Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) – 2020 | DE FOA 0002196

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002196

Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) - 2020 is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity (administered through the National Energy Technology Laboratory) focused on pushing forward next-generation building technologies and practices. The program is aimed at research and development projects that can deliver meaningful, measurable reductions in building energy use while also improving how buildings interact with the electric grid. In practical terms, the opportunity is looking for innovations that help buildings use less energy, shift or shape demand more intelligently (demand flexibility), lower costs for owners and occupants (affordability), and improve indoor conditions that matter to people day to day (occupant comfort). Beyond technology R&D, the announcement also emphasizes improving the real-world ways buildings are constructed, remodeled, and retrofitted, including strengthening the workforce and methods needed to deploy these improvements at scale.

This opportunity is listed as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement as the primary funding instrument. A cooperative agreement generally signals that the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement during the life of the project, such as technical collaboration, regular milestone reviews, and shared decision-making on key project elements. The activity category is broad and centered on energy-related research and development, with linkages to environment, housing, and science and technology. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 81.086, which corresponds to DOE research and development assistance.

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the competition is open to a wide range of applicant types as long as they meet any additional requirements or clarifications provided in the full announcement. That typically allows participation from private companies, universities, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and other entities, depending on the specific terms laid out in the FOA.

Key administrative details include the Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002196, a creation date of September 25, 2020, and an original application deadline of January 20, 2021. The award ceiling is listed at $3,000,000 per award, and the program anticipated making around 60 awards, indicating an intent to fund a substantial portfolio of projects rather than only a small number of large demonstrations. Overall, BENEFIT - 2020 is designed to accelerate building-sector innovation that can translate into real energy savings and better-performing buildings, while also improving the practical construction and retrofit ecosystem needed for broad adoption.

• The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy, environment, housing, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) – 2020" 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 Sep 25, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 20, 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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
• 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.

Apply for DE FOA 0002196

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