DE-FOA-0003131 DOE-EM CCBGP.pdf

Department of Energy (DOE)

Office of Environmental Management (EM)

Community Capacity Building Grant Program (CCBGP) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE-FOA-0003131

FOA Type: Initial Assistance Listing Number: 81.214

FOA Issue Date: December 6, 2023 Informational Webinar: January 8, 2024 12:00 pm ET Submission Deadline for Expression of Interest E-Mail: January 11, 2024 5:00 pm ET Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: January 25, 2024 5:00 pm ET Submission Deadline for Full Applications: April 30, 2024 5:00 pm ET

• Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest E-mail by the due date listed above to

CCBGP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov. To be eligible to submit a Full Application, a Concept Paper must be submitted by 5:00 pm ET on the due date listed above. The due date listed for Full Application submission is tentative and may be revised.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT OVERVIEW

Informational Webinar

DOE-EM will conduct one informational webinar during the FOA process.

Attendance is not mandatory and will not positively or negatively impact the overall review of any applicant submissions. As the webinar will be open to all applicants who wish to participate, applicants should refrain from asking questions or communicating information that would reveal confidential and/or proprietary information specific to their project. An informational webinar will be held January 8, 2024, at 12:00 pm ET.

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 269 541 555 019 Passcode: 8evRVx Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only) +1 323-433-2200,,286615620# United States, Los Angeles Phone Conference ID: 286 615 620# Find a local number | Reset PIN mailto:CCBGP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_M2QyZWM0ZGMtMjdkNi00NzJhLThmMDctZDI3OWFhNzNhMDJm%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2242610bbc-5b07-459c-9fe7-b40cbaa91cf4%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%223ca28efc-7647-4028-9d9b-99638fb0e67a%22%7d https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting tel:+13234332200,,286615620#%20 https://dialin.teams.microsoft.com/1214847b-bdff-4c2d-85e3-9cceced84e12?id=286615620 https://dialin.teams.microsoft.com/usp/pstnconferencing

Questions

Questions regarding the content of the funding opportunity announcement must be submitted to the following e-mail address: CCBGP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov. DOE-EM will try to respond to a question within 3 business days unless a similar question and answer have already been posted on Grants.gov.

Questions relating to the Grants.gov registration process, system requirements, or how an application form works must be directed to Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

This section provides the application submission and receipt instructions for U.S. Department of Energy program applications. Please read the following instructions carefully and completely.

1. Electronic Delivery DOE-EM is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. All full applications (second step) must be submitted through Grants.gov.

2. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

a. Instructions: Read the instructions below about registering to apply for DOE funds.

Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for grants. If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity, then you may begin with step 3, Create a Grants.gov Account, listed below.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but UEI and SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found on Grants.gov here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

b. Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The Electronic Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC) must authorize people who are able to make legally binding mailto:CCBGP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov https://grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

3. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

a. Online Submission. All applications must be received by 5:00 PM Eastern time on the due date established for each program. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

When DOE successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by DOE-EM.

Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before Grants.gov receives your application.

Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the application. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

Table of Contents

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Background and Context

i. Background and Purpose

ii. Statement of Objectives

B. Topic Areas

i. Education

ii. Infrastructure

iii. Reindustrialization

iv. Community Engagement and Outreach

II. Award Information

Award Overview

i. Estimated Funding

ii. Project Period

ii. New Applications Only

iii. EM Funding Agreements

iv. Grants & Cooperative Agreements

III. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

i. Disadvantaged Communities

ii. Cost Sharing

iii. Compliance Criteria

iv. Compliance Criteria

v. Responsiveness Criteria

vi. Other Eligibility Requirements

vii. Questions Regarding Eligibility

IV. Application and Submission Information

i. Application Process

ii. Content and Form of the Expression of Interest E-mail

iii. Content and Form of the Concept Paper

iv. Concept Paper Content Requirements

v. Content and Form of the Full Application

vi. Full Application Content Requirements

vii. Technical Volume and Statement of Project Objectives

viii. Resumes

ix. SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance

x. SF-424A or C: Budget Information -Non-Construction or Construction Programs

xi. Budget Narrative/ Justification

xii. Budget Justification Workbook

xiii. Additional Requirements

xv. Funding Restrictions Allowable Costs Pre-Award Costs

xvi. Performance of Work in the United States

xvii. Construction

xviii. Foreign Travel

xix. Equipment and Supplies

xx. Davis-Bacon Act Requirements

xxi. Domestic Preference

xxii. Lobbying

xxiii. Risk Assessment

V. Application Review Information Technical Review Criteria

i. Concept Papers

ii. Full Applications

iii. Criteria for Replies to Reviewer Comments

Standards for Application Evaluation Evaluation and Selection Process

i. Overview

ii. Pre-Selection Clarification

iii. Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters

iv. Selection

VI. Award Administration Information Award Notices

i. Ineligible Submissions

ii. Concept Paper Notifications

iii. Full Application Notifications

iv. Successful Applicants

v. Alternate Selection Determinations

vi. Unsuccessful Applicants

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

i. Registration Requirements

ii. Award Administrative Requirements

iii. Foreign National Access

iv. Subaward and Executive Reporting

v. Environmental Review in Accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

vi. Applicant Representations and Certifications

vii. Statement of Federal Stewardship

viii. Statement of Substantial Involvement

ix. Subject Invention Utilization Reporting

x. Intellectual Property Provisions

ix. Reporting

x. Conference Spending

xi. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Financing Statements

xii. Implementation of Executive Order 13798, Promoting Free Speech, and Religious Liberty

xiii. Participants and Collaborating Organizations

xiv. Current and Pending Support

VII. Questions/Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information

i. FOA Amendments

ii. Government Right to Reject or Negotiate

iii. Commitment of Public Funds

iv. Treatment of Application Information

v. Evaluation and Administration by Non-Federal Personnel

vi. Notice Regarding Eligible/Ineligible Activities

vii. Notice of Right to Conduct a Review of Financial Capability

viii. Requirement for Full and Complete Disclosure

ix. Retention of Submissions

x. Title to Subject Inventions

xi. Government Rights in Subject Inventions

xii. Government Use License

xiii. March-In Rights

xiv. Rights in Technical Data

xv. Copyright

xvi. Export Control

xvii. Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

xviii. Annual Independent Audits

xix. Informational Webinar

Appendix A – Glossary

Appendix B – List of Acronyms

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Background and Context

i. Background and Purpose

DOE, as illustrated by the funding provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and annual appropriations, intends to make significant investments in the health, equity, and resilience of communities adversely and disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health harms and risks.

To maximize these significant investments, new and innovative strategies, and approaches for issues such as community engagement and participation in environmental programs, equitable distribution of financial resources, capacity-building and outreach, and technical assistance and training, are necessary especially for underserved communities adjacent to or in proximity of EM cleanup activities.

The EM mission is to complete the safe cleanup of environmental legacy resulting from decades of nuclear weapons development and government-sponsored nuclear energy research. EM is responsible for managing and directing the cleanup of contaminated nuclear weapons manufacturing and testing sites across the United States. The DOE-EM’s mission and priority areas are:

• Achieve Significant Construction Milestones

• Execute Key Cleanup Projects

• Reduce the EM Footprint

• Award Contracts that Enable Accelerated Progress

• Drive Innovation and Sustainability and Improve Performance

Note: For more information on Annual Priorities and Strategic Vision go to: Annual

Priorities, Strategic Vision, and Program Plan | Department of Energy.

EM leverages relationships with national intergovernmental groups, Tribal nations, and stakeholders in local communities to collectively develop solutions to challenging cleanup issues. These relationships are integral to the success of the EM cleanup program. EM recognizes the benefits of supporting efforts to improve or maintain the well-being of a given community.

The DOE-EM Community Capacity Building Grant Program (CCBGP) was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. The goal of the CCBGP is to reinvest in https://www.energy.gov/em/annual-priorities-strategic-vision-and-program-plan https://www.energy.gov/em/annual-priorities-strategic-vision-and-program-plan disadvantaged communities1 that have been affected by decades of nuclear defense research and environmental cleanup efforts. Residents in these communities may have been adversely and/or disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health policy outcomes. The CCBGP provides resources to communities not benefitting from the significant economic activities generated by the DOE-EM cleanup program.

The CCBGP objectives are focused on strengthening relationships with local communities by supporting projects that serve community and economic development goals, promote revitalization efforts, and promote inclusive community engagement practices. EM views capacity building as a long-term, continuous process that promotes engagement, enhances collaboration, and fosters development of a common vision for the future.

ii. Statement of Objectives

Through the selection of multiple geographically and institutionally diverse awardees, this FOA will allow for an expansion of investments in communities around DOE-EM cleanup

1 1 Disadvantaged Community – Pursuant to E.O. 14008 and the Office of Management and Budget’s Interim Justice40 Implementation Guidance M-21-28 and M-23-09 (whitehouse.gov), DOE recognizes disadvantaged communities as defined and identified by the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), located at https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/. DOE’s Justice40 Implementation Guidance is located at Final DOE Justice40 General Guidance 072522.pdf (energy.gov) https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/ https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/Final%20DOE%20Justice40%20General%20Guidance%20072522.pdf https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/Final%20DOE%20Justice40%20General%20Guidance%20072522.pdf sites. CCBGP will inspire new initiatives and projects and further collaboration through increased engagement with stakeholders and Tribal Nations.

These CCBGP investments and activities include the following:

• Site reindustrialization and land transfer for community investment and reuse:

o To support community development plans and create new jobs for the surrounding disadvantaged communities that have experienced job loss and ever-deepening economic hardship.

• Community restoration projects:

o To enable disadvantaged communities and Tribal Nations to restore important aspects of their communities.

• Community and Tribal Nation infrastructure projects:

o To provide infrastructure projects that are needed by disadvantaged communities and Tribal Nations to increase resilience in areas such as green infrastructure and other investments.

• Educational capacity for stakeholders and Tribal members to assist with independent analysis of EM cleanup activities:

o To empower disadvantaged and underserved communities and increase opportunities to engage in the cleanup mission.

These initiatives will:

• Support DOE EM efforts to foster long-term community capacity building in disadvantaged communities.

• Enable development of projects and community development that deliver equity, environmental, housing, and economic benefits.

• Support workforce development, hiring and labor practices benefitting local economically disadvantaged communities.

• Enable traditionally underrepresented communities and Tribal Nations to have more of a voice related to EM cleanup activities.

• Enable communities to make informed decisions about the future of their sites.

Selected applications must address the following components:

• Approach Details o What new specific resources will this funding opportunity provide your community?

o How will this investment be sustained in the community?

o Can this project be replicated in other communities?

o How does your proposal align with DOE-EM’s mission need?

o How will this funding impact the community?

B. Topic Areas The following program descriptions are offered to provide more information on areas of interest to the DOE-EM. Activities that differ from what is described below may be considered for award. EM will review each Concept Paper/Application to determine eligibility.

i. Education

EM continues to invest in programs to engage and inspire the future clean energy workforce.

Projects in this focus area should align with EM’s efforts to enhance and foster a sustainable and diverse Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce pipeline.

Examples of education-based activities include middle and high school engagement to promote STEM such as math/science/indigenous technical knowledge camps, recruitment and/or retention incentives for academic professionals, workforce development programs, student competitions, scholarships, internships, and funded field trips to EM sites for hands-on experience with EM activities such as sampling and monitoring.

ii. Infrastructure

EM recognizes the strain that infrastructure needs can have on a community. Addressing infrastructure challenges is critical to improving quality of life for residents in and around EM sites. Projects in this focus area should uplift economic activities and growth of the community by facilitating better production. Examples of infrastructure activities include studies to identify infrastructure needs, historical site preservation activities such as signage, fencing or access improvements, and equipment upgrades such as sampling/monitoring/laboratory equipment and analytic tools.

iii. Reindustrialization

EM’s successful cleanup of the remaining sites could potentially afford the opportunity to re-purpose land for community investment and reuse. Projects in this focus area should support EM’s effort to reduce its geographic footprint. Examples of reindustrialization activities include studies to determine future use of EM cleanup sites, projects that support clean energy or cultural restoration, collaboration on economic development strategies and workforce analyses.

iv. Community Engagement and Outreach

EM recognizes the importance of formal and informal interactions with Tribal Nations and regulatory and community partners. These interactions are used to communicate cleanup status, raise technical and policy issues, and support timely and sustainable cleanup decisions that affect communities surrounding EM sites. Projects in this focus area should support EM’s ability to engage with the local community. Examples of education and outreach activities include community engagement programs, meeting facilitation training, translation and interpretation services, increasing education and outreach regarding EM cleanup decisions through communications products such as webpages, direct emails, open house events workshops and seminars, hiring labor to perform community outreach activities and/or providing resources for technical assistance for independent review of DOE and other environmental data from sites.

II. Award Information

Award Overview

i. Estimated Funding

EM expects to make a total of approximately $19,044,000 of federal funding available for new awards under this FOA, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. These estimates are not a promise for funding, as all funding is subject to change due to Government discretion and availability. The exact number and size of awards will depend on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds.

Individual awards may vary between $500,000 and $2,000,000.

EM may issue awards in one, multiple, or none of the topic areas listed in Section B. EM may establish more than one budget period for each award and fund only the initial budget period(s). Funding for all budget periods, including the initial budget period, is not guaranteed. Before the expiration of the initial budget period(s), EM may perform a down-select among different recipients and provide additional funding only to a subset of recipients.

ii. Project Period

EM anticipates making awards that will run from 12 months up to 36 months in length comprised of one to three budget periods/years. Project continuation will be contingent upon several elements, including satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

ii. New Applications Only

EM will accept only new applications under this FOA. EM will not consider applications for renewals of existing EM-funded awards through this FOA.

iii. EM Funding Agreements

Through grants and cooperative agreements, EM provides financial and other support to projects that have the potential to realize the FOA objectives. EM does not use such agreements to acquire property or services for the direct benefit or use of the United States government.

iv. Grants & Cooperative Agreements

EM generally uses grants and cooperative agreements to provide financial and other support to prime recipients. Through these grants and cooperative agreements, EM provides financial or other support to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by federal statute. EM will select the appropriate type of financial assistance based on the nature of the award. Any cooperative agreement award will require EM to have substantial involvement. See Section VI. of the FOA for more information on what substantial involvement may involve.

III. Eligibility Information

To be considered for an award under this FOA, an applicant’s submission must meet the criteria set forth below. If the application does not meet these eligibility requirements, it will be considered ineligible and removed from further evaluation.

Eligible Applicants

i. Disadvantaged Communities

This FOA is restricted to Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) or any Federally Recognized Tribe that is within the following jurisdictions: Georgia, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California. EM will consider multiple sources of information to identify eligible applicants including but not limited to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, DOE’s Energy Justice Mapping Tool, or EPA EJ Screen 2.1.

Potential eligible applicants include: Community Reuse Organizations, Community Based Economic Development Organizations, Institutions of Higher Education, K-12 public schools, STEM related non-profit organizations, and Federally Recognized Tribes and Tribal Businesses. In addition to the aforementioned, EM will consider concept papers and applications from other entities on a case-by-case basis under this FOA.

Project must demonstrate a clear link to EM activities.

Project must not be completely funded under another financial assistance agreement.

However, federal funds may be combined to reach total project funding needs. Federal funds cannot duplicate funding activities.

Projects will be considered for award even if only part of the community or county is identified as disadvantaged.

ii. Cost Sharing

Cost sharing is not required but can be considered under this FOA.

iii. Compliance Criteria

Concept Papers, Full Applications, and Replies to Reviewer Comments must meet all compliance criteria listed below or they will be considered noncompliant. EM will not review or consider noncompliant submissions, including Concept Papers, Full Applications, and Replies to Reviewer Comments that were: submitted after the applicable deadline; and/or submitted incomplete. EM will not extend the submission deadline for applicants that fail to submit required information by the applicable deadline due to server/connection congestion.

iv. Compliance Criteria

1. Concept Papers Concept Papers are deemed compliant if:

• The Concept Paper complies with the content and form requirements in Section IV. of the FOA; and

• The applicant successfully uploaded all required documents and submitted to CCBGP- FOA@emcbc.doe.gov, by the deadline stated in this FOA.

2. Full Applications Full Applications are deemed compliant if:

• The applicant submitted a compliant Concept Paper;

• The Full Application complies with the content and form requirements in Section IV.

of the FOA; and

• The applicant successfully uploaded all required documents and submitted through the

Grants.gov web site, by the deadline stated in the FOA.

3. Replies to Reviewer Comments Replies to Reviewer Comments are deemed compliant if:

• The Reply to Reviewer Comments complies with the content and form requirements in Section IV. of the FOA; and

• The applicant successfully uploaded all required documents and submitted to CCBGP- FOA@emcbc.doe.gov, by the deadline stated in the FOA.

v. Responsiveness Criteria

All “Applications Specifically Not of Interest,” as described in Section I.C. of the FOA, are deemed nonresponsive and will not be reviewed or considered.

vi. Other Eligibility Requirements

Limitation on Number of Concept Papers and Full Applications Eligible for Review An entity may only submit one Concept Paper and one Full Application for each topic area of this FOA. If an entity submits more than one Concept Paper and one Full Application to the same topic area, EM will request a determination from the applicant’s authorizing representative as to which application should be reviewed. Any other submissions received listing the same entity as the applicant for the same topic area will not be eligible for further consideration. This limitation does not prohibit an applicant from collaborating on other applications (e.g., as a potential subrecipient or partner) so long as the entity is only listed mailto:CCBGP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov mailto:CCBGP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov as the applicant on one Concept Paper and one Full Application for each topic area of this

FOA.

vii. Questions Regarding Eligibility

• EM will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to submission deadline stated in this FOA. The decision whether to apply in response to this FOA lies solely with the applicant.

IV. Application and Submission Information

i. Application Process The application process will include two phases: a Concept Paper phase, and a Full Application phase. Only applicants who have submitted an eligible Concept Paper will be eligible to submit a Full Application.

At each phase, EM performs an initial eligibility review of the applicant submissions to determine whether they meet the eligibility requirements of Section III. of the FOA. EM will not review or consider submissions that do not meet the eligibility requirements of Section III. All submissions must conform to the following form and content requirements, including maximum page lengths (described below) and must be submitted via e-mail to CCBGP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov (concept paper) and via Grants.gov (full application), unless specifically stated otherwise.

EM will not review or consider submissions submitted through means other than the e-mail address (concept paper) and Grants.gov (full application), submissions submitted after the applicable deadline, or incomplete submissions.

EM will not extend deadlines for applicants who fail to submit required information and documents due to server/connection congestion.

The Concept Paper, Full Application, and Reply to Reviewer Comments must conform to the following requirements:

• Each must be submitted in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) format unless stated otherwise;

• Each must be written in English;

• All pages must be formatted to fit on 8.5 x 11 inch paper with margins not less than one inch on every side. Use Times New Roman typeface, a black font color, and a font size of 12 point or larger (except in figures or tables, which may be 10-point font). A symbol font may be used to insert Greek letters or special characters, but the font size requirement still applies. References must be included as footnotes or endnotes in a font size of 10 or larger. Footnotes and endnotes are counted toward the maximum page requirement; and mailto:CCBGP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov https://grants.gov/

• Each submission must not exceed the specified maximum page limit, including cover page, charts, graphs, maps, and photographs when printed using the formatting requirements set forth above and single spaced. If applicants exceed the maximum page lengths indicated below, EM will review only the authorized number of pages and disregard any additional pages.

Applicants are responsible for meeting each submission deadline. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their Concept Papers, Full Applications, and Replies to Reviewer Comments at least 48 hours in advance of the submission deadline. Under normal conditions (i.e., at least 48 hours in advance of the submission deadline), applicants should allow at least 1 hour to submit a Concept Paper, Full Application, or Reply to Reviewer Comments. Once the Concept Paper, Full Application, or Reply to Reviewer Comments are submitted, applicants may revise or update that submission until the expiration of the applicable deadline. If changes are made to any of these documents, the applicant must resubmit the Concept Paper, Full Application, or Reply to Reviewer Comments before the applicable deadline.

EM urges applicants to carefully review their Concept Papers, Full Applications, and Replies to Reviewer Comments to allow sufficient time for the submission of required information and documents. All Full Applications that pass the initial eligibility review will undergo comprehensive technical merit review according to the criteria identified in Section V. of the FOA.

ii. Content and Form of the Expression of Interest E-mail Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest E-mail by the specified due date and time to the following e-mail address: CCBGP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov. Expression of Interest E-mails will be used by EM to plan for the merit review process. The e-mails should not contain any proprietary or sensitive business information. The e-mails will not be used for down-selection purposes and does not commit an applicant to submit an application.

Each applicant must provide the following information as part of the Expression of Interest E-mail:

• Project Title;

• Lead Organization/Entity;

• Organization type and size (i.e., number of employees);

• The Project Team, including:

o The Principal Investigator (PI) for the prime recipient;

o Team Members (i.e., subrecipients);

o Senior/Key Personnel (i.e., individuals who contribute in a substantive, measurable way to the execution of the proposed project); and

• Topic Area

iii. Content and Form of the Concept Paper To be eligible to submit a Full Application, applicants must submit a Concept Paper by the specified due date and time.

iv. Concept Paper Content Requirements

EM will not review or consider ineligible Concept Papers (see Section III. of the FOA).

Each Concept Paper must clearly link to one or more of the Topic Areas listed in section I.B. above.

The Concept Paper must conform to the following content requirements:

Section Page Limit Description

Cover Page 1 page maximum

The cover page should include the project title, lead organization/entity, organization type and size (i.e., number of employees), the specific announcement Topic Area(s) being addressed, both the technical and business points of contact, names of collaborating entities, and any statements regarding confidentiality.

Project Description

4 pages maximum

Applicants are required to describe succinctly:

• The proposed program, including its basic operating principles;

• The proposed program’s target level of performance

(applicants should provide program metrics and goals or other support to show how the proposed target could be met);

• The relevance and application to DOE-EM field sites, including key shortcomings, limitations, and challenges;

• How the proposed program will overcome the shortcomings, limitations, and challenges and the potential impact that the proposed program would have on the community;

• The key risks/issues associated with the proposed program;

• The impact that EM funding would have on the proposed program; and

• Cost Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for the program and length of award.

Section Page Limit Description

Addendum 1 page maximum

Applicants are required to describe succinctly the qualifications, experience, and capabilities of the proposed Project Team, including:

• Whether the Principal Investigator (PI) and Project

Team have the skill and expertise needed to successfully execute the program plan;

• Whether the applicant has prior experience which demonstrates an ability to perform tasks of similar risk and complexity;

• Whether the applicant has worked together with its teaming partners on prior projects or programs; and

• Whether the applicant has adequate access to equipment and facilities necessary to accomplish the effort and/or clearly explain how it intends to obtain access to the necessary equipment and facilities; and

• Applicants may provide graphs, charts, or other data to supplement their Program Description.

If applicants exceed the maximum page lengths as indicated above, EM will review only the authorized number of pages and disregard any additional pages. EM makes an independent assessment of each Concept Paper based on the criteria in Section V. of the FOA. EM will select and notify a subset of applicants to submit Full Applications. Other non-select applicants will be discouraged from submitting a Full Application. An applicant who receives a non-select notification may still submit a Full Application. EM will review all eligible Full Applications. However, by discouraging the submission of a Full Application, EM intends to convey its lack of programmatic interest in the proposed project to save the applicant the time and expense of preparing an application that is unlikely to be selected for award negotiations.

EM may include general comments provided from reviewers on an applicant’s Concept Paper in the select/non-select notification.

v. Content and Form of the Full Application Applicants must submit a Full Application by the specified due date and time to be considered for funding under this FOA. Applicants must submit the following completed application forms:

1) Technical Volume and Statement of Project Objectives: This shall outline all goals, objectives, and associated resources necessary for the project period.

2) Resumes

3) Completed Application for Federal Assistance SF-424

4) Completed SF-424A, Budget Information Form for Non-Construction Programs or SF-424C for Construction Programs

5) Budget Narrative/Justification: This shall include all cost support information including salary support, quotations and/or basis of estimates for supplies/equipment, subaward quotations, and Indirect Cost Rate Agreements etc.

7) Budget Justification Workbook in Excel Format

8) Completed/Signed Financial Assistance Certifications and Assurances https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/CERTSASSURANCESSF424.pdf

• Applicants will have approximately 30 days from receipt of the Concept Paper notification from EM to prepare and submit a Full Application. Regardless of the date the applicant receives the notification, the submission deadline for the Full Application remains the date and time stated on the FOA cover page. Although, please note that the due date listed for Full Application submission is tentative and may be revised.

vi. Full Application Content Requirements

EM will not review or consider ineligible Full Applications (see Section III. of the

FOA).

Full Applications must conform to the following requirements:

Component File Format

Page Limit

File Name

Technical Volume and Statement of Project Objectives

PDF 25 TechnicalVolume

Resumes PDF 2 pages each

Resumes

SF-424 PDF n/a App424 SF-424 A or C PDF n/a App424A or C Budget Narrative PDF n/a Budget_Narrative Budget Justification Workbook MS Excel n/a Budget_Justification Subrecipient Budget Justification

MS Excel n/a Subrecipient_Budget_Justification

Financial Assistance Certifications and Assurances

PDF n/a Certifications and Assurances https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/CERTSASSURANCESSF424.pdf

vii. Technical Volume and Statement of Project Objectives

The Technical Volume and Statement of Project Objectives must be submitted in PDF format and must conform to the following content and form requirements, including maximum page lengths. If applicants exceed the maximum page lengths indicated below, EM will review only the authorized number of pages and disregard any additional pages.

This volume must address the Merit Review Criteria as discussed in Section V. of the FOA. Save the Technical Volume in a single PDF file using the following convention for the title “Technical Volume”.

The Technical Volume and Statement of Project Objectives to the Full Application may not be more than 25 pages, including the cover page, table of contents, and all citations, charts, graphs, maps, photos, or other graphics, and must include all the information in the table below. The applicant should consider the weighting of each of the evaluation criteria (see Section V. of the FOA) when preparing the Technical Volume.

The Technical Volume should clearly describe and expand upon information provided in the Concept Paper. The Technical Volume must conform to the following content requirements:

Section/ Page Limit Description

Cover Page The cover page shall include:

• The project title.

• The FOA number.

• The name and type of organization.

• The technical and business points of contact for the applicant

(denoting the names, titles, addresses, telephone, and electronic mail addresses), names of the senior/key personnel and their organizations, and any statements regarding confidentiality.

• Project Manager’s name, telephone number, electronic mail address, and organization name/unit.

• Names of team/partnership/consortium members and funding split.

Section/ Page Limit Description

Program Overview (Approximately 15% of the Technical Volume)

The Program Overview should contain the following information:

• Background: The applicant should discuss the background of their organization, including the history, successes, and status of community capacity building programs relevant to the topic being addressed in the Full Application.

• Major Goal: The applicant should explicitly identify the targeted improvements to the baseline community capacity building program and the critical success factors in achieving that goal.

• Funding Impact: The applicant should discuss the impact that DOE funding would have on the proposed project. Applicants should specifically explain how DOE funding, relative to prior, current, or anticipated funding from other public and private sources, is necessary to achieve the project objectives.

Program Description, Innovation, and Impact (Approximately 40% of the Technical Volume)

The Program Description should contain the following information:

• Relevance and Outputs: The applicant should explain the relevance of the project and expected outputs and/or impacts on the community. The justification for the proposed project should include a clear statement of the importance of the project in terms of the utility of the outputs. Outputs are defined as an activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to a goal and objective that will be produced or provided over a period or by a specified date.

• Feasibility: The applicant should demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed programs and capability of achieving the anticipated performance targets, including a description of previous work done and prior results.

Statement of Project Objectives (Approximately 40% of the Technical Volume)

The Statement of Project Objectives should include a summary of the objectives, technical scope, milestones, and project schedule.

The Workplan should contain the following information:

• Project Objectives: The applicant should provide a clear and concise (high-level) statement of the goals and objectives of the project as well as the expected outcomes. The narrative should also include a concise description of all activities to be completed during project performance period. The statement of objectives may be released to the public by DOE in whole or in part at any time. It is, therefore, required that the statement shall not contain proprietary or confidential business information.

• Technical Scope Summary: The applicant should provide a summary description of the overall work scope and approach to achieve the objective(s). The overall work scope is to be divided by performance periods that are separated by discrete, approximately annual decision points. The applicant should describe the specific expected result of each performance period.

• Task Description Summary: The Statement of Project Objectives should describe the work to be accomplished and how the applicant will achieve the milestones, will accomplish the final project goal(s), and will produce all deliverables. The Statement of Project Objectives shall contain a concise description of the specific activities to be conducted over the life of the project. The description shall be a full explanation and disclosure of the project being proposed. It is the applicant’s responsibility to prepare an adequately detailed task plan to describe the proposed project and the plan for addressing the objectives of this FOA.

• Milestone Summary: The applicant should provide a summary of appropriate milestones throughout the project to demonstrate success. Unless otherwise specified in the FOA, the minimum requirement is that each project must have at least one milestone per quarter for the duration of the project (depending on the project, more milestones may be necessary to comprehensively demonstrate progress). The applicant should also provide how the milestone will be verified.

• End of Project Goal: The applicant should provide a summary of the end of project goal(s).

• Project Schedule (Gantt Chart or similar): The applicant should provide a schedule for the entire project, including task and subtask durations, and milestones.

• Project Management: The applicant should discuss the team’s proposed management plan, including the following:

o The overall approach to and organization for managing the work o The roles of each project team member o Any critical handoffs/interdependencies among project team members o The technical and management aspects of the management plan, including systems and practices, such as financial and project management practices o The approach to project risk management o A description of how project changes will be handled o If applicable, the approach to Quality Assurance/Control o How communications will be maintained among project team members

Technical Qualifications and Resources (Approximately 5% of the Technical Volume)

The Technical Qualifications and Resources should contain the following information:

• Describe the project team’s unique qualifications and expertise, including those of key subrecipients.

• Describe the project team’s existing equipment and facilities that will facilitate the successful completion of the proposed project; include a justification of any new equipment or facilities requested as part of the project.

• This section should also include relevant, previous work efforts and how these enable the applicant to achieve the project objectives.

• Describe the time commitment of the key team members to support the project.

viii. Resumes

A resume provides information that can be used by reviewers to evaluate the individual’s skills, experience, and potential for leadership on the project.

Applicants are required to submit two-page resumes for the Principal Investigator and all Senior/Key Personnel that include the following:

i. Contact Information;

ii. Education and training: Provide institution, major/area, degree, and year for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral training;

iii. Professional Experience: Beginning with the current position, list professional positions in chronological order with a brief description. List all current professional certifications related to the project.

Save the resumes in a single PDF file using the following convention for the title “LeadOrganization_Resumes”.

ix. SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance

Applicants are required to complete the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance. This form is available on Grants.gov. Complete all required fields in accordance with the instructions on the form.

x. SF-424A or C: Budget Information -Non-Construction or Construction Programs

Applicants are required to complete the appropriate SF-424A or C Budget Information Form. Select the correct form based on whether the application includes construction costs. These forms are available on Grants.gov.

xi. Budget Narrative/ Justification

Applicants are required to complete a Budget Narrative/Justification document that discusses all proposed costs and how they link to the scope of work.

xii. Budget Justification Workbook

Applicants are required to complete a Budget Justification Workbook in Microsoft Excel format. Prime recipients must complete the Budget Justification Workbook for the entire project, including all work to be performed by the prime recipient and its subrecipients and contractors. The Budget Justification Workbook shall include a tab for each year of the project plus a summary tab that includes all years.

xiii. Additional Requirements

a) Post Selection Information Requests

If selected for award, EM reserves the right to request additional or clarifying information regarding the following (non-exhaustive list):

• Personnel proposed to work on the project and collaborating organizations;

• Current and Pending Support;

• Indirect cost information;

• Other budget information;

• Project estimates;

• Name and phone number of the Designated Responsible Employee for complying with national policies prohibiting discrimination (See 10 CFR 1040.5);

• Environmental Questionnaire;

• Contractors/Subcontractors.

b) Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or federal awarding agency that is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) is required to: (1) Be registered in the SAM at https://www.sam.gov before submitting its application; (2) provide a valid UEI in its application; and (3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. DOE may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DOE is ready to make a federal award, the DOE will determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

xiv. Submission Dates and Times

All required submissions must be submitted via e-mail to CCBGP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov (concept paper) or via Grants.gov (full application), no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the dates provided on the cover page of this FOA.

xv. Funding Restrictions

Allowable Costs

All expenditures must be allowable, allocable, and reasonable in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles.

Refer to the following applicable federal cost principles for more information:

• 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles for all non-federal entities.

Pre-Award Costs

Selectees must request prior written approval to charge pre-award costs. Pre-award costs are those incurred prior to the effective date of the federal award directly pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the federal award where such costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work. Such costs are allowable only to the extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the federal award and only with the written approval of the federal awarding agency, through the Grants/Agreements Officer assigned to the award.

Pre-award costs cannot be incurred prior to the Selection Official signing the Selection Statement and Analysis.

Pre-award expenditures are made at the selectee’s risk. EM is not obligated to reimburse costs: (1) in the absence of appropriations; (2) if an award is not made; or

(3) if an award is made for a lesser amount than the selectee anticipated.

https://www.sam.gov/

xvi. Performance of Work in the United States

4. Requirement All work performed under EM awards must be performed in the United States. This requirement does not apply to the purchase of supplies and equipment; however, the prime recipient should make every effort to purchase supplies and equipment within the United States. The prime recipient must flow down this requirement to its subrecipients.

5. Failure to Comply If the prime recipient fails to comply with the Performance of Work in the United States requirement, EM may deny reimbursement for the work conducted outside the United States and such costs may not be recognized as allowable recipient cost share.