Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - Request for Information on Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementations | DE FOA 0002755

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is DE-FOA-0002755?

DE-FOA-0002755 is a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementations" issued under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). It is an information-gathering notice used by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to collect feedback from the public.

Is this a grant or funding opportunity I can apply for?

No. This announcement is explicitly an RFI, not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). DOE is not accepting grant applications under this notice, and no awards will be made (expected awards are listed as zero).

Why did DOE issue this RFI?

DOE issued the RFI to gather practical input that will help design a potential future FOA intended to support sustained, cost-effective implementation of building energy codes under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

What future program is DOE considering?

DOE refers to the potential future funding effort as the Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI) FOA. The RFI is meant to inform how that future FOA could be structured.

Which DOE office is responsible for this RFI?

The RFI was issued by DOE's Building Energy Codes Program on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), specifically the Building Technologies Office (BTO), and is administered through the DOE Golden Field Office.

What is the main focus of the RFI?

The RFI focuses on how DOE should structure a future FOA so it strengthens building energy code adoption and enforcement and advances resilience outcomes. DOE is asking what successful code implementation should look like, how to measure it, and what criteria and requirements should define strong implementation efforts.

What topics is DOE asking stakeholders to comment on?

Based on the notice, DOE is seeking feedback on practical approaches related to code implementation, including improving compliance, training the workforce that supports code enforcement, strengthening verification and inspection practices, and addressing real-world barriers faced by states and jurisdictions in implementing and maintaining modern energy codes over time.

How does "resilience" fit into a building energy codes program?

A major theme is the intersection between advanced energy codes and building resilience. DOE is looking for ideas on how energy codes can help buildings withstand and recover from disruptions such as extreme heat, cold snaps, storms, wildfire smoke events, and grid outages, while also reducing energy waste and lowering costs.

What kinds of resilience-related strategies does DOE mention?

The notice points to examples such as better thermal envelopes, passive survivability strategies, and other code-related pathways that reduce vulnerability during emergencies while also improving efficiency.

What does DOE mean by "good implementation" of building energy codes?

In this RFI, DOE is asking stakeholders to define what good implementation should look like across key topic areas and how those expectations should be measured. The goal is to identify practical criteria and requirements that could be used in a future funding program.

Is DOE interested in short-term pilots or long-term implementation?

The RFI emphasizes sustained implementation at the state level, meaning approaches that last beyond a short pilot period. DOE is looking for program models that help maintain long-term capacity.

What does "sustained implementation" include, according to the notice?

The notice highlights elements such as ongoing training and credentialing for code officials and builders, stable compliance infrastructure, data collection and evaluation methods, and strategies to keep codes updated as standards evolve.

Does the RFI address how a future FOA might be designed?

Yes. DOE is probing ideas about funding design and program mechanics for a future FOA, including partnerships, eligible entities, and evaluation criteria.

Who can respond to this RFI?

The eligibility field is listed as "unrestricted," meaning DOE is not limiting participation at this stage. The RFI is open for stakeholders to provide input, and DOE intends to use responses to inform later decisions about eligibility for potential RECI funding.

Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean everyone will be eligible for future funding?

Not necessarily. The unrestricted eligibility applies to responding to the RFI. The notice explains that feedback will help DOE decide who should be eligible for eventual RECI funding and what partnerships should be encouraged in the future FOA.

What evaluation or scoring factors is DOE considering for the future FOA?

DOE is seeking ideas on how proposals should be evaluated in a future FOA, including possible scoring factors or performance indicators such as projected energy savings, compliance gains, resilience benefits, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to reach underserved communities.

How are Energy and Environmental Justice (EEJ) priorities included?

EEJ priorities are explicitly included in the requested feedback. DOE is asking how a future program can deliver benefits to communities that have historically faced disproportionate pollution burdens, higher energy costs, or underinvestment in safe and efficient housing and infrastructure.

Which communities does DOE highlight in its EEJ discussion?

The notice specifically mentions ensuring benefits are not withheld from low-income households, renters, rural areas, tribal communities, and other overburdened groups.

What kinds of benefits does DOE associate with equitable code implementation?

DOE points to benefits such as healthier buildings, lower utility bills, and improved safety during extreme weather events, and asks for input on how program rules could encourage equitable distribution of those benefits.

What is the CFDA number and funding activity area listed for this notice?

The notice is tied to the Energy funding activity area and lists CFDA 81.086. It is categorized administratively as discretionary.

When was this RFI created and when did it close?

The notice was created on April 12, 2022, and listed an original closing date of May 20, 2022.

If the listing shows an award ceiling, does it apply here?

Not in the way a typical grant competition does. The notice explains that this is not a funding competition, and DOE is not making awards under the RFI.

Will DOE publish the information submitted in response to the RFI?

DOE notes that information collected through the RFI will be used internally for planning purposes to develop a potential FOA and will not be published.

What is the practical value of responding to this RFI?

It is an opportunity for stakeholders (including states, local governments, code officials, industry groups, nonprofits, researchers, and others) to shape the design of a future federal funding program focused on building energy code implementation that is cost-effective, resilience-oriented, and aligned with energy and environmental justice goals.

Does DOE indicate specific stakeholder groups it expects to hear from?

Yes. The notice describes the opportunity as relevant to states, local governments, code officials, industry groups, nonprofits, researchers, and other stakeholders interested in building energy codes, compliance infrastructure, resilience outcomes, and equitable benefits.