Low-Income Community Solar Subscription Platform RFI | DE FOA 0002817

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002817

The Low-Income Community Solar Subscription Platform RFI (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0002817) is a Request for Information issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), specifically through the Golden Field Office, under the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). DOE is developing this effort in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The core purpose of the RFI is to gather input that will shape the design and potential rollout of a new platform intended to handle the practical, end-to-end administration of community solar subscriptions for households served by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). In plain terms, DOE is asking stakeholders to help inform what a modern, workable system should look like for enrolling eligible LIHEAP customers into community solar, tracking their participation over time, and monitoring subscription performance and benefits.

Unlike a typical funding announcement that offers grants or contracts, this notice is an RFI, which means it is primarily a market and stakeholder research step. The listing reflects that by showing an expected award count of zero and an award ceiling of $1, emphasizing that the government is not announcing funding for projects through this particular posting. Instead, DOE is using the RFI to collect ideas, requirements, and feedback from organizations that might build, operate, integrate with, or rely on such a platform. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary, with a funding instrument type labeled as "Other," and it sits within the energy activity category (CFDA 81.087).

The envisioned platform, as described, would focus on three major functional areas: enrollment, use, and monitoring. "Enrollment" implies the platform would need to support processes that determine and verify LIHEAP customer eligibility, manage sign-ups, and coordinate with relevant entities like community solar providers and administrators. "Use" points to ongoing subscription management, such as maintaining customer accounts, handling subscription changes, and ensuring households remain appropriately connected to the program over time. "Monitoring" suggests performance tracking and reporting, which could include measuring bill credits, subscription status, solar production allocation, and other indicators that show whether the subscription is delivering real value to low-income customers and meeting program goals. Because LIHEAP is administered through state, tribal, and territorial entities and intersects with energy billing systems and solar providers, this platform concept also strongly implies the need for coordination across multiple stakeholders and data sources.

A notably broad range of respondents are considered eligible to provide information, which signals DOE wants perspectives from across the ecosystem, not just software vendors. Eligible applicants listed include federal-recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, K-12 independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, and even individuals. That wide eligibility is typical for RFIs, where the emphasis is on collecting practical insights and real-world experience rather than limiting participation to a narrow set of prospective grantees.

Administratively, the notice was created on July 27, 2022, with an original closing date of August 31, 2022. The sponsoring agency is listed as the Department of Energy, Golden Field Office. Overall, the RFI is best understood as an early-stage planning and requirements-gathering step meant to inform how DOE SETO and HHS could support a scalable, user-focused, and accountable subscription management platform that makes community solar more accessible and manageable for LIHEAP customers, while also enabling transparent tracking of outcomes and program performance.

• The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Low-Income Community Solar Subscription Platform RFI" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 27, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2022. (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 $1.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for DE FOA 0002817

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