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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

81.081:  Energy Task Force for the Urban Consortium

Objectives:  The Urban Consortium (UC) is an organization of the Nation's 50 largest cities and counties. The Energy Task Force (ETF) is a subgroup of 20 representatives that have professional experience and technological expertise in energy management. The stated purpose of the Energy Task Force is to develop the capability of local jurisdictions to address energy-related problems and to evaluate and test community energy supply and conservation techniques.

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

81.081 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Cities and counties with populations of at least 250,000. Those with population of 100,000 or more may seek support for technology transfer projects.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Large urban, city, and county jurisdictions will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:  Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.

81.081 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  The Urban Consortium Energy Task Force manages a request for proposals from eligible jurisdictions and submits a proposal to DOE. The proposal consists of projects which local jurisdictions will perform (the ETF has its own annual energy needs assessment process for selecting projects for inclusion in their proposal to DOE). This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:  DOE reviews the proposal and, if necessary, provides recommended changes to the ETF. The ETF modifies the proposal, as appropriate, and the proposal is approved for funding. Final approval of program plan is made by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs (BTS).

Deadlines:  Annual request for proposals are available January 15th and proposals are due March 31st.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 1 to 3 months.

Appeals:  Not applicable.

Renewals:  None.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Proposals are selected based on criteria set by the ETF. The criteria are based on an annual needs assessment which defines the significant problems faced by large urban governments in energy management and technology applications. The fiscal year 1998 priority areas are: (1) Energy efficiency and development (e.g. sustainability); (2) municipal government and utilities (e.g. utility restructuring); (3) energy usage and supply (e.g. distributed energy systems); and (4) technology transfer. Proposals are selected based on: (1) Strength of project concept, clarity of scope and objectives, innovation in project approach, quality of proposals scope and coherent understanding of its topic, and credible procedures to measure and evaluate results; (2) potential for well-defined product and practical implementation, transfer and replication, and commercialization; and (3) multi-jurisdictional public and/or private partnerships with three or more partners, and cost-sharing at least equal to DOE funds request.

Examples of Funded Projects:  An urban plan to reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions through transportation, land use, use of district cooling loops, and strategies for encouraging utility participation in a deregulated environment; a public enterprise project to promote private businesses and, simultaneously, use energy and water efficiently, decrease solid waste, and reduce air pollution; energy optimization of a water distribution system; demonstration of the Greer Builder Model Home for promoting sustainable building practices materials; development of a marketing and business plan for a downtown district energy system partnership; expanding urban trails into the central business district to save energy, reduce congestion, and improve air quality; a public/private/utility partnership to identify options for implementing compressed natural gas fueling infrastructure; and energy savings through replacing highway sign illumination with light emitting diodes.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  From $75,000 for research and development grants or $25,000 for technology transfer grants.

81.081 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

81.081 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Since 1979 DOE has funded more than 335 "city/county" energy projects and provided technology transfer of project results among members of the Urban Consortium, other local jurisdictions, and private organizations.

81.081 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

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

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $1,600,000; FY 00 est $1,600,000; and FY 01 est $0.

Budget Account Number:  89-0215-0-1-272.

Authorization:  Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, Section 103, as amended, Public Law, Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, as amended, Public Law 95-91, Section 203(6) and (9), and 646(a).

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  None.

81.081 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Earlette Robinson, Chicago Operations Office, Department of Energy, 9800 South Cass Ave., Argonne, IL 60439. Phone: (630) 252-2667.

Headquarters Office:  Eric Thomas, Office of Building Technology, Project Manager, Office State and Community Programs, of National Programs, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Room 5E-066, Mail Stop EE-44, Washington, DC 20585. Phone: (202) 586-4074.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

81.081 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  The program has no statutory formula and no matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Typically 18 months.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Municipal energy conservation programs or projects which address critical energy-related issues faced by major metropolitan governments. Emphasis should be on developing and applying cost-effective energy management technologies and techniques among the Nation's municipal governments.

81.081 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  A quarterly report and final reports are required.

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:  Management plan, milestone schedule and status report, and final report must be maintained.