Recovery Act Technical Assistance Projects

FEMP issued a Call for Technical Services in May 2010 to help Federal agencies identify and prioritize energy efficiency, water efficiency, and renewable energy projects. Read information about the Call for Technical Services (including technical service opportunities, application process, selection criteria, reporting requirements, and contacts).

In fiscal year (FY) 2009, FEMP used more than $13 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to finance one-year technical assistance efforts stemming from the Call for Technical Services. Funds were provided to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory and technical contractor teams to provide technical assistance.

Recovery Act technical assistance project stories are available.

FEMP has a compressed timeframe in which to identify projects, allocate funds for technical assistance, and prepare final reports. The image below shows the timeframe for the FEMP technical assistance program.

Chart showing a timeline. May 1, 2009, Call for Projects Announced. May 22, 2009, Call for Projects Closed. May 22 through July 31, 2009, Applications Review and Selection. August 7, 2009, Project Selection Announced. August 7, 2009, through September 30, 2010, Period of Technical Assistance. September 30, 2010, Final Technical Assistance Submittal Report.

One-Year Timeframe for the FEMP Technical Assistance Program funded by the Recovery Act.

All agencies that submitted proposals for technical assistance received FEMP Recovery Act funding for at least one project. FEMP received 294 project proposals and funded 120. A breakdown of project selection by agency is provided below. Technical assistance funding for agencies matched the Federal Energy Footprint (Federal Energy Use).

Pie chart showing 120 projects by agency (out of 294 proposals submitted) totaling $13,218,599. Agency breakdown includes: DOD 65; DOE; 9; DOI; 5; DOJ 1; DOL 1; DOT 1; GSA 6; HHS 1; NARA 1; TRSY 1; USDA 14; VA 4; AOC 2; DHS 8; DOC 1.

Breakdown of FEMP Recovery Act funded technical assistance projects by agency.

A brief description of the type of technical assistance provided to each awarded agency includes:

Federal Agency	Technical Assistance Type
Architect of the Capital (AOC)	Wind turbine feasibility studies Energy audit training
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)	Biomass feasibility studies Strategic energy planning and benchmarking Technical reviews of design and proposals Resource efficiency manager Energy audit and retro-commissioning trainings Energy and water efficiency assessments
Department of Commerce (DOC)	Strategic energy planning and benchmarking Energy and water efficiency assessments
Department of Defense (DOD)	Smart grid feasibility studies High performance green building technical support Energy savings performance contract (ESPC) site data package template development and measurement and verification (M&V) assistance Net-zero energy facility assessments Renewable energy assessments (solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, landfill gas) Resource efficiency manager Technical review of designs and proposals Energy audit trainings Energy efficiency, water efficiency, and retro-commissioning assessments
Department of Energy (DOE)	High performance green building technical support Federal vehicle fleet technical support Renewable energy feasibility studies Data center energy assessments Energy audit and retro-commissioning trainings
Department of the Interior (DOI)	Renewable energy feasibility studies Technical review of designs and proposals Energy efficiency and water efficiency assessments
Department of Justice (DOJ)	Energy efficiency and water efficiency assessments
Department of Labor (DOL)	Energy efficiency, water efficiency, and retro-commissioning assessments
Department of Transportation (DOT)	Facility energy audits
General Services Administration (GSA)	High performance green building technical support Smart ambient lighting study assistance Energy efficiency, water efficiency, and retro-commissioning assessments
Health and Human Services (HHS)	LED lighting technology assessment
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)	Energy efficiency and water efficiency assessments
Department of the Treasury (TRSY)	Renewable energy feasibility study (biomass)
Department of Agriculture (USDA)	Renewable energy feasibility studies Technical review of designs and proposals Strategic energy planning and benchmarking Facility energy modeling assistance Energy efficiency, water efficiency, and retro-commissioning assessments
Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)	Renewable energy feasibility studies Energy audit and retro-commissioning trainings

Project kickoff meetings have been completed. The majority of site visits have been completed with most others currently underway. Recovery Act technical assistance project stories are available.

Work for Others

DOE national laboratory services are also available through the Department's Work for Others (WFO) program. The program enables DOE laboratories to receive direct funding from other Federal agencies for technical service projects.

Under the WFO arrangement, laboratories can provide all services listed above with an emphasis on particular technologies and core expertise. Key laboratory staff can also be detailed to work within agencies for a limited period of time (typically no more than 24 months.

More information on working with DOE national laboratories is available (PDF 520 KB). Download Adobe Reader.