July 14–16, 2026
Join the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and experts from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Laboratories for a three-day training on energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and how they can be used to achieve energy and water goals while modernizing federal infrastructure.
Attendees must register for all three days of the training separately. Registration links will be available soon.
Training Day 1
July 14, 2026, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET
FEMP IACET: 0.4 CEUs
Level: Foundational
The first day begins with ESPC fundamentals, introducing the legislative framework, contracting structure, roles and responsibilities, and the value of performance-based financing for federal agencies.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the purpose, structure, and value of ESPCs as a performance-based financing mechanism for achieving federal energy, water, and infrastructure goals without upfront appropriations.
- Identify the legislative authorities and federal policy framework that authorize and govern ESPC contracting.
- Describe how ESPC financing works, including how energy cost savings are generated, used to fund project costs, and structured into payments over the contract term.
- Identify key stakeholders involved in an ESPC project and describe each party's roles and responsibilities throughout the project lifecycle.
- Outline the acquisition planning process and recognize common energy and water conservation measures and technical considerations that inform project design and ESCO selection.
Training Day 2
July 15, 2026, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET
FEMP IACET: 0.4 CEUs
Level: Foundational
Building on Day 1, participants will progress through each of the five phases of the ESPC project development process—from acquisition planning and project initiation through investment-grade audits, proposal evaluation, task order award, and construction implementation. The training also covers financing considerations, risk allocation, measurement and verification requirements, and strategies for effective project management.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the ESCO selection process, including evaluation criteria, selection methods, and strategies for establishing an effective agency-ESCO working relationship.
- Explain the purpose and outcomes of the preliminary assessment, including how the ESCO evaluates facility conditions to identify candidate conservation measures and determine project feasibility.
- Identify the fundamental principles of measurement and verification (M&V) and explain how M&V is used to confirm that guaranteed energy and cost savings are being achieved throughout the performance period.
- Outline the steps involved in investment-grade audit and proposal development, and describe how agencies move from proposal receipt through task order award.
- Apply best practices for reviewing and evaluating ESCO technical proposals, pricing structures, and task order financial schedules to assess technical feasibility, cost reasonableness, and savings adequacy.
Training Day 3
July 16, 2026, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET
FEMP IACET: 0.4 CEUs
Level: Foundational
By the end of the course, participants will understand how to successfully develop, award, and manage ESPC projects throughout the performance period, gaining practical tools and best practices to support long-term energy and water savings, infrastructure reliability, and cost-effective facility operations.
Learning Objectives
- Evaluate ESPC financing terms and energy cost escalation rates to assess their impact on long-term savings projections and agency payment obligations over the contract term.
- Apply the ESPC Risk, Responsibility, and Performance Matrix (RRPM) to clearly define and document roles, responsibilities, and risk allocation between the federal agency and the ESCO across all project phases.
- Describe the agency's oversight responsibilities during the construction and implementation phase, including contractor management, commissioning requirements, and verification that measures are installed and performing as specified.
- Explain the agency's role during the performance period, including how to monitor contractor performance, review M&V reports, and manage contract compliance to ensure guaranteed savings are being achieved.
- Apply best practices for managing ESPC contract modifications, scope changes, and long-term contract oversight to protect agency interests throughout the performance period.
About FEMP Training
The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides live and on-demand training to foster and maintain a high-performance workforce that constructs, operates, and maintains cost-effective federal facilities. Choose from topics like project financing, facility and fleet optimization, fleet management, energy security, product procurement, and more.
FEMP is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and awards IACET continuing education units (CEUs) upon the successful completion of select courses. FEMP training is provided through the National Institute of Building Sciences' Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) learning management system.