Resources for Implementing Federal Energy Savings Performance Contracts

The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) offers resources to help federal agencies implement energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs). ESPC resources are listed by essential education, phases of the ESPC process, and general information.

ESPC case studies and training are also available.

Essential Education

These resources offer helpful information about structuring sound ESPC projects with sustained savings.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) ESPC Master Contract and Modifications

Federal Goals and Requirements with Performance Contracting

Quick reference for meeting new federal goals and requirements with performance contracting

ESPC Training

ESPC Training by Work Function: Document outlines FEMP's energy savings performance contract courses by job role

FEMP Services and Primary Activities During ESPC Project Development Process

FEMP ESPC Project Development Resource Guide: Guide charts the ESPC process for providing project development support to agencies developing ESPC projects using the DOE IDIQ ESPC

Frequently Asked Questions and Best Practices

Federal Energy Savings Performance Contracts: Frequently Asked Questions on the Scope of 42 U.S.C. § 8287 et seq.: Provides clarification and guidance on issues commonly raised regarding the scope of the ESPC statutory authority
Frequently Asked Questions about ESPC Strategy: Answers commonly asked questions regarding ESPC strategy
Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Federal Agency FEMP ESPC Projects: Shares agency experiences with ESPC projects
Best Practices for ESPC Portfolio Review: Outlines a systematic approach to evaluating the performance of an agency’s ESPC portfolio as a whole or individual projects within the portfolio
Notice to Federal Agency ESPC Auditors
Resources for Auditing Energy Saving Performance Contracts (ESPC)
DOE Guidance on ECMs and Bundling: The document includes clarification that multiple ECMs under the same ESPC may be "bundled"
Guidance on Modifying ESPC Task Orders

Savings Allowed to Fund Payments

Practical Guide to Savings and Payments in FEMP ESPC Task Orders: Details acceptable savings for funding ESPC payments to the contractor
Guidance on New Construction under an Energy Savings Performance Contract: Discusses when new construction may be included in an ESPC
Guidance on the Statutory Definition of Energy/Water Conservation Measures (ECMs) for ESPCs, and Determining Life Cycle Cost-Effectiveness for ESPCs with Multiple or Single ECMs: Clarifies how an ESPC can consist of a single ECM (such as a combined heat and power plant)
Potential for the Use of Energy Savings Performance Contracts to Reduce Energy Consumption and Provide Energy and Cost Savings in Non-Building Applications: Provides information on the use of energy savings performance contracts in non-building applications

Phase 1: Acquisition Planning

Documents, templates, and guidance for phase 1 of the ESPC process.

Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Federal Agency ESPC Projects: See sections 1-3: Introduction, General Best Practices, and Acquisition Planning
Interagency Agreement for U.S. Department of Energy Project Facilitator Support Form: Form for engaging the services of a FEMP project facilitator
FEMP Suggested ESPC Milestone Plan: Excel tool and example of an ESPC project milestone plan
Tri-Party Agreement for Energy Savings Performance Contracts: Template for ESPC project responsibilities at DOE sites/facilities
Cybersecurity Considerations for Performance Contracts: Provides a brief overview of key cybersecurity requirements for agencies, utilities, and subcontractor partners on performance contracts

Preliminary Planning for Specialized Energy Conservation Measures

Enhancing Performance Contracts with Monitoring-Based Commissioning (MBCx): Provides the benefits and process of integrating monitoring-based commissioning (MBCx) into energy performance contracts
Renewable Energy Screening for ESPCs: Outlines process and data needed for screening advanced technology projects
Water Project Screening Tool: Excel file enables federal agencies to quickly screen sites for water-efficiency opportunities
Including Retro-Commissioning in Federal Energy Savings Performance Contracts: Describes the benefits of and process for conducting retro-commissioning
Example Retro-Commissioning Statement of Work to Include Services as Part of an ESPC Investment-Grade Audit: Offers a sample statement of work to include retro-commissioning in the ESPC

Phase 2: Energy Service Company Selection and Preliminary Assessment, Project Risk and Responsibility

Documents, templates, and guidance for phase 2 of the ESPC process.

Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Federal Agency ESPC Projects: See sections 4-5: Energy Service Company (ESCO) Selection and Preliminary Assessment

Notice of Opportunity

ESCO Selector Tool: Online tool agencies can use to develop a notice of opportunity (NOO) and NOO response evaluation forms
Past Performance Questionnaire: Attachment to the Notice of Opportunity. Form is for agencies to request feedback from ESCOs' past customers
Guidance for Using ESCO Oral Presentations in ESPC Source Selection: Guidance for agencies allowing ESCOs to make presentations or attend agency meetings as part of a second down-selection
Letter to Successful Company: Template for agency letter informing an ESCO that it was selected for a project
Letter to Unsuccessful Company: Template for agency letter informing an ESCO that it was not selected for a project

Preliminary Assessment

Agenda: Preliminary Assessment Kickoff Meeting: Standard agenda for the preliminary assessment (PA) kickoff meeting
Agenda: Preliminary Assessment Development Teleconference: Standard agenda for the teleconference to discuss the in-progress PA
2008 DOE IDIQ ESPC Preliminary Assessment Template: Sample PA template to be used for a 2008 DOE IDIQ ESPC project
2017 DOE IDIQ ESPC Preliminary Assessment Template: Sample PA template required for task orders under the 2017 DOE IDIQ ESPC project
2023 DOE IDIQ ESPC Preliminary Assessment Template: Sample PA template required for task orders under the 2023 DOE IDIQ ESPC project
Preliminary Assessment Template TO Schedules: Provide TO Schedules per section H.4.2, paragraph b.2.iv, TO Schedules, of the 2023 DOE IDIQ Contract #892434-23D-EE0000XX using eProject Builder.
ECM Template: Instructions for overviewing ECM scopes and cost and performance metrics by ECM when using the sample PA Template
Preliminary Assessment Review Template: Template for PF review of the PA
Preliminary Assessment Review Checklist: Checklist for reviewing a PA
eProject Builder: Excel-based tool for producing ESPC task order schedules
- eProject Builder Benefits and Security Fact Sheet

Project Risk and Responsibility

2024 Recognizing and Assigning Risks and Responsibilities Using the Risk, Responsibility, and Performance Matrix
2023 DOE IDIQ ESPC Risk, Responsibility, and Performance Matrix: Editable document to be used with the 2023 (Gen4) DOE ESPC IDIQ contract
2008 DOE IDIQ ESPC Risk, Responsibility, and Performance Matrix
2008 Recognizing and Assigning ESPC Risks and Responsibilities Using the Risk, Responsibility, and Performance Matrix: Explains how task order terms allocate ESPC risks and responsibilities
2017 DOE IDIQ ESPC Risk, Responsibility, and Performance Matrix
2017 Recognizing and Assigning ESPC Risks and Responsibilities Using the Risk, Responsibility, and Performance Matrix: Explains how task order terms allocate ESPC risks and responsibilities

Notice of Intent to Award

2008 DOE IDIQ Notice of Intent to Award Letter: Template for the agency letter notifying an ESCO of its intent to award it an ESPC

Phase 3: Project Development Through Task Order Award Resources

Documents, templates, and guidance for phase 3 of the ESPC process.

Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Federal Agency ESPC Projects: See sections 8-9: Review of the IGA/Proposal and Critical Outcomes of Review

Establishing Escalation Rates for Financed Projects

Guidance on Utility Rate Estimations and Weather Normalization in Performance Contracts
Energy Escalation Rate Calculator (EERC): Escalation rates can be computed based on the Energy Information Administration energy price projections
Recommended vs. Actual Escalation Rates for ESPCs: Is the Guidance Good?: Paper on energy escalation rates as an important facet of energy savings performance contracts.
Energy Price Indices and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis: Annual Supplement to NIST Handbook 135: Handbook on energy price indices and discount factors for performing life-cycle cost analyses

Task Order Request for Proposal

2023 DOE IDIQ DOE ESPC Task Order Request for Proposal (TO-RFP) Template: Template to facilitate the project facilitator's drafting of and the agency's finalizing of the TO-RFP
2008 DOE IDIQ DOE ESPC Task Order Request for Proposal (TO-RFP) Template: Template to facilitate the project facilitator's drafting of and the agency's finalizing of the TO-RFP
2017 DOE IDIQ DOE ESPC Task Order Request for Proposal (TO-RFP) Template: Template to facilitate the project facilitator's drafting of and the agency's finalizing of the TO-RFP

Investment-Grade Audit Process

Process Chart: Direct-to-IGA Path in ESPCs for Generation 4 IDIQ Contracts: Document outlines a flexible process to skip all Preliminary Assessment steps and to go directly to Notice of Intent to Award (NOITA) and the investment-grade audit (IGA)
Agenda: Investment-Grade Audit Kickoff Meeting: Standard agenda for IGA kickoff meeting
Agenda: Investment-Grade Audit Midpoint Review Meeting: Standard agenda for an IGA midpoint review meeting
Agenda: Investment-Grade Audit Review Workshop: Standard agenda for the IGA review workshop
Investment-Grade Audit: Review Checklist: Checklist for reviewing an IGA
ESPC Project Review Comment Template (Word and Excel versions available): Template for documenting the project facilitator (or other’s) review of the PA, IGA, commissioning plan, and other ESCO deliverables
Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) Lessons Learned - For Energy Generation, Power Purchase Agreements, and Emerging Technology ECMs: Lessons learned for specific ECMs to be utilized when developing an IGA

Proposal Review: Task Order Financial Schedules

2008 DOE IDIQ Task Order Financial Schedules (IDIQ Attachment J-6): Required format
Descriptions of 2008 DOE IDIQ Task Order Schedules and Placement of Pricing Information (IDIQ Attachment J-5): Required format
Guidance on Alternative Contract Language Regarding Energy Savings Performance Contract Terminations and Cancellations
eProject Builder: Excel-based tool for producing ESPC task order schedules
- eProject Builder Benefits and Security Fact Sheet

Proposal Review: Pricing

Determining Price Reasonableness in Federal ESPCs: Guidance and recommended process for determining fair and reasonable pricing of ESPCs
2008 DOE IDIQ ESPC Task Order Price Evaluation Worksheet: Suggested price review topics

Proposal Review: Financing

Investor Deal Summary (2023 IDIQ ATT J-5): Required format for summarizing the ESPC project and soliciting financing offers
Standard Financing Offer (2023 IDIQ ATT J-6): Required format for financing offers
Investor Deal Summary (IDIQ Attachment J-11): Required format for summarizing the ESPC project and soliciting financing offers
Standard Financing Offer (IDIQ Attachment J-12): Required format for financing offers
Review of ESPC Financing: Form for documenting review of project financing
Guidance Regarding Refinancing, Restructuring, or Modifying Loan Agreements Entered into by an Energy Services Company Under a Federal Energy Savings Performance Contract: Guidance on refinancing ESPCs

Task Order Award

DOE FEMP Procedure for Notifying Congress Prior to Award of ESPCs: Process and guidance
2008 DOE IDIQ Sample Deliverables for Task Orders: Pre-award ESPC deliverables sample
Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Federal Agency ESPC Projects: See section 10: Final Negotiations and Task Order Award

Phase 4: Implementation, Construction, and Project Acceptance

Documents, templates, and guidance for phase 4 of the ESPC process.

Agenda: Post-Award Conference Meeting: Standard agenda for the post-award conference meeting
Agenda: Construction Kickoff Meeting: Standard agenda for the construction kickoff meeting
2008 DOE IDIQ Post-Award Deliverables Sample: Example of a post-award deliverables list
2008 DOE IDIQ Planning and Reporting for Operations and Maintenance in Federal ESPCs: Process and guidance
2008 DOE IDIQ Guidelines, Checklist, and Contract Clauses for Government Acceptance of DOE ESPC Projects: Process and guidance for agency acceptance of completed construction
2024 DOE IDIQ ESPC Commissioning Guidance: Process and guidance
2008 DOE IDIQ ESPC Commissioning Guidance: Process and guidance
Post-Installation Measurement and Verification Report Review Checklist: Checklist for the review of the post-installation measurement and verification report

Phase 5: Performance Period

Documents, templates, and guidance for phase 5 of the ESPC process.

Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Federal Agency ESPC Projects: See section 11: Measurement and Verification
ESPC Best Practices from Life of Contract Field Reviews: Offers FEMP experience with the life-of-contract process
DOE IDIQ ESPC Contract Management Plan Template: Provides best practices to agency personnel in the management of a DOE ESPC project during the post-installation performance period
ESPC Audit Ready Checklist: Helps agencies confirm when a project is ready to be audited
Annual Measurement and Verification Report Review Checklist: Checklist for the review of the annual and verification report

Measurement and Verification

Documents, templates, and guidance for measurement and verification (M&V) in ESPCs.