Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002452

DE-FOA-0002452 is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), specifically the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), administered through the DOE Golden Field Office. It supports the long-running Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) program, which has operated in some form since 1976 (originally called the Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Center program). The central idea is to improve the energy performance and competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing while simultaneously building a stronger pipeline of engineers with practical, hands-on experience in industrial energy and manufacturing systems.

The opportunity is framed around the scale and importance of industrial energy use in the United States. The FOA notes that manufacturing accounts for roughly a quarter of the nation’s energy consumption and carries an annual energy bill exceeding $150 billion. Because manufacturing energy efficiency influences both the cost structure of U.S. producers and the embedded energy in products across the broader economy, AMO positions these projects as having benefits that extend beyond individual facilities. In that context, AMO’s broader mission is described as supporting technical partnerships that develop, deploy, and validate technologies and practices that raise productivity and competitiveness for American manufacturers and other large energy users, while also strengthening the energy workforce.

The IAC program has two linked goals. First, it provides no-cost or low-cost industrial assessments and practical recommendations to small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMEs). These assessments focus on energy efficiency but also explicitly include productivity, sustainability, and overall competitiveness. A notable element in the description is the emphasis on documenting results, including measuring the greenhouse gas emissions reductions associated with implemented recommendations. In other words, the program is not only about identifying opportunities but also about tracking impact and outcomes tied to energy and emissions performance.

Second, the program is designed as a workforce development engine. It tackles a stated shortage of engineering professionals who have applied skills in industrial energy and manufacturing-related problem solving. The IAC model trains engineering students by putting them directly into real facility assessments where they learn how to gather data, analyze industrial systems, develop feasible recommendations, and communicate findings to plant management. The FOA highlights the intention to train a diverse cross-section of engineering students and encourages participation by minority-serving institutions that meet the eligibility rules.

Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial federal involvement compared to a standard grant, often including collaboration, reporting, and programmatic coordination with DOE. The listed award ceiling is $2 million, and DOE anticipated roughly 40 awards under this announcement. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 81.117, and the activity category is energy, reflecting EERE’s focus on efficiency and industrial decarbonization-adjacent outcomes.

Eligibility is restricted and very specific. Applicants must be a U.S. college or school of engineering that is an integral part of the institution and physically located in the United States. The engineering unit must have at least one four-year undergraduate program accredited by ABET (through the Engineering Accreditation Commission or the Technology Accreditation Commission) or an equivalent accreditation. Importantly, the FOA specifies that the IAC must be housed in the engineering department that holds the programmatic ABET (or equivalent) accreditation, which narrows where the center can be administratively located on campus. Eligible applicant types include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. Minority-serving institutions that satisfy these requirements are explicitly encouraged to apply.

Key administrative details in the source data show the FOA was created on March 8, 2021, with an original application closing date of April 22, 2021. The opportunity category is discretionary, consistent with competitive federal funding opportunities. Overall, the program is best understood as a combined industrial services and student training initiative: universities operate assessment centers that deliver actionable energy, productivity, and sustainability recommendations to SMEs, while DOE uses the program to expand national capacity for applied industrial energy engineering and to generate measurable energy and emissions benefits in the manufacturing sector.

  • The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DE-FOA-0002452 Funding Opportunity Announcement: Industrial Assessment Centers" 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 Mar 08, 2021.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 22, 2021. (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 $2.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
Apply for DE FOA 0002452

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DOE IAC Funding Opportunity (DE-FOA-0002452)

What is DE-FOA-0002452?

DE-FOA-0002452 is a discretionary funding opportunity announcement (FOA) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It is issued by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), and is administered through the DOE Golden Field Office.

What program does this FOA support?

This FOA supports the Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) program, a long-running DOE initiative that has operated in some form since 1976 (originally called the Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Center program).

What is the main purpose of the IAC program under this FOA?

The IAC program is designed to improve the energy performance and competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing while also strengthening the pipeline of engineers by giving students practical, hands-on experience with industrial energy and manufacturing systems.

Why does the FOA emphasize industrial energy use?

The FOA frames the opportunity around the scale of industrial energy use in the United States, noting that manufacturing accounts for roughly a quarter of the nation's energy consumption and has an annual energy bill exceeding $150 billion. AMO positions improvements in manufacturing energy efficiency as beneficial not only for individual plants but also for broader economic competitiveness and the embedded energy in products.

What are AMO's broader goals as described in the FOA?

AMO's broader mission is described as supporting technical partnerships that develop, deploy, and validate technologies and practices that increase productivity and competitiveness for American manufacturers and other large energy users, while also strengthening the energy workforce.

What are the two linked goals of the IAC program?

The IAC program has two connected goals: (1) deliver no-cost or low-cost industrial assessments and recommendations to small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMEs), and (2) serve as a workforce development program that trains engineering students through hands-on participation in real industrial assessments.

What kind of services do IACs provide to manufacturers?

IACs provide no-cost or low-cost industrial assessments and practical recommendations. While energy efficiency is central, the FOA also explicitly includes productivity, sustainability, and overall competitiveness as assessment areas.

What types of manufacturers are the focus of the assessments?

The assessments are intended for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMEs).

Is the program only about finding energy savings opportunities?

No. In addition to identifying opportunities, the FOA emphasizes documenting results and tracking impact. This includes measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions associated with implemented recommendations.

How does the IAC program support workforce development?

The program trains engineering students by placing them directly into facility assessments. Students gain applied experience collecting data, analyzing industrial systems, developing feasible recommendations, and communicating findings to plant management.

Does the FOA mention diversity or minority-serving institutions?

Yes. The FOA highlights an intention to train a diverse cross-section of engineering students and explicitly encourages minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to apply, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.

What type of federal funding instrument is used?

Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates substantial federal involvement compared to a standard grant and often includes collaboration, reporting, and programmatic coordination with DOE.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) under this FOA?

The listed award ceiling is $2 million.

How many awards did DOE anticipate making?

DOE anticipated making roughly 40 awards under this announcement.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 81.117.

What is the activity category for this FOA?

The activity category is energy, consistent with EERE's focus on energy efficiency and related manufacturing outcomes.

Who is eligible to apply for DE-FOA-0002452?

Eligibility is restricted to U.S. colleges or schools of engineering that are an integral part of the institution and physically located in the United States.

What accreditation requirement applies to applicants?

The engineering unit must have at least one four-year undergraduate program accredited by ABET (through the Engineering Accreditation Commission or the Technology Accreditation Commission) or an equivalent accreditation.

Does the FOA require a specific campus unit to host the IAC?

Yes. The FOA specifies that the IAC must be housed in the engineering department that holds the programmatic ABET (or equivalent) accreditation, which limits where the center can be administratively located within the university.

What types of higher education institutions are eligible?

Eligible applicant types include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, as long as they meet the engineering school and accreditation requirements described in the FOA.

When was this FOA created and what was the original closing date?

Key administrative details indicate the FOA was created on March 8, 2021, and the original application closing date was April 22, 2021.

Which DOE office administers this FOA?

The opportunity is administered through the DOE Golden Field Office, under EERE's Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO).

How does DOE describe the broader benefits of this program beyond individual facilities?

DOE emphasizes that manufacturing energy efficiency affects the cost structure of U.S. producers and the embedded energy in products across the broader economy. As a result, improvements can contribute to national competitiveness and broader energy and emissions impacts, not just facility-level gains.

How is this opportunity best characterized based on the FOA description?

Based on the description provided, this opportunity is a combined industrial services and student training initiative: universities operate assessment centers that deliver actionable energy, productivity, and sustainability recommendations to SMEs, while DOE uses the program to expand national capacity for applied industrial energy engineering and to generate measurable energy and greenhouse gas emissions benefits in the manufacturing sector.

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