Small business owners have the opportunity to provide products and services to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). From administrative and facility support to technical consulting and trade show management, small businesses provide critical services to EERE.
To learn how your small business can work with EERE, check out the Qualifying for EERE Small Business Contracting Opportunities page.
Small businesses that contract with EERE can be assured that the agency is committed to obtaining the best value in goods, services, and equipment. EERE is dedicated to the highest standards of ethical conduct through the contracting process.
A worker ascends the tower of a wind turbine at the National Wind Technology Center near Boulder, Colorado. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)
How We Purchase from Small Businesses
EERE procures acquisitions from small businesses in various ways:
- Micro-purchases—less than $10,000 and typically processed using the government Purchase Card.
- Simplified Acquisitions—between $10,000 and $250,000.
- Contract actions—exceed $250,000 in value.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WE BUY
Currently, EERE contracts with small businesses that can be classified under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, listed below to the right of the pie chart.
For an example of which services EERE most often contracts out for, see the graph below. It shows the NAICS codes for the businesses EERE contracted with in Fiscal Year 2021.
CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
- Look through the DOE Acquisition Forecast for future prime and subcontracting opportunities within EERE, DOE, and National Nuclear Security Administration.
- Register for a free account with the publicly accessible portal FedConnect to see what federal contracting opportunities are currently available in your industry.
How Small Businesses Can Work with EERE
- Read "Do You Qualify for Small Business Contracting Opportunities with EERE?"
- Register your business with the System for Award Management.
- Familiarize yourself with other government contracting fundamentals.
- Take advantage of these Top 10 Tips for contracting with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
- See what others are asking in our Frequently Asked Questions.
- Understand the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), specifically noting FAR Part 19.
The Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm. (Source: DOE)
WHAT DOES EERE DO?
The Office of EERE supports research, development, and deployment activities for a variety of technologies. See the Office of EERE home page for more information.
Other Programs that Work with Small Businesses
- The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technical Transfer (STTR) programs promote scientific and technological innovation by investing Federal research funds in qualified small businesses.
- The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) gives qualified small businesses subcontracting opportunities to assist the federal government in tracking its energy-related requirements and goals.
- ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy) provides funding in specific energy areas where there is a need for overcoming technical barriers, great potential to affect an array of energy-related technologies, and/or an opportunity to support small business innovators.
- Browse through the DOE Small Business Manager Directory to determine DOE small business managers who may be able to assist you.
EERE supports vehicles fueled by alternative energy like those at NREL. (Source: NREL)
SMALL BUSINESS FIRST
EERE helps to fund lab research to help our nation advance energy efficiency and renewable energy. (Source: DOE)
How Can We Help?
For questions or comments, send an email to the program.