Illinois Energy Office Energy Efficiency Assessment Program is sponsored by Illinois EPA Office of Energy. This program awards funding to public housing authorities, local governments, or nonprofit organizations to conduct energy efficiency assessments at eligible properties in Illinois. A completed assessment can help identify areas for future investment and is a criterion for the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program.

Euna Grants - Environmental Protection Agency - Energy Efficiency Assessment Program Energy Efficiency Assessment Program Energy Efficiency Assessment Program Energy Efficiency Assessment Program Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA or Agency) Office of Energy announces a notice of funding opportunity for public housing authorities, units of local government (municipalities, counties, or townships), or nonprofit organizations through the Energy Efficiency Assessment Program.

Funding will be awarded for energy efficiency assessments (up to $60,000) at properties where residents participate in federal, state, or local public housing programs, housing choice vouchers, rental assistance, or subsidized housing assistance programs.

An energy efficiency assessment is a written evaluation performed by a third-party consultant that measures current energy consumption and identifies building upgrades that can improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. Funding will be awarded to applications meeting all eligibility criteria based on a first come, first serve basis, until all funds are expended or until March 31, 2026.

For purposes of this program, “energy efficiency assessment” is defined as a review of the residential property conducted by a third party professional service that results in written reccomendations with the purpose of improving energy efficiency or reducing energy costs. Applicants may visit https://www. energy.

gov/energysaver/professional-home-energy-assessments for assistance locating professional energy assessment service providers in their region or talk with a local utility provider for a personalized recommendation. The assessment must provide, at minimum, the following information: a. Name and Contact Information for the individual or company completing the energy efficiency assessment b.

Property Description (building envelope, mechanical systems, electrical, site conditions, descriptions of major upgrades, etc.) c. Energy Consumption Analysis (Electric consumption, other fuel consumption, analysis of electric bills, breakdown of energy use, energy benchmarking, etc.) d. Existing Energy Use Behaviors/Best Practices e.

Description of Recommendations (Current issues/observations, proposed project cost/annual savings/simple payback/rate of return, photos of current condition, photos of proposed upgrade equipment, etc.) f. Additional Measure Recommendations (savings measures that may exceed economic payback performance) g. Energy assessment data must be provided in BuildingSync® XML schema standardized data format.

The number of awards will depend on the number of applications received and the level of funding requested. The Agency may offer partial awards if available funding remains but is less than the amount requested. Awardees will have a performance period of 6 months to complete the energy efficiency assessments for ALL properties identified in a grant award agreement.

The Illinois EPA will remit payment to the grantee based on detailed invoices documenting costs to be incurred. The payment to the grantee is not to exceed 100 percent of allowable costs. Grantee will then provide proof of payment to the contractor no later than 45 days after receipt of payment from Illinois EPA.

Eligible costs may include labor and contractual items. This program does not require cost share/match. Indirect costs are addressed in Award Information below.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency rebecca. j. luke@illinois.

gov Energy, Environment, Housing This grant is intended to financially support energy efficiency planning at properties that serve residents receiving housing assistance from local, state or federal programs. Energy efficiency plays a crucial role in reducing the demand for energy, and overall lessening the impact of energy production on natural resources and environmental quality.

Abby Brokaw, Amy Roderick Funding Opportunity Number Agency Opportunity Number Assistance Listings Number https://il. amplifund.

com/Public/Opportunities/Details/817d2c6d-b4ab-486a-afa5-8addf1eefe4c Federal Or Federal Pass Through Funding Source Description This program is designed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) and funding available through the State Energy Program (SEP) Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

USDOE SEP provides funding and technical assistance to advance state-led energy initiatives and maximize the benefits of decreasing energy waste, per 10 CFR 420. No cost share/match is required for this program. Expected Number of Awards Indirect Cost Description The applicant must have an annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA).

There are three types of NICRAs: a. Federally Negotiated Rate: Organizations that receive direct federal funding may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. The State of Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate.

The applicant must provide a copy of the federal NICRA. b. State Negotiated Rate: The applicant must negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate or elect to use the De Minimis rate.

c. De Minimis Rate: An organization that has never received a Federally Negotiated Rate may elect a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). Once established, the de minimis rate may be used indefinitely.

The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in order to accept the de minimis rate. The indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted to the State of Illinois via the GATA Grantee Portal for approval in order to receive an award. An applicant has the discretion not to claim payment for indirect costs.

Applicants that elect not to claim indirect costs cannot be reimbursed for indirect costs. Restrictions on Indirect Costs Allow Multiple Applications Application Review Start Date / Pre-Qualification Deadline Other Submission Requirements Grantees must complete any current award agreements under this program with Illinois EPA prior to submitting additional applications for funding through this program.

Question Submission Information Question Submission Additional Information Registration details for Technical Assistance Office Hours are available in the attachment below or on the Illinois EPA program webpage. Applicants may access the Illinois Amplifund Zendesk for Amplifund portal support: https://il-amplifund. zendesk.

com/ EETF and EEA Technical Assistance Registration Dept of Energy - A Guide to Energy Audits Energy Service Contractor Guidance Doc Government Organizations, Public Housing Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations Applicant Eligibility Information The Illinois EPA Office of Energy will accept applications from public housing authorities, units of local government (municipalities, counties and townships) or nonprofit organizations responsible for management of residential properties located in Illinois that serve residents participating in federal, state or local public housing programs, housing choice vouchers, rental assistance or subsidized housing assistance programs.

An entity may not apply for a grant until the entity has registered and pre-qualified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, www. grants. illinois.

gov/portal. Each entity should check with their County or Municipalities' highest level (generally the treasurer, clerk, etc.) to see how they are currently registered in the GATA portal. Registration and pre-qualification are required annually.

During pre-qualification, verifications are performed including a check of federal SAM. gov Exclusion List and status on the Illinois Stop Payment List. The Grantee Portal alerts the entity of “qualified” status or informs how to remediate a negative verification (e.g., inactive UEI, not in good standing with the Secretary of State).

Inclusion on the SAM. gov Exclusion List cannot be remediated. For Local Governments there are two types of registrations, which include: • Centralized - primarily for Local Governments (most common type) - Counties and Municipalities with multiple departments and divisions where the funds/awards go to the county or municipality's highest level and then to the specific division or department.

The highest entity level would register for all departments and divisions. All entities that fall under this centralized registration would be listed/identified in a “Grantee Note” by the registrant or the registrant can obtain assistance from EPA. GATA@illinois.

gov to enter in the additional entities for them. All of the awards for any of the entities listed would go to the registered FEIN, UEI and GATA registration (a. k.

a. Organization ID) numbers listed on the centralized registration. One Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ) would be completed and ONE Indirect Cost Rate would be identified for all entities identified under the registration.

• Parent/Child - primarily for Local Governments (least common type) - Counties and Municipalities with multiple departments and divisions that have their own UEI numbers AND receive the funds/awards directly. The funds/ awards DO NOT go through the highest level. The highest entity (the parent) level would register their FEIN and UEI, complete an ICQ, and select an indirect cost rate.

Credentials Documentation Eligibility Information Additional Eligibility Information The following eligibility conditions must be met: 1. Property is located in Illinois. 2.

Applicant must be a public housing authority, municipality, county, township or nonprofit organization. 3. Property must be primarily used for residential purposes.

4. Property residents are beneficiaries of a federal, state or local housing program, housing choice vouchers, rental assistance or subsidized housing. Applications that cannot meet eligibility requirements will not be considered for funding.

Additional Information URL https://epa. illinois. gov/topics/energy/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-assessment-program.

html Additional Information URL Description https://epa. illinois. gov/topics/energy.

html Award Administration Information Following eligibility review, a notice of award will be sent through Amplifund. Next, a grant agreement between the Illinois EPA and the applicant will be sent for the applicant to sign and return. once the Grant Agreement is fully executed by the Illinois EPA, a copy will be returned to the applicant.

Only after the Grant Agreement has been signed by the Director or the Director's designee of the Illinois EPA can expenses be incurred for payment. Any expenses incurred outside of the project period (before or after) defined in the Grant Agreement are at the applicant's risk and are not eligible for reimbursement related to the grant.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements The Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705) governs all grants resulting from this program. Quarterly performance and financial reporting will be required unless more frequent reporting is require pursuant to specific award conditions. These reports will describe the expenditure(s) of the funds and performance measures related thereto.

The first report shall cover the first three months after the Award begins. Quarterly reports must be submitted no later than 20 days following the three-month period covered by the report. Failure to submit the required reports may cause a delay or suspension of funding.

Grantees will be required to submit cumulative performance and financial close-out reports. Any additional reporting requirements will be outlined in the executed agreement. State Awarding Agency Contacts Energy Projects Coordinator rebecca.

j. luke@illinois. gov All applications will be reviewed for completeness, technical merit, and adherence to the grant eligibility requirements described in this NOFO.

Applications found to be complete and meet ALL eligibility requirements will be funded, on a first come first serve basis. Review and Selection Process The program will accept applications until all available funds have been depleted or until June 30, 2026. Funds will be awarded to projects meeting the eligibility criteria on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• If the Agency determines that an applicant incorrectly calculated or indicated the project cost and/or total funding request based on the applicable cost estimate or eligible costs, and the Agency can correct the error, the application may still be accepted and reviewed.

If the applicant is awarded the grant, the Agency will contact the applicant and request a decision from the applicant as to whether it will accept the award based on the Agency’s determination of the project cost and/or total funding requested. If the applicant does not accept the Agency’s determination, the application will be rejected.

• If the amount of available grant funding is not sufficient to fund the application in its entirety, the review committee may evaluate the application to determine if a discrete portion or phase of the Project meeting the objectives of this program can be funded.

If the review committee determines that it cannot fund the application in full or part, the application that was received next may be reviewed for a discrete portion or phase to be funded to meet the objectives of the program. • Illinois EPA staff will be responsible for evaluating applications. An appeal process is available to applicants and other interested parties; however, appeals are limited to the Illinois EPA evaluation process.

Evaluation scores may not be protested. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the following address: Illinois EPA, Attn: Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Evaluation Process Appeal, Office of Energy, 2520 W. Iles Ave PO Box 19276, Springfield IL 62794-9276.

and must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published by the Illinois EPA on GATA. Illinois. gov .

The written appeal shall include at a minimum the following: the name and address of the appealing party, identification of the grant, and a statement of reasons for the appeal. Illinois EPA shall acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received.

When an appeal is received, the execution of the grant in contention that Illinois EPA intends to make under this NOFO shall be stayed until the appeal is resolved, unless the agency head or designee determines that the needs of the State require that the grant program move forward despite the appeal. This determination, and its rationale, must be documented in writing.

Illinois EPA shall respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by Illinois EPA within the time period set in the request.

The Director of the Illinois EPA may appoint one or more Appeal Review Officers (ARO) to consider the grant-related appeal and make a recommendation to the Director of the Illinois EPA or designee for resolution. The ARO shall make a recommendation to the Director of the Illinois EPA or designee as expeditiously as possible after receiving all relevant, requested information.

In determining the appropriate recommendation, the ARO shall consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation on the Illinois EPA. The Illinois EPA shall resolve the appeal by means of written determination, which shall include, but not be limited to: review of the appeal, appeal determination, and rationale for the determination.

Neither the State of Illinois nor Illinois EPA is obligated to make any award as a result of this program. Grant applicants are not authorized to proceed with projects until the Director or Director’s designee has signed the Grant Agreement.

Anticipated Announcement Dates Anticipated Date Illinois EPA Action or Award Deadline October 2025 Program opens to accept applications Approximately 30 days after receipt of eligible application Award notification sent to selected grantees Approximately 60 days after receipt Award Notification Provide a fully executed grant agreement to grant recipients Not to Exceed 12 months after date of execution of grant agreement Awarded projects must be completed Not to exceed 30 days after grant agreement end date Final Payment Request must be submitted to Illinois EPA