Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002118
DOE's Building Technologies Office (BTO) issued Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0002118 to gather public input on where research and development should go next for Building Energy Modeling (BEM). This notice is not a grant solicitation and it does not fund projects; it is a structured request for feedback that DOE may use to shape future program plans and, potentially, a later Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The overall intent is to hear from a broad mix of stakeholders, including industry, universities, national labs, government agencies, and others who develop, use, or are impacted by building energy modeling.
The RFI centers on BTO's desire to improve both the effectiveness and adoption of BEM across the building sector. DOE specifically asks for input on planned initiatives (and how they should be prioritized), the appropriate scope of the BEM program, and the data sets, metrics, and targets that could be used to measure whether the program and the broader BEM industry are making real progress. In other words, DOE is looking for practical guidance not only on what technical problems to solve, but also on how to track impact in a way that is credible, repeatable, and meaningful to the market.
To frame the discussion, BTO developed a report organized around six focus areas. These are: (1) the BEM value proposition, meaning how modeling delivers value in real projects and decisions; (2) predictive accuracy, focused on how closely model outputs match measured building performance and how to reduce uncertainty; (3) core modeling capabilities, covering the fundamental simulation features and methods needed to represent buildings and systems well; (4) workflow integration and automation, aimed at making modeling easier to use within design, construction, retrofit, and operations processes; (5) the BEM data ecosystem, which includes the availability, quality, standardization, and accessibility of data needed to build, calibrate, and validate models; and (6) BEM professionals, which addresses the workforce side such as skills, training, credentials, and the practices that enable consistent results.
Within those focus areas, DOE identifies barriers that it believes are limiting wider BEM adoption and proposes initiatives intended to address them. The RFI asks respondents to critique those barriers and initiatives directly, suggest additions or corrections, and highlight important obstacles DOE may have missed. This includes technical barriers (for example, limits in model accuracy, interoperability, or automation), market and practice barriers (such as costs, time, and fragmented workflows), and workforce or institutional barriers (like insufficient training pathways or inconsistent methods).
DOE also emphasizes the need for better ways to measure BEM's role and effectiveness in energy efficiency and related building projects. One of the key feedback areas is the development of metrics, benchmarks, targets, and data sets that can track the use of BEM in different applications and help attribute energy savings or performance improvements to modeling. That attribution question matters because modeling is often one part of a larger decision chain, and DOE wants input on methods that can credibly connect modeling activities to outcomes such as energy savings, peak demand reduction, improved commissioning, better retrofit decisions, or reduced performance gaps.
The RFI is organized into six response categories that stakeholders can address. Category 1 focuses on metrics, benchmarks, targets, and data sets for tracking BEM use and for determining how energy efficiency can be attributed to BEM in different applications. Category 2 addresses the six focus areas themselves and whether they are the right organizing framework. Category 3 targets the barriers DOE identified and invites additions or refinements. Category 4 covers the proposed initiatives DOE suggests to overcome those barriers, including prioritization and design considerations. Category 5 asks about stakeholder engagement and feedback mechanisms, essentially how DOE should continue to gather input, coordinate with the community, and ensure efforts align with real-world needs. Category 6 is an open slot for any other relevant feedback not captured elsewhere.
On logistics, responses were required to be submitted by email to BTOBEMRDO@ee.doe.gov by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on June 3, 2019. DOE specified that responses must be attached to the email as a Microsoft Word (.docx) document, limited to 10 pages, using 12-point font and 1-inch margins. Only electronic submissions were accepted, and DOE recommended compressing attachments larger than 25 MB to avoid delivery problems.
Finally, DOE makes clear this RFI is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement and does not accept applications for funding. While DOE may later issue a FOA informed by the responses, it may also choose not to, and there is no guarantee of future funding. Responding to the RFI does not provide any competitive advantage or disadvantage in any future solicitation. The published opportunity information lists it as a discretionary opportunity under the energy activity category, with CFDA number 81.086, open eligibility (unrestricted), administered through DOE's Golden Field Office, created April 17, 2019, and closing June 3, 2019.Apply for DE FOA 0002118
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0002118: Research and Development Opportunities for Building Energy Modeling" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 17, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 03, 2019. (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 $2.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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FAQs: DOE BTO RFI DE-FOA-0002118 (Building Energy Modeling R&D Direction)
1) What is RFI DE-FOA-0002118?
RFI DE-FOA-0002118 is a Request for Information issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) to collect public input on where research and development should go next for Building Energy Modeling (BEM).
2) Is this a grant or funding opportunity?
No. DOE states that this notice is not a grant solicitation and it does not fund projects. It is a structured request for feedback.
3) Does DOE accept applications for funding under this RFI?
No. DOE explicitly notes this RFI is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and does not accept applications for funding.
4) Why is DOE collecting input on Building Energy Modeling (BEM)?
DOE is seeking practical guidance on how to improve both the effectiveness and adoption of BEM across the building sector. DOE is also asking how progress should be measured using credible, repeatable, and market-meaningful metrics, benchmarks, targets, and data sets.
5) Who is DOE hoping will respond?
DOE is looking for input from a broad mix of stakeholders, including industry, universities, national laboratories, government agencies, and others who develop, use, or are impacted by building energy modeling.
6) What kinds of feedback is DOE asking for?
DOE asks for input on planned initiatives (and prioritization), the appropriate scope of the BEM program, and the data sets, metrics, and targets that could be used to measure progress in the program and the broader BEM industry. DOE also invites critiques, additions, and corrections to the barriers and initiatives described in the RFI materials.
7) What are the six focus areas DOE used to organize the discussion?
DOE organized the RFI discussion around six focus areas: (1) the BEM value proposition, (2) predictive accuracy, (3) core modeling capabilities, (4) workflow integration and automation, (5) the BEM data ecosystem, and (6) BEM professionals.
8) What does DOE mean by the "BEM value proposition" focus area?
It refers to how building energy modeling delivers value in real projects and decisions, meaning how modeling results are used and what benefits they provide in practice.
9) What is included under the "predictive accuracy" focus area?
This focus area addresses how closely model outputs match measured building performance and how uncertainty can be reduced.
10) What does "core modeling capabilities" refer to?
It covers fundamental simulation features and methods needed to represent buildings and systems well.
11) What does DOE mean by "workflow integration and automation"?
This area focuses on making modeling easier to use within design, construction, retrofit, and operations processes, including improved integration and automation in typical project workflows.
12) What is the "BEM data ecosystem"?
It refers to the availability, quality, standardization, and accessibility of data needed to build, calibrate, and validate building energy models.
13) What is covered under "BEM professionals"?
This focus area addresses workforce considerations such as skills, training, credentials, and practices that enable consistent modeling results.
14) What barriers is DOE asking stakeholders to comment on?
DOE asks respondents to critique the barriers DOE believes are limiting wider BEM adoption and to suggest additions or corrections. These can include technical barriers (such as accuracy, interoperability, or automation limits), market and practice barriers (such as cost, time, and fragmented workflows), and workforce or institutional barriers (such as insufficient training pathways or inconsistent methods).
15) What initiatives is DOE proposing, and what does it want back from respondents?
DOE proposes initiatives intended to address the identified barriers and asks stakeholders to critique those initiatives, suggest improvements, and help prioritize them. DOE also asks for design considerations to make initiatives effective in real-world use.
16) Why does DOE emphasize metrics, benchmarks, targets, and data sets?
DOE emphasizes measurement because it wants better ways to track BEM use and determine whether modeling is contributing to outcomes in a credible and repeatable way. DOE specifically calls out the need to measure progress in both the program and the broader BEM industry.
17) What does DOE mean by "attribution" of energy efficiency to BEM?
DOE is asking for methods that can credibly connect modeling activities to outcomes such as energy savings, peak demand reduction, improved commissioning, better retrofit decisions, reduced performance gaps, or other performance improvements, recognizing that modeling is often only one part of a broader decision chain.
18) How is the RFI organized for responses?
The RFI is organized into six response categories: (1) metrics, benchmarks, targets, and data sets (including attribution of energy efficiency to BEM), (2) the six focus areas and whether they are the right organizing framework, (3) the barriers DOE identified (including additions/refinements), (4) the proposed initiatives (including prioritization and design considerations), (5) stakeholder engagement and feedback mechanisms, and (6) any other relevant feedback.
19) What is Category 1 about?
Category 1 focuses on metrics, benchmarks, targets, and data sets for tracking BEM use and for determining how energy efficiency can be attributed to BEM in different applications.
20) What is Category 2 about?
Category 2 asks whether the six focus areas are the right way to organize the BEM program and related R&D planning.
21) What is Category 3 about?
Category 3 addresses the barriers DOE identified that limit BEM adoption and invites additions, refinements, or corrections.
22) What is Category 4 about?
Category 4 covers DOE's proposed initiatives to overcome barriers, including how initiatives should be prioritized and other design considerations.
23) What is Category 5 about?
Category 5 asks about stakeholder engagement and feedback mechanisms, including how DOE should keep gathering input, coordinate with the community, and align efforts with real-world needs.
24) What is Category 6 for?
Category 6 is an open category for any other relevant feedback not captured in the first five categories.
25) When were responses due?
Responses were due by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on June 3, 2019.
26) How were responses submitted?
Responses were required to be submitted by email to BTOBEMRDO@ee.doe.gov.
27) What file format did DOE require for the response?
DOE required that responses be attached to the email as a Microsoft Word (.docx) document.
28) Were there formatting or length requirements?
Yes. DOE specified a limit of 10 pages, 12-point font, and 1-inch margins.
29) Were paper submissions accepted?
No. DOE stated that only electronic submissions were accepted.
30) What if the email attachment was large?
DOE recommended compressing attachments larger than 25 MB to avoid delivery problems.
31) Will responding to the RFI lead to future funding?
Not necessarily. DOE notes it may later issue a FOA informed by responses, but it may also choose not to. There is no guarantee of future funding.
32) Does responding provide an advantage in a future FOA?
No. DOE states that responding to the RFI does not provide any competitive advantage or disadvantage in any future solicitation.
33) What office is administering this opportunity?
The published opportunity information lists it as administered through DOE's Golden Field Office.
34) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The listed CFDA number is 81.086.
35) What eligibility rules apply?
The opportunity lists eligibility as open (unrestricted).
36) How is the opportunity categorized?
It is listed as a discretionary opportunity under the energy activity category.
37) What are the posted dates for this notice?
The opportunity information indicates it was created on April 17, 2019, and closed on June 3, 2019.
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