Energy Efficiency Assessment Program

Illinois EPA Office of Energy is offering funding to public housing authorities, units of local government (municipalities, counties, or townships), or nonprofit organizations to conduct energy efficiency assessments at eligible residential properties. An energy efficiency assessment is a written evaluation performed by a third-party consultant that measures current energy consumption and identifies building upgrades that can improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. Funding will be awarded for energy efficiency assessments at properties where residents participate in federal, state, or local public housing programs, housing choice vouchers, rental assistance, or subsidized housing assistance programs.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58)

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The objective is to support public housing authorities, units of local government (municipalities, counties, or townships), or nonprofit organizations reduce the total energy cost and consumption of properties serving those receiving housing assistance in Illinois. A completed energy efficiency assessment will offer property managers a road map for making cost effective energy efficiency upgrades and prepare them for the state and federal funding already available or soon to be available.

Yes

The Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705) applies to this program. CODE of FEDERAL REGULATIONS Title 2: Grants and Agreements PART 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200)

Government Organizations; Public Housing Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations;

Eligible properties maintained by public housing authority, municipality, county, township, or nonprofit organization; Eligible properties must be located in Illinois and be located in an environmental justice area of concern; Property primarily used for residential purposes; Property must be single family or duplex residential property; Property must serve residents receiving housing assistance; Applicant can meet the match requirement outlined in NOFO.

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Project Grants

Government Services

project implementation timeline with key milestones, itemized project/s budget, and a copy of third-party energy efficiency assessment of facility completed within the last five years identifying prospective project/s. Applicants should be registered in the GATA Grantee Portal and be in good standing with pre-qualification requirements.

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Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive narrative project plan that describes all aspects of the project(s). The narrative project plan should include the following, at minimum: 1. Cover letter with description of the project scope and anticipated impact on property management. 2. A description of the applicant, the project and project activities at each eligible property including: a. Applicant name; b. Applicant organization governance/type (e.g., public housing authority, municipality, county government, nonprofit etc.); c. Applicant address; d. Scope of applicant organization’s geographical reach. e. Name and contact information for the applicant’s primary contact person for this application. f. Physical address and county or counties of the property or properties to be assessed; g. Description of the property to be assessed (facility use, number of dwelling units, physical boundaries etc.) of the property or properties; h. Description of the type and classification (local, state and federal) of housing programs used by property residents; i. Electricity service provider for the property or properties; and j. Average electricity rate paid ($/kWh) for the previous 12 months for the property or properties. 3. An implementation timeline with key milestones for each eligible property. The timeline and milestones should include the following: a. Anticipated date for entering into a contract with a technical consultant to perform the energy efficiency assessment; b. Anticipated date to conduct the energy efficiency assessment; c. Anticipated assessment completion date; d. Anticipated first monthly payment request; and e. Anticipated final monthly payment request. 4. A budget that itemizes labor costs and separates eligible from ineligible costs, including any/all service, labor and contractual costs. The contractor(s) the applicant anticipates using for the assessment and itemized associated costs should be included. Important: Any/all equipment, service, labor, and contractual costs itemized in the project budget should correspond to the narrative project scope provided in the Cover Letter. Successful applicants will enter into a grant agreement with the Agency and be reimbursed by the Agency no more frequently than once per month for the duration of the agreement. The start date for the performance of the award is as soon as the grant agreement is executed between the awardee and the Illinois EPA and signed by the Agency Director or Director’s designee. Assessments should be planned for completion within 6 months of the execution of the grant agreement. All payment requests must be submitted no later than 30 days after the project performance period end date. The application materials, including budget forms, should be on letter-sized paper and type font must be 10 or greater. Complete application must be submitted electronically to epa.energygrants@illinois.gov. Applications will be accepted until all funding has been expended, or until March 1, 2025, whichever occurs first. Any and all implementation plans, proposals, charts, tables, and cost estimates must be included with the application. Applicants must use the application forms provided along with the GATA Uniform Application and the GATA Uniform Budget. These forms are designed to allow the Illinois EPA review committee to obtain sufficient information to properly evaluate each application. A complete application package consists of: a. GATA Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance; b. Narrative Project Plan(s); c. GATA Uniform Budget Template; d. Programmatic Risk Assessment Form; e. Disclosure of Interest - Grantee; and f. National Environmental Policy Act Compliance Certification

All applications will be reviewed for completeness and adherence to the grant eligibility requirements described in this NOFO. Applications found to be complete and meet ALL eligibility requirements will be funded, on a first come first serve basis. The program will accept applications until all available funds have been awarded. Additional review processes include: • If the Agency determines that an applicant incorrectly calculated or indicated the assessment cost and/or total funding request based on the applicable cost estimate or eligible costs, and the Agency can correct the error, the application may still be accepted and reviewed. If the applicant is awarded the grant, the Agency will contact the applicant and request a decision from the applicant as to whether it will accept the award based on the Agency’s determination of the assessment cost and/or total funding requested. If the applicant does not accept the Agency’s determination, the application will be rejected. • If the amount of available grant funding is not sufficient to fund the application in its entirety, the review committee may evaluate the application to determine if a discrete portion or phase of the Project meeting the mission of this NOFO can be funded. • Illinois EPA staff will be responsible for reviewing applications. • Neither the State of Illinois nor Illinois EPA is obligated to make any award as a result of this NOFO. Grant applicants are not authorized to proceed with projects until the Director has signed the Grant Agreement.

Successful applicants will enter into a grant agreement with the Agency and be reimbursed by the Agency no more frequently than once per month for the duration of the agreement. The start date for the performance of the award is as soon as the grant agreement is executed between the awardee and the Illinois EPA and signed by the Agency Director or Director’s designee. Assessments should be planned for completion within 6 months of the execution of the grant agreement. All payment requests must be submitted no later than 30 days after the project performance period end date.

As identified in NOFO.

45 days

A merit-based evaluation appeal process is available to applicants who submit a complete application. Evaluation scores may not be protested. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the following address: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Attn: Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Evaluation Process Appeal, Office of Energy, 1021 N. Grand Avenue East, PO Box 19276, Springfield, Illinois, 62794-9276. Appeals must be received within 14 calendars days after the date that the grant award notice has been published by the Illinois EPA to grants.illinois.gov. The written appeal should include at a minimum the following: the name and address of the appealing party, identification of the grant, and a statement of reasons for the appeal. The Agency will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within 14 calendar days from the date the appeal was received. When an appeal is received, the execution of all grant agreements that the Illinois EPA intends to make under this NOFO shall be stayed until the appeal is resolved, unless the Illinois EPA determines the needs of the State require moving forward with execution of the grant agreements. The State need determination and rationale shall be documented in writing. The Agency will respond within 50 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by the Illinois EPA within the time period set in the request. The Illinois EPA will resolve the appeal by means of written determination, which shall include, but not be limited to, review of the appeal determination, and rationale for the determination.

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None

This award is funded from USDOE SEP Funds through IIJA. The awarded funds must be used to complete: Energy efficiency assessments (minimum of $5,000 and maximum of $25,000) at single family or duplex residential properties located in an areas of environmental justice concern in the State of Illinois with residents participating in federal, state or local public housing programs, housing choice vouchers, rental assistance or subsidized housing assistance programs.

All grantees will be required to submit quarterly reports to the Illinois EPA Office of Energy. • The Uniform Periodic Performance Report (PPR) and the Uniform Periodic Financial Report (PFR) are required at a minimum on a quarterly basis. Quarterly reporting will be required unless more frequent reporting is required pursuant to specific award conditions. • These reports will describe the expenditure(s) of the funds and performance measures related thereto. Quarterly reports must be submitted no later than 5 calendar days following the period covered by the report. Failure to submit the required PPR and PFR report may cause a delay or suspension of funding. • Quarterly reports will be due on dates specified in the executed Grant agreement over the duration of the grant period. Grantees must report the status of the project, specific tasks completed during the reporting period, tasks that remain to be completed, specific costs incurred and paid by the grantee during the reporting period, and projected date of project completion. • A template of the quarterly reports will be supplied to all grantees. Quarterly reports will be consistent with the Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705). Grantees will also be required to submit a cumulative performance and financial close-out report. A template for reporting requirements will be supplied to all grantees. Any additional reporting requirements will be outlined in the executed agreement.

Illinois Administrative Code 7000.90

Grantee shall maintain for three (3) years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report, adequate books, all financial records and, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this Award, adequate to comply with 2 CFR 200.334, unless a different retention period is specified in 2 CFR 200.334, 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.430(a) and (b) or PART TWO or PART THREE. If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken.

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$500,000

$5,000 - $25,000

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CODE of FEDERAL REGULATIONS Title 2: Grants and Agreements PART 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200) Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), 30 ILCS 708/1 Illinois Administrative Code

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1021 North Grand Ave East, Springfield, IL 62794

https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/energy.html

https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/energy/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-assessment-program.html

Energy efficiency assessments of residential properties serving residents who receive housing assistance. Properties must be managed by a public housing authority, municipality, unit of local government or nonprofit and be located in Illinois.

9/10/2024

FY 2024 : $500,000
FY 2025 : $500,000