The Department of Energy (DOE) seeks to provide financial assistance for information dissemination, outreach, training and related technical analysis/assistance which will: (1) stimulate increased energy efficiency in transportation, buildings, industry and the Federal sector and encourage increased

credit: Global Environmental Matters

use of renewable and alternative energy; and (2) accelerate the adoption of new technologies to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable and alternative energy through the competitive solicitation of applications.

Selected Recipients for this Program

Fiscal Year 2016: Education, Outreach, and Technology Transfer projects. Of particular note, this program funds the Solar Ready Vets. The Solar Ready Vets program connects our nation?s skilled veterans to the solar energy industry, preparing them for careers as solar photovoltaic (PV) system installers, sales representatives, system inspectors, and other solar-related occupations. Solar Ready Vets is enabled by the U.S. Department of Defense?s SkillBridge initiative, which allows exiting military personnel to pursue civilian job training, employment skills training, apprenticeships, and internships up to six months prior to their separation. Employment in the U.S. solar industry increased 123% since 2010, and veterans are strong candidates to fill solar positions because they are disciplined, motivated, and technically savvy. Solar Ready Vets trains active military personnel who are in ?transitioning military? status ? within a few months of leaving military service and becoming a veteran ? and it prepares them to be strong candidates for positions in management, PV installation, sales, as well as technical positions. Fiscal Year 2017: Education, Outreach, and Technology Transfer projects. Of particular note, this program funds the Solar Ready Vets. The Solar Ready Vets program connects our nation?s skilled veterans to the solar energy industry, preparing them for careers as solar photovoltaic (PV) system installers, sales representatives, system inspectors, and other solar-related occupations. Solar Ready Vets is enabled by the U.S. Department of Defense?s SkillBridge initiative, which allows exiting military personnel to pursue civilian job training, employment skills training, apprenticeships, and internships up to six months prior to their separation. Employment in the U.S. solar industry increased 123% since 2010, and veterans are strong candidates to fill solar positions because they are disciplined, motivated, and technically savvy. Solar Ready Vets trains active military personnel who are in ?transitioning military? status ? within a few months of leaving military service and becoming a veteran ? and it prepares them to be strong candidates for positions in management, PV installation, sales, as well as technical positions. Fiscal Year 2018: Education, Outreach, and Technology Transfer projects. Of particular note, this program funds the Solar Ready Vets. The Solar Ready Vets program connects our nation?s skilled veterans to the solar energy industry, preparing them for careers as solar photovoltaic (PV) system installers, sales representatives, system inspectors, and other solar-related occupations. Solar Ready Vets is enabled by the U.S. Department of Defense?s SkillBridge initiative, which allows exiting military personnel to pursue civilian job training, employment skills training, apprenticeships, and internships up to six months prior to their separation. Employment in the U.S. solar industry increased 123% since 2010, and veterans are strong candidates to fill solar positions because they are disciplined, motivated, and technically savvy. Solar Ready Vets trains active military personnel who are in ?transitioning military? status ? within a few months of leaving military service and becoming a veteran ? and it prepares them to be strong candidates for positions in management, PV installation, sales, as well as technical positions.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Financial assistance is provided in support of the program objectives as described in a single competitive solicitation or multiple competitive solicitations.

The solicitation(s) will provide funding in various program areas within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Solar, Wind and Hydropower, Geothermal, Biomass, Buildings Technologies, Advanced Manufacturing, Vehicles, Solid State Lighting, Weatherization and Intergovernmental, Federal Energy Management Program, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Restrictions on use of funds depend on the provisions of the specific project agreement.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Profit organizations, individuals, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public nonprofit institutions/organizations, State and local governments, Native American organizations, Alaskan Native corporations and universities may apply.

DOE Laboratories are not eligible.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Profit organizations, individuals, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public nonprofit institutions/organizations, State and local governments, Native American organizations, Alaskan Native corporations and universities benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The application forms must be downloaded from the specific funding opportunity announcement posted on the grants.gov website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/ and http://www.grants.gov/. A separate application must be submitted for each DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Program Area of Interest.

Award Procedures

All applications which pass an initial review will receive an objective merit review. Objective Merit Review Committees will evaluate applications based on the evaluation criteria set forth in the competitive solicitation. After the Merit Review Committee has completed its evaluations, an EERE Office Director or other Program Official will evaluate the applications against program policy factors set forth in the competitive solicitation. Final decisions will be made by the EERE Assistant Secretary, Deputy Assistant Secretaries, and the Director of the Federal Energy Management Program.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Public Law 111-5 ?American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009?; Public Law 110?140 ?Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007?; Public Law 109?58 ?Energy Policy Act of 2005?; Public Law 102-486 ?Energy Policy Act of 1992?; Public Law 95-91 ?Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977?; Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 5813(6)(7)(8), 42 U.S.C 13231; Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, 42 U.S.C 712; Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 5813(6)(7)(8); ARRA 2009, 42 U.S.C 5813 (6-8).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days. None.

Appeals

Unsuccessful applicants are entitled to a debriefing by DOE program officials with a clear explanation of why the proposal was not accepted for funding.

Renewals

Renewals are subject to review by the headquarters program office and subject to the availability of funds.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Length and time phasing of assistance will vary with the program phase and activity. The maximum term of awards varies among the Program Areas of Interest and ranges from 6 months to 5 years. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are released through the Electronic Transfer System. Annual budget periods are set by each grantee within parameters etablished by DOE.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required.

No cash reports are required.

Quarterly progress reports, and a final report at the conclusion of the grant time period.

Quarterly expenditure reports (SF-425), and a final report at the conclusion of the grant time period.

Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. Costs incurred are subject to audit throughout the grant period and before final close-out per 2 CFR 200 subpart F (for other than for-profit entities). For-profit recipients are subject to the audit requirements in 2 CFR 910.501.

Records

A grantee is expected to maintain auditable records to substantiate the total costs incurred under the grant per 2 CFR 200.

Financial Information

Account Identification

89-0321-0-1-270.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 16 $19,527,362; FY 17 est $31,842,546; and FY 18 Estimate Not Available

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Vary.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

The following list represents an overview of regulations, guidelines, and literature: EERE Federal Register notices; EERE Solicitations, which may be accessed through the EERE homepage at: http://www.eere.energy.gov; DOE Financial Assistance Regulations (2 CFR 200 as amended by 2 CFR 910); and the DOE Guide to Financial Assistance, both of which may be accessed through the DOE Office of Management home page at: http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/02/f29/Merit%20Review%20Guide%20FINAL%20JULY%202013.pdf

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

James Cash 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401 Email: james.cash@ee.doe.gov Phone: 240-562-1456

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Selection will be based on an objective merit review recommendation, program policy factors, the amount of funds available, provisions of appropriation law and reports and as otherwise specified in the solicitation document at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.