Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002544
This notice is an advance heads-up from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), specifically the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and its Building Technologies Office (BTO), that DOE planned to release a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Advanced Building Construction (ABC) - 2021." The central idea behind the planned FOA is to support research that makes it quicker and easier to renovate existing buildings and construct new ones in ways that are affordable, attractive to occupants and owners, and significantly more energy efficient. In other words, the agency is signaling that it wants innovations that reduce the time, disruption, and cost associated with upgrading or delivering buildings, while also improving performance and market appeal.
Programmatically, the planned FOA is positioned as part of BTO's broader Advanced Building Construction (ABC) initiative. The ABC effort is framed around transforming how U.S. buildings are built and retrofitted by pushing approaches that can scale in the real world, not just in demonstrations. The notice ties the planned funding to the long-term national target of a carbon-neutral building economy by 2050, emphasizing that progress will require solutions that people actually want and can realistically adopt. Rather than focusing only on technical efficiency in isolation, the notice highlights the need for "desirable, convenient, and affordable" options, which is an important signal that proposals would likely need to account for constructability, business models, user acceptance, and deployment barriers alongside energy outcomes.
The notice also indicates that the FOA would focus on three topic areas, described broadly as priority needs for transforming the U.S. building stock. While the notice does not list those topic areas in the text provided, it makes clear that they are intended to address key bottlenecks to faster, better, and cheaper construction and renovation. It also directs readers to BTO's ABC initiative webpage and a then-current ABC factsheet that describes the program's goals and strategic structure, suggesting that the forthcoming FOA would align closely with that published framework and likely build on existing BTO efforts already underway.
From a funding mechanics standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and is expected to be issued as a cooperative agreement, which typically means DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, active technical engagement, milestone reviews, and coordination on project direction and deliverables). The funding activity category is energy, and the CFDA number listed is 81.086 (a common DOE assistance listing historically associated with energy-related research and development support). The agency office listed is the DOE Golden Field Office. The eligibility field is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of applicant types (such as companies, universities, national labs where applicable, nonprofits, and state or local entities), subject to any clarifications that would appear in the actual FOA.
Several administrative details in the record are worth interpreting carefully because this is only a Notice of Intent, not the FOA itself. The creation date is July 16, 2021, and the notice anticipates the actual FOA would be posted to EERE Exchange in August 2021. The record shows an award ceiling of $2,500,000, and "expected awards" is listed as 0, which is consistent with the fact that this posting is not accepting applications and is not making awards by itself. It is essentially a planning signal to the market that funding is coming, allowing potential applicants time to build teams, develop technical concepts, and gather the supporting data they would need once the FOA is released.
The most important practical instruction in the notice is that no applications will be accepted in response to this posting, and applicants are told not to submit questions or otherwise respond to the Notice of Intent. Instead, prospective applicants are encouraged to use the lead time to prepare: identify partners (for example, product manufacturers, builders, retrofit contractors, software providers, building owners, utilities, or finance partners), define the problem and target market, assemble preliminary performance and cost data, and plan how the work would move from research into field validation and eventual adoption. The clear takeaway is that DOE intended to invest in R&D that can accelerate modernization of the building sector while keeping solutions grounded in affordability and real-world deployment, in direct service of a 2050 carbon-neutral buildings trajectory.Apply for DE FOA 0002544
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002543 Advanced Building Construction (ABC) - 2021" 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 Jul 16, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 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 $2,500,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this opportunity?
This is a Notice of Intent (NOI) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) indicating DOE planned to release a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Advanced Building Construction (ABC) - 2021."
Is this posting the actual FOA?
No. This is only an advance heads-up (a Notice of Intent). It is not the FOA itself and it is not a solicitation that accepts applications.
Can I submit an application in response to this Notice of Intent?
No. The notice explicitly states that no applications will be accepted in response to this posting.
Should I submit questions to DOE about this Notice of Intent?
No. The notice instructs prospective applicants not to submit questions or otherwise respond to the Notice of Intent.
Which DOE offices are associated with this planned FOA?
The notice identifies DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically EERE's Building Technologies Office (BTO). The agency office listed is the DOE Golden Field Office.
What is the main goal of the planned "Advanced Building Construction (ABC) - 2021" FOA?
The planned FOA is intended to support research that makes it quicker and easier to renovate existing buildings and construct new buildings in ways that are affordable, attractive to occupants and owners, and significantly more energy efficient.
What kinds of outcomes does DOE appear to be looking for?
Based on the notice, DOE is signaling interest in innovations that reduce time, disruption, and cost associated with upgrading or delivering buildings, while improving energy performance and maintaining market appeal (solutions people actually want and can realistically adopt).
How does this planned FOA relate to DOE's Advanced Building Construction (ABC) initiative?
The notice positions the planned FOA as part of BTO's broader Advanced Building Construction (ABC) initiative, which is framed around transforming how U.S. buildings are built and retrofitted with approaches intended to scale in the real world.
Does the notice connect this funding to any long-term national goals?
Yes. The notice ties the planned funding to the longer-term target of a carbon-neutral building economy by 2050.
Does DOE emphasize anything beyond technical energy efficiency?
Yes. The notice highlights the need for solutions that are "desirable, convenient, and affordable," signaling that proposals would likely need to consider constructability, business models, user acceptance, and deployment barriers alongside energy outcomes.
What topic areas are expected under the planned FOA?
The notice indicates the FOA would focus on three topic areas described broadly as priority needs for transforming the U.S. building stock, but the specific topic areas are not listed in the information provided.
Where does the notice point readers for more context on ABC goals and structure?
The notice directs readers to BTO's ABC initiative webpage and a then-current ABC factsheet that describes the program's goals and strategic structure.
What type of funding is this expected to be?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
What type of award instrument is DOE expecting to use?
The notice states the planned FOA is expected to be issued as a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial DOE involvement during the project period (for example, active technical engagement, milestone reviews, and coordination on project direction and deliverables).
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category listed is energy.
What CFDA number is associated with this notice?
The CFDA number listed is 81.086.
Who is eligible to apply (based on the notice)?
The eligibility field is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of applicant types, subject to any clarifications that would appear in the actual FOA.
Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean anyone can apply without conditions?
It means the notice does not limit applicant types in the posting, but any final eligibility requirements and conditions would be defined in the actual FOA when released.
What is the anticipated timing for the FOA release?
The notice anticipates the actual FOA would be posted to EERE Exchange in August 2021.
When was this Notice of Intent created?
The creation date listed is July 16, 2021.
Where is the FOA expected to be posted when it is released?
The notice indicates the FOA would be posted to EERE Exchange.
What is the award ceiling shown in the record?
The record shows an award ceiling of $2,500,000.
How many awards are expected based on this posting?
"Expected awards" is listed as 0, which is consistent with this being a Notice of Intent that is not accepting applications and is not making awards.
Why would the posting list "expected awards" as 0?
Because this is not the FOA and is not an active application opportunity. It is a planning signal that a funding announcement is expected in the future.
What is the practical purpose of a Notice of Intent like this?
It provides advance notice to potential applicants that funding is planned, giving time to build teams, develop technical concepts, and gather supporting information before the FOA is released.
What does DOE encourage prospective applicants to do during the lead time?
The notice encourages potential applicants to prepare by identifying partners, defining the problem and target market, assembling preliminary performance and cost data, and planning how work would move from research into field validation and eventual adoption.
What kinds of partners does the notice suggest applicants might consider?
The notice provides examples such as product manufacturers, builders, retrofit contractors, software providers, building owners, utilities, or finance partners.
What sector is this planned FOA targeting?
The planned FOA focuses on the building sector, including both renovating existing buildings and constructing new buildings, with an emphasis on accelerating modernization while keeping solutions grounded in affordability and real-world deployment.
What is the key takeaway from this Notice of Intent?
No applications or questions should be submitted for this posting. The notice is a signal that DOE intended to invest in R&D under the ABC initiative to speed up and simplify construction and retrofits, reduce disruption and cost, improve energy efficiency, and support progress toward carbon-neutral buildings by 2050.
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| Integrated Microgrids Apply for W81EWF22SOI0003 Funding Number: W81EWF22SOI0003 Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- Corps of Engineers Category: Energy Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
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| Direct Air Capture Combined With Dedicated Long-Term Carbon Storage, Coupled to Existing Low-Carbon Energy Apply for DE FOA 0002560 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002560 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $4,375,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002638 Apply for DE FOA 0002637 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002637 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002610 entitled Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) Apply for DE FOA 0002622 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002622 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FOA: WAP Enhancement & Innovation Apply for DE FOA 0002520 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002520 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Clean Hydrogen Production, Storage, Transport and Utilization to Enable a Net Zero Carbon Economy Apply for DE FOA 0002663 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002663 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Bioenergy Technologies Office Overcoming Barriers to Renewable Fuel Scale-up and Demonstration Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0002615 Apply for DE FOA 0002615 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002615 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DE-FOA-0002573: Technical Partnerships FOA Apply for DE FOA 0002573 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002573 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| DE-FOA-0002687: Request for Information on Industrial Decarbonization Priorities Apply for DE FOA 0002687 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002687 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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