DE-FOA-0003355_00001.pdf

DE-FOA-0003355.00000.0001

AMENDMENT 0001

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management

Promoting Domestic and International Consensus on Clean Fossil Energy and Carbon

Management Technologies

Funding Opportunity Announcement Number: DE-FOA-0003355.00001

Announcement Type: Initial

Assistance Listing Number: 81.089

FOA Issue Date: June 18, 2024 Submission Deadline for Full Applications: August 20, 2024 Expected Date for FECM Selection Notifications: September 25, 2024 Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations: September 30, 2024

**SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO GRANTS.GOV**

***SYSTEM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS***

There are several one-time actions that must be completed before submitting an application in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) (e.g., Register with the System for Award Management (SAM), obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, register with Grants.gov, and, FedConnect). It is vital that applicants address these items as soon as possible.

Some may take several weeks, and failure to complete them could interfere with an applicant’s ability to apply to this FOA.

APPLICANTS MUST REGISTER WITH THE SAM.

SAM website: https://www.sam.gov/. Applicants must be registered with SAM prior to submitting an application in response to a FOA (unless the applicant is exempt from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110). NOTE: Designating an Electronic Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC) and obtaining a special password called an MPIN are important steps in SAM registration. Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying to this FOA. The applicant must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or application under consideration. More information about SAM registration for applicants is found at:

https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=650d493e1bab7c105465eaccac4 bcbcb.

NOTE: If clicking the SAM links does not work, please copy and paste the link into your browser.

Due to the high demand of SAM registrations and UEI requests, entity legal business name and address validations are taking longer than expected to process. Entities should start the SAM and UEI registration process as soon as possible. If entities have technical difficulties with the SAM registration or UEI validation process they should utilize the HELP feature on SAM.gov. SAM.gov will work entity service tickets in the order in which they are received and asks that entities not create multiple service tickets for the same request or technical issue. Additional entity validation resources can be found here:

GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base – Validating your Entity.

APPLICANTS MUST OBTAIN A UEI

A UEI must be obtained from the SAM to uniquely identify the entity. The UEI is available in the SAM entity registration record.

NOTE: Subawardees/subrecipients at all tiers must also obtain a UEI from the SAM and provide the UEI to the Prime Recipient before the subaward can be issued.

APPLICANTS MUST REGISTER WITH GRANTS.GOV.

Grants.gov website: https://grants.gov/.

https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=650d493e1bab7c105465eaccac4bcbcb https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=650d493e1bab7c105465eaccac4bcbcb https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0058422&sys_kb_id=1b5f22581b2115102fe5ed7ae54bcb4e&spa=1 https://grants.gov/

Applicants must register with Grants.gov and set up their workspace in order to receive automatic updates, in the event that Amendments to this FOA are posted. More information about the registration steps for Grants.gov is provided at:

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

APPLICANTS MUST REGISTER WITH FEDCONNECT.

FedConnect website: www.fedconnect.net.

The FedConnect Portal will be used for access to supplemental FOA documentation and is the only mechanism in which Questions related to the FOA may be submitted.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html http://www.fedconnect.net/

Section I – FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Background and Summary Objectives

The mission of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) is to minimize the environmental impacts of fossil fuels while working towards net-zero emissions. FECM’s programs use research, development, demonstration, and deployment approaches to advance technologies to reduce carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of fossil fuel production and use, particularly the hardest-to-decarbonize applications in the electricity and industrial sectors. Priority areas of technology work include point-source carbon capture, hydrogen with carbon management, methane emissions reduction, critical mineral production, and carbon dioxide removal to address the accumulated CO2 emissions in the atmosphere.

FECM recognizes that global decarbonization through carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is essential to meeting climate goals and works to engage with international colleagues to leverage expertise in these areas. FECM is also committed to improving the economic and environmental conditions of communities and to supporting a healthy economic transition that accelerates the growth of good-paying jobs.

The Office of Carbon Management focuses on the capture, storage, and containment of carbon dioxide. We address emissions associated with the power and industrial sectors, as well as legacy emissions in the atmosphere, and we seek to permanently store and/or convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce negative climate impacts. Our actions center on investments in technological readiness and analysis. Our department researches a portfolio of carbon management approaches, with an emphasis on facilitating development of approaches that meet our technical, justice, and sustainability requirements for commercialization. Our goals are to improve their performance, reduce costs, and scale the deployment of the technologies to decarbonize the power and industrial sectors and to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

The Office of Carbon Management comprises two major offices: The Office of Carbon Management Technologies leads and invests in research, development, demonstration, and deployment across five divisions: Hydrogen with Carbon Management, Carbon Transport and Storage, Carbon Dioxide Removal, Carbon Conversion, and Point Source Carbon Capture. The Office of Policy, Analysis and Engagement leads in strategic activities and international and intra-governmental coordination across three divisions: Policy and Analysis, Engagement, and Federal Partnerships.

FECM’s Office of Resource Sustainability (ORS) administers the Department’s technological development and approaches for reducing the environmental impacts of our historical and continued use of fossil fuels. Reducing the environmental impacts of fossil fuel infrastructure and reducing emissions throughout the supply chain is critical to achieving net-zero emissions.

ORS supports a just transition to clean energy while minimizing the environmental impacts in sectors where fossil fuels are difficult to avoid. These goals are accomplished through policy, research, innovation, outreach, and stewardship. ORS’s Office of Research & Development advances technologies and solutions to reduce the environmental impacts and emissions associated with fossil energy development, use, transportation, and storage. Its Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement regulates the import and export of natural gas, conducts analysis of fossil fuel and carbon markets, assesses policy and regulatory proposals, leads outreach for domestic and international engagements, and addresses environmental and energy justice impacts for communities most impacted by fossil fuel development and use.

PROGRAM AREA 1: CLEAN FOSSIL ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT

TECHNOLOGIES

The U.S. energy portfolio and U.S. economy depend heavily on fossil fuels and other sources of GHG emissions today, spanning sectors like power generation, industry, heat and transportation fuels. Advancing clean energy, carbon capture with durable storage in both the power and industrial sectors and CDR are imperative for achieving net-zero GHG goals. FECM envisions enabling the demonstration and ultimately deployment of technologies for carbon management, with the goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by mid-century.

As previously stated, one of the key missions of the Office of Fossil Energy is to, “minimize the environmental impacts of fossil fuels while working towards net-zero emissions.” To accomplish this mission, it is imperative that FECM provide outreach and education to many stakeholders, including the general public in order to allow them to make educated choices about energy. Towards this end, FECM seeks to partner with organizations with similar goals to help improve understanding and develop cooperative action on CDRs by reaching out to additional international and national organizations to conduct a series of co-related tasks that mutually serve the mission of the public as well as FECM. These “Areas of Interest” are described below:

Areas of Interest

Area 1: Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Technology Consultation, Analysis and Cooperation

• Engage recognized experts in Fossil Energy and Carbon Management to provide advice and assistance to decision makers, stakeholders, state and local government officials, non-profit organizations, universities, non-governmental organizations, and the public as appropriate. These consultations could involve face-to-face meetings and discussions with the selected experts.

• Conduct analyses and prepare studies and reports on selected topics by Fossil Energy and Carbon Management experts to provide independent and unbiased perspectives on critical issues. These studies and reports would promote greater understanding of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management domestically and internationally. The information created will be used at seminars, conferences and workshops attended by various stakeholders, as well as disseminated domestically and internationally, as appropriate.

Area 2: Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Technology Outreach

• Develop outreach materials that are custom tailored to be readily understood by domestic and international audiences so that its relevance is clear. These materials may include fact sheets, technical papers, flyers, briefing materials, displays, videos, and other products.

In addition, information will be acquired from key Fossil Energy and Carbon Management-related activities and projects and added to a global outreach data base that can be used to target specific sectors of the public that may desire education on Carbon Management issues and developments.

Area 3: Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Technology Technical Conference and Workshop Support

• Support efforts to increase the capacity of decision makers, stakeholders and the public to understand, develop and deploy Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Technologies.

These programs will include conferences, workshops, fora or other events that benefit the public by providing insight and education.

• Organize and conduct technical workshops or seminars focused on specific Fossil Energy and Carbon Management-related topics (like identifying/eliminating key barriers to CDR deployment, assessing the impacts to Carbon Management of new/proposed policies or laws, etc.) and related issues each year in the U.S. These conferences should include speakers and participation by qualified, objective experts. As appropriate, summaries of the findings, outcomes, and/or discussions will be disseminated to the public.

• Support international Fossil Energy and Carbon Management-related conferences to exchange information in order to highlight developments, projects and deployment of Carbon Management in the U.S. and around the world. The audience would be domestic and international industry and government decision makers, technology developers, educators, policymakers, the public and other stakeholders. As appropriate, summaries of the findings, outcomes, and/or discussions will be provided to the public.

• Identify high level speakers from government and industry to convene on key technology, policy, regulatory and financial issues.

• Support U.S. efforts to participate in and assist the Fossil Energy and Carbon

Management programs being pursued by organizations such as the World Energy Council (WEC), International Energy Agency (IEA) and the G-8 Energy Ministers.

PROGRAM AREA 2: DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL OIL, NATURAL GAS,

METHANE HYDRATES, HYDROGEN, CRITICAL MINERALS, AND CARBON

MANAGEMENT

The DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management’s Office of Resource Sustainability (ORS) administers the Department’s technological development and approaches for reducing the environmental impacts of our historical and continued use of fossil fuels. Reducing the environmental impacts of fossil fuel infrastructure and reducing emissions throughout the supply chain is critical to achieving net-zero emissions. ORS supports a just transition to clean energy while minimizing the environmental impacts in sectors where fossil fuels are difficult to avoid.

These goals are accomplished through policy, research, innovation, outreach, and stewardship.

ORS advances technologies and solutions to reduce the environmental impacts and emissions associated with fossil energy development, use, transportation, and storage. This includes reducing emissions in the production, transportation, and storage of oil and natural gas;

developing advanced remediation technologies for produced water, abandoned mines, abandoned wells, and the conversion of methane to useful products; and improving the economics and environmental performance of critical minerals extraction, processing, use, and disposal. ORS also regulates the import and export of natural gas, conducts analysis of fossil fuel and carbon markets, assesses policy and regulatory proposals, leads outreach for domestic and international engagements, and addresses environmental and energy justice impacts for communities most impacted by fossil fuel development and use.

ORS areas of interest are described as follows.

Areas of Interest

Area 1: Oil, Natural Gas, Hydrogen, and Critical Minerals Consultation, Analysis, and Cooperation

• Engage recognized experts in global oil, natural gas, hydrogen, and critical minerals to provide advice and assistance to Government and private decision makers, U.S. industry representatives, non-governmental organization (NGO) leaders, and other members of the public who make critical decisions about global oil, natural gas, hydrogen and critical minerals policy. These consultations could involve face-to-face meetings and discussions with the selected global oil, natural gas, hydrogen, and critical minerals experts.

• Develop market analyses, technical studies, in-person and virtual workshops, and stakeholder events for policy level officials, industry leaders, NGOs, universities, non-profit organizations, and public figures. These events will provide independent and unbiased perspectives on topics associated with oil and natural gas and clean energy development such as mitigating environmental impacts, greenhouse gas (GHG)/methane emissions, natural gas markets and trade, petrochemicals, hydrogen production and transportation, critical minerals, and local and community impacts of energy projects. As appropriate, summaries of the findings, outcomes, and/or discussions from the events will be provided to the public.

• Support in-person and virtual workshops and events to promote DOE studies and papers on technical, regulatory, climate (e.g., carbon and methane management), environment, community, and/or economic issues related to oil, natural gas, hydrogen, and critical minerals for stakeholders in the US and other countries.

• Support ongoing Working (WG), Technical (TG), and Stakeholder (SG) Advisory

Groups, including those of the Greenhouse Gas Supply Chain Emissions Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MMRV) Framework, through coordinating and implementing in-person or virtual meetings; recording meeting attendance; drafting and distributing meeting notes to include documenting and tracking recommendations and action items; assisting in developing PowerPoint summary materials for briefings; and establishing and maintaining international project coordination online portals for communication and disseminating and receiving information from the WG/TG/SGs; and coordinating information flow among the WG/TG/SGs.

Area 2: Oil, Natural Gas, Methane Hydrates, Hydrogen, and Critical Minerals Bilateral and Regional Initiatives and Activities Assist in the organization and implementation of meetings, conferences, workshops, and task force related events on oil, natural gas, methane hydrates, hydrogen, and critical minerals technologies with global partners including foreign governments, companies, universities, and NGOs. These meetings, conferences, workshops, and task force events benefit the public by allowing officials in the U.S. Government and other governments, U.S. and foreign industry leaders, and NGO leaders to exchange information about advanced technologies and best practices in oil, natural gas, methane hydrates, hydrogen, and critical minerals development.

Examples of such ORS events are the US – India Low Emission Gas Task Force (LEGTF) under the US – India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP); Mozambique Initiative; and Greenhouse Gas Supply Chain Emissions Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MMRV) Framework. As appropriate, summaries of the findings, outcomes, and/or discussions from these events will be provided to the public, including through webpages. For the above-listed and similar initiatives and activities, identify and recruit appropriate public and private sector experts for speaking roles and for attendance.

AUTHORIZING STATUTES

The activities supported by this FOA are authorized under Section 646(a) (42 U.S.C.

7256) of the Department of Energy/Organization Act, Public Law 95-91, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 7111 et seq.).

Awards made under this announcement will fall under the purview of 2 CFR Part 200 as amended by 2 CFR Part 910.

Section II - AWARD INFORMATION

TYPE OF AWARD INSTRUMENT

Cooperative Agreements

DOE anticipates awarding two (2) cooperative agreements under this funding opportunity announcement, one for each Program Area (See Section VI. Statement of Substantial Involvement).

ESTIMATED FUNDING

Amount New Awards

Approximately $12,060,000.00 is expected to be available for new awards under this announcement. Funding for all awards and future budget periods are contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated by Congress for the purpose of this program and the availability of future-year budget authority.

MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM AWARD SIZE

Ceiling (i.e., the maximum amount for an individual award made under this announcement):

$12,060,000.00

Floor (i.e., the minimum amount for an individual award made under this announcement):

None

EXPECTED NUMBER OF AWARDS

Number of Awards

DOE anticipates making approximately two (2) awards under this announcement.

ANTICIPATED AWARD SIZE

Award Size Per Program Area

The anticipated award size for projects under each Program Area in this announcement is:

Program Area Total Award Size (over 60 months)

1: Clean Fossil Energy and Carbon Management

$9,500,000.00

PERIOD OF

PERFORMANCE

Number of Years

DOE anticipates making awards with an estimated project period of five (5) years.

Program Area 1 Clean Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Technologies

Budget Period Period of Performance 1 12 Months 2 12 Months 3 12 Months 4 12 Months 5 12 Months

Program Area 2 Domestic and International Oil, Natural Gas, Methane Hydrates, Hydrogen, Critical Minerals, and Carbon

Management Budget Period Period of Performance

1 12 Months 2 12 Months 3 12 Months 4 12 Months 5 12 Months

TYPE OF APPLICATION

New Applications Only

DOE will accept only new applications under this announcement.

Technologies 2: Domestic and International Oil, Natural Gas, Methane Hydrates, Hydrogen, Critical Minerals, and Carbon Management

$2,560,000.00

Section III - ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Restricted Eligibility (DECEMBER 2014)

In accordance with 2 CFR 910.126, Competition, eligibility for award is restricted to Consortiums. Consortiums are a combination, or group, formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member. Consortiums can be comprised of eligible Domestic Entities, which is described under this section.

The entity within the consortium that is budgeted with the highest total dollar value will be considered the Recipient, and all other members will be considered Sub-Recipients.

The Recipient acts as the consortium’s single point of contact and manages the consortium. The Recipient will be the entity that receives the award and will enter into a sub-award(s) with each Sub-Recipient.

For this FOA, the term Applicant refers to the proposed consortium.

Domestic Entities

The proposed prime recipient and subrecipient(s) must be domestic entities. The following types of domestic entities are eligible to participate as a prime recipient or subrecipient of this FOA:

1. Institutions of higher education;

2. For-profit entities;

3. Nonprofit entities; and

4. State and local governmental entities and federally recognized Indian

Tribes (Indian Tribes).

To qualify as a domestic entity, the entity must be organized, chartered, or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States;

have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States.

Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are not eligible to apply for funding.

COST SHARING

Cost Sharing Not Required

OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

No other eligibility requirements apply

QUESTIONS REGARDING ELIGIBILITY

DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which applications to this FOA must be submitted. The decision whether to apply in response to this FOA lies solely with the applicant.

SECTION IV - APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

APPLICATION PROCESS

All submissions must conform to the form and content requirements described below, including maximum page lengths.

• Each must be submitted in Adobe PDF format unless stated otherwise;

• Each must be written in English;

• All pages must be formatted to fit on 8.5” x 11” paper with margins not less than one inch on every side. Use Calibri 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;

• A control number will be the applicant’s UEI. The control number must be included with all application documents. Specifically, the control number must be prominently displayed on the upper right corner of the header of every page and included in the file name (i.e., Control Number_Applicant Name_Full Application). When providing more than one application, the control number shall be the UEI and a numeric suffix (i.e. UEI_00, UEI_01);

• Page numbers must be included in the footer of every page; and

• 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, DOE will review only the authorized number of pages and disregard any additional pages.

ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

Apply At Grants.Gov

Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to http://www.grants.gov, select "Apply for Grants," and then select "Download Application Package." Enter the CFDA and/or the funding opportunity number located on the cover of this announcement and then follow the prompts to download the application package.

LETTER OF INTENT AND PRE-APPLICATION

Letter Of Intent

Letters of Intent are not required.

http://www.grants.gov/

Pre-Application

Pre-applications are not required.

CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION

**Applicant must submit a separate application for each Program Area.**

Program Areas:

1. Clean Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Technologies

2. Domestic and International Oil, Natural Gas, Methane Hydrates, Hydrogen, Critical Minerals, and Carbon Management

You must complete the mandatory forms and any applicable optional forms (e.g., SF- LLL- Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) in accordance with the instructions on the forms and the additional instructions below. Files that are attached to the forms must be in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) unless otherwise specified in this announcement.

Full Application Content Requirements Each Full Application must be limited to a single concept. Full Applications must conform to the following requirements and must not exceed the stated page limits.

Component File Format Page Limit File Name

SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance PDF n/a ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_

SF424

Project/Performance Site location(s)

PDF n/a ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_ PerformanceSite Location

Project Narrative

• Project Objectives.

• Merit Review Criterion

Discussion.

• Relevance and

Outcomes/Impacts.

• Roles of Participants:

• Statement Of Project

Objectives (SOPO)

PDF 25 ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_ ProjectNarrative

Project Summary/Abstract File PDF 1 ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_ Summary

SF 424 A Excel, Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs File

Excel n/a ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_

SF424A

Budget Justification Workbook Excel n/a ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_B udget_Justification

Subaward Budget File(s) Excel n/a ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_ [subawadree name]

Project Management Plan PDF n/a ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_ ProjectNarrative

SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities PDF n/a ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_

SF_LLL

Potentially Duplicative Funding Notice PDF ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_

PDFN

SF 424 - Application For Federal Assistance

Complete this form first to populate data in other forms. Complete all required fields in accordance with the pop-up instructions on the form. The list of certifications and assurances referenced in Field 21 can be found on the DOE Financial Assistance Forms Page at http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/financial-assistance/financial-assistance-forms under Certifications and Assurances.

Project/Performance Site Location(s)

Indicate the primary site where the work will be performed. If a portion of the project will be performed at any other site(s), identify the site location(s) in the blocks provided.

Note that the Project/Performance Site Congressional District is entered in the format of the 2-digit state code followed by a dash and a 3-digit Congressional district code, for example VA-001. Hover over this field for additional instructions.

Use the Next Site button to expand the form to add additional Project/Performance Site Locations.

Other Attachments Form

Submit the following files with your application and attach them to the Other Attachments Form. Click on "Add Mandatory Other Attachment" to attach the Project Narrative. Click on "Add Optional Other Attachment," to attach the other files.

a. Project Narrative File - Mandatory Other Attachment

The project narrative must not exceed 25 pages per Program Area, including cover page, table of contents, charts, graphs, maps, photographs, and other pictorial presentations, when printed using standard 8.5" by 11" paper with 1-inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right) single spaced. EVALUATORS WILL

REVIEW ONLY THE NUMBER OF PAGES SPECIFIED IN THE

PRECEDING SENTENCE. The font must not be smaller than 11-point. Do not include any Internet addresses (URLs) that provide information necessary to review the application. See Part VIII for instructions on how to mark proprietary application information. Save the information in a single file named "Project.pdf," and click on "Add Mandatory Other Attachment" to attach.

http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/financial-assistance/financial-assistance-forms http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/financial-assistance/financial-assistance-forms

The project narrative must include:

o Project Objectives. This section should provide a clear, concise statement of the specific objectives/aims of the proposed project.

o Merit Review Criterion Discussion. The section should be formatted to address each of the merit review criterion and sub-criterion listed in Section V. Provide sufficient information so that reviewers will be able to evaluate the application in accordance with these merit review criteria. DOE/NNSA

WILL EVALUATE AND CONSIDER ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS

THAT ADDRESS SEPARATELY EACH OF THE MERIT REVIEW

CRITERION AND SUB-CRITERION.

o Relevance and Outcomes/Impacts: This section should explain the relevance of the effort to the objectives in the program announcement and the expected outcomes and/or impacts. The justification for the proposed project should include a clear statement of the importance of the project in terms of the utility of the outcomes and the target community of beneficiaries.

o Roles of Participants: For multi-organizational or multi-investigator projects, describe the roles and the work to be performed by each participant/investigator, business agreements between the applicant and participants, and how the various efforts will be integrated and managed.

o Statement Of Project Objectives (SOPO): The project narrative must contain a single, detailed Statement of Project Objectives that addresses how the project objectives will be met.

The Statement of Project Objectives must contain a clear, concise description of all activities to be completed during project performance and follow the structure discussed below. It is therefore required that it shall not contain proprietary or confidential business information.

The Statement of Project Objectives is generally less than 10 pages in total for the proposed work. Applicants shall prepare the Statement of Project Objectives in the following format:

• TITLE OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED (Insert the title of work to be performed. Be concise and descriptive.)

A. OBJECTIVES

Include one paragraph on the overall objective(s) of the work.

Also, include objective(s) for each phase of the work.

B. SCOPE OF WORK

This section should not exceed one-half page and should summarize the effort and approach to achieve the objective(s) of the work for each Phase.

C. TASKS TO BE PERFORMED

Tasks, concisely written, should be provided in a logical sequence and should be divided into the phases of the project, as appropriate.

This section provides a brief summary of the planned approach to this project. An outline of the Project Management Plan (referenced in Task 1.0 below and required to be submitted with your application) is provided later in this Part.

o PHASE I

Task 1.0 - Project Management and Planning (Description includes work elements required to revise and maintain the Project Management Plan and to manage and report on activities in accordance with the plan)

Sub-task 1.1 (Description)

Task 2.0 - (Title) o PHASE II (Optional)

Task 3.0 - (Title)

D. DELIVERABLES

The periodic, topical, and final reports shall be submitted in accordance with the attached "Federal Assistance Reporting Checklist" and the instructions accompanying the checklist.

[Note: The Recipient shall provide a list of deliverables other than those identified on the "Federal Assistance Reporting Checklist" that will be delivered. These reports shall also be identified within the text of the Statement of Project Objectives. See the following examples:

1. Task 1.1 - (Report Description)

2. Task 2.2 - (Report Description)

b. Project Summary/Abstract File

The project summary/abstract must contain a summary of the proposed activity suitable for dissemination to the public. It should be a self-contained document that identifies the name of the applicant, the project director/principal investigator(s), the project title, the objectives of the project, a description of the project, including methods to be employed, the potential impact of the project (i.e., benefits, outcomes), and major participants (for collaborative projects). This document must not include any proprietary or sensitive business information as the Department may make it available to the public if an award is made. The project summary must not exceed one (1) page when printed using standard 8.5" by 11" paper with 1" margins (top, bottom, left and right) single space with font no smaller than 11-point. Save this information in a file named "Summary.pdf," and click on "Add Optional Other Attachment" to attach.

c. SF 424 A Excel, Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs File

You must provide a separate budget for each year of support requested and a cumulative budget for the total project period. Use the SF 424A Excel, "Budget Information - Non Construction Programs" form on the DOE Financial Assistance Forms Page at http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/financial-assistance/financial-assistance-forms under DOE budget forms.

You may request funds under any of the Object Class Categories as long as the item and amount are necessary to perform the proposed work, meet all the criteria for allowability under the applicable Federal cost principles, and are not prohibited by the funding restrictions in this announcement (See PART IV). Save the information in a single file named "SF424A.xls," and click on "Add Optional Other Attachment" to attach.

d. Budget Justification Workbook [Workbook located in FedConnect].

Applicants must complete the Budget Justification Workbook, which is available in the FedConnect Posting for this FOA. Applicants must complete each tab of the Budget Justification Workbook for the project, including all work to be performed by the prime recipient and its subrecipients and contractors. Applicants should include costs associated with required annual audits and incurred cost proposals in their proposed budget documents. The “Instructions and Summary” included with the Budget Justification Workbook will auto-populate as the applicant enters information into the Workbook. Applicants must carefully read the “Instructions and Summary” tab provided within the Budget Justification Workbook.

Save the Budget Justification Workbook in a single Microsoft Excel file using the following convention for the title “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Budget_Justification”.

e. Subaward Budget File(s)

You must provide a separate budget (i.e., budget for each budget year and a cumulative budget) for each sub awardee that is expected to perform work http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/financial-assistance/financial-assistance-forms http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/financial-assistance/financial-assistance-forms estimated to be more than $100,000 or 50 percent of the total work effort (whichever is less). Use the SF 424A Excel for Non Construction Programs.

These forms are found on the DOE Financial Assistance Forms Page at http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/financial-assistance/financial-assistance-forms under DOE budget forms. Save each Subaward budget in a separate file. Use up to 10 letters of the sub awardee’s name (plus .xls) as the file name (e.g., ucla.xls or energyres.xls), and click on "Add Optional Other Attachment" to attach.

f. Project Management Plan

This plan should be formatted to include the following sections with each section to Include the information as described below:

A. Executive Summary: Provide a description of the project that includes the objective, project goals, and expected results. For purposes of the application, this information is included in the Project Narrative and should be simply copied to this document for completeness, so that the Project Management Plan is a stand-alone document.

B. Risk Management: Provide a summary description of the proposed approach to identify, analyze, and respond to perceived risks associated with the proposed project. Project risk events are uncertain future events that, if realized, impact the success of the project. As a minimum, include the initial identification of significant technical, resource, and management issues that have the potential to impede project progress and strategies to minimize impacts from those issues.

C. Milestone Log: Provide milestones for each budget period (or phase) of the project. Each milestone should include a title and planned completion date. Milestones should be quantitative and show progress toward budget period and/or project goals.

[Note: During project performance, the Recipient will report the Milestone Status as part of the required quarterly Progress Report as prescribed under Attachment 4, Reporting Requirements Checklist. The Milestone Status will present actual performance in comparison with Milestone Log, and include:

(1) the actual status and progress of the project,

(2) specific progress made toward achieving the project's milestones, and,

(3) any proposed changes in the project's schedule required to complete milestones. ] http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/financial-assistance/financial-assistance-forms http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/financial-assistance/financial-assistance-forms

D. Funding and Costing Profile: Provide a table (the Project Funding Profile) that shows, by budget period, the amount of government funding going to each project team member. Also provide a table (the Project Costing Profile) that projects, by month, the expenditure of government funds for the first budget period, at a minimum.

E. Project Timeline: Provide a timeline of the project (similar to a Gantt chart) broken down by each task and subtask, as described in the Statement of Project Objectives. The timeline should include for each task, a start date, and end date. The timeline should show interdependencies between tasks and include the milestones that are identified in the Milestone Log (Section C).

F. Success Criteria at Decision Points: Provide success criteria for each decision point in the project, including go/no-go decision points and the conclusions of budget periods and the entire project. The success criteria should be objective and stated in terms of specific, measurable, and repeatable data. Usually, the success criteria pertain to desirable outcomes, results, and observations from the project.

[Note: As the first task in the Statement of Project Objectives, successful applicants will revise the version of the Project Management Plan that is submitted with their applications by including details from the negotiation process. This Project Management Plan will be updated by the Recipient as the project progresses, and the Recipient must use this plan to report schedule and budget variances.]

Save this plan in a single file named "pmp pdf," and click on "Add Optional Other Attachment" to attach.

g. SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Recipients and subrecipients may not use any federal funds to influence or attempt to influence, directly or indirectly, congressional action on any legislative or appropriation matters.

Prime recipients and subrecipients are required to complete and submit SF-LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” (https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-individual-family.html) to ensure that non-federal funds have not been paid and will not be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence any of the following in connection with the application:

• An officer or employee of any federal agency;

• A Member of Congress;

• An officer or employee of Congress; or https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-individual-family.html

• An employee of a Member of Congress.

Save the SF-LLL in a single PDF file using the following convention for the title “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_SF-LLL”.

h. Potentially Duplicative Funding Notice

If the applicant or project team member has other active awards of federal funds, the applicant must determine whether the activities of those awards potentially overlap with the activities set forth in its application to this FOA. If there is a potential overlap, the applicant must notify DOE in writing of the potential overlap and state how it will ensure any project funds (i.e., recipient cost share and federal funds) will not be used for identical cost items under multiple awards.

Likewise, for projects that receive funding under this FOA, if a recipient or project team member receives any other award of federal funds for activities that potentially overlap with the activities funded under the DOE award, the recipient must promptly notify DOE in writing of the potential overlap and state whether project funds from any of those other federal awards have been, are being, or are to be used (in whole or in part) for one or more of the identical cost items under the DOE award. If there are identical cost items, the recipient must promptly notify the Contracting Officer in writing of the potential duplication and eliminate any inappropriate duplication of funding.

Save the Potentially Duplicative Funding Notice in a single PDF file using the following convention for the title “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_PDFN.”

SUMMARY OF REQUIRED FORMS/FILES

YOUR APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:

1 SF 424 - Application for Federal Assistance 2 Project/Performance Site Location(S) 3 Project Narrative File 4 Project Summary/Abstract File 5 SF 424 A Excel, Budget Information - Non-Construction

Programs File 6 Budget Justification Workbook 7 Subaward Budget File(s) (as applicable) 8 Project Management Plan 9 SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 10 Potentially Duplicative Funding Notice

SUBMISSIONS FROM SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS

If selected for award, DOE reserves the right to request additional or clarifying information for any reason deemed necessary, including, but not limited to:

• Indirect cost information

• Other budget information

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

• Representation of Limited Rights Data and Restricted Software, if applicable

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) register in the SAM at https://www.sam.gov before submitting an application; (2) provide a valid UEI in the application; and (3) 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. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DOE is ready to make a federal award, 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.

NOTE: Due to the high demand of UEI requests and SAM registrations, entity legal business name and address validations are taking longer than expected to process. Entities should start the UEI and SAM registration process as soon as possible. If entities have technical difficulties with the UEI validation or SAM registration process they should use the HELP feature on SAM.gov. SAM.gov will work entity service tickets in the order in which they are received and asks that entities not create multiple service tickets for the same request or technical issue. Additional entity validation resources can be found here: GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base - Validating your Entity.

SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

Pre-applications are not required.

Application Due Date

Applications shall be submitted not later than 2:00 PM, Eastern Time, August 20, 2024. You are encouraged to transmit your application well before the deadline.

**APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE

REVIEWED OR CONSIDERED FOR AWARD.**

INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

Program Not Subject to Executive Order 12372 https://sam.gov/content/help https://sam.gov/content/home https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0058422&sys_kb_id=1b5f22581b2115102fe5ed7ae54bcb4e&spa=1

This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 - Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

Funding for all awards and future budget periods are contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated by Congress for the purpose of this program and the availability of future-year budget authority.

Allowable Costs. All expenditures must be allowable, allocable, and reasonable in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles. Pursuant to 2 CFR 910.352, the cost principles in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (48 CFR 31.2) apply to for-profit entities. The cost principles contained in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E apply to all entities other than for-profits.

Pre-award Costs. Applicants selected for award negotiations (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 Contracting Officer.

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. DOE 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.

FOREIGN TRAVEL

If international travel is proposed for your project, please note that your organization must comply with the International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act of 1974 (49 USC 40118), commonly referred to as the “Fly America Act,” and implementing regulations at 41 CFR 301-10.131 through 301-10.143. The law and regulations require air transport of people or property to, from, between, or within a country other than the United States, the cost of which is supported under this award, to be performed by or under a cost-sharing arrangement with a United States flag carrier, if service is available. Foreign travel costs are allowable only with the written prior approval of the Contracting Officer assigned to the award.

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

To the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased with funds made available under this FOA should be American-made. This requirement does not apply to used or leased equipment.

LOBBYING

Recipients and subrecipients may not use any federal funds to influence or attempt to influence, directly or indirectly, congressional action on any legislative or appropriation matters.

Recipients and subrecipients are required to complete and submit SF-LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” (https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-individual-family.html) to ensure that non-federal funds have not been paid and will not be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence any of the following in connection with the application:

• An officer or employee of any federal agency;

• A Member of Congress;

• An officer or employee of Congress; or

• An employee of a Member of Congress.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.206, DOE will conduct an additional review of the risk posed by applications submitted under this FOA. Such risk assessment will consider:

1. Financial stability;

2. Quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards prescribed in 2 CFR 200 as amended and adopted by 2 CFR 910;

3. History of performance;

4. Audit reports and findings; and

5. The applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on non-federal entities.

DOE may make use of other publicly available information and the history of an applicant’s performance under DOE or other federal agency awards.

Depending on the severity of the findings and whether the findings were resolved, DOE may elect not to fund the applicant.

In addition to this review, DOE must comply with the guidelines on government-wide suspension and debarment in 2 CFR 180 and must require non-federal entities to comply with these provisions. These provisions restrict federal awards, subawards and contracts with certain parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in federal programs or activities.

OTHER SUBMISSION AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Where to Submit

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH GRANTS.GOV TO

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-individual-family.html

BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARD.

Submit…