Low-Income Home Energy Assistance

 

To make Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grants available to States District of Columbia, US Territories and Native American Tribes and to assist eligible households to meet the costs of home energy. Supplemental Leveraging Incentive funds may be awarded to reward States, that provide additional benefits and services to LIHEAP-eligible households beyond what could be provided with Federal funds. A portion of the leveraging incentive funds may be set aside by HHS for LIHEAP grantees to provide services through local administrating agencies to help LIHEAP-eligible households reduce their energy vulnerability under the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH). Training and Technical Assistance funds are authorized to conduct federal monitoring and provide training and technical assistance to grantees administering the LIHEAP block grant.

Active 93.568 Administration For Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services A - Formula Grants; M - Training Fiscal Year 2016 It is anticipated that 279 grants will be awarded in FY 2016. 211 grants awarded in FY 2016.
Fiscal Year 2017 211 grants were awarded.
Fiscal Year 2018 206 grants awarded in FY 2018.
Fiscal Year 2019 It is anticipated that 207 grants will be issued in FY 2019.
Fiscal Year 2020 The number of grants for FY 2020 is still to be determined. Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, Section 121
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 8621-30 Energy Assistance Block Grants, REACH: All States, the District of Columbia, federally-and State-recognized Indian Tribal governments and tribal organization which request direct funding, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may receive direct grants. Training and Technical Assistance: States, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, Territories, public agencies, private nonprofit organizations and other private entities may apply. Energy Assistance Block Grants: Households with incomes up to the greater of 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) or 60 percent of the State median income (SMI). Grantees may establish lower income eligibility levels, but they may not set the limit below 110 percent of FPG. Training and Technical Assistance: States, the District of Columbia,Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and Territories managing LIHEAP programs are the intended beneficiaries of the technical assistance. Energy Assistance Block Grants: The chief executive officer of the State, Tribe or Territory or his/her designee, must certify to 16 assurances required by federal law. Households must meet beneficiary eligibility requirements set by grantees. Preapplication coordination is required. All prospective LIHEAP grantees must obtain public participation (inspection and comment) on their proposed LIHEAP Plans prior to submitting their Plans to ACF as their funding request. Additionally, States must conduct public hearings with respect to the proposed use and distribution of funds to be provided. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Each State/Territory/Tribe desiring to receive an allotment for any federal fiscal year shall submit an application (LIHEAP Plan) via the ACF OLDC system no later than September 1st each year (unless otherwise directed by ACF). The prospective grantee's Plan must contain certification of the federal LIHEAP assurances by the chief executive officer of the State (Tribal Chief/Chairperson), or his/her designee. The Plans must include an explanation of how the entity sought public participation on the Plan and to what extent their Plan (and policies) changed as a result of the public comments received. Energy Assistance Block Grants: Grants are made upon receipt of a complete application (plan) by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Headquarters Office via the OLDC system. Leveraging Incentive Funds or REACH funds can be awarded based on applications submitted by grantees when sought by ACF. Instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released. Training and Technical Assistance: Procedures that apply to each request for proposals vary and found in the FOA at https://www.grants.gov or for contracts, at www.fbo.gov. Energy Assistance Block Grants: States and Territories must submit their applications by September 1, prior to the federal fiscal year for which funds are sought, unless the Department agrees to a later date in form of approved extension. All applications must be completed by December 15, of the fiscal year for which funds are sought, unless the Department (in the case of States and Territories) or the State (in the case of tribal grantees) agrees to a later date on form of approved extension. Leveraging incentive fund reports are due by November 30 of each year, if funding is available. REACH applications are due by March 30 of each year, if funding is available. Energy Assistance Block Grants: The Department reviews plans for completeness and will act on the plans submitted as quickly as possible. Leveraging Incentive and REACH applications will be reviewed and acted upon within deadlines. Training and Technical Assistance: Range of time varies, depending upon the nature and complexity of a request for proposals and as established by the Department. Energy Assistance Block Grants: Grantees may request a hearing regarding repayment of funds or withholding of funds under Section 2608 of the authorization and 45 CFR 96.52. Training and Technical Assistance: Not applicable for unsuccessful applicants for grants or cooperative agreements. For contracts, prospective applicants may object to a contract award by filing a protest with the contracting officer or higher authority. The notification issued by the contracting office to unsuccessful bidders contains the procedures and time frame for filing a protest. Energy Assistance Block Grants: Annual applications are required. Separate annual applications are also required for Leveraging Incentive Funds and REACH funds. Instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released. Training and Technical Assistance: Contract award periods may vary and are at www.fbo.gov. For grants, non-competing continuations will be issued based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with grant terms and conditions and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government. Criteria pertinent to each request for training and technical assistance proposals are published in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the Federal Register or Federal Business Opportunities (www.fbo.gov). Energy Assistance Block Grants: Funds are awarded to States, eligible Tribes and Tribal Organizations, and Territories, which then make payments directly to an eligible low-income household or, on behalf of such household, to an energy supplier to assist in meeting the cost of home energy. Up to 10 percent of these funds may be used for planning and administration by state and territories grantees. Tribal organizations have a different administrative earmark. Up to 15 percent may be used for low-cost residential weatherization. Beginning April 1st each year, LIHEAP grantees may request in writing a waiver from HHS for that federal fiscal year to increase the amount of funds that can be allotted by the grantee for residential weatherization up to 25 percent of the total LIHEAP grant for that year. Leveraging: Depending upon specific appropriations, HHS may allocate supplemental LIHEAP leveraging incentive funds to current grantees, based upon receipt of a Leveraging Report made available by the Department that have acquired nonfederal leveraged resources in order to provide additional benefits and services to LIHEAP-eligible households to help them meet their home heating and cooling needs. REACH: Funds may also be allocated by HHS to current LIHEAP grantees,based upon a REACH proposal submitted by the grantee to the Department when solicited, to provide services through community-based nonprofit organizations to LIHEAP-eligible households to reduce their energy vulnerability, under the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH). Emergency Contingency: Additional funds may be authorized and distributed as emergency contingency funds to be used to meet needs arising from a natural disaster or other emergency. Such funds will be made available only after submission to Congress of a formal budget request for all or part of the funds by the President that designates the amount of the request as an emergency under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Generally: LIHEAP grants funds of any kind must not be used by the State/grantee, or by any other person with which the State makes arrangements to carry out the purposes of this program, for the purchase or improvement of land, or the purchase, construction, or permanent improvement (other than low-cost residential weatherization or other energy-related home repairs) of any building or other facility. Training and Technical Assistance: the Secretary has authority to set aside up to $2.988 million from each year’s appropriation for training and technical assistance relating to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. These training and technical assistance activities are accomplished through: grants, contracts, or jointly financed cooperative or interagency agreements with States, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, public agencies, private companies, and private nonprofit organizations; through interagency agreements, including with Federal agencies, or through on-site compliance reviews of LIHEAP grantees. The nature of and amount awarded for training and technical assistance vary from year to year. Performance Reports: There are no regularly required performance reports due from LIHEAP grantees. However, LIHEAP grantees must provide all documents and information requested by the Department during the normal course of federal monitoring of the grantees’ LIHEAP. However, according to 45 CFR 96.31(a), LIHEAP grantees and sub-grantees are responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507) An independent auditor in accordance with generally accepted Government auditing standards covering financial audits shall make the audits. Grant accounting records must be maintained in accordance with 42 USC 8624(b)(10) and 45 CFR 96.30(a) . Statutory Formula: 42 USC 8623

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Energy Assistance Block Grants: Grant awards are made to grantees with complete applications (plans) for carrying out the program within the federal fiscal year. Up to 10 percent of a federal fiscal year's grant may be held available for obligation in the subsequent federal fiscal year. For Leveraging Incentive Funds or REACH funds, obligation must occur by the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the funds are appropriated, without regard to the 10 percent carryover limit. See the following for more information: Section 2607 of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, (42 USC 8626) as amended. None/Not specified. Lauren Christopher,
Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services (OCS)
Administrative for Children and Families
Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, DC 20201 US
Lauren.Christopher@acf.hhs.gov
Phone: 2024014870
Fax: 2024015661 http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/programs/liheap 75-1502-0-1-609 (Training) FY 18$2,391,345.00; FY 19 est $2,195,416.00; FY 20 est $0.00; FY 17$2,391,345.00; FY 16$2,418,568.00; - (Formula Grants) FY 18$3,390,598,085.00; FY 19 est $3,650,412,960.00; FY 20 est $0.00; FY 17$3,393,585,459.00; FY 16$3,369,018,056.00; - Average grant to primary grantees is $16,053,630. The estimated range in direct grants (depending on total funding) is approximately $1,941 to $372,236,171. 45 CFR 96, Subpart G and 45 CFR 75 Not applicable.