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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

81.042:  Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons

Objectives:  To insulate the dwellings of low-income persons, particularly the elderly and handicapped low-income, in order to conserve needed energy and to aid those persons least able to afford higher utility costs.

PROGRAM AND AWARD FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS


81.042 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  States, including DC, and in certain instances, Native American tribal organizations. In the event a State does not apply, a unit of general purpose local government, or community action agencies and/or other nonprofit agencies within that State becomes eligible to apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  All low-income households are eligible to receive weatherization assistance. A low-income household is one whose combined income falls at or below 125 percent of the poverty level determined by the Office of Management and Budget's poverty income guidelines or the basis on which Federal, State, or local cash assistance payments have been made. A State may also elect to make all homes eligible under the low-income energy assistance program (LIEAP) eligible for weatherization assistance.

Credentials/Documentation:  The Department of Energy (DOE) requires that grantees meet certain statutory and administrative requirements which can be found in the Weatherization Program Guidelines available from DOE offices. Governors or their designated agencies must apply for grants to the appropriate DOE office and submit State Plans and applications pursuant to E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.

81.042 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by 10 CFR 600. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with 10 CFR 600 and with the Weatherization Program Guidelines (available from DOE offices). After notice and a public hearing, a State must adopt a final plan describing the proposed funding distribution and recipients. A copy of the final State plan must accompany the grant application. No preapplication form is required by the DOE. Consultation and assistance will be available from the DOE in the preparation of the application.

Application Procedure:  Grant applications are submitted to the DOE office serving the applicant State.

Award Procedure:  Grant applications will be reviewed by DOE office staff. Grant procedures will be accomplished in accordance with Federal government regulations. Notification of grant awards will be made by the DOE Office Director serving the applicant State.

Deadlines:  State applications must be received within 60 days from the date the State receives notification of eligibility to apply for funding.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  About 30 days.

Appeals:  If an application is disapproved, the DOE office Director shall issue a written notice which will be sent to the applicant by registered mail. A public hearing will be held no later than 15 days after receipt of such notice. The DOE office Director will issue a final determination not later than 5 working days after the public hearing. In the event of an adverse final determination by the DOE office Director, the applicant may file a written appeal to the Secretary not later than 10 working days after receipt of the DOE office Director's determination. The Secretary will have 21 working days to consider the appeal and if no action is taken the decision of the DOE office Director will stand.

Renewals:  Financial assistance will be provided from sums appropriated for any fiscal year only upon annual application.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  DOE requires that grantees meet certain statutory and administrative requirements which can be found in the Weatherization Program Guidelines available from DOE Operations Offices.

Examples of Funded Projects:  State funded local action agencies install energy conservation measures in the homes of low-income persons.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  The average grant is $2,369,000.

81.042 RELATED PROGRAMS:

  • 81.041 State Energy Program.

81.042 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Over 2,600,000 homes have been weatherized with DOE funds.

81.042 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Type of Assistance:  Formula Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 est $124,845,000; FY 00 est $154,100,000; and FY 01 est $0.

Budget Account Number:  89-0215-0-1-999.

Authorization:  Energy Conservation and Production Act, Title IV, Part A, Public Law 94-385, 42 U.S.C. 6851-6872; Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, as amended, Public Law 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101; National Energy Conservation Policy Act of 1978, Title II, Part 2, Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3206; Energy Security Act of 1980, Title V, Subtitle E, Public Law 96-294; Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1984, Public Law 98-558, 98 Stat. 2888; State Energy Efficiency Programs Improvement Act of 1990, Public Law 101-440.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Weatherization Assistance guidelines published June 1, 1977. Amendments to guidelines published January 2, 1979, August 29, 1979, February 27, 1980, June 1, 1981, March 1, 1982, January 27, 1984, January 4, 1985, December 5, 1985, March 4 1993 and June 5, 1995.

81.042 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Boston: Hugh Saussy. Phone: (617) 565-9710. Philadelphia: Charles Baxter. Phone: (215) 656-6954. Atlanta: Jim Powell. Phone: (404) 347-2888. Chicago: Val Jensen. (312) 886-8575. Denver: Bill Becker. Phone: (303) 275-4801. Seattle: Kathy M. Vega. Phone: (206) 553-1132.

Headquarters Office:  Director, Office of State and Community Programs, Mail Stop EE-44, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy, Forrestal Bldg., Washington, DC 20585. Phone: (202) 586-4074.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

81.042 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  The statistical factors used for fund allocation are: (1) Heating degree days and the source is "State Level Heating and Cooling Degree Days," over a 30-year period (1951 to 1980), NOAA; (2) cooling degree days and the source is "State Level Heating and Cooling Degree Days" over a 30-year period (1951 to 1980), NOAA; (3) the number of low-income owner occupied dwelling units and the source is 1990 Decennial Census, from the Bureau of the Census; (4) number of low-income renter occupied dwelling units and the source is the 1990 Decennial Census from the Bureau of the Census; (5) the percentage of total residential heating used for space heating and the source is the "1987 Residential Energy Consumption Survey" published by DOE, Energy Information Administration; and (6) the percentage of total residential energy used for space cooling and the source is the "1987 Residential Energy Consumption Survey" published by DOE, Energy Information Administration. The statistical factor used for eligibility is the dwelling units occupied by families with incomes at or below 125 percent or if the State elects, 150 percent as defined under the HHS LIHEAP Program of the "OMB Poverty Guidelines."

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Authorized funding is established by ECPA, NECPA, and ESA.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Improvement of the thermal efficiency of dwellings by the installation of weatherization materials such as attic insulation, caulking, weather-stripping and storm windows, furnace efficiency modifications certain mechanical measures to heating and cooling systems, and replacement furnaces and boilers. States may average expenditures per dwelling unit for materials, program support and labor costs not to exceed $2,002 adjusted annually for inflation. Up to 10 percent of each grant may be spent by a State and its subgrantees for administrative expenses (a State may not use more than 5 percent of the total State grant for such purposes).

81.042 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Quarterly program and financial reports.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:  Records will be required in accordance with 10 CFR 600.

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