Workstream 1: Implementation Grants

This workstream involves collecting grant applications from SMMs to implement recommendations made in ITAC, CHP/Onsite Energy TAP, or qualified equivalent assessments that meet the eligibility and prioritization criteria described below.  

Note: For entities who have received ITAC energy assessments with additional assessment recommendations (AARs): The DOE and ENERGYWERX can help you obtain further cost and energy savings calculations for those AARs so that you can apply for funding to implement them through the ITAC Implementation Grant Program.

GRANT AMOUNTS:

Eligible SMMs can now receive a maximum of $300,000 of funding per unique assessment recommendation. Multiple grants per quarter are allowable, provided each grant is dedicated solely to a unique project recommendation from a qualifying assessment. There is no limit to the number of grants per funding round per applicant, provided each assessment recommendation has not been previously funded.

Additionally, the program will require a minimum grant funding request threshold of $5,000, or in other words, a minimum of $10,000 in total project costs. This minimum threshold aims to focus this program's resources on helping manufacturers implement larger capital projects that are less likely to be feasible without the federal funding.

Note: Eligible potential applicants must submit one (1) form FOR EACH FACILITY in which grant support is requested.

NEW:

ISO 50001 and 50001 Ready-certified manufacturing facilities can now apply for grant funding, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements, by following these steps:

• ISO 50001/50001 Ready-certified facility conducts a self-assessment as part of the certification protocol
• The facility fills out this form detailing the self-assessment and converting it into the standard ITAC assessment format: Click Here to View
• The facility sends the form to their regional ITAC Center of Excellence (CoE), who reviews it and approves or rejects it
• Facilities with CoE-approved forms can upload it as part of their ITAC implementation grant application (in the section “Please upload your ITAC, CHP/Onsite Energy TAP, or qualified third-party assessment report here.”)

Any ITAC implementation grant recipient paying internal staff and/or external contractors to conduct “construction, alteration, or repair work” must comply with Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) requirements to pay workers at least the prevailing wage (average wage for similarly employed workers in a given occupation in an area). ENERGYWERX & the DOE team will help you understand how to comply with the wage and reporting requirements and are working to make it as straightforward as possible. The trickiest part is generally submitting weekly payrolls for those doing the work to the free online LCP tracker. Note that DBA will apply only for weeks where construction/alteration/repair work is actually taking place. Many external contractors are familiar with the DBA process; additional costs incurred to comply with DBA can be included in project budgets and the grant application and reimbursed, up to 50%, by grant funding. For more information, please visit this DOE webpage.‍

The current quarterly submission deadline is TBD*. DOE will host monthly Office Hours (OH) Q&A Webinar to answer any questions from potential applicants before the next quarterly submission deadline. Express interest in the upcoming Informational Office Hours Sessions - Click Here to Express Interest in Participating

ENWX will be employing the CAPTCHA-enabled feature on our meetings, and webinar participants may receive a CAPTCHA challenge in order to join the Sessions. 

For a best webinar experience, we recommend downloading the Microsoft Teams software to your computer, smartphone, or tablet.

At this time, program activities including award negotiations, application reviews and selections, and new submissions, are on hold as DOE continues to evaluate program portfolios on a case-by-case basis consistent with administration priorities.

At this time, program activities including award negotiations, application reviews and selections, and new submissions, are on hold as DOE continues to evaluate program portfolios on a case-by-case basis consistent with administration priorities.

At this time, program activities including award negotiations, application reviews and selections, and new submissions, are on hold as DOE continues to evaluate program portfolios on a case-by-case basis consistent with administration priorities.

Applications in this round of funding must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Applicant is a domestic entity. [1]

2. Applicant is a manufacturer – that is, an entity that engages in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components; or applicant is a water or wastewater treatment facility.

• ‍Eligible applicants may fall under the following NAICs Codes
  - NAICS Code: 31-33 (Manufacturing)
  - NAICS Code: 1114 (Controlled Environment Agriculture)
  - NAICS Code: 22131-22132 (Water Supply Systems and Sewage Treatment Facilities)

3. Applicant had gross annual sales of less than $100 million in the most recently completed fiscal year OR the year in which the assessment was completed (if different).

4. Applicant annual energy bills were between $100,000 and $3.5 million in the most recently completed fiscal year OR the year in which the assessment was completed (if different).

5. There were fewer than 500 employees at the assessed plant site in the most recently completed fiscal year OR the year in which the assessment was completed (if different).

6. All proposed projects address recommendation(s) made in an ITAC or CHP/Onsite Energy TAP assessment conducted since January 1, 2018, or another qualified assessment since January 1, 2021.

7. No proposed project efforts already have been implemented.

8. Minimum total project(s) implementation cost of $10,000.

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Applications in this round of funding will be evaluated and prioritized using the following criteria:

‍Impact and Feasibility‍

1. The degree to which the proposed project(s) has the potential to improve the assessed plant site’s energy efficiency and productivity.

2. The likelihood that the project will improve the applicant’s competitiveness, given the payback period and expected return on investment (cost savings/implementation cost) over a 10-year period after implementation.

3. The adequacy of the proposed project management approach, including the clarity of project scope, cost, work plan, and key milestones to ensure project objectives are met, as well as the availability of sufficient Project Manager and team time.

Need for Financial Assistance and Cost Share

4. The degree to which the applicant demonstrates the need for financial assistance to implement the proposed project, considering available funding sources, upfront costs, and estimated payback period.

5. Whether the grant will supplement, not supplant, any private or State funds available to the eligible entity to carry out the covered project.

6. Whether the applicant leverages and demonstrate successful securement of alternative funding sources (e.g., Private Banks, State & Utility Programs, Energy Performance Saving Contracts, SBA) to carry out the covered project.

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In addition, DOE may consider portfolio-wide program policy factors in determining which full applications to select for awards, including:

• The degree to which the proposed project(s) contributes to a portfolio with different sizes and different technical areas of applicant organizations when compared to the existing DOE project portfolio and other projects selected from this program.
• The degree to which the proposed project optimizes the use of available DOE funding to achieve programmatic objectives.
• The degree to which the project contributes to the overall portfolio’s impact on the strength of the American domestic manufacturing base across the nation.
• The degree to which the project will employ procurement of U.S. iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials.
• The degree to which the proposed project is likely to lead to increased high-quality employment and manufacturing in the United States.
• The degree to which the project focuses on repurposing or reusing existing industrial infrastructure and/or facilities.
• The degree to which the proposed project, or group of projects, represent a desired geographic distribution (considering past awards and current applications).
• The degree to which the proposed project supports complementary efforts or projects, which, when taken together, will best achieve the statute’s goals, objectives, and direction.

[1] To qualify as a domestic entity, the entity must be organized, chartered or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States; have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States.

If you have any additional questions, please contact ENERGYWERX: info@energywerx.org