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Deadline
-
TBD
March 6, 2025
3:00 pm
ET

Career Skills Training Program

Information

Description

U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) is requesting applications from nonprofit partnerships between industry and labor organizations through the Career Skills Training Program (CST). These nonprofit partnerships will concurrently provide students classroom instruction and on-the-job training to obtain an industry-related certification to install energy efficiency buildings technologies.

This CST grant program will award up to $6.8 million to selected nonprofit partnerships. It is in accordance with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Section 40513 and codified in 42 U.S.C. 18802. CST funding is only available to specific nonprofit partnerships. The nonprofit partnership must include equal participation of at least the following entities, as depicted in the graphic in the Objective Section below:

  • One industry partner: public employers, private employers, or industry/trade associations; and
  • One labor organization: labor union, labor management organizations, joint labor management training program, worker center, or workers organizations (42 U.S.C. 18802(a)(1)-(2)).

Nonprofit partnerships may also include workforce investment boards; community-based organizations; qualified service and conservation corps; educational institutions; small businesses; cooperatives; State and local veterans agencies; and veterans service organizations.

To be eligible, the nonprofit partnership must also demonstrate:

  • Experience in implementing and operating worker skills training and education programs;
  • The ability to identify and involve in training programs, target populations of individuals who would benefit from training and be actively involved in activities relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy industries; and
  • The ability to help individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency (42 U.S.C. 18802(a)(3)).

The goals of the CST program are to:

  • Increase enrollment and participation in existing energy efficiency career skills training programs.
  • Improve access to classroom instruction and on-the-job training opportunities for underserved, underrepresented, disadvantaged communities.
  • Provide participants with the necessary skills and industry-recognized certifications required to pursue a career in the energy efficiency industry.
  • Place participants in good jobs to ensure economic self-sufficiency and career success.

Applications submitted must address the following strategic priorities:

  • Prepare workers and/or young people for in-demand, high-quality jobs in the building energy efficiency sector and connect them with these jobs.
  • Expand existing training programs to reach disadvantaged community members, for example, by conducting specific outreach to these communities and offering supportive services to all program participants, e.g., child-care assistance, transportation assistance, career navigation and mentorship programs.

The objective of this announcement is to issue between two (2) and ten (10) awards between $400,000 and $1,100,000 to selected eligible entities, also known as performers. SCEP may fund two workstream options to strengthen the clean energy workforce:

  • Expanding existing training pathways, and
  • Enhancing existing energy efficiency career skills.

SCEP manages CST in partnership with its Partnership Intermediary, ENERGYWERX. This collaboration is possible through an innovative Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) process established by the DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions. This agreement enables ENERGYWERX to broaden DOE’s engagement with innovative organizations and non-traditional partners, facilitating the rapid development, scaling, and deployment of clean energy training solutions.

This solicitation builds on the CST selection announced in July 2024. Potential performers may wish to review this selection to understand the types of projects that DOE expects to fund via this opportunity.

Objective

Performer Roles & Partnership Setup

The graphic below includes several nonprofit partnership configuration examples. If potential performers are looking for partners, visit the Teaming Partner List.

Potential performers must submit letters of commitment from their proposed partners, as listed below. Each letter must include specific commitments to participate in a CST-funded project.

  • Industry or labor partner (required);
  • Optional partners (as listed in the green text box in the graphic above);
  • Proposed sub-recipients (if identified); and
  • Proposed third-party cost share providers, including the value of the cost share, including both cash and in-kind contributions.

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Budget & Performance Period

DOE will award up to $6.8 million to performers through this opportunity announcement. Awards will range from $400,000 to $1,100,000, and performers will implement funded programs during a 36-month performance period. Potential performers must provide a project budget with proposed annual costs broken down by tasks and milestones.

Performers must provide a 50% cost share (42 U.S.C. 18802(c)). The cost share must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law. All sources of cost share are considered part of total project costs, and the cost share dollars will be scrutinized under the same Federal regulations as Federal dollars. See 2 CFR 200.306 for additional information on cost share.

Event Updates

Teaming Partner Resources

How to Participate

  1. Review the resources from the Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session on January 15, 2025 under Webinar Resources.
  2. Attend the Office Hours on February 5, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET: Click Here to Register
  3. Complete and upload a submission no later than March 6, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET
    1. Workstream 1: Click Here to Submit‍
    2. Workstream 2: Click Here to Submit

Important Dates

DOE Announcement

DOE invites applications to the two workstreams below. Potential performers must only apply to one workstream and align their application with the requirements of that workstream. Applications or proposed projects must (1) expand existing training programs and (2) concurrently provide students classroom instruction and on-the-job training to obtain an industry-related certification to install energy efficiency buildings technologies.

Workstream 1: Expand Existing Training Pathways

This workstream will fund performers to train participants on occupations, career tracks, or pathways that are not currently engaged or served by the performer and lead to job placement. Workstream 1 programs will result in a variety of work-based learning programs that align classroom experience with on-the-job training and help participants secure good jobs. For example, this could include internships, college education experiences (co-ops), externships, registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, or Youth Apprenticeships. Selected workstream 1 performers will showcase strong industry-labor partnerships and detailed work plans with defined performance outcomes. DOE may issue between zero (0) and four (4) awards under workstream 1.

Workstream 2: Enhancing Existing Energy Efficiency Career Skills

This workstream will fund performers to enhance current training programs with additional energy efficiency field practices, technology instruction, and job placement. Workstream 2 programs will result in documented best practices for developing successful labor-industry nonprofit partnerships; impactful strategies for career skills training; and innovative, scalable, and replicable program models that lead to good jobs. Using HVAC as an example, current practices could be expanded by adding proper boiler sizing, heat pumps, dampers, valves, building controls, retro-commissioning, and codes. This workstream will expand existing technology-specific trainings to include training on new, complementary technologies. Selected workstream 2 performers will showcase classroom and on-the-job training that equips participants with the skills required to perform energy efficiency upgrades and secure good jobs. DOE may issue around four (4) awards under this workstream.

Objective Strategic Session (OSS) Webinar

To ask questions and better understand the CST program and application requirements, attend the Objective Strategic Session (OSS) webinar on January 15, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET to learn more. COMPLETED

ENWX will be employing the CAPTCHA-enabled feature on our meetings, and webinar participants may receive a CAPTCHA challenge in order to join the Sessions. 
For the best webinar experience, we recommend downloading the Microsoft Teams software to your computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Office Hours (OH) Q&A Webinar

ENERGYWERX and DOE will host an open office hour for potential performers on February 5, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET. DOE encourages participants to come prepared with questions. Click Here to Register

ENWX will be employing the CAPTCHA-enabled feature on our meetings, and webinar participants may receive a CAPTCHA challenge in order to join the Sessions. 
For the best webinar experience, we recommend downloading the Microsoft Teams software to your computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Submission Deadline(s)

Submissions are due no later than March 6, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET.

Workstream 1: Expand Existing Training Pathways

Complete the Submission Form: Click Here to Submit (Submissions are due no later than March 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM ET)

 

Workstream 2: Enhancing Existing Energy Efficiency Career Skills

Complete the Submission Form: Click Here to Submit (Submissions are due no later than March 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM ET)

Process Details

Timeline(s)

  1. Applications Open: January 8, 2025.
  2. Objective Strategic Session (OSS) webinar (optional): January 15, 2025, from 3:00-4:00 PM ET.
  3. Office Hours (OH) Q&A Webinar (optional): February 5, 2025, from 3:00-4:00 PM ET.
    1. Click Here to Register
  4. Teaming Partner List (optional): February 21, 2025.
    1. Click Here to Sign Up
    2. Click Here to View Potential Partners
  5. Application deadline (required): March 6, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET.
    1. Workstream 1: Click Here to Submit
    2. Workstream 2: Click Here to Submit
  6. Review and Selection: Selection notifications anticipated in late April 2025.
  7. Awarding and Implementation: ENERGYWERX anticipates finalizing awards in late Spring or Summer 2025.

Resources from Webinar(s)

Coming soon.

Slide Deck(s)

Coming soon.

Transcript(s)

Coming soon.

Video Recording(s)

Coming soon.

Webinar Q&As

Coming soon.

Eligibility & Review Criteria

Eligibility Determination

DOE will conduct an eligibility determination before it reviews any application.

Letter(s) of Commitment

  • The lead performer must submit at least one letter of commitment from the industry or labor organization with which they are partnering, as well as one letter of commitment from each additional proposed partner.
    • For example, an industry organization lead performer must submit a letter of commitment from their labor organization partner, plus a letter from each additional proposed partner.
  • Potential performers must provide written assurance of their proposed cost share contributions that includes a letter of commitment from each entity providing a cost share contribution and the amount committed to the project.

Demonstration

The Nonprofit Partnership must submit evidence to demonstrate all of the following:

  1. Experience implementing and operating worker skills training and education programs, including best practices they propose to use;
  2. The ability to identify and involve in training programs target populations of individuals (i.e., demographic characteristics, skill levels) who would benefit from training and be actively involved in activities relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy industries; and
  3. A plan to help individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Review Criteria

DOE will evaluate and prioritize applications using the review criteria below.

Criterion 1: Technical Merit

Alignment with Workstream

  • The application aligns with workstream-specific objectives for either workstream 1 or workstream 2, as defined in the Opportunity Announcement section above.

Demonstration of Need

  • The statement of need clearly articulates the occupational skills needed and current supply of qualified skilled energy efficiency workers compared to the projected future demand for the selected geographic scope. This includes citations for the projected demand from sources such as the U.S. Department of Labor (e.g., Bureau of Labor Statistics), state workforce agencies, employers, or other labor market information from credible parties.

Outreach, Training, and Employment Placement Plans

The training plan includes the items below. DOE has provided an optional training plan template for applicants:

  • The training plan includes:
    • Priority job titles or career pathways in the building energy efficiency industry for which the performer will train participants;
    • Schedule for classroom instruction and on-the-job training for participants that leads to industry-related credentials;
    • List of industry-related credentials that participants can obtain. This could include, but is not limited to, credentials recognized by DOE’s Energy Skilled Program for heat pump, heat pump water heater, and energy assessment programs; and
    • Retention plan from participants during training by offering supportive services to program participants, e.g., childcare assistance, transportation assistance, career navigation services, employment counseling, and mentorship programs.
  • The employment placement plan includes actionable strategies to connect participants to, and place participants in, high-quality, in-demand jobs in the building energy efficiency sector.
  • The application describes:
    • How the proposed education and training activities for the program will meet the needs of employers;
    • Strategies to recruit, support, and retain participants throughout the program so that the proposed training outcomes are met; and
    • How the program will place participants into good jobs, leading to more skilled workers in the workforce.

Criterion 2: Project Implementation

Project Management

  • The partnership plan includes the items below. DOE has provided an optional partnership plan template for applicants.
    • An organizational chart to identify the roles and activities of the lead performer, required partner, and optional partners;
    • Cost share contribution per partner; and
    • An explanation if this is a new partnership or an enhancement to an existing partnership with the labor or industry partners identified.
    • Description of processes to manage each component of the program (i.e., project management plan; communications plan to be used between partners; and systems and procedures that are in place to track, report, and manage the grant for fiscal and administrative management, outreach, and promotion).
  • Describes the project team and team experience in clean energy job training and workforce development.

Workplan

  • Submits a workplan that provides clear descriptions of tasks, milestones, deliverables that are clear, detailed, timely, and demonstrate a high likelihood that the proposed workplan will succeed in meeting the project goals. Each task, milestone, and deliverable includes a timeline and budget. DOE has provided an optional workplan template for applicants.
  • Reasonableness of budget and spend plan (including cost share) detailed in the workplan for the proposed tasks and objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

May an FFRDC or a National Lab apply?

DOE will not directly fund National Labs*/FFRDCs via this Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) Opportunity; however, FFRDCs (e.g. DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration national laboratories) may participate as a Selectee’s subrecipient.  The FFRDC effort, in aggregate, shall not exceed 10% of total federal share of the project, and ENWX and DOE will not be involved in, nor assist in, these activities.  Selectees will receive full funding through a Business-to-Business (B2B) Agreement with ENWX.  Selectees are solely responsible for funding and executing necessary agreements with subrecipients.  

*Caveat:  NLs may be Voucher Providers and may apply, but if selected, DOE will manage the work and pay the NL directly through the existing funding mechanism.

‍What are Smart Manufacturing and high-performance computing?

For the purposes of this opportunity:

“Smart Manufacturing” means advanced technologies in information, automation, monitoring, computation, sensing, modeling, artificial intelligence, analytics, and networking that can -

  • simulate manufacturing production lines;
  • operate computer-controlled manufacturing equipment;
  • monitor and communicate production line status; and
  • manage and optimize energy productivity and cost throughout production;
  • model, simulate, and optimize the energy efficiency of a factory building;
  • monitor and optimize building energy performance;
  • model, simulate, and optimize the design of energy efficient and sustainable products, including the use of digital prototyping and additive manufacturing to enhance product design;
  • connect manufactured products in networks to monitor and optimize the performance of the networks, including automated network operations; and
  • digitally connect the supply chain network.16

“High-Performance Computing” means the use of supercomputers, sophisticated models, and/or large data sets to study and solve complex scientific and technological challenges.

What exactly is a “small- and medium-sized manufacturer”?

The term “small- and medium-sized manufacturer” (SMM) means manufacturing firms:

  • classified in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as any of sectors 31 through 33;
  • with gross annual sales of less than $100,000,000;
  • with fewer than 500 employees at the plant site; and
  • with annual energy bills totaling more than $100,000 and less than $3,500,000
Who is eligible to receive funding?

Refer to Section III.G.2. Eligibility Requirements in the Solicitation Overview.

An application’s prime recipient must be one of the following eligibility entities, else the application will be considered ineligible and removed from further evaluation:

  • State entity;
  • State-funded university; or
  • State-funded community or technical college
Are applicants required to provide cost share?

Yes, cost sharing is required under this solicitation. Applicants are required to provide at least a 23.1% cost share, i.e. applicants need to fund a minimum of 23.1% of the total project cost. Cost share can come from any non-federal source, i.e. cash on hand, philanthropy, corporate investment, etc.

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What is the difference between "cost sharing" and "cost match"?

Refer to the Cost Share handout for more detail and examples.

  • While the terms “cost sharing” and “cost matching” are sometimes used interchangeably, there is an important distinction between them. DOE uses “cost sharing” to indicate that the non- federal share is calculated as a percentage of the Total Project Cost. On the other hand, for “cost matching”, the non-federal match is calculated as a percentage of the federal funds only, rather than the Total Project Cost.
  • The statutory language that authorizes the State Manufacturing Leadership Program requires proponents to provide at least 30 percent cost match. For the purposes of this solicitation, the 30 percent cost matching requirement has been converted to an equivalent 23.1 percent cost sharing requirement
What are the acronyms SMM, HPC, and SLMP?
  • SMM = small- and medium-sized manufacturers
  • HPC = high-performance computing
  • SMLP = State Manufacturing Leadership Program
  • IAC = Industrial Assessment Center
  • ITAC = Industrial Training and Assessment Center
  • TA = Technical Assistance
Why did the solicitation come down mid-January?

The solicitation was temporarily taken down while DOE and ENERGYWERX confirmed that the language was consistent with recent Executive Orders.

What is an Opportunity?

Understanding Opportunities

An opportunity is a favorable circumstance or situation that allows for the potential to achieve a goal or benefit. In various contexts, opportunities can arise in business, education, and personal development. Recognizing and seizing these moments can lead to significant advancements in one's career or personal life.

Types of Opportunities

  • Career Opportunities: Job openings or promotions that can enhance your professional journey.
  • Educational Opportunities: Programs or courses that provide knowledge and skills.
  • Networking Opportunities: Events or platforms that allow you to connect with others in your field.

Questions

If you have any additional questions, please contact ENERGYWERX: info@energywerx.org

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