Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) Technical Assistance Provider Opportunity
Information
Description
The Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program was established in 2023 to expand the decision-making capacity and expertise of state, local, and Tribal governments around large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting. Through funding, technical assistance (TA), and peer-to-peer information sharing, R-STEP supports state-based collaboratives in developing programs or initiatives that serve as a resource to local communities.
R-STEP is currently supporting twelve collaboratives working in thirteen states. Each collaborative received up to $2M in funding to improve renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting within their state. Collaborative activities include evaluation of community perceptions and priorities through surveys and listening sessions, development of guidebooks and fact sheets on priority LSRE siting topics, development of websites or resource hubs to facilitate access to technical information, technical assistance and training for local and Tribal government officials, workshops and webinars to educate and disseminate science-based information, and other activities.
Objective
Through this R-STEP Opportunity, The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is requesting applications from TA providers who have a deep understanding of renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting topics (e.g., environmental impacts, tax policies, land use, zoning ordinance development) and demonstrated experience providing advisory, educational, or technical assistance services. Selected TA providers will provide technical support to R-STEP collaboratives to improve their understanding of priority LSRE siting topics, inform the development of state-based resources, and strengthen the ability of collaboratives to serve as a trusted source of information within their states.
EERE will select TA providers through this funding opportunity based on the needs and priorities of R-STEP collaboratives and the criteria and guidance detailed in the Submission Guidance document.
Eligible applicants for this opportunity include for-profit organizations (e.g., consulting firms, law firms), nonprofit organizations (e.g., environmental nonprofits, trade associations, and community-based organizations), and academic institutions (i.e., colleges and universities). EERE will not select multiple applications from a single organization and requests that subject matter experts from the same organization coordinate to submit a single application.
EERE anticipates awarding four to eight TA providers with awards ranging between $20,000 and $300,000. For the purposes of this opportunity, applicants are asked to identify TA deliverables that the applicant is prepared to execute over the course of up to two years. A TA deliverable is defined as a discrete activity or effort that provides technical information or support to one or more state-based collaboratives. The proposed cost of each TA deliverable must be provided in the application.
Applications consist of:
- TA Provider Project Narrative: Identifies the TA deliverables being proposed, describes the applicant organization’s expertise and body of work, describes the topics of interest covered in the TA deliverables, and discusses diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations (click here download template)
- Resumes/Curriculum Vitae: Up to 2 pages for each of the subject matter experts that will be participating TA proposed in the application. All resumes must be compiled into a single PDF document and included as an attachment in the Online Questionnaire.
- Online Questionnaire: Submission form that requires applicant to provide points of contact, contact information, basic information about the application, and allows for the upload of the Project Narrative and Resume/CV documents.
In addition, DOE may request to meet with applicants virtually during the application review and selection process.
Event Updates
How to Participate
- Review details on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and how to apply: Click Here to Download Submission Guidance Document
- Review the resources from the Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session on November 19, 2024 under Webinar Resources.
- Participate in the informational Office Hours session on December 11, 2024 from 3:00-4:00 PM ET: Click Here to RSVP
- Download Project Narrative Template: Click Here to Download
- Complete Questionnaire and Upload Project Narrative: Click Here to Submit (Submissions are due NLT January 9th, 2025 by 3:00 PM ET)
Notice for all parties interested in ENERGYWERX events and programs: Announcement of ENERGYWERX events that are considered to have a high potential for further efforts that may be accomplished via FAR-based contracting instruments, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for prototype projects 10 USC 4022, prizes for advanced technology achievements 10 USC 4025, and/or prize competitions 15 USC 3719, may be made at the www.energywerx.org website. All announcements made at the www.energywerx.org website are considered to satisfy the reasonable effort to obtain competition in accordance with 10 USC 4025, 15 USC 3719 (e) and 10 USC 4022. All FAR-based actions will follow announcement procedures per FAR 5.201(b) accordingly.