Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) 2022 Appropriations | DE FOA 0002700

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002700

The Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) 2022 Appropriations opportunity is a competitive U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant program run through DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). Its basic purpose is to provide direct funding to federal agencies so they can move forward with capital project development at federally owned facilities that improves energy and water performance and helps agencies comply with federal conservation requirements. The legal foundation traces back to the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which authorized DOE to establish a fund to help federal agencies meet the energy and water conservation requirements laid out in the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA), particularly the requirements codified at 42 U.S.C. 8253(a)-(b). Using that authority, FEMP created AFFECT as a way to accelerate real, facility-level investments and the project development work needed to deploy them.

The program is focused on practical, implementable technical solutions that increase the viability and deployment of energy efficiency measures, renewable energy, and technologies or strategies that address climate change mitigation and climate adaptation/resilience across the federal building portfolio. In other words, AFFECT is not just about planning in the abstract; it is designed to help agencies develop and advance projects that can be built, financed, and operated at federal sites, including projects that otherwise might stall or shrink due to budget pressures or changing economic conditions.

Awards are made through a competitive selection process described in the Federal Agency Call (FAC), and selections are made pursuant to the competitive process authority referenced at 42 U.S.C. 8256(b)(3). The opportunity is also explicitly tied to broader Administration priorities for federal leadership on clean energy and sustainability, including Executive Order 14057 (federal sustainability and clean energy leadership), Executive Order 14008 (addressing the climate crisis), and the federal sustainability and energy management goals embedded in NECPA section 543, as amended through later legislation including the Energy Act of 2020. The announcement emphasizes outcomes aligned with clean energy deployment, climate action, and considerations of environmental justice and equity as part of federal leadership.

The FAC organizes applications into three topic areas. Topic Area 1 targets projects already under development that are facing reductions in scope because of adverse fiscal or economic changes; the intent is to keep promising efforts from being downsized or delayed when costs rise, budgets tighten, or financial assumptions shift. Topic Area 2 is focused on load management projects pursued through Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs), which generally refers to performance-based contracting approaches where savings and performance guarantees play a central role. Topic Area 3 also addresses load management projects, but for projects using procurement mechanisms other than EPCs, giving agencies flexibility to pursue similar grid and demand-oriented outcomes through alternative acquisition pathways.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity is listed as DE-FOA-0002700 under the DOE Golden Field Office, categorized as a discretionary grant in the energy funding activity area, with CFDA/Assistance Listing 81.117. The stated award ceiling is $2,000,000 per award, with an expectation of making about 15 awards. The opportunity was created on December 2, 2022, and the original application closing date was February 28, 2023. Eligibility is aimed at federal agencies (the listing notes "Others" with clarification in the eligibility text, but the announcement narrative repeatedly specifies that applications are sought from federal agencies for federally owned facilities).

Applications must be submitted through DOE's EERE Exchange portal (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov). Applicants are required to register in the system and upload all required materials there, and the FAC posted on EERE Exchange is the controlling document for requirements, evaluation criteria, and where to direct questions about the announcement content or submission logistics.

• The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) 2022 Appropriations" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.117.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 02, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 28, 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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for DE FOA 0002700

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