Notice of Intent (NOI) DE-FOA-0003203 To Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0003204 "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): Energy Auditor Training (EAT) Program" | DE FOA 0003203

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003203

The Notice of Intent (NOI) DE-FOA-0003203 signals that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP), plans to release a competitive Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0003204 titled "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): Energy Auditor Training (EAT) Program." In practical terms, this is an early heads-up to potential applicants that DOE expects to open a grant competition focused on building the energy-auditing workforce. Because it is an NOI, not the final FOA, DOE is explicitly warning that details could change, the eventual FOA could look different than described, or the FOA might not be issued at all.

The core purpose of the upcoming FOA is to strengthen energy auditing capacity by covering the costs tied to training and certifying energy auditors. The intent is workforce-focused: paying for the training pathways and credentials that allow individuals to perform energy audits (also described as surveys) in both residential and commercial buildings. The underlying policy driver is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Specifically, this activity is tied to Section 40503(a) of that law (codified at 42 U.S.C. 18793), which created the Energy Auditor Training program. The broader logic is that better-trained and more widely available auditors can help identify energy-saving opportunities, support building efficiency upgrades, and contribute to a more sustainable, clean energy future across the building sector.

DOE frames this as part of a larger, government-wide push to support sustainable and clean energy auditing efforts. The NOI highlights an expectation that results will come not only from funding training seats, but also from building stronger partnerships and collaborative initiatives. That includes collaboration across states, agencies, organizations, and DOE itself. In other words, DOE is telegraphing that successful approaches may involve coordinated networks such as state energy offices working with training providers, credentialing organizations, community colleges, unions, nonprofits, or other entities that can recruit trainees, deliver instruction, and move people efficiently into recognized certifications and real-world auditing roles.

From the opportunity data provided, the funding instrument is a grant and the opportunity category is discretionary, meaning awards are made competitively rather than by formula. The funding activity category is energy, and the associated CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 81.041. The eligible applicant type listed is state governments, so the primary intended applicants are state-level entities rather than individuals or private companies applying directly. Administration is associated with DOE's Golden Field Office. The posted award ceiling is $2,000,000, which suggests the maximum size of an individual award could be up to that amount, although the final FOA would normally clarify the expected award range, cost share requirements (if any), allowable costs, and how many awards DOE expects to make. The dataset also lists "ExpectedAwards: 0," which often appears in early notices or placeholder records and should not be read as a firm statement that no awards will be made; the final FOA typically provides the more reliable estimate.

Timing-wise, the record shows an original closing date of December 14, 2023, and a creation date of November 14, 2023. Because this is an NOI for a forthcoming FOA, those dates may relate to the notice posting and anticipated schedule at the time, but applicants should rely on the final FOA for authoritative submission deadlines and required registration steps. DOE encourages interested parties to monitor and access the full NOI on the Clean Energy Infrastructure Funding Opportunity Exchange website (https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov), which is where the final FOA and any amendments, FAQs, and submission instructions would typically be posted.

Overall, the NOI is best understood as DOE laying groundwork for a state-focused grant competition designed to expand and professionalize the energy auditor workforce by paying for training and certification costs, with the end goal of increasing the scale and quality of energy audits in homes and commercial buildings. The program sits squarely within BIL's workforce and infrastructure modernization goals and emphasizes collaboration across jurisdictions and organizations to make energy auditing more accessible, consistent, and impactful.

• The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent (NOI) DE-FOA-0003203 To Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0003204 "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): Energy Auditor Training (EAT) Program"" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.041.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-12-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for DE FOA 0003203

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: