Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Request for Information (RFI): Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas | DE FOA 0002841

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002841

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Request for Information (RFI) titled "Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas" (ERA) is a Department of Energy (DOE) information-gathering effort designed to shape how DOE will roll out and operate the ERA Program. It is not a grant competition and it does not provide funding by itself. Instead, DOE is asking the public and interested stakeholders to share ideas, needs, and recommendations so the agency can design a program that delivers practical energy improvements for people living in rural or remote communities.

At its core, the RFI is seeking input on what outcomes the ERA Program should prioritize for residents of rural or remote areas, and what kinds of innovative energy projects could realistically achieve those outcomes while still aligning with the program authority in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. DOE is also asking for feedback on factors that could influence program design and strategy, such as barriers unique to rural places (distance, weather, limited grid infrastructure, supply chain limitations, smaller local workforces, and fewer specialized contractors), as well as considerations that affect how projects can be financed, built, maintained, and replicated. Another major focus is how the program should incorporate community benefits, including energy and environmental justice (EEJ), diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), and the creation of quality jobs. DOE also wants ideas for how to share lessons learned and measurable impacts broadly, so that successes in one region can be adapted by other communities facing similar challenges.

DOE notes that the responses will be used strictly for planning purposes as the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) develops the ERA Program. Based on what it learns, DOE may choose different tools to support eventual implementation, potentially including technical assistance, prize competitions, future Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), Other Transactional Authorities (OTAs), or Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs). In other words, the RFI is meant to help DOE decide what kinds of support mechanisms make the most sense for rural and remote energy solutions, and how to structure them so communities can actually access and benefit from them. DOE also states that the information collected will not be published, signaling that responses are intended to inform internal program planning rather than serve as a public record of comments.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted by the Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, under Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002841, with CFDA number 81.255. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the official RFI text. Even though eligibility is broad, it matters to emphasize that this is not an application for financial assistance, and DOE will not pay for submitted information. The notice also makes clear that no project will be supported as a direct result of responding to the RFI, and DOE may or may not issue a future FOA after considering the input.

Responses had to be submitted electronically as email attachments to ERA@hq.doe.gov by 12:00 pm Eastern Time on November 28, 2022 (the posting date was October 27, 2022). The award ceiling and expected awards are both listed as zero because the RFI itself does not provide funding. For those looking for the full details, DOE directed respondents to the OCED Exchange site (https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/) and instructed them to search using the RFI document number.

• The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy, infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Request for Information (RFI): Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.255.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 27, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 28, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for DE FOA 0002841

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