Technical assistance is provided at no-cost by experts from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy, DOE’s national laboratories, and other partnering organizations. This support assists federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal entities, including Alaska Native regional corporations and village corporations, with energy planning, energy efficiency assessments, resource assessments, project planning, building codes and utility formation activities, as well as support to enhance the legal environment for energy sector commerce.
The goal of technical assistance is to address a specific challenge or fulfill a need that is essential to successful project implementation. This includes modernizing or developing legal, regulatory, and contractual frameworks for Tribal energy; enabling a sustainable competitive business environment; and effectively participating in power markets. Technical assistance to enhance the legal environment for energy sector commerce will be implemented through the U.S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), referred to as "CLDP technical assistance."
The intended result of this technical assistance is:
- To provide a tangible product or specific deliverable designed to help move a project forward
- To support Tribes’ self-determination and energy sovereignty through assistance to identify and support bankable structures for energy projects through legal technical assistance
- To assist Tribes in strengthening their “in-house” capacity to independently lead, advise, and implement such structures in the future.
The Office of Indian Energy cannot advise or facilitate a grant application.
Each request will be evaluated based on the requested scope and available budget. Note that information in addition to the two request forms may be needed to better evaluate a request. For example, additional information may include past energy audits or engineering designs.
This technical assistance is not intended to compete with industry consultants or contractors who perform tasks such as engineering design work or hardware procurement, nor is it intended to provide skills or job training or to field general inquiries.
For general information or inquiries, please contact our Help Desk.
View other technical assistance and a list of completed technical assistance.
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Eligibility
The following Tribal entities are eligible for on-request technical assistance:
| Entities* | Eligible for Technical Assistance | Eligible for CLDP Technical Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Federally recognized Indian Tribes, including Alaska Native regional and village corporations (hereafter referred to as Tribes) | X | X |
| Tribal entities, such as Tribal energy development organizations, intertribal organizations, and other Tribally chartered entities. | X
|
*Current projects co-funded by Office of Indian Energy grants receive the highest priority. Priority will also be given to Tribes or Tribal entities that have previously submitted grant applications but have not yet received awards.
Types of On-Request Technical Assistance
Energy planning technical assistance provides the foundation for Tribal Nations to develop resilient energy systems. There are four planning options designed to assist Tribal leaders and staff in understanding resources, identifying energy options, and developing a viable roadmap for the successful completion of a project.
- Energy Vision
The development of an energy vision is the foundation of a strategic energy plan. This technical assistance will include helping the Tribe develop an energy vision and identifying long-term and short-term energy goals.
- Energy Options Analysis
Energy options analysis assistance will provide site-specific resource information including energy efficiency measures and energy generation so a Tribe or Tribal entity can make informed decisions on future energy development.
- Project Prioritization
Project prioritization technical assistance will help prioritize projects, informing an energy strategy moving forward.
- Energy Resilience Planning
Energy resilience planning helps determine critical loads for the Tribe in addition to energy project sizing to provide energy resilience.
- Energy Vision
Energy efficiency technical assistance is designed to quantify current energy usage, potential efficiencies, and cost savings. Examples include the following:
- Building Efficiency Assessments
Help categorize and assess the energy use of Tribal buildings and homes and identify options for increased efficiency and cost savings. This assistance is not intended to result in an investment-grade energy audit.
- Process Efficiencies
May include an assessment of heat use in a Tribal building or community and/or a prefeasibility study of other heating options such as waste heat recovery, air source heat pumps, and thermal electric storage systems. It may also include an assessment of the energy used in water and sanitation processes and identify opportunities for increased efficiency and/or other energy options.
- Building Efficiency Assessments
Resource assessments review which energy resources are available and viable to provide affordable, abundant, and reliable energy to meet your Tribe’s goals and needs.
Project planning support is provided through expert guidance and analysis to help address specific barriers Tribes and Tribal entities face while developing an energy project. Examples may include the following:
- Modeling and Analysis
Modeling and analysis technical assistance can include microgrid modeling and assessment, energy resource generation modeling for a specific energy project, and building modeling for energy use and savings.
- Third-Party Independent Reviews
Third-party independent reviews may include an objective assessment of existing reports, studies, financing structures, proposals, and other energy project documents.
- Technology Options Assessment
Technology options assessments compare technology options to meet a Tribe’s needs. This assistance is provided by subject matter experts with significant real-world experience in energy technology and deployment.
- Economic Analysis
Economic analysis assistance will provide economic assessment of a specific project, including financial modeling to calculate payback periods, net present values, and levelized cost of energy.
- Other Project-Specific Assessments
Other project-specific assessments are intended to address project challenges and barriers and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
- Modeling and Analysis
This type of technical assistance provides information and guidance on governance items relative to project development. Examples may include the following:
- Building Code Development
Building code development technical assistance is intended to aid Tribes in creating building codes to meet specific Tribal goals (e.g., energy efficiency, resiliency). Building codes are based on industry standards and best practices and can be tailored to the needs of individual Tribes.
- Utility Formation Assessments
Utility formation prefeasibility assessments may provide preliminary information on Tribal utility formation activities, which may include an assessment of current electricity providers, marketing options, utility structures, governance (policies and tariffs), and jurisdictional considerations.
- Building Code Development
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, CLDP technical assistance to enhance the legal environment for energy sector commerce is also available. Funding to implement new regulations, frameworks, and business environments is not included, and in-kind assistance will be provided so no funding will be provided directly to Tribes.
This support focuses on four areas of work:
- Legal technical assistance to advance high-value energy projects, including generation, transmission, and distribution projects, negotiation assistance, and deal structuring.
- Legal technical assistance to support evaluating energy project proposals or deals, including those identified by the Tribe or submitted to Tribes by project developers.
- Modernizing or developing Tribal energy legal, regulatory, and contractual frameworks; enabling a sustainable competitive business environment that is consistent with Tribal values; and aligning risks across upstream and downstream projects.
- Capacity building to increase the ability of Tribal governments to conceptualize, select, oversee and implement complex energy projects and effectively participate in power markets, including model contract development and procurement structures.
- Legal technical assistance to advance high-value energy projects, including generation, transmission, and distribution projects, negotiation assistance, and deal structuring.
Request Technical Assistance
Thank you for your interest in requesting Office of Indian Energy technical assistance! Please read the certification below, and, if you agree, proceed by clicking the box below, providing the requested information, and sending the email.
By submitting a technical assistance request, you are agreeing that:
- You, as the requestor, have the authority to request assistance on behalf of the eligible Tribe or Tribal entity.
- The request applies specifically to advancing a Tribal energy goal or an energy project.
- A designated Tribal contact will be available and responsive to DOE’s and/or its technical assistance provider’s requests.
- The designated Tribal representative will be available to participate on a call to discuss the scope of the assistance.
- The designated Tribal representative will provide any additional information (e.g., energy usage data) requested in a timely manner.
If you are having any issues with applying for technical assistance, please email ie-ta@hq.doe.gov directly.