Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0002117: Research and Development Opportunities for Innovations in Sensors and Controls for Building Energy Management | DE FOA 0002117

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002117

DE-FOA-0002117 is a Department of Energy (DOE) Buildings Technologies Office (BTO) Request for Information (RFI) focused on research and development opportunities for next-generation sensors and controls that improve building energy management. The central idea is to push building systems toward whole-building integration and optimization by using connected, controllable loads. BTO is looking for practical, early-stage, and innovative technology directions that can reduce energy costs, improve occupant comfort, and enable buildings to provide valuable services to the electric grid. In the background is a broader DOE priority: making the energy system more affordable, reliable, and resilient, with buildings acting as a stronger partner to the grid and other distributed energy resources rather than behaving as passive, inflexible loads.

This opportunity is not a grant competition and it is not accepting applications for funding. It is strictly an information-gathering effort meant to collect feedback from a wide set of stakeholders, including industry, universities, national and private research laboratories, government agencies, and others with relevant expertise. BTO intends to use the responses to refine and update its Sensors and Controls research and development strategy, including the energy savings and cost reduction targets that support that strategy. The feedback may also shape future strategic planning and could influence how BTO adjusts its R&D portfolio over time. While DOE notes that it may later issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) related to the content of this RFI, there is no promise that any FOA will occur, and responding to the RFI does not provide any competitive advantage or disadvantage if a future FOA is released.

BTO organized the RFI around five categories that signal where it wants input. Category 1, Multi-Functional Wireless Sensor Networks, points to interest in scalable sensing approaches that are easier and cheaper to deploy across existing buildings, potentially reducing wiring and installation barriers while increasing the amount and quality of operational data. Category 2, Advanced Monitoring and Data Analytics, emphasizes the need to turn raw building data into actionable insights, such as diagnostics, fault detection, performance benchmarking, and predictive analytics that can identify inefficiencies and guide improvements. Category 3, Adaptive and Autonomous Controls, focuses on control strategies that can respond dynamically to changing conditions in the building and on the grid, potentially using learning-based or model-based approaches to optimize energy use without constant human intervention. Category 4, Occupant-Centric Controls, highlights comfort and usability by aligning building operations with real occupant needs and behaviors, recognizing that energy performance and satisfaction are tightly linked. Category 5, Overarching Areas of Interest and Cross-cut Strategies, covers broader themes that cut across all the other categories, such as interoperability, scalability, cybersecurity, cost, maintainability, and pathways to real-world deployment.

The RFI spells out clear submission instructions and formatting limits. Responses had to be submitted electronically by email to BTOSensorsControlsRDO@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on June 3, 2019. Submissions were required as attachments to the email, in Microsoft Word (.docx) format, and limited to 10 pages with 12-point font and one-inch margins. Only electronic submissions were accepted, and DOE recommended compressing attachments larger than 25 MB (for example, by zipping) to improve deliverability.

In the source listing, the opportunity is categorized under discretionary funding and the energy activity area, associated with CFDA 81.086, and is shown as unrestricted eligibility (open to any entity type, subject to clarifications in the full text). It was issued by the Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, created April 17, 2019, and closed June 3, 2019. Because it is an RFI rather than a funding solicitation, expected awards are listed as zero, and any future funding details (such as award amounts, number of awards, and timing) would depend on later decisions and congressional appropriations if DOE were to move forward with an actual FOA.

• The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0002117: Research and Development Opportunities for Innovations in Sensors and Controls for Building Energy Management" 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.

Apply for DE FOA 0002117

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