Attachment 1 to RFP-2025-10206.pdf

APPENDIX A

STATEMENT OF WORK

"Maintenance of Accreditation Program for Guidelines Home Energy Professionals

Project

*December 5th, 2024

1.0 BACKGROUND

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a national laboratory owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). NREL is the only federal laboratory dedicated to research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL is managed and operated for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy (Alliance), the “M&O Contractor”.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes, while ensuring their health and safety. To support WAP, the Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals (GHEP) was established, which includes Standard Work Specifications for Home Energy Upgrades (SWS), Home Energy Professional (HEP) certifications, and accreditation of energy-efficiency training programs.

Training and certifications for workers in the residential building retrofit market have experienced rapid growth in recent years. The competencies gained by workers who complete training and the scope and depth of training curriculum varies widely, leading to uncertainty in the marketplace as to 1) what competencies are necessary for a person to adequately perform a specific job, and 2) which trainers and training programs are qualified according to those competency requirements.

Due to these market challenges, DOE tasked the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) with developing and maintaining GHEP resources including the SWS and accrediting HEP Energy Auditor (EA) certification to the International Standards Organization (ISO) 17024:2012 standard. NREL has also been tasked with leading the development and maintenance of Job Task Analyses (JTA) for all HEP schemes which include single-family Crew Leader, Energy Auditor, Quality Control Inspector (QCI), and Multifamily EA and QCI. JTAs are used to analyze and identify tasks within a job role and form the basis of accredited training toward the HEP certifications.

To support the HEP workforce and adhere to the DOE Quality Work Plan (QWP) (https://www.energy.gov/scep/quality-work-plan-requirements), certified trainers and accredited training programs must be available. NREL is tasked with ensuring that WAP training centers and trainers maintain their credentials, and that additional training centers and trainers can be credentialed by an accredited standards developing organization.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work effort is to ensure high-quality, third party validated training and trainers are available and remain available to the WAP network and to increase the national availability of accredited WAP training by supporting new and existing https://www.nrel.gov/ https://www.nrel.gov/ http://www.allianceforsustainableenergy.org/ https://www.energy.gov/scep/quality-work-plan-requirements

Weatherization Training Center (WTC) credential holders with accreditation and certification services.

2.0 SCOPE OF WORK

To meet the objective, the scope of the work the Subcontractor shall perform entails the following:

2.1 Subcontractor shall recruit, identify, qualify and support high-quality applicants for accreditation (training programs) and certification (instructors/trainers).

Subcontractor shall ensure that training program aligns with the job task analyses of specified HEP JTAs.

2.2 Subcontractor shall assist new and existing WTCs with annual review, reporting and re-certification processes.

2.3 Subcontractor shall oversee all aspects of the third-party accreditation process, including credentialing operations, communications, and assessor management.

3.0 TASKS

3.1 New Applicants

3.1.1 New Training Centers: The Subcontractor shall identify, recruit, and provide technical assistance to new WTCs interested in becoming accredited to provide HEP JTA aligned training.

3.1.1.1 The Subcontractor shall provide direct support to applicants throughout the assessment process to ensure they meet relevant requirements of the Standards for Training Providers.

3.1.1.2 Provide credentialing services to WTCs.

3.1.1.3 The Subcontract will provide a subsidy of up to 90% of the application costs of WTCs and Master Trainers (MTs).

3.1.2 New Trainers: The subcontractor shall identify, recruit, and provide technical assistance to individuals interested in becoming a Certified Instructor and Master Trainer (MT).

3.1.2.1 Provide direct support to applicants throughout the assessment process to ensure they meet relevant requirements of Standards of Certified Instructor and MTs.

3.1.2.2 Provide credentialing services to WTCs and MTs.

3.1.2.3 The Subcontract will provide a subsidy of up to 90% of the application costs of WTCs and MTs.

3.2 Existing Credential Holders

The Subcontractor shall retain existing credential holders including review and processing of annual reports and re-application and re-certification support.

3.2.1 The Subcontractor shall provide competency-based accreditation of programs for training providers and trainers based on the Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals (GHEP) JTAs.

3.3 Alignment with JTAs

3.3.1 The Subcontractor shall be responsible for ensuring accreditation applicant criteria aligns with the most current JTA upon which accreditation is based. NREL will provide support to the subcontractor on updated JTA content and certification rollouts.

3.4 Network Engagement

The Subcontractor shall work with NREL to improve access to training resources to the network and to better understand the existing landscape.

3.4.1 The Subcontractor shall maintain and improve web accessibility of a training provider directory and connection to other weatherization network resources.

3.4.2 The Subcontractor shall provide opportunities for feedback from stakeholders on credentialing processes and procedures, MT credentialing, and other credential-related topics to foster ongoing improvement of accreditation services.

3.4.3 The Subcontractor shall support outreach to current credential holders about their programs and outreach to instructors on obtaining credentials.

3.4.4 The Subcontractor shall explore alignment of micro-credentials and badges with training accreditation activities.

4.0 REVIEW MEETINGS AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

The Subcontractor shall:

4.1 Participate in monthly WAP Trainers Consortium calls, to provide briefings on accredited organization and program updates/status.

4.2 Up to two staff members will attend and present (if accepted) annually at either the Home Performance Conference or Energy Out West Conference. Travel should not exceed 5 days.

4.3 Meet with NREL either virtually or in-person on a quarterly basis to provide updates and discuss any questions from the monthly technical progress report.

5.0 DELIVERABLES

The Subcontractor shall provide the following deliverables by the due date as indicated:

Deliverable No.

Associated Task(s)

No.

Deliverable Description Due Date

6.1 All Monthly Technical Progress Report:

The Subcontractor shall prepare and submit to NREL a technical progress report through the subcontract period of performance. This report shall communicate an assessment of subcontract status, explain variances and problems, report accomplishment of performance milestones and/or deliverables, and discuss any other areas of concern or achievement. Each technical report should address the following:

A. Current list of all accredited WTCs and master trainers

B. Number of new/renewed WAP credentials issued to training centers

C. List and reason for denial of any accreditation or certification

D. Summary of technical support provided

E. Number of Credential holders maintained

F. Standards Developing Organization (SDO) status

G. Summary of support for HEP credentials provided

H. Summary of any feedback received from stakeholders on credentialing processes and procedures, or other related topics.

I. Summary of any findings related to alignment of micro credentials and badges with training accreditation activities

Monthly on the 15th for the previous calendar month beginning after subcontract award.

6.2 All Draft Final Technical Report: The

Subcontractor shall prepare and submit to NREL a final technical report draft addressing the progress and achievement of deliverables over the course of the contract. NREL will provide written comments on the draft within 15 days of delivery.

Due 30 days prior to the completion date of the subcontract base period and each option period.

6.3 All Final Technical Report: The

Subcontractor shall provide a final technical report addressing any

Completion date of the contract.

corrections or revisions per NREL’s written comments on the draft report. The final report should be submitted to NREL with a reproducible master.

DELIVERABLE ADDRESS:

The Subcontractor shall clearly label all deliverables to include:

• The subcontractor’s name

• NREL’s subcontract number

• NREL Technical Monitor’s name

• Deliverable date, and

• Deliverable description.

Electronic deliverables shall be sent via email to the Technical Monitor as follows:

****, Technical Monitor e-mail: @nrel.gov

• One (1) master electronic version, including graphics

Deliverable(s) No. ****** shall be shipped to:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Attn: Recipients’ Name *, Building * / Room * / Lab * 16253 Denver West Parkway Golden, CO 80401

DELIVERY OF DATA

A copy of all data (as that term is defined in this Subcontract) first produced in the performance of this Subcontract is an additional deliverable of this Subcontract and shall be provided to the technical monitor as a condition of final payment, in accordance with the Subcontract. For all deliverables, make particular note of the requirements provided in the Rights in Data clause of this Subcontract regarding data not first produced in the performance of this Subcontract.

7.0 ELECTRONIC REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBCONTRACT REPORT

DELIVERABLES

It is NREL’s intention to publish subcontract report deliverables containing publicly available information (e.g. non-confidential, non-protected, non-proprietary information) for distribution on the internet.

The subcontractor shall provide the final approved version of report deliverables in accordance with the electronic reporting requirements described below.

The technical monitor may specifically direct the subcontractor to provide reports in one or more of the file format standards provided below:

The subcontractor shall submit all report deliverables (including status, annual, or final reports) as electronic files in Adobe .pdf format, preferably with all graphics and images embedded within the document.

All final approved version submissions shall be delivered to NREL via e-mail to the NREL Technical Monitor.

If it is not possible to include all of the graphics and images (figures, illustrations, and photographs) in the same file as the text, NREL will accept the text in Adobe .pdf formats and the graphics and images as separate electronic graphic or image files*.

The accepted standard for page layout and graphics is the Adobe Creative Suite of programs.

*The acceptable graphic or image file formats are: .eps, .tif, .gif, .jpg, .wmf, .emf, .pct, .png, .bmp, .psd, .ai, .fh, .qif, .fpx, cdr. The preferred resolution for graphics or images is 300 dpi. Include all fonts used in creating the file.

For animation, video, or multi-media elements, CD-ROM, DVR and thumb drive are acceptable technical deliverable media.

For all calculations in support of subcontract reports that are conducted in ASPEN+, an electronic copy of INPUT, REPORT and BACKUP (if Model Manager is used) must be submitted with all reports. Additionally, if costing or sizing calculations are conducted in a spreadsheet [no process calculations (heat and material balances) in spreadsheet format are permitted], a copy of the fully documented MS Excel file shall be supplied.

A fully executed model release shall be supplied to NREL with all photographs and images, regardless of whether such photographs or images are delivered to NREL electronically or in hard copy. Such model release shall certify that the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Management and Operating Contractor for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy is granted a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish such photographs in any medium or reproduce such photographs or allow others to do so for United States Government purposes. Model releases are required in all situations in which a reasonable person would respond in the affirmative to the question – could someone, other than the model himself/herself, recognize the person in this photograph or image? All model releases shall be provided to the subcontract associate as a condition of final payment, in accordance with the subcontract. To obtain a Subcontractor Model Release form, please contact images@nrel.gov.

8.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IN SUBCONTRACTOR PUBLICATIONS

In any scientific or technical report or article, conference paper, journal article, etc. based on or containing data first produced in the performance of this subcontract and published in academic, technical or professional journals, symposia proceedings or similar works, the subcontractor shall use this acknowledgement stating, “This [article, conference paper, journal article, etc.] was developed based upon funding from the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Managing and Operating Contractor for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy.”

9.0 COPYRIGHT PERMISSION/AUTHORIZATIONS

The subcontractor is responsible for obtaining copyright permissions and/or authorizations for all information and/or data, as applicable that is incorporated into all final technical reports. Electronic copies of these copyright permissions and/or authorizations shall be mailto:images@nrel.gov provided to the at the email address provided below. The subcontractor shall also provide a written certification to the Technical Monitor as to such permissions and/or authorizations as a condition of final payment. The subcontractor’s (including all lower tier subcontractors, as applicable) certification shall specify that “I have obtained all necessary and legally required copyright permissions and/or authorizations for any and all information, data, graphs, images, etc., as applicable, that is incorporated into the final Technical Report titled __________________________, delivered under this Subcontract No.__________. Copies of these permissions and/or authorizations are attached.”