Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002756 Renew America's Schools | DE FOA 0002858

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002858

The Department of Energy (DOE), through its State and Community Energy Program (SCEP) in the Golden Field Office, issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) signaling that it plans to release a forthcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Renew America's Schools" (referenced as DE-FOA-0002756 in the title, with source data also listing DE-FOA-0002858). The anticipated FOA is meant to carry out Section 40541 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which set aside $500 million for grants focused on energy improvements in public school facilities. The central idea is to help schools reduce energy use and costs while also using federal dollars to unlock additional investment, particularly in places with the greatest need, and to do so in a way that is practical for school systems that often face limited staff time, tight procurement rules, and short construction windows.

DOE describes several guiding goals for the planned program. It wants to prioritize high-need schools, reduce administrative burden for applicants, and build long-lasting capacity within local educational agencies (LEAs) and state partners so they can continue delivering energy and facility improvements beyond a single grant cycle. Equity is a core theme: the program is framed to maximize impact in disadvantaged communities and to support improvements that benefit students, teachers, and building occupants, not just energy bills. The NOI also emphasizes that DOE is looking for projects that can be delivered efficiently and can serve as models that other districts can copy, scale, or replicate.

In terms of what DOE hopes to see in proposed projects, the NOI encourages applicants to design efforts that are replicable and scalable, form innovative and durable partnerships, and leverage other funding sources and economies of scale. DOE also highlights outcomes beyond energy savings, such as improving indoor environmental quality and health conditions for students and staff, supporting learning and development, and strengthening the role of schools as community assets. Examples of that "community asset" concept include using schools as neighborhood cooling centers during extreme heat events or as shelters and support hubs during disaster recovery. Practical execution matters too: DOE explicitly notes that projects should be crafted with the realities of public school construction and operations in mind, including procurement constraints and the limited times of year when renovations can occur without disrupting instruction.

Partnerships are positioned as an important feature of the coming FOA. The NOI lists a wide range of potential partners that could participate alongside an eligible applicant, including governmental entities (such as states, local governments, and tribes), for-profit entities (such as utilities, energy service companies, and manufacturers of energy systems), and non-governmental organizations (such as community-based organizations, national associations, labor unions, workforce training providers, and energy-focused groups). This suggests DOE is anticipating collaborative applications that bring together technical expertise, financing and implementation capacity, and community connections, especially where districts need outside support to plan and deliver upgrades.

To support participation, SCEP is compiling a "teaming" partner list. This is essentially a matchmaking tool: organizations with relevant experience can indicate their interest and capabilities so prospective applicants can identify partners and build project teams. The NOI directs readers to the Teaming List section of the notice for details, signaling that DOE wants to lower barriers for districts and other applicants by helping them quickly find qualified support.

Finally, the document is explicit that this is only an NOI, not the FOA itself. DOE issued it to alert interested parties that a formal funding announcement is expected soon, and it cautions that all details may change once the actual FOA is released. During the NOI stage, SCEP will not answer questions; a formal question-and-answer process will be provided after the FOA is posted. The notice points applicants to the EERE Exchange website (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov) as the place to monitor for the official release and future instructions. The source data characterizes the opportunity as a discretionary grant in the energy and infrastructure category (CFDA 81.086), with eligibility listed as "unrestricted" subject to any clarifications that would appear in the FOA text.

• The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy, infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002756 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 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.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2.00 in funding.
• 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.

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