ranging from $100,000 to $2.5 million
- Topic Area 2: an anticipated one to two awards ranging from $250,000 to $5 million
- Topic Area 3: an anticipated two to three awards ranging as follows:
- Subtopic Area 3.a: awards ranging from $100,000 to $2.5 million
- Subtopic Area 3.b: awards ranging from $250,000 to $5 million
- Topic Area 4: an anticipated one to two awards ranging from $250,000 to $5 million
Funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis.
Award notifications are expected to be made in fall 2024.
The project period is anticipated to last for approximately two to four years, and must include a mandatory 12-month verification period.
For planning purposes, applicants must plan to attend and present award activities each year during the project period. Travel costs for this annual review must be included in the proposed budget for each year of the award, including the year the initial award is anticipated.
Pre-award costs may only be incurred with prior funding agency approval, including pre-award National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-related costs, as detailed on pages 68-69 of the NOFA file.
Funds may not be used for:
- Projects that fall outside the program's specific technical parameters
- Projects proposing studies, design, and engineering, excluding final design and engineering, or development activities; or any other activity which does not directly result in the installation of clean energy technology or infrastructure, or verification of the actual energy generated, displaced, or saved
- Projects proposing the evaluation of product marketing opportunities; assessment of manufacturing opportunities; research, design and engineering, excluding final design and engineering; product development; or the construction of manufacturing facilities or buildings
- Projects proposing the costs of construction for buildings or structures such as carports
- Project where the applicant has already taken irreversible actions regarding the proposed project
- Projects proposing energy conservation, where energy conservation, for the purposes of this program, means decreasing energy consumption by using less energy or going without to save energy
- Projects for commercial or utility-scale projects intended solely for revenue generation through the export of electricity off tribal lands for commercial sale, unless revenue from the sale of a portion of that electricity will benefit the eligible entity and the tribal community, or revenue from the exported electricity is used to offset the eligible entity's or tribal members' electricity bills
- Projects proposing conventional energy generation device(s), unless used solely as dispatchable stand-by power source
- Projects proposing the use of materials, supplies, or equipment that are not commercially proven and warrantied
- Projects proposing construction as a primary activity
- Foreign travel
- Lobbying
Contacts:
Program Staff
TribalGrants@hq.doe.gov
Agency Address
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20585
Contact Notes:
Questions must be submitted to the program staff no later than three business days prior to the application due date. Questions and answers will be posted online at ie-exchange.energy.gov.
Applications must be submitted online at ie-exchange.energy.gov/Login.
The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.
Files:
Guide File: US16579_Guide_FY2024.pdf (1.9 Mb)Application File: US16579_Application_FY2024.zip (1.0 Mb)
Other Pre-Award File: US16579_FAQ_FY2024.pdf (122.5 Kb)
NOFA File: US16579_NOFA_FY2024.pdf (1.4 Mb)
Federal Forms:
SF 424 (144.4 Kb)SF LLL (98.7 Kb)
File Notes:
The NOFA file contains the revised solicitation for this program. The Guide file contains detailed application instructions. The Application folder contains the required forms for submission. The FAQ file contains a list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding this program. The required federal forms are attached.
March 25, 2024
A revised solicitation containing updated financial information has been released and attached as the NOFA file. The Financial section has been updated accordingly.
March 18, 2024
A revised solicitation for this program has been released and attached as the NOFA file. The Financial section has been updated accordingly.
Grant Keywords
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Community DevelopmentEconomic Development
Energy