2022 Funding Opportunity Announcement for Energy Improvements at Public K-12 School Facilities - Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - Renew America's Schools | DE FOA 0002756

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002756

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of State and Community Energy Programs and administered by the Golden Field Office, released Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002756 under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) initiative known as Renew America's Schools. This is a discretionary funding opportunity that will be issued as cooperative agreements, meaning recipients should expect substantial DOE involvement during project execution (for example, coordination, reporting, and technical collaboration requirements typical of cooperative agreements). The overall purpose is to help public K-12 school facilities carry out energy-related improvements that cut operating costs, modernize building performance, and create healthier learning environments, while also supporting projects designed to be replicable and scalable across other school districts and communities.

A central theme of the FOA is pairing energy upgrades with outcomes that matter for students, teachers, and the broader community. DOE emphasizes projects that can be copied and expanded, build innovative and durable partnerships, and leverage other funding sources or economies of scale rather than relying on federal dollars alone. The FOA also highlights a government-wide priority to direct benefits toward disadvantaged communities. Beyond energy savings, DOE is explicitly looking for proposals that improve occupant health, including indoor air quality, and that recognize schools as community assets that may serve additional functions such as neighborhood cooling centers during extreme heat events or shelters and recovery hubs following disasters. The FOA also signals awareness of real-world constraints unique to K-12 facilities, such as public procurement rules, limited construction windows aligned with academic calendars, and the need to minimize disruption to school operations.

The funding is organized into two topic areas. Topic Area 1, "High-Impact Energy Efficiency and Health Improvements," focuses on upgrades that directly reduce a school's energy costs, increase energy efficiency, and deliver health improvements for occupants, with indoor air quality specifically called out. Savings can come from reducing energy loads (such as better building envelopes or more efficient systems) and also from approaches that improve how the school uses energy during peak periods, including demand flexibility and demand response strategies. In practice, this topic is aimed at high-impact, practical measures that schools can implement to lower utility bills while improving the learning environment.

Topic Area 2, "Innovative Energy Technology Packages," supports more integrated and forward-looking packages of improvements. Under this topic area, proposals may include improvements, repairs, or renovations that incorporate two or more eligible energy improvement elements. DOE lists four eligible elements: energy efficiency measures, installation of renewable energy technologies, alternative-fueled vehicle infrastructure located on school grounds, and the purchase or lease of alternative-fueled vehicles intended for school use. The requirement to include at least two elements is designed to encourage coordinated projects that combine building efficiency with clean energy and transportation solutions, rather than isolated upgrades.

DOE expects to make approximately $80,000,000 in total federal funding available for this FOA, subject to appropriations. The agency anticipates making roughly 20 to 100 awards, and it reserves the right to make one, multiple, or no awards depending on application quality and program priorities. Individual awards are expected to range from $500,000 to $15,000,000, reflecting that projects may vary from single-facility upgrades to larger, more comprehensive packages. The original application closing date listed for the FOA is April 21, 2023. Eligibility is described broadly in the summary as "Others," but applicants are directed to the full FOA on EERE Exchange for the detailed, controlling eligibility requirements and submission instructions.

Applicants interested in pursuing this opportunity are expected to consult the full announcement at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/ for specifics on who may apply, required cost share (if any), technical and financial application components, evaluation criteria, and compliance obligations. The published summary makes clear, however, that competitive applications will likely be those that show measurable energy and health benefits, are sensitive to K-12 operational realities, prioritize disadvantaged communities, and present a plan that can be replicated at scale through partnerships and leveraged funding.

• The Golden Field Office in the energy, iij sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2022 Funding Opportunity Announcement for Energy Improvements at Public K-12 School Facilities - Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - Renew America's Schools" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-11-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-04-21. (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 $15,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for DE FOA 0002756

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