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["INSTRUCTIONS"]
[1,"All questions pertaining to this notice of funding opportunity should be emailed to LDESDOA@hq.doe.gov."]
[2,"All questions pertaining to OCED Exchange should be emailed to OCED-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include NOFO name and number in subject line."]
[3,"All questions and answers pertaining to this NOFO will be posted on OCED Exchange within this spreadsheet."]
[4,"DOE will attempt to respond to a question within 3 business days, unless a similar question and answer have already been posted in this spreadsheet. "]
[5,"All questions should be submitted no later than 3 business days prior to the application due date. Questions submitted after this date will not be answered."]
[6,"Questions are assigned a number in accordance with when they are reviewed by DOE.  "]
[7,"Questions are assigned a topic area by DOE when reviewed."]
[]
["TIPS"]
[1,"Applicants may sort questions and answers in the NOFO Content Questions tab of this spreadhseet by selecting the drop-down box arrows on the column headers and selecting any of the listed attributes."]
[2,"Applicants may search for questions and/or keywords by holding CTRL+F on the keyboard and typing in a phrase or keyword."]

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["Pick List"]
[]
["Registration Requirements"]
["Webinar"]
["Concept Paper"]
["Eligibility"]
["Labs/FFRDCs"]
["Foreign Entities/Work"]
["Cost Sharing"]
["Due Dates"]
["Application Content/Format"]
["Intellectual Property"]
["Data Management"]
["Other"]
["U.S. Manufacturing Plan"]
["Application Reviews"]
["Technical Topics"]

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["ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTION AND ANSWER LOG"]
["DE-FOA-0003399 - Energy Storage Pilot Demonstrations"]
["Question #","Date Submitted","Topic","Question","Answer"]
[1,"2024-09-06","Application Content/Format","Does the cover page count toward the 6 page limit for the concept paper?","Yes. Your entire submission must comply with identified page limits, respectively."]
[2,"2024-09-07","Eligibility","Can you please define the scope and extent, capabilities and scale, experience and bona fides of a qualifying 'Technology Provider' as required in the Exec Summary and Table 1's 2nd-to-last bullet point?","“Technology provider” refers to the entity responsible for offering an energy storage technology that meet the “Technology and System Requirements” detailed at pages 13 to 14 of the NOFO."]
[3,"2024-09-07","Eligibility","For Mechanical, gravity-based project proposals involving abandoned mine lands, the mining company incurs a significant portion of cost, and contributes much of the cost-share. Can you clarify if the mine operator can be the prime Recipient?  The list of Eligible Applicants lists State offices, Tribes, Universities, Utilities, and energy storage organizations, however this list does not appear, prima facie, to include a mining company.","Reference to installation at a mining site is illustrative only. Please see the list of eligible entities in the \"Eligibility\" section on page 7 and the \"Technical Review Criteria - Criterion 3: Management and Organization (20%)\" section which states \"Team Roles: Clarity and appropriateness of the roles of the team members\" is a criterion for consideration."]
[4,"2024-09-07","Eligibility","Will solar thermal to electrical LDES technology be eligible under DE-FOA-0003399?","Please refer to Table 1 on page 6 and the \"Funding Priorities\" section on page 13."]
[5,"2024-09-09","Eligibility","In the eligibility criteria, nonprofits such as 501(c)4 are ineligible, but 501(c)5 are eligible. But are nonprofits such as 501(c)3 eligible entities as subrecipients or prime recipients?","Entities with 501(c)(3) status are only eligible to apply as recipients if they qualify as a domestic entity under one of the six categories enumerated under “Eligible applicants” at page 7 of the NOFO: 1. State, territory or DC energy offices; Indian Tribes as defined at 25 USC 4103; Tribal organizations; Institutions of Higher Education; Electric utilities (including electric cooperatives, Tribal utilities, municipally owned electric utilities, and investor-owned utilities); and private energy storage companies. Subrecipient inclusion should be rationally based, consider the “Technical Review Criteria – Criterion 3 and the Team Role of any subrecipient."]
[6,"2024-09-10","Tech Topics","For the term “stretch capacity” depicted in page 14, table 2 “System Requirements for all projects,”  how do you define “stretch capacity”? Is this equal to maximum capacity?","\"Stretch capacity\" is a guideline for a larger pilot demonstration system size that may be achievable under this NOFO and could offer additional technology derisking. It may not be achievable for all teams under this program. It is not a maximum; however, applicants must justify why the size of the system proposed is commercially relevant and responsive to the NOFO."]
[7,"2024-09-11","Eligibility","Is a state agency, which is not a state energy office, eligible to apply for this NOFO?","No, only the following types of entities are elibigle to participate as a recipient: (1) State, territory or District of Columbia energy offices, (2) Indian Tribes, as defined at 25 U.S.C. § 41032, (3) Tribal organization, (4) Institution of higher education, (5) Electric utility (including electric cooperatives, Tribal utilities, municipally owned electric utilities, and investor-owned utilities), (6) Private energy storage company. Subrecipients are not limited to these entity types."]
[8,"2024-09-11","Tech Topics","For the Table 2. System requirements of all projects, are the minimum and stretch capacities given the required outputs of the energy storage systems? I wanted to verify that the listed values are indeed the required output and not a different value before developing an application.","See response to question 6. "]
[9,"2024-09-11","Tech Topics","We understand that the FOA requires a demonstration site to be an industrial facility, grid-connected utility site, utility testbed, or laboratory testbed. We would like to confirm whether a newly developed site, which we plan to develop and prepare for this project, would meet the FOA’s requirements.\nSpecifically, we seek clarification on the following points:\n1.\tSite Readiness: Can a site that is currently undeveloped but will be constructed to meet project requirements be considered eligible?\n2.\tDemonstration Requirements: Are there specific criteria or additional documentation needed to justify the readiness of a newly developed site for pilot-scale demonstration?\n3.\tExecution and Risk Management: What are the DOE’s expectations regarding execution and schedule risks for a site that requires development from scratch?\n","1. Please see Step 1 - Technology and System Requirements: \"If not proposing to utilize an existing site, applicants must explain their approach to manage increased execution and schedule risks as well as their understanding of any required environmental reviews.\"\n2. Applicants must justify the readiness of the site chosen whether it is an existing or newly-developed site. DOE will consider the following criterion: \"Existing Resource Utilization: Degree to which the proposed project utilizes and leverages available resources such as testing infrastructure, workforce, supplies, or equipment to meet the required NOFO objectives\" ( Step 4 - Selection - Review Criteria - Criteria 2) and \"Facilities and Infrastructure Use: Degree to which existing facilities and/or infrastructure provided by the applicant team are leveraged to support the project\" (Step 4 - Selection - Review Criteria - Criteria 3).\n3. Applicants must identify any additional risks that come with using a newly-developed site over an existing site. Applicants must then justify why the site was chosen given those risks. "]
[10,"2024-09-12","Tech Topics","We do not see pumped storage hydropower listed in the section of the FOA listing proposals not of interest, could you please tell us if OCED is interested in receiving an application related to pumped storage hydropower?","In \"Step 1 - Applications Specifically NOT of Interest,\" the NOFO states \"Proposals that use lithium-based energy storage technologies or other technologies that are deployed at >100MW capacity.\" According to the EIA, \"In 2023, the United States had about 23,167 MW of total pumped-storage hydroelectricity generation capacity.\" (https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/hydropower/where-hydropower-is-generated.php)"]
[11,"2024-09-12","Eligibility","Could you clarify the definition of a “Private energy storage company”?  Does private mean this cannot be a publicly traded company?  Would a company that integrates and packages energy storage at different scales be included in the definition of an “energy storage company”?","For purposes of this NOFO and the resulting awards, a \"private energy storage company\" refers to any for-profit entity engaged in the energy storage sector, such as technology and system suppliers and project developers."]
[12,"2024-09-12","Tech Topics","Regarding DE-FOA-0003399, we request clarification of the language in the section:\n\nApplications Specifically NOT of Interest - Bullet #2\nDoes this eliminate energy storage of hydrogen, or does it just eliminate the production of hydrogen as a storage medium? Said another way, we are not producing hydrogen as a storage medium; rather, our intent is to use solid state storage of hydrogen.","Bullet 2 states \"Proposals that intend to produce a bulk chemical as a storage medium, such as hydrogen or ammonia.\" In order to fulfill the NOFO objectives of energy storage, the bulk chemical would have to be both produced and stored. Hydrogen-based energy storage is specifically not of interest."]
[13,"2024-09-13","Eligibility","In the Eligible applicants section, Page 7, 6 different types for entities are listed as qualified recipients.  The 6th one is “Private energy storage company”.  We wonder what this “Private” means?  For a publicly trading company listed in New York Stock Exchange.  Can we still apply as the prime recipient here?","See response to Question 11."]
[14,"2024-09-15","Tech Topics","For energy storage grant application, you define a 1 MW power requirement for a flywheel type of energy storage, but you did not explicitly define the minimum energy storage for this funding opportunity pilot hardware.  Please define this value, so we don't not waste our efforts.","If the question refers to the energy capacity requirement, as opposed to the power requirement mentioned, the NOFO states that the minimum discharge duration for systems under this NOFO is 10 hours. For mechanical storage with a 1MW power minimum, this would be a 10MWh energy capacity minimum."]
[15,"2024-09-16","Tech Topics","Does the project need to be TRL5-6 by Summer 2025 when the award notifications are planned?\nFor example, if a proposed project isn’t TRL5 by 2026 or 2027 but will complete TRL7-8 by 2030 per the requirements, will that still qualify for consideration? If qualifies, I am assuming the funding qualification will only start from proposed TRL5 date. Please confirm. \n","The technology must be at TRL 5-6 at the start of the project, as described on page 14 of the NOFO. The technology should advance to TRL 7-8 through the project."]
[16,"2024-09-16","Budget/Costs","Is there a minimum budget value for the demonstration project? Can it be less than $5M if the project objectives for thermal energy storage demonstration are met as specified in the NOFO? Can the demonstration budget be $3M with $3M cost share?","The caption for Table 1 states \"All values anticipated. Details to be determined through merit reviews and project negotiations.\" Projects less than $5M may apply as long as they meet all other NOFO requirements."]
[17,"2024-09-16","Eligibility","Our policy requires us to utilize our standard procurement process for third party vendors. We will have an RFP open at the time of the concept paper due date; we will definitely have a named partner at the time of the full application.\n\nCan our concept paper name our procurement RFP requirements, as well as our internal audit of potential vendors, in lieu of a named partner for the concept paper phase? \n","The concept paper must identify the technology solution to be demosnstrated. The review of concept papers involves the following factor: \"Applicant and proposed team have the qualifications, experience, capabilities, and other resources necessary to design, develop, build, and operate the proposed project.\" "]
[18,"2024-09-16","Eligibility","Under the eligibility requirements of FOA 0003399, #6 states, “Private energy storage company”.  Does this mean a “privately held energy storage company” or can it be a “Publicly held energy storage company”?  Or are you stating a private company versus a government entity?","See response to Question 11."]
[19,"2024-09-16","Other","Could you please let me know which developers you are working with on various programs that are familiar with LDES? I would love the opportunity to propose a joint solution for submission.","This NOFO will not be posting a Teaming Partners list. It is the responsibility of applicants to identify any necessary partnerships for a potential application."]
[20,"2024-09-17","Cost Sharing","We are currently working with a client who is interested in this funding opportunity but has questions regarding the ability to use the Investment Tax Credit offered under the IRS. Regarding the lanuage \"Generally, realized tax credits may be used as cost share. Also, in general, deferred or avoided costs such as tax credits may not be used as cost share\" in the NOFO, we are unsure if using the ITC would be allowed. Additionally, we downloaded your Q&A log from 9/13/24 and did not find any language related to this inquiry. Could you please assist us with this question?","Tax credits that have been realized, i.e. the funds are in hand, may be used as cost share. However, tax credits not realized may not be identified as a source to meet future cost share obligations. Tax credits related to award property need not be used for the award purpose."]
[21,"2024-09-18","Tech Topics","On Page 14, the Stretch Capacity is listed for the various Technology Types. Is the Stretch Capacity the upper limit for acceptable size of project? ","See response to Question 6. "]
[22,"2024-09-18","Tech Topics","If a given technology had an environmental incident at an earlier TRL stage resulting in remediation or a reportable ‘near miss’, how would that potentially impact an application?  ","During review, the following factors will be considered (NOFO pages 53-54):\n- \"Safety History: Demonstrated safety performance history of all team  organizations.\"\n- \"Execution Risk: Adequacy and clarity of the execution risk assessment and management discussion, including engineering, procurement, construction, permitting, safety, testing, operations, and similar elements as well as the quality of the mitigation strategies to address them.\""]
[23,"2024-09-19","Other","How many applications can one entity submit for the subject proposal?  I understand that only one idea per application should be submitted, but I wanted to make sure that is it okay to submit numerous applications whether in the PRIME or sub-recipient role.  Please advise.","Applicants are allowed to submit more than one Concept Paper; however, per page 25 of the NOFO \"Each Concept Paper must be limited to a single concept.\""]
[24,"2024-09-19","Application Content/Format","We are in the process of preparing an application for DE-FOA-0003399. As part of the application process, we are working on our SAM.gov registration. However, we have noted that this process, including obtaining a UEI (Unique Entity Identifier), may take several weeks.\nCould you kindly confirm if it is possible to submit the Concept Paper by the deadline (October 16) without having completed the SAM.gov registration, particularly if we do not yet have the UEI by that time?","Please refer to the SAM.gov section of the NOFO on pages 43 and 44. An Entity must be registered in SAM.gov before submitting an application. An applicant may submit a concept paper while the SAM.gov registration is still pending."]
[25,"2024-09-16","Application Content/Format","Do FFRDC’s need to request authorization from the cognizant contracting officer to participate in this solicitation?","For non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs, the Federal agency sponsoring the FFRDC must authorize in writing the use of the FFRDC on the proposed project and this authorization must be submitted with the application. The use of a FFRDC must be consistent with its authority under the award."]
[{"$nulls":4}," "]
[{"$nulls":4},"For DOE/NNSA FFRDCs, the cognizant Contracting Officer for the FFRDC must authorize in writing the use of the FFRDC on the proposed project and this authorization must be submitted with the application. The funding for the FFRDC will flow through the prime recipient. The following wording is acceptable for this authorization: “Authorization is granted for the Laboratory to participate in the proposed project. The work proposed for the Laboratory is consistent with or complementary to the missions of the Laboratory and will not adversely impact execution of the DOE assigned programs at the Laboratory.\""]
[26,"2024-09-25","Eligibility","For a lead applicant who is a technology provider of LDES solutions, is it allowable to use federal funds to procure the battery components, materials, and ESS housing which will be manufactured into the end-product ESS that is proposed to be demonstrated under this FOA, provided that such procurements do not occur pre-award?","The costs may be included in the Budget Justification Workbook for Federal cost share reimbursement as long as the items support the Program goals and objectives (NOFO page 12) and the technical scope. Per NOFO page 13, \"Funding will support technology maturation activities including design for manufacturability, pilot system development, fabrication and installation, operational testing and validation, and commercial scale system design and supply chain maturation.\""]
[27,"2024-09-27","Other","After submitting a concept paper, when can we expect to be notified for encouragement/discouragement of a full application?","OCED anticipates issuing the concept paper encourage/discourage notifications in Fall 2024."]
[28,"2024-09-30","Eligibility","We manufacture a Thermal Energy Storage product that is a TRL 8 or 9, depending on the site. This is not an adopted technology today, but this grant could certainly help with that.  Does our technology qualify for FOA 0003399? We would like to submit a concept paper.","See response to Question 15."]
[29,"2024-09-30","Eligibility","We have multiple sites that we want to pursue with this grant as demonstration projects. This would be roughly 26MW of load that can be shifted in these facilities. The size of load shift varies per facility from 0.5 - 3.5MW. The size requirement is a minimum of 1MW. Does this apply to each site or to the total load targeted for the project?","The minimum capacities presented in Table 2 are the system requirements for each project (or site). Per NOFO page 14, \"If deviating from this table or the discharge duration range identified, applicants must justify their readiness for a pilot-scale demonstration and show a clear development and demonstration path to commercial viability and market acceptance.\""]
[30,"2024-09-30","Eligibility","Will OCED consider expanding the definition of “energy storage company” in Question #11 to include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are engaged in the energy storage sector, such as a technology demonstrator/validator, engineering service provider, and/or demo host site/operator?","See response to Question 5."]
[33,"2024-10-02","Application Content/Format","Can we complete the initial application due on 10/16 without the UEI number being received?  We should have this prior to the final application in Feb.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","See response to Question 24."]
[34,"2024-10-02","Application Content/Format","We are in discussions with multiple firms interested in becoming investors, off-takers, builders and financers of this project and the full-scale ones to follow as soon as our PoC is completed. Does the initial phase 1 of application require that these be identified as the final firms to be selected in each category of function? ","The project team, including recipient name, entity type and an explanation of eligibility, both the technical and business points of contact, and names of all team member organizations are required as part of the Concept Paper and Full Application. Phase 1 activities will focus on completing specific details about the overall project plan and analysis to refine projections submitted as part of the proposal."]
[35,"2024-10-02","Application Content/Format","We have tentative site(s) selected.  Can these change later before the final application due in Feb?","The Concept Paper and Full Application require a description of the proposed demonstration site and test plan, including the rationale for selection. This description is required even if multiple sites are under consideration. Applicants evaluating tentative sites should describe the sites and the rationale for selection.\nPer NOFO page 14, \"Applications should clearly describe the proposed demonstration site, which could be an industrial facility, grid-connected utility site, a utility testbed, or a laboratory testbed, and explain the rationale for their selection and approach to apply project results to commercialization efforts. If not proposing to utilize an existing site, applicants must explain their approach to manage increased execution and schedule risks as well as their understanding of any required environmental reviews.\""]
[36,"2024-10-02","Foreign Entities/Work","What are the limitations for foreign firms interested in participating in this project?  If we are partnered with multiple firms, some in the US and some outside is this OK?  If there is a sole foreign investor and they have a US branch/division does this qualify for the grant?","See NOFO page 8 for eligibility of foreign entities and disclosure requests. Organizations applying for DOE funding which include foreign entities as recipients or subrecipients in their projects and application proposals must submit an explicit disclosure as part of their application and during the performance of the award, to disclose all foreign entity participation on OCED projects."]
[37,"2024-10-02","Eligibility","Some of the funding may come from local governmental resources.  Does this conflict with DOE rules for this grant?","Per NOFO page 8, cost share may come from project recipients, subrecipients, state or local governments, Tribes or other third-party financing."]
[38,"2024-10-02","Application Content/Format","The form asks to designate key firms sharing the workload and specific what percentage of work will be done by each firm?  Not sure if they are referring to construction, engineering, etc. or if they refer to partners involved in other tasks such as finance, design and building of data centers, or are they just referring to the work to be done for our gravity energy storage portion only? We are leading the project for the most part with no assistance from others other than the folks we are paying to do certain work, such as evaluating tech concepts, site selection and permit approvals, engineering feasibility, etc.?","\nPer NOFO page 30, key organizational roles for all project phases and key personnel to fill each role for, at minimum, Phase 1 and Phase 2 should be included.  Activities under Phases 1-4  are further disscussed in NOFO pages 17-18."]
[39,"2024-10-02","Budget/Costs","We will be hiring our own set of engineers.  Does the grant cover any expenses outside the actual construction such as preplanning (site selection, permitting, etc.).","See response to Question 26. \n"]
[40,"2024-10-02","OCED Exchange","I and my partner have been trying to fill out the referenced application But it does not open .\nIs there another version to fill in? ","Application forms, and instructions are available on OCED eXCHANGE. To access\nthese materials, go to https://OCED-exchange.energy.gov and select the Notice of Funding Opportunity Number (DE-FOA-0003399)."]
[41,"2024-10-02","Tech Topics","Please may I ask what sort of Commercial Operations Date you would like to see for these pilot projects? ","Please refer to Table 3 on page 16 of the NOFO regarding the approximate duration of each phase and when Phase 4 (Testing and Validation) would start. Page 30 of the NOFO details requirements for the Workplan section of the Technical volume.  Applicants are expected to include an Integrated Project Schedule in their application and DOE will consider the \"degree to which the proposed project can substantiate an ability to quickly achieve its technical objectives\" (NOFO page 51)."]
[42,"2024-10-02","Eligibility","On page 12 of the application guidelines, it states  “The program will focus on non-lithium technologies with long-duration (10+ hour) discharge….”.  If a LDES technology has a viable technology path to 10+ hours of storage at a commercial scale, does this FOA mandate that the demonstration project meet a 10+ hour duration or will the application will be disqualified?","Per NOFO page 14, all projects are expected to attain at least 10 hours of continuous discharge at or above the minimum capacities in Table 2 (NOFO page 14)."]
[43,"2024-10-02","Eligibility","On page 15 of the solicitation, it states, proposals that use lithium-based energy storage technologies are not of interest. However, are lithium-ion technologies that have been modified with some material changes or chemistry advancements allowable?","Lithium ion, including modification of lithium ion technologies are not of interest."]
[44,"2024-10-02","Eligibility","Might you provide us feedback on our high-level Concept Note below concerning the Solid State Metal Oxides as a storage medium for this FOA?\nConcept Note: Can Solid State Metal Oxide Materials Be Considered as the Storage Medium, Albeit Hydrogen is the Chemical Stored?\n","See response to Question 12."]
[45,"2024-10-02","Eligibility","Regarding Question 4 answered in \"ESPD3399_Q&A_Log_last_updated_10012024\", \nwhich asks \"Will solar thermal to electrical LDES technology be eligible under DE-FOA-0003399?\"\nThe answer given is \"Please refer to Table 1 on page 6 and the \"Funding Priorities\" section on page 13.\" May I restate the question as follows?\n\n\"Will solar thermal to electrical LDES technology be eligible under DE-FOA-0003399?\nIt is not listed as an \"Example Technology Type\" on page 6, or as a \"Funding priority\" on page 13, but neither is it listed under \"Applications specifically NOT of interest\" on page 6.\nCould you comment on whether a \"solar thermal to electrical LDES technology\" would be discouraged, and if so, why? The project that we propose will meet every other criterion and objective of the FOA very well, however it is a \"solar thermal to electrical LDES technology\", so we would like to know if our application will be considered.\"","In the \"Funding Priorities\" section on page 13, the NOFO states \"DOE will consider proposals that include (non-exhaustive)...Thermal solutions, including sensible, latent and thermochemical heat storage mechanisms configured for electrical to electrical, electrical to thermal, and thermal to thermal input-output configurations.\" Thermal to electric is not specifically listed; however, the list is non-exhaustive. "]
[46,"2024-10-03","Other","I am writing to seek clarification regarding the project’s estimated selection timeframe after submission, as shown in the diagram below (from page 16 of the FOA). This information would be invaluable as we are in the process of negotiating with engineering firms, and having a clearer understanding of the timeline will assist with our planning.","OCED anticipates notifying Selectees in Summer 2025."]
[47,"2024-10-03","Eligibility","I have a question for the LDES NOFO regarding solar as an eligible expense. For a solar+ storage demonstration, could the solar portion of the project be covered by federal cost share? Is it an eligible expense/activity?","The goal of this NOFO is to \"Advance a diverse set of non-lithium long-duration energy storage technologies towards commercial viability and utility-scale deployment\" and to \"demonstrate reliable, repeatable technology performance at pilot scale\" (pages 12-13). Hybrid projects are not listed as an area specifically not of interest (page 15); however, the focus of the NOFO is demonstrating the LDES technology."]
[48,"2024-10-04","Application Content/Format","Can you please advise about the following system registration questions for DE-FOA-0003399 (Energy Storage Pilot Demonstrations)?\n1. SAM registration: CAGE Code. Do we need to have a CAGE code (+ registration in SAM for All Awards) in order to apply, or is SAM.gov registration for only Assistance Awards + a UEI number sufficient?\n2. Registrations for Concept Paper or Full Application: Are SAM (+CAGE if applicable) and FedConnect registrations needed in order to submit the Concept Paper, or are these registrations only required at the time of submitting the Full Application?","See response to Question 24."]
[49,"2024-10-07","Application Content/Format","Can an eligible applicant submit more than one concept paper/application as the lead organization for this funding opportunity?","See response to Question 23."]
[50,"2024-10-08","Cost Sharing","We have a tribe that would be a good fit for this that is exploring resiliency. For the 50% non Federal Funding cost share we wanted to get specifics. Would the tribe be able to provide 50% on the cost share but then have Solar ITC Direct pay reimburse them a portion of the project back? Additionally, could a portion of the cost share be covered by a non-federal grant from the state? ","Regarding Investment Tax Credits, see response to Question 20. Cost share must come from non-federal sources and may come from project recipients, subrecipients, state or local governments, Tribes or other \nthird-party financing. "]
[51,"2024-10-08","Application Content/Format","It was unclear if the Concept Document was different than the Abstract?  Just a longer version – 6 pages vs 6000 characters?  Can you clarify the difference? If DOE requires a full 6 pages of detail I can expand this document as needed.  Just let me know what types of info are you looking for in the Concept Document?  I could not find where this is described?\n\nDo I need to submit any other doc’s prior to 10/16?\n","The abstract is an eXCHANGE requirement. It is a brief summary and is not the same as the Concept Paper. The Concept Paper requirements are descrbed on pages 25-26 of the NOFO. The Concept Paper page maximum is 6 pages, including the cover page. The Concept Paper is the only required attachment for the 10/16 Concept Paper deadline."]
[52,"2024-10-08","Other","When and how would be notified if we should proceed to fill out the full application by 2/16/25?","See response to Question 27."]
[53,"2024-10-08","Other","In Section 2, the FOA states “Only applicants who have submitted an eligible Concept Paper will be eligible to submit an application.” Will additions/changes to the project team be allowed for the full application after submission of the concept paper as long as the core project elements (technology solution, demonstration location) remain consistent?","The NOFO does not prohibit changes to the project team between the Concept Paper and Full application. The full application requires a \"description of the skills and expertise that the Lead Project Manager (LPM) and Project Team have to successfully design, develop, and operate the proposed plan\" (Page 30)."]
[54,"2024-10-09","Eligibility","I am seeking clarification about eligible sub-recipients for this FOA. The FOA does not list any non profits in items 1-6 of the eligibility entities. However, the bottom of that section indicates that 501c4’s are ineligible, 501c5’s are eligible, and directs interested parties to the Applicant Eligibility documents for additional information. This document indicates that non profit institutions (excepting 501c4’s that lobby) are generally eligible, but referrers back to the specific guidance per FOA. \n\nCan you please let me know if a 501c6 is an eligible sub-recipient for this FOA? ","Non-profit organizations are not eligible as prime recipients under this NOFO. Subrecipients are not restricted to the six entity types listed on page 7 of the NOFO. Eligibility is based on prime recipient entity type."]
[55,"2024-10-09","Subrecipients","The question is whether all players including EPC (construction companies) have to be FAR compliant.","This NOFO anticipates awarding cooperative agreements or grants. Generally, applicable regulations are found at 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 910, not the Federal Acquisition Regulation. 2 CFR 200.322 establishes a preference for domestic procurements. "]
[56,"2024-10-10","Subrecipients","Our project has a foreign entity as a subrecipient. I understand that an explicit disclosure must be submitted; however it is unclear whether this is submitted with the concept paper or the application. There is no option to submit this disclosure with the Concept Paper. Please advise when this disclosure is submitted.","As provided under Eligibility at page 7 of the NOFO, both recipients and subrecipients must be domestic entities. DOE may, in limited circumstances, allow a foreign entity to participate and consideration of that decision is not appealable.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Please see the Example Cover Page for Concept Papers and Applications on page 41 of the NOFO. This example template includes a box for disclosure of foreign entities as recipients or subrecipients. That disclosure is sufficient for the concept paper. \n\nApplicants will be required to submit a foreign work or foreign entity participation waiver post-selection if applicable. As part of the full application required documentation, Applicants are also required to disclose foreign connections (see Transparency of Foreign Connections on page 38)."]
[57,"2024-10-10","Eligibility","There are some concerns about grant qualification due to the fact that the closest qualifying entity listed in the grant for our project is \"private energy storage companies\", which would be their energy storage solution provider and not the customer. The energy storage provider does not currently have a US entity. \n\nI'd like to understand if we could qualify the customer as the primary applicant with the private energy storage company as the secondary. If that is not possible, I'd like to incorporate a Delaware LLC for the energy storage company to qualify as a domestic entity, though according to your definition of a domestic entity, it must have majority domestic ownership and control. I could really use some advice here.\n","See the response to Question 11 on the definition of \"private energy storage company.\"  Also note the prime recipient must be a domestic entity listed among the six categories on page 7. Generally, subrecipients must also be domestic entities. A foreign entity may follow the direction at page 8 under Other Eligibility Criteria. DOE's decision concerning foreign entity participation is not appealable. See the response to Question 56 for additional context on the participation of foreign entities."]
[58,"2024-10-30","Other","I have submitted the concept paper for DE-FOA-0003399 funding opportunity. It is awaiting review and decision. The due date is February 2025. Should I go ahead and prepare the full proposal and submit? \n\nI am not getting the web-link for submitting the full proposal on my OCED web page for this opportunity. Can you please send the link to me?","See response to Question 27. OCED anticipates issuing the concept paper encourage/discourage notifications in Fall 2024/Winter 2025, prior to the Full Application due date. \n\nSee response to Question 40 . Per page 44 of the NOFO, all Application, Concept Paper, forms, and instructions are available on OCED eXCHANGE."]
[59,"2024-10-31","Application Content/Format","We submitted a concept paper for the Energy Storage Pilot Demonstrations FOA. We are wondering if we can adjust the proposed system capacity (MW/MWh) between what we submitted in the concept paper and what we will submit in the full application (assuming the capacity is still within the constraints of the FOA).","See responses to Questions 35 and 53. The NOFO does not prohibit changes to system capacity between Concept Paper and Full Application.  Per NOFO page 28, the Full Application requires description of the system capacity and justification of the system size chosen, including relevance of this system size for commercial operation. "]
[60,"2024-11-05","Application Content/Format","Does DOE have templates or resources for the Techno-Economic Analysis requirement in the Technical Volume?","There is no Techno-Economic Analysis template to download."]
[61,"2024-11-06","Other","Is there any chance of a late submission for this request for concept paper?  ","OCED will not not accept late Concept Papers."]
[62,"2024-11-09","Other","It was unclear if we will get the “proceed notice” directly from DOE via email or it comes thru Grants.gov being linked to DOE LDES project DE-FOA-0003399 as a message from them?   Can you please clarify this?\n \nI can not link the accounts at Grants.gov and DOE OCED by creating an assigned person until I have the UEID number?  Is this also the case?\n\nThe NOFO said that the award of the funds would not occur until the “summer” (sort of vague – and Notice To Proceed would come in the “Fall”).  My understanding was that DOE OCED refunds expenses as they are incurred on the project?  Is this still the case where we simply present invoices and then get reimbursed?  Is there some way to get the funds upfront to avoid any kind of cancellation. ","Per NOFO page 59, Concept Paper notifications will be through OCED eXCHANGE. \n\nPer NOFO page 44, register in Grants.gov for email notifications of modifications to the NOFO posted in OCED eXCHANGE. NOFO page 2 discusses the registrations required for FOA submittals.\n\nThis NOFO was issued based on the statutory authority provided by Section 3201(c) of the Energy Act of 2020, as amended by Section 41001 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, Public Law 117-58, codified at 42 U.S.C. § 17232(c). Once awarded, the DOE award gives authority to the recipient to commit and expend funds in support of the project up to the obligated award amount specified in the award notice during the award period.\n\n\n"]
[63,"2024-11-14","Other","Would it be possible to contact entities that submitted Concept Papers earlier last month to DE-FOA-0003399 in order to discuss potential partnerships and inform interested parties of our new testing facility?","See response to Question 19 regarding teaming partners. OCED will not be posting a list of entities that submitted Concept Papers. "]
[64,"11/202/2024","Application Content/Format","I see the Concept Paper Submission Deadline of 10/16/2024 has passed for DE-FOA-0003399.  Is it possible to still submit a concept paper or can we submit a full application without a concept paper?","Per NOFO page 25, \"Applicants must submit a Concept Paper by the specified due date and time to be eligible to submit an Application. Applicants who do not submit a Concept Paper cannot submit an Application.\""]
[65,"2024-11-25","Budget/Costs","Are we restricted to the five Budget Periods? Can we add or subtract Budget Periods?","Per NOFO page 16, \"Awards selected under this NOFO will adhere to a four-phased structure for managing scope, schedule, deliverables, and budget, typically with one Budget Period per phase.\" NOFO page 19 states that each phase may contain more than one budget period."]
[66,"2024-11-25","Application Content/Format","I am inquiring about the DE-FOA -0003399.  I know the deadline for the concept paper is over.  Can we still submit full proposal for your consideration?  ","See response to Question 64."]
[67,"2024-11-25","Application Content/Format","I came across the DE-FOA-0003399 grant opportunity on Grants.gov and am interested in applying. However, I noticed that the “Apply” button is deactivated. Given that I did not submit the concept paper and its deadline has passed, I wanted to inquire if it is still possible to submit a grant application under these circumstances.","See response to Question 64."]
[68,"2024-12-16","Application Content/Format","We are waiting for an encourage/discourage notification. In OCED eXCHANGE, the status is still \"In Review\". Since the deadline for the full proposal is February 13, fast approaching, we would like to know if we should proceed with full proposal development.","See response to Questions 27, 52, and 58. OCED anticipates issuing the concept paper encourage/discourage notifications in Fall 2024/Winter 2025, prior to the Full Application due date. "]
[69,"2024-12-18","Application Content/Format","I submitted concept papers for FOA 3399. I haven’t received any feedback. Do you have an updated timeline? I understand that full application deadline was listed as 02/13 – will this be postponed?","DOE notified Concept Paper applicants of its determination to encourage or discourage the submission of a full application on December 20, 2024. The full application deadline will be postponed to March 14, 2025, 5:00pm ET. The change to the full application deadline is reflected in NOFO Modification 1 posted in OCED eXCHANGE on December 20, 2024. "]
[70,"2024-12-19","Application Content/Format","The SF-LLL form listed on the DE-FOA-0003399: Energy Storage Pilot Demonstration section of the Funding Opportunities web page (Last Updated: 9/4/2024) does not have a field for the Name and Address of the Reporting Entity. It appears that there is a text box for the Congressional District, but none for the Name and Address. Please let me know if this is an error with the document, file, or download.","There was an error with the SF-LLL form using the hyperlink to, \"SF-LLL\"under the heading for \"Application Forms and Templates\" in eXCHANGE. The correct SF-LLL form has been updated under this hyperlink. \n\nThe SF-LLL form may also be accessed via the link, \"SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance and SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities\" under the heading for \"Application Forms and Templates\" in eXCHANGE. "]
[71,"2024-12-20","Application Content/Format","We recently received the notification discouraging us from submitting a full application for the DOE proposal. We would like to request:\n1. Reviewer comments and detailed reasons for the discouragement decision.\n2. Information about the companies and demonstrations that will be advancing, including how they address critical factors such as safety, sustainability, and affordability.","Due to the high volume of concept papers received, OCED is unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback to encouraged or discouraged applicants. "]
[72,"2024-12-24","Eligibility","Is this grant applicable to home storage solutions?","The NOFO does not include home storage solutions. "]
[73,"2024-12-26","Application Content/Format","I am writing to request a meeting for more information. We received “discourage” responses and we would very much appreciate a better understanding of the specific reasons behind this discouragement.\n\nSince receiving the response Friday, our team has conducted an in-depth analysis of the key reasons for a “discourage” status and have identified areas where we can clarify in our full application in alignment with the NOFO.","See response to Question #71.\n\nPer NOFO page 49, \"Applicants may submit an application even if they receive a notification discouraging them from doing so. By discouraging the submission of an application, DOE intends to convey its lack of programmatic interest in the proposed project. Such assessments do not necessarily reflect judgments on the merits of the proposed project. The purpose of the Concept Paper phase is to save applicants the considerable time and expense of preparing an application that is unlikely to be selected for award negotiations.\""]
[74,"2024-01-02","Application Content/Format","I have a couple of questions regarding DE-FOA-0003399:\n1. On page 22 of the NOFO, Application for Federal Assistance is listed twice – are there two different versions, or is it only required once?  The two “Application for Federal Assistance” on page 22 of the NOFO have two different documents linked:\n•APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE SF-424 – MANDATORY (https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_Mandatory_3_0-V3.0.pdf)\n•Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 (https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/readonly/SF424_2_1-V2.1.pdf)\n\n2. Are we able to have modifications of Senior/Key Personnel from the Concept Paper (for the full application)? \n","1. The Application for Federal Assitance Standard Form SF-425 is inadvertently listed twice on NOFO page 22. Only one submission is required. \n\n2. See response to Question 57."]
[75,"2025-01-13","Application Content/Format","We submitted a Concept Paper for this FOA and haven’t received an Encouraged/Discouraged email.  Do you know when those will be issued?","If applicants did not receive an email notification from OCED eXCHANGE of their concept paper notifications, applicants can check OCED eXCHANGE directly for the encourage/discourage decision."]
[76,"2025-01-13","Application Content/Format","Can applicants change the site of their project (i.e. Different geography) after the full application has been submitted?","See response to Question 35."]
[77,"2025-01-14","Application Content/Format","A “table of contents” is mentioned once in the FOA, on p.27. Is a table of contents actually required in the Technical Volume? Since it would take up space within the 25 page limit, we’re wondering if it is actually required and how detailed it needs to be.","A Table of Contents is required per NOFO page 27. However, applicants should refer to the items included in the technical review criteria when determining how to weight preparation of components of the application."]