DE-FOA-0003548_Unleashing_Tribal_Energy_Development_Part_1.pdf

Financial Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity

Part 1

Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs Unleashing Tribal Energy Development Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0003548

Application due: July 24, 2026, 5 PM E.T.

Table of Contents

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Navigating the Notice of Funding Opportunity

I. BASIC INFORMATION

A. Key Facts

1. Funding Details

2. Period of Performance

B. Executive Summary C. Agency Contact Information

II. ELIGIBILITY

A. Eligible Applicants

1. Restricted Eligibility

2. Foreign Entity Participation

3. Performance of Work in the U.S

4. Ineligible Participants

B. Limitation on Number of Applications Eligible for Review C. Cost Sharing

1. Cost Share Requirements D. FFRDC Eligibility Criteria

III. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Program Purpose B. Program Goals and Objectives C. Expected Performance Goals D. Topic Areas

1. Topic Area 1: Tribal community energy deployment projects

2. Topic Area 2: Tribal community energy planning, assessment, and feasibility

3. Topic Area 3: Large-scale planning, assessment, and feasibility for Tribal energy projects E. Applications Specifically Not of Interest F. Statement of Substantial Involvement G. Coordination with other DOE Activities H. Statutory Authority

IV. APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORM

A. Use and Disclosure of Application Information B. Summary C. Application Content Requirements

1. Covered Individual Definition, Designation, and Responsibility

2. Summary of Application Requirements

3. Application Requirements by Topic Area

4. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

5. Technical Volume

6. Workplan

7. Biographical Sketch

8. Site and Resources Maps and Graphics

9. Design and Engineering File

10. Economics Files

11. Budget Justification Workbook

12. Subrecipient Budget Justification Workbook

13. Eligibility Statements and Evidence File

14. Applicant Tribal Council Resolution or Declaration of Commitments and Cost

Sharing File

15. Additional Impacted Indian Tribes Documentation

16. Participant Letters of Commitments and Cost Sharing File

17. Studies and Analysis File

18. Potentially Duplicative Funding Notice

19. Transparency of Foreign Connections

20. Disclosure of Lobbying Connections

21. Waiver for Foreign Entity Participation

22. Performance of Work in the U.S. (Foreign Work Waiver)

D. Funding Restrictions

1. Buy America Preference for Infrastructure Projects

V. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

A. Required Registrations

1. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

2. IE-eXCHANGE

3. Grants.gov Registration

B. Application Package

1. IE-eXCHANGE

C. Submission Date and Times D. Intergovernmental Review

VI. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Standards for Application Evaluation B. Responsiveness Review C. Review Criteria

1. Compliance Criteria

2. Technical Review Criteria

D. Other Selection Factors

VII. SELECTION AND AWARD NOTICES

VIII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

1. Real Property and Equipment

2. Go/No-Go Review

3. Rights in Technical Data

4. Invoice Review and Approval

5. Cost Share Payment

B. Questions and Support

1. Questions

2. Support

IX. OTHER INFORMATION

A. Acronyms

Notice of Funding Opportunity Part 1 Before You Begin

Before You Begin

Navigating the Notice of Funding Opportunity

DOE has separated the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) into two parts to reduce the burden on applicants in the NOFO process and limit the length of the NOFO information requests.

The NOFO Part 1 describes the specific DOE programmatic goals and evaluation criteria, eligibility, and other components that are specific to each funding opportunity. The NOFO Part 2 includes the fixed DOE requirements that generally do not change from NOFO to NOFO, including standard information for the application phase, expectations for award negotiations, and post-award requirements. Applicants must review both the NOFO Part 1 and the NOFO Part 2 prior to applying. To facilitate navigation, you will find references throughout this document to additional information found in Part 2.

There are several required one-time actions applicants must take before applying to this NOFO. Some of these actions may take several weeks, so it is vital applicants build in enough time for their completion. Failure to complete these actions could interfere with application or negotiation deadlines or the ability to receive an award if selected. If you have previously completed the necessary registrations, make sure your registration is active and up to date. All registrations are free. Please refer to NOFO Part 2, Get Registered, for additional information.

This announcement is published in conjunction with NOFO Part 2, Unleashing Tribal Energy Development.

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Section I: Basic Information

I. Basic Information

A. Key Facts Issuing Agency Department of Energy, Office of Indian Energy Policy and

Programs

Funding Opportunity Title

Unleashing Tribal Energy Development

Announcement Type

Initial announcement

Funding Opportunity Number

DE-FOA-0003548

Funding Instrument

Grants and Cooperative Agreements

Expected Total Available Funding

$50 million

Assistance Listing Number and Name

81.087

Funding Opportunity Description

DOE’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs is soliciting applications to advance affordable, reliable, and secure energy in Indian Country.

Program Goals & Objective(s)

This NOFO seeks applications to advance affordable, reliable, and secure energy development of Tribal energy resources for the benefit of Tribes and their members. The projects funded under the NOFO will lead to energy projects that are intended to lower or stabilize Tribal energy costs, expand energy access, and advance development of energy projects for Tribal economic development.

Topic Areas

• Topic Area 1: Tribal community energy deployment projects

• Topic Area 2: Tribal community energy project planning, assessment, and feasibility

• Topic Area 3: Large-scale planning, assessment, and feasibility for Tribal energy projects

KEY DATES

All deadlines are 5:00 p.m. ET unless indicated otherwise

Notice of Funding Opportunity Issue Date:

March 25, 2026

Informational Webinar:

April 9, 2026

Application Deadline:

July 24, 2026

Anticipated Selection Notification Date:

November 20, Anticipated Award Date:

February 3, Estimated Period of Performance:

12–48 months

Eligible Applicants

• Indian Tribes (which include Alaska Native regional corporations and Village corporations),

• Tribal and intertribal Organizations,

• Tribal Energy Development Organizations, and

• Tribal Colleges and Universities

IE-eXCHANGE URL and Helpdesk https://ie-exchange.energy.gov ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov

NOFO URL and Email https://ie-exchange.energy.gov TribalGrants@hq.doe.gov

1. Funding Details

Multiple Topic Areas Approximate total available funding including all Topic Areas: $50,000,000

Topic Area 1: Tribal community energy deployment projects

• Dollar amount of individual awards: up to $7,500,000

• Minimum cost share required: 10% of total project costs

• Approximate award project period: 24–48 months

Topic Area 2: Tribal community energy projects planning, assessment, and feasibility

• Dollar amount of individual awards: up to $1,500,000

• Minimum cost share required: 0% of total project costs

• Approximate award project period: 12–48 months

Topic Area 3: Large-scale planning, assessment, and feasibility for Tribal energy projects

• Dollar amount of individual awards: up to $2,500,000

• Minimum cost share required: 0% of total project costs

• Approximate award project period: 12–48 months

2. Period of Performance

DOE anticipates making awards, comprised of single or multiple budget periods. If applicable, project continuation will be contingent upon DOE’s Go/No-Go decision. For a complete list and more information on the Go/No-Go review, see the NOFO Part 2, Award Administration Information. Funding for all budget periods, including the initial budget period, is not guaranteed.

B. Executive Summary Tribal Nations possess extensive energy resources and are poised to share in the prosperity of American energy dominance. At the same time, challenges of reliable and affordable energy and electricity access are acutely felt in Indian Country. In January 2025, https://ie-exchange.energy.gov/

Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy0F

1, addressed barriers to the development and use of abundant and natural resources in the United States. This NOFO advances the Department of Energy's goal to promote energy addition1F

2 and supports Indian Country to unleash its own energy resources to meet its own needs and to capture a greater share of the energy value chain.

This NOFO seeks applications to advance affordable, reliable, and secure energy through development of Tribal energy resources for the benefit of Tribes and their members. The projects funded under the NOFO will lead to energy projects that aim to lower or stabilize Tribal energy costs, expand electric and other energy access, and advance energy projects for Tribal economic development.

Projects funded under this NOFO are expected to advance Tribal sovereignty through Tribal energy development, efficiency, and use.

• Projects under Topic Area 1 are expected to serve the electric loads and support the energy needs of Tribes at the scale of a Tribal community or communities. These projects entail the construction of energy assets and projects.

• Projects under Topic Area 2 are expected to complete all pre-development activities necessary for the deployment of community scale energy projects.

• Projects under Topic Area 3 are expected to complete necessary pre-development activities for large scale commercial development of Tribal energy resources which lead to enhancement and strengthening of Tribal energy and economic infrastructure.

C. Agency Contact Information

Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave SW Washington, D.C. 20585

For questions relating to this specific NOFO, please send emails to TribalGrants@hq.doe,gov.

1 See Executive Order “Unleashing American Energy” (January 20, 2025).

2 See Secretarial Order “Unleash Golden Era of American Energy Dominance” (February 5, 2025).

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/29/2025-01956/unleashing-american-energy https://www.energy.gov/articles/secretary-wright-acts-unleash-golden-era-american-energy-dominance

Section II: Eligibility

II. Eligibility To be considered for substantive evaluation, an applicant’s submission must meet the criteria set forth below. If the application does not meet these eligibility requirements, it will be considered ineligible and removed from further evaluation and ineligible for any award. DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which applications to this NOFO must be submitted. The decision whether to apply in response to this NOFO lies solely with the applicant. The information included here is specific to eligibility requirements for this NOFO. For eligibility requirements applicable to all NOFOs, please consult the NOFO Part 2, Eligibility.

A. Eligible Applicants To be considered for substantive evaluation, an applicant’s submission must meet the criteria set forth below. If the application does not meet these eligibility requirements, it will be considered ineligible and removed from further evaluation.

1. Restricted Eligibility In accordance with Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) authorities, including 25 U.S.C.

§ 3502(b)(2), and consistent with 2 C.F.R. 910.126, eligibility for this NOFO is restricted to:

• Indian Tribes (including Alaska Native regional corporations and Village corporations);

• Tribal and intertribal Organizations;

• Tribal Energy Development Organizations; and

• Tribal Colleges and Universities.

“Indian Tribe,” for the purposes of this NOFO and as defined in in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. § 5304), means any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native Village or regional or Village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C. § 1601, et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States (U.S.) to Indians because of their status as Indians. See below for further definition.

For the purposes of this NOFO, an eligible Indian Tribe, band, nation or other organized group or community (including Alaska Native Villages), must be federally recognized as listed in Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, published by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Federal Register on January 31, 2026, 91 F.R. 4102.

“Alaska Native regional corporation” for the purposes of this NOFO, means one of the 13 Alaska Native regional corporations, as defined in and established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. § 1602(g)).

“Alaska Native Village corporation” or “Village corporation,” for the purposes of this

NOFO, means an Alaska Native Village corporation organized under the laws of the State of https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5304%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/92/203.pdf#:%7E:text=688%20PUBLIC%20LAW%2092-203-DEC.%2018%2C%201971%20%5B85%20STAT.,and%20for%20other%20purposes.%20Alaska%20Native%20Claims%20Settlement https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:43%20section:1601%20edition:prelim) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/30/2026-01899/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:43%20section:1602%20edition:prelim)

Alaska as a business for profit or nonprofit corporation to hold, invest, manage and/or distribute lands, property, funds, and other rights and assets for and on behalf of a Native village, as defined in and established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. § 1602(j)).

Applicants may also submit applications on behalf of Indian Tribe(s) by an authorized “Tribal Organization,” provided the application includes evidence of that authority.

“Tribal Organization” has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-

Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. § 5304). Specifically, per 25 U.S.C. § 5304, “Tribal Organization” means the recognized governing body of any Indian Tribe; any legally established organization of Indians which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of Indians in all phases of its activities: Provided that, in any case where a contract or a grant is awarded to an organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian tribe, the approval of each such Indian Tribe shall be a required before the contract or grant is awarded.

“Intertribal Organization,” as defined for the purposes of this NOFO, means any organization comprising two or more Indian Tribes, established under Congressional, State, or Tribal law to act on behalf of the participating Indian Tribes. “Intertribal Organizations” may include, but are not limited to, intertribal councils, regional tribal organizations or associations, Alaska regional development organizations, and tribal federations.

“Tribal Energy Development Organization,” (TEDO) for the purposes of this NOFO, is defined as either of the following:

(a) any enterprise, partnership, consortium, corporation, or other type of business organization that is engaged in the development of energy resources and is wholly owned by an Indian tribe (including an organization incorporated pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. § 5124) (commonly known as the “Indian Reorganization Act”) or section 3 of the Act of June 26, 1936 (49 Stat. 1967, chapter 831, 25 U.S.C. § 5201, et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act’));

or

(b) any organization of two or more entities, at least one of which is an Indian tribe, that has the written consent of the governing bodies of all Indian tribes participating in the organization to apply for a grant, loan, or other assistance under 2602 of EPAct (25 U.S.C. § 3502) or to enter into a lease or business agreement with, or acquire a right-of-way from, an Indian tribe pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii) or (b)(2)(B) of 2604 of EPAct (25 U.S.C. § 3504), where organization means a partnership, joint venture, Limited Liability Company (LLC) or other unincorporated association or entity that is established to develop Indian energy resources.

2. Foreign Entity Participation

In general, foreign entities are not eligible to apply as either a recipient or subrecipient.

In limited circumstances, DOE may approve a waiver to allow a foreign entity to participate as https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:43%20section:1602%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5304%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5304%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5304%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5124%20edition:prelim)#:%7E:text=25%20USC%205124%3A%20Incorporation%20of%20Indian%20tribes%3B%20charter%3B,Incorporation%20of%20Indian%20tribes%3B%20charter%3B%20ratification%20by%20election https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:2501%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title25-section3502&num=0&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy1wcmVsaW0tdGl0bGUyNS1zZWN0aW9uMzUwMg%3D%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title25-section3502&num=0&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy1wcmVsaW0tdGl0bGUyNS1zZWN0aW9uMzUwMg%3D%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title25-section3504&num=0&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy1wcmVsaW0tdGl0bGUyNS1zZWN0aW9uMzUwMg%3D%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim a subrecipient.

If the applicant seeks to include a foreign entity as a subrecipient, the applicant must submit a separate explicit written waiver request in the application for each proposed foreign subrecipient. Please see NOFO Part 2, Application Content Requirements for the requirements for submission of a foreign entity waiver request. The applicant does not have the right to appeal DOE’s decision concerning a waiver request.

3. Performance of Work in the U.S.

All work for the awards under this NOFO must be performed in the U.S. To request a waiver of this requirement, the applicant must submit an explicit waiver request in the application. Absent an approved waiver, such costs will not be allowable under the award. The NOFO Part 2, Application Content Requirements lists the requirements for submission of a foreign work waiver request.

4. Ineligible Participants The following entities are ineligible for participation in this NOFO as a recipient, subrecipient, or subcontractor.

• In accordance with 2 C.F.R. 200.214, entities banned from doing business with the U.S.

Government such as entities debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participating in federal programs.

• Entities identified on the Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control Treasury’s Sanctions Program Specially Designated Nationals list are prohibited from doing business with the U.S. Government and are not eligible. See (OFAC — Sanctions List Service [treas.gov]).

• Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are not eligible to apply for funding.

Entity of Concern Prohibition Entities of Concern are prohibited from participating in projects selected under this NOFO (see NOFO Part 2, Eligibility, Other Eligibility Information, Entity of Concern Prohibition section for details and definitions).

B. Limitation on Number of Applications Eligible for Review An eligible applicant, individually or as part of a consortium, may submit more than one application to this NOFO (including more than one application under a particular Topic Area), provided that each application describes a unique, distinct project. Each application must have a distinct title, unique Control Number as assigned by IE-eXCHANGE during the registration process, and be readily distinguishable. Each application must focus on a single project;

unrelated projects cannot be consolidated in a single application. Applications can only be submitted under a single Topic Area.

https://sanctionslist.ofac.treas.gov/Home/SdnList https://sanctionslist.ofac.treas.gov/Home/SdnList

C. Cost Sharing Applicants are expected to follow through on estimated cost share commitments proposed in their applications if selected for award negotiations. Please refer to the NOFO Part 2, Eligibility for more information on Cost Sharing.

1. Cost Share Requirements Cost share requirements differ by Topic Area as shown in the following table:

Topic Area Minimum Cost Share

1: Tribal community energy deployment projects 10% 2: Tribal community energy project planning, assessment, and feasibility

Not Required

3: Large-scale planning, assessment, and feasibility for Tribal energy projects

Not Required

Applications that do not meet the minimum required cost share will be deemed ineligible during the initial compliance review and will not be further reviewed. The cost share must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law.

The cost share percentage is calculated by dividing the cost share by the total allowable project costs for the award where the total allowable project costs include government share (including Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) costs if applicable) and cost share. To help applicants calculate proper cost share amounts, DOE has included a cost share information sheet and sample cost share calculation in the NOFO Part 2, Eligibility—Cost Sharing, Cost Share Calculation Examples.

D. FFRDC Eligibility Criteria As long as they have no conflict, DOE and non-DOE FFRDCs may be proposed as a subrecipient on another entity’s application subject to the following guidelines:

Authorization for non-DOE FFRDCs

The federal agency sponsoring the FFRDC must authorize in writing the use of the FFRDC on the proposed project and this authorization must be submitted with the application.

The use of a FFRDC must be consistent with its authority under its award.

Authorization for DOE FFRDCs

The cognizant Contracting Officer for the FFRDC must authorize in writing the use of the FFRDC on the proposed project and this authorization must be submitted prior to any award.

The use of a FFRDC must be consistent with the contractor’s authority under its award.

Funding, Cost Share, and Subaward with FFRDCs The recipient and FFRDC are responsible for entering into an appropriate subaward that will govern, among other things, the funding of the FFRDC portion of the work from the recipient under its DOE award. Such an agreement must be fully executed prior to the FFRDC starting work directly allocable to the FA award. The DOE funding office will provide funding for the DOE FFRDC or non-DOE FFRDC, participating as a sub awardee under the DOE financial assistance award to the recipient.

The applicant should prepare the budgets using rates appropriate for funding the FFRDCs through subawards. The applicant’s cost share requirement will be based on the total cost of the project, including the applicant’s, all subrecipient’s, and all FFRDC’s portions of the project.

Responsibility

The recipient will be the responsible authority regarding the settlement and satisfaction of all contractual and administrative issues, including but not limited to disputes and claims arising out of any agreement between the recipient and the FFRDC.

Section III: Program Description

III. Program Description

A. Program Purpose This NOFO builds on efforts by the Office of Indian Energy and the authorities granted to the Office of Indian Energy under EPAct 2005, to accelerate the deployment of Tribal energy technology. The Office of Indian Energy is directed to:

1) promote Indian Tribal energy development, efficiency, and use;

2) reduce or stabilize energy costs;

3) enhance and strengthen Indian Tribal energy and economic infrastructure relating to natural resource development and electrification; and

4) bring electrical power and service to Indian land and the homes of tribal members located on Indian lands.

See the DOE’s Office of Indian Energy website for a map and summaries of past competitively funded projects.

B. Program Goals and Objectives The Office of Indian Energy issues this NOFO in accordance with Federal policies promoting Indian self-determination to maximize the deployment of affordable, reliable and secure energy solutions. In support of these objectives, the Office of Indian Energy seeks applications for the planning, assessment, development, and deployment of Tribal energy projects.

This NOFO advances the Department of Energy's goal to promote energy addition and unleash American energy2F

3, 3F

4 by capitalizing on the expansive energy resources of the U.S.; and further enables Tribal economic self-determination in line with longstanding Federal policies and the benefits of Federal recognition.4F

This NOFO seeks applications to advance affordable, reliable, and secure energy through development of Tribal energy resources for the benefit of Tribes and their members. The projects funded under the NOFO will lead to energy projects that aim to lower or stabilize Tribal energy costs, expand electric and other energy access, and advance energy projects for Tribal economic development.

3 See Secretarial Order “Unleashing the Golden Era of American Energy Dominance”

(February 5, 2025).

4 See Executive Order (E.O.) 14154 Unleashing American Energy (January 20, 2025).

5 Referenced as 25 U.S.C. § 450b in Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self

Determination Act of 2005 (Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), Title V, § 502, codified at 42 U.S.C. § 7144e and 25 U.S.C. § 3501, et seq.). Section 450b was editorially reclassified as section 5304. See 25 U.S. Code § 5304.

http://energy.gov/indianenergy/maps/tribal-energy-projects-map https://www.energy.gov/articles/secretary-wright-acts-unleash-golden-era-american-energy-dominance https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/ https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-109publ58/html/PLAW-109publ58.htm https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5304%20edition:prelim)

C. Expected Performance Goals Projects funded under this NOFO are expected to advance Tribal sovereignty through

Tribal energy development, efficiency, and use.

• Projects under Topic Area 1 are expected to serve the electric loads and support the energy needs of Tribes at the scale of a Tribal community or communities. These projects entail the construction of energy assets and projects.

• Projects under Topic Area 2 are expected to complete all pre-development activities necessary for the deployment of community scale energy projects as envisioned for Topic Area 1.

• Projects under Topic Area 3 are expected to complete necessary pre-development activities which lead to enhancement and strengthening of Tribal energy and economic infrastructure through development of Tribal energy resources.

D. Topic Areas

1. Topic Area 1: Tribal community energy deployment projects

Under Topic Area 1, the Office of Indian Energy seeks applications for the development of community-scale Tribal energy resources; deployment of community-scale energy generation, storage and/or delivery assets; energy efficiency measures; equipment to strengthen energy infrastructure and implement resiliency enhancements; improvements to lower or stabilize energy costs; and projects that expand electricity access through the upgrade or addition of energy infrastructure. Proposals can include one or a combination of the listed project types.

Applications under Topic Area 1 are expected to be implementation ready, indicating that all necessary pre-development and planning activities have been previously finalized, and awarded DOE funds will enable the implementation of energy improvements in the Tribal community or communities.

To be eligible under Topic Area 1, applications must:

(1) use commercially proven and warrantied technology;

(2) be based on a comprehensive feasibility study that:

a. clearly identifies the need;

b. demonstrates the rationale for selecting the proposed project as opposed to other options;

c. demonstrates the availability of the resource;

d. demonstrates the technical and economic viability, including interconnection analyses (if applicable) and financial sustainability, of the proposed project.

Energy efficiency projects should be based on energy audits or industrial energy assessments which demonstrate the feasibility of the project being proposed;

(3) be based on a completed design and engineering (except final design and engineering) that may include, but is not limited to, detailed engineering drawings, interconnection studies and/or agreements (if applicable), detailed materials and equipment list(s), hardware specifications, warranties, and any other design or engineering data to supplement the Technical Volume. These design and engineering documents must be provided as part of the application in the Design and Engineering File;

(4) (for energy generation or energy efficiency projects) include an estimate of the energy generated or saved annually (amount, cost, and percentage) based on the actual energy used and projected savings for energy loads;

(5) (for enhancing energy resiliency projects, such as microgrids) demonstrate the ability of the system to function autonomously (e.g., independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid).

a. The benefit of the proposed resiliency measures must estimate the number, frequency, and duration of the energy outages that the resiliency measures will mitigate; and

(6) (for projects proposing the upgrade or addition of energy infrastructure) demonstrate how the project will benefit the applicant and/or Tribal members.

a. These projects can include, but are not limited to, bringing electrical infrastructure to Tribal loads not currently serviced by the centralized grid through islanded systems, or the extension of energy distribution systems to Tribal loads.

Below are hypothetical examples of projects that could be considered under Topic Area 1. This list is not exhaustive and is only provided for illustrative purposes:

• A project to increase the energy efficiency of a Tribal government campus with multiple buildings. The energy efficiency measures range from mechanical upgrades based on specific mechanical modeling studies, to energy efficiency and building weatherization measures found to be feasible through a level 3 ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Audit. The energy savings from the measures will result in a simple payback period of 8 years.

• A project to build a combined heat and power (CHP) system at a Tribal university, casino or other type of facility to offset the electric power from the grid, as well as use the heat for loads at the facility. The project will reduce overall energy costs and add resiliency by enabling the facility to operate as a microgrid during power outages, ensuring no loss of revenue from this key Tribal economic center.

• A project to address reliability of residential electricity access. The project will upgrade outdated electrical panels and/or wiring of residences to be in compliance with existing building codes. The panel and wiring upgrades will provide reliable electric access to Tribal homes, and allow for increased energy usage, and result in less power outages.

• A project to implement a biomass boiler in a Tribal building or facility such as a school.

The project will replace the existing oil furnace with biomass furnace, supplied with wood chips and cuttings from the Tribally owned and operated sawmill. The project will have the benefit of disposing of a byproduct of a Tribal business and increase the reliability of the heating source for a critical Tribal building. By controlling the fuel for the Tribal load, the Tribe will save money and no longer deal with fluctuating costs based on the cost of heating oil.

• A project deploying a combination of energy generation (e.g., diesel/gas, geothermal, hydrokinetic, or hybrid systems) and a battery energy storage system (BESS) for a remote Tribal Village that is not connected to the traditional power grid. The production from the generation asset(s) in combination with the BESS will be used to reduce diesel consumption, the maintenance costs on the diesel generators, and the amount of bulk fuel storage required, and ensure a stable and reliable power supply throughout the year.

Once implemented, the upgraded microgrid will diversify the energy generation portfolio of the Village, add resiliency, and reduce overall energy costs.

2. Topic Area 2: Tribal community energy planning, assessment, and feasibility

Under Topic Area 2, the Office of Indian Energy seeks applications to conduct pre-development community-scale energy planning activities. This Topic Area allows for all pre-development activities required to identify opportunities and bring projects from concept to implementation ready. Projects under this Topic Area are intended to result in specific outcomes and outputs (measurable results or end products) for the completion of critical milestones in pre-development work that will lead to installed energy hardware, equipment or infrastructure in Tribal communities like the project examples under Topic Area 1 of this NOFO. Applicants who receive an award under Topic Area 2 and successfully complete project planning activities will be well positioned to apply for project deployment/installation under a future NOFO (pending availability of funds). Eligible planning activities under Topic Area 2 may include, but are not limited to, the following activities for Tribal community energy development:

(1) Tribal community energy planning

a. Strategic energy planning;

b. Energy resiliency planning;

c. Conducting Energy Options Analyses;

d. Conducting a comprehensive energy feasibility and viability assessment; and,

e. Design and development of energy projects.

(2) Conducting energy audits to establish baseload energy use and energy efficiency options;

(3) Tribal energy capacity building

a. Developing an energy organization or office;

b. Establishing Tribal energy policy, regulations, or codes to reduce energy use or promote energy development; and

c. Obtaining skills and training related to energy use, development, or management.

The listed planning activities are described in more detail in the following paragraphs.

These descriptions are not exclusive and other activities not listed that are necessary for the development of a Tribal community-scale energy project may also be eligible under Topic Area 2.

1) Tribal community energy planning

a. Strategic Energy Plan

A “Strategic Energy Plan,” for purposes of this NOFO, refers to a long-term roadmap to focus and guide efforts and actions toward a defined energy vision. Strategic Energy Plans, customized for the Tribe(s) they support, typically catalog existing energy consumption, sources and users; articulate goals and the strategies and actions to meet those goals; and identify resources needed to ensure effective completion of these strategies.

b. Energy resiliency planning

Energy Resiliency Planning activities enable applicants to assess the impacts of energy disruptions and identify and prioritize resilience gaps and solutions. Such activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Identifying energy resiliency opportunities:

Including identification and assessment of opportunities to strengthen, modernize, and protect the electrical grid and energy access. Consider energy sector risk profiles, options to reduce the likelihood of power outages, and security of current energy access.

• Identifying impacts of energy outages on Tribal loads:

Including an assessment of outage vulnerabilities to Tribal loads and infrastructure to help prioritize mitigation and adaptation strategies.

• Evaluating critical facilities:

To include identifying critical facilities and address energy action planning to prepare those facilities for energy outages.

• Addressing energy issues related to past outage events:

Including an assessment of energy-related issues caused by past outage events and the creation of an action plan for increased resilience in the future.

c. Conducting Energy Options Analysis

An “Energy Options Analysis,” for purposes of this NOFO, refers to a systematic assessment and evaluation of possible alternative approaches available for achieving specific energy objectives and determining which of the options are the most effective and provides the best solution to achieve those objectives. This analysis aims to explore technically and economically feasible technology alternatives to meet an established objective, providing an analytically robust evidence basis for decision making among available options.

More specifically, an Energy Options Analysis should:

• Define broad overall energy objectives;

• Establish specific project goals;

• Identify energy resources, needs, and technology options;

• Define an approach to evaluating those energy options;

• Screen energy options;

• Conduct a pre-feasibility analysis; and

• Present energy option(s) that meet criteria established under the evaluation approach, with appropriate considerations and discussion of trade-offs.

The results of an Energy Options Analysis must provide sufficient detail to support a comprehensive feasibility and viability assessment of a preferred option(s).

d. Conducting a comprehensive energy feasibility and viability assessment of a proposed energy project

“Comprehensive energy feasibility and viability assessment,” for purposes of this NOFO, refers to an assessment of the practicality and considerations of a proposed project plan. A Comprehensive Energy Feasibility and Viability Assessment should clearly identify the need, demonstrate the rationale for selecting the proposed energy technology as opposed to other options, demonstrate the availability of the resource, demonstrate the technical and economic viability, including an interconnection analysis (if applicable), financial sustainability of the proposed energy system(s), and/or other relevant analyses.

The proposed Comprehensive Energy Feasibility and Viability assessment should, at a minimum, use as a foundation a completed energy options analysis which: (1) identifies and quantifies the need, (2) establishes overall energy objectives, (3) defines specific project goals,

(4) identifies and evaluates options, (5) screens options, and (6) selects a project concept for design and development based on a pre-feasibility assessment.

A comprehensive energy feasibility and viability assessment should result in a report that:

• Clearly identifies the need;

• Demonstrates the rationale for selecting the proposed energy technology as opposed to other options;

• Demonstrates the availability of the resource;

• Demonstrates the technical and economic viability, including interconnection analyses

(if applicable) and financial sustainability, of the proposed energy technology project; and

• Defines a business plan, including a project business structure, financing plan and associated business agreements (e.g., power purchase agreements, transmission or interconnection agreements).

More specifically, the comprehensive energy feasibility and viability assessment should result in a comprehensive project plan sufficient for the design and development of an energy project.

The comprehensive assessment may include one or multiple of the following:

• Site-specific energy resource assessment(s);

• Load assessment(s);

• Energy audits or industrial energy assessments, documenting current energy consumption or heating and cooling loads;

• Transmission and interconnection evaluation, including net metering policies and ancillary interconnection infrastructure;

• Technology analysis;

• Economic analysis, including a pro forma income statement, pro forma cash flow analysis and its findings (e.g., Internal Rate of Return, Net Present Value), and payback period calculations;

• Preliminary environmental evaluation (i.e., benefits and impacts), including identifying permits, studies and approvals needed;

• Benefits assessment (e.g., employment, cultural and social);

• Permitting and approvals assessments, including if applicable, lease and rights-of-way agreements;

• Risk assessment, including identifying potential barriers and developing mitigations strategies;

• Training and other Tribal professional development planning;

• Long-term operating and maintenance planning;

• Business planning (i.e., project business structure, financing plan, and associated business agreements (e.g., power purchase agreements, transmission or interconnection agreements)) for implementing an energy project; and

• Other assessments required to make an informed decision on the feasibility of a particular energy project.

e. Design and development of energy projects

Design and development of energy projects for the purposes of this NOFO refer to activities conducted prior to hardware installation. These are the final studies conducted on given energy projects before the final decision to move forward with investing in their construction is made. These activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Design and engineering reports

• Economic analyses

• Environmental evaluations and studies

• Policy and regulatory assessments

• Market and interconnection studies

• Risk analysis and mitigation planning

• Operations and maintenance planning

• Organizational structure and financing planning

• Other project specific studies required

The end goal of completing the design and development projects listed above is for the applicant to have all necessary analysis and documentation to make an informed final investment decision in the energy project. The documents created from these activities can be used to populate the required documents for Topic Area 1 (Tribal Community Energy Development Projects) applications in future NOFOs, pending issuance and availability of funds.

2) Conducting energy audits to establish baseload energy use and energy efficiency options

Energy audits (otherwise known as energy assessments or energy studies) establish baseline energy use (for buildings/facilities, processes, and/or systems) for setting financial savings and energy efficiency improvement goals as well as providing a comparison point for evaluating future efforts. “Baselining” refers to the act of measuring energy use and energy intensity at a determined level of detail for the purpose of establishing a benchmark for future comparison.

3) Tribal energy capacity building

a. Developing an energy organization or office

Energy organization or office development activities may include, but are not limited to, planning and/or establishment of an energy organization such as a Tribal utility, TEDO, energy office, Energy Service Company (ESCO), Tribal energy committee, Tribal energy commission, or other organizational unit, or the enhancement of an existing organizational unit.

This effort should respond to a specific need or goal of the applicant, serve energy development objectives as its primary function, have specific outcomes and outputs (measurable results or end-products), and have identified sources of funding or revenue to sustain the operation beyond DOE funding.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Evaluation of organizational structures as they relate to the applicant’s long-term strategic energy plan and implementation opportunities (i.e., utility, TEDO, energy office, ESCO, Tribal committee, or other organizational unit);

• Establishment of an energy organization or Tribal unit for managing Tribal energy resources or implementing the Tribal strategic energy plan;

• Enhancement of an existing Tribal energy organizational unit or function for managing Tribal energy resources or implementing the Tribal strategic energy plan; or

• Establishment of a regional or national intertribal energy consortium.

b. Establishing Tribal energy policy, regulations, or codes to reduce energy use or promote energy development

Tribal Energy Policy, Regulations or Code Development activities should address energy governance issues that may include, but are not limited to:

• Energy policy development Including crafting Tribal energy policy, such as building codes, or energy related by-laws to address energy issues or reach Tribal energy goals.

• Federal, state, and local laws, requirements, and incentives and regulatory assessments Including an assessment of federal, state, and local laws, requirements and incentives that impact Tribal energy development.

c. Obtaining skills and training related to energy use, development, or management

This subtopic supports activities that enhance the capabilities, skills, knowledge, or expertise of Tribal leaders, staff, or members in areas of energy use, efficiency, and development. Applications addressing this area should provide a correlation between the proposed activities and the strategic goals or energy activities of the applicant(s). These activities should increase knowledge-based skills (gaining knowledge of specific subjects, procedures, and information necessary to perform particular tasks) of Tribal leaders, staff, or members and be relative to energy use and development.

This effort should respond to a specific need or goal of the applicant and be of limited duration with specific outcomes (measurable results or end products). Applications should demonstrate how the training goals and objectives align with the applicant's existing energy--focused programs or strategic plans. Referenced strategic energy planning documents should be submitted under the Studies and Analyses File. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to integrate training with existing workforce and training programs.

Skills and training activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Apprenticeship or mentorship (learning a job or skill by working for a fixed period of time for someone who is very good at that job or skill);

• Internships (student or trainee who works in an organization, in order to gain work experience);

• Training in trade professions necessary for a wide variety of energy-related projects (e.g., electricians, welding, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification);

• Workshops (short-term interactive training);

• Seminars (short-term lecture-oriented training); and

• Certification programs (e.g., energy auditor, energy efficiency practitioner, utility operator).

Skills and training activities proposed may include attending conferences to obtain general energy awareness, provided that attendance is justified and directly applicable to the stated goals of the applicant. Programs solely supporting the pursuit of academic degrees (e.g., high school diploma, GED, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate) through scholarships or other means are not eligible. However, applications that complement existing educational programs are welcome.

Area 2. This list is not exhaustive and is only provided for illustrative purposes:

• A specific area sees an increase in the number of blackouts and an inability to connect distributed generation assets due to incorrectly sized substation and distribution lines serving Tribal loads. A proposed study may identify system bottlenecks in the distribution system and help design an upgrade to the system that would minimize blackouts while allowing for future Tribal energy development in the affected area. An economic study may quantify the value of more reliable and secure energy access for the Tribe.

• A project where a Tribe studies the feasibility of developing a hydroelectric power plant on local rivers or streams. The Tribe will study the resource potential through monitoring the flow of the rivers and streams and evaluate the different development methods

(i.e., run-of-river vs. impoundment). They will also model the electric generation potential and the potential economic benefits of the project. The study will allow the Tribe to decide if it is technologically and economically feasible to pursue a hydroelectric project.

• A Tribe would like to expand electrical power to Tribal homes not currently connected to a traditional centralized grid. The Tribe proposes a study to assess energy generation and storage resources necessary to bring reliable, consistent power to the homes. Included in the study may be the cost and comparison of bringing electric distribution to each home, the operation and maintenance of a stand-alone system, and a resource assessment to determine the best resource for their area. This project could act as the first step to extending electric service, critical for powering modern life, to currently unserved Tribal members.

• A Tribe would like to expand natural gas distribution infrastructure to serve Tribal energy heating loads that are currently using electricity, wood, or propane. A study could examine the feasibility of the expansion as well as the benefits of the projects. Benefits may include more reliable heating during harsh winter conditions and cost savings to Tribal end users when compared to current heating methods.

• A Tribal Consortium has identified energy inefficient homes as a major…