DOE-EM MSIPP FOA Amendment 000001.pdf

Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM)

Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE-FOA-0002820

FOA Type: Initial Assistance Listing Number: 81.137

FOA Issue Date: April 27, 2023 Informational Webinar: May 10, 2023 12:00 pm ET Submission Deadline for Expression of Interest E-Mail: May 12, 2023 5:00 pm ET Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: May 30, 2023 5:00 pm ET Submission Deadline for Full Applications: September 19, 2023 5:00 pm ET

**Applicants must submit the Full Application to www.Grants.gov by the date and time listed above.**

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT OVERVIEW

Questions

Questions regarding the content of the funding opportunity announcement must be submitted to the following e-mail address: MSIPP-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. All questions submitted after May 22, 2023 for the Concept Paper step and after September 15 for the Full Application step, may not be answered before the submission deadlines.

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.

http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:MSIPP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov https://grants.gov/ mailto:support@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 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. 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.

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

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. Goals and Objectives

B. Topic Areas

i. Soil and Groundwater Remediation

ii. Radioactive Tank Waste Stabilization, Treatment, and Disposal

iii. Cybersecurity

C. Applications Specifically Not of Interest

II. Award Information

Award Overview

i. Estimated Funding

ii. Project Period

iii. New Applications Only

iv. EM Funding Agreements

v. Grants & Cooperative Agreements

III. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

i. Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)

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

Application Process Content and Form of the Expression of Interest E-mail Content and Form of the Concept Paper

i. Concept Paper Content Requirements Content and Form of the Full Application

i. Full Application Content Requirements

ii. Technical Volume and Statement of Project Objectives

iii. Resumes

iv. SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance

v. SF-424A: Budget Information -Non-Construction Programs

vi. Budget Narrative/ Justification

vii. Budget Justification Workbook

viii. Additional Requirements

Funding Restrictions

i. Allowable Costs

ii. Pre-Award Costs

iii. Performance of Work in the United States

iv. Construction

v. Foreign Travel

vi. Equipment and Supplies

vii. Davis-Bacon Requirements

viii. Domestic Preference

ix. Buy American Requirements

x. Lobbying

xi. 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

xi. Reporting

xii. Conference Spending

xiii. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Financing Statements

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

xv. Participants and Collaborating Organizations

xvi. Current and Pending Support

VII. Questions/Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information

FOA Amendments Government Right to Reject or Negotiate Commitment of Public Funds

Treatment of Application Information Evaluation and Administration by Non-Federal Personnel Notice Regarding Eligible/Ineligible Activities Notice of Right to Conduct a Review of Financial Capability Requirement for Full and Complete Disclosure Retention of Submissions Title to Subject Inventions Government Rights in Subject Inventions

Government Use License March-In Rights Rights in Technical Data Copyright Export Control Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Annual Independent Audits Informational Webinar

Appendix A – Glossary

Appendix B – List of Acronyms

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Background and Context

i. Background and Purpose

The mission of the DOE-EM is to complete the safe cleanup of the environmental legacy brought about from decades of nuclear weapons development and government-sponsored nuclear energy research. 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

The DOE-EM is focused on enhancing and fostering a sustainable and diverse DOE- EM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce pipeline. Through the technology Curriculum and Professional Development Program (CPDP) and the EM Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Shared Interest Research Program (SIRP), DOE-EM will promote the development of a nationally engaged scientific and engineering workforce to conduct basic research that will lead to future career pathways in the DOE-EM complex for underrepresented groups.

The CPDP objectives are focused on strengthening and promoting theoretical and experimental knowledge, skills, and dispositions MSI collegiate students need to acquire to prepare and retain them as leading scientific and technical innovators in the (DOE) complex. The CPDP will provide the MSI research community with support for resources, including purchases of specialized equipment and instrumentation for field and laboratory-based studies. The CPDP will fund MSI academic teams that cultivate and integrate Research and Development (R&D) learning activities that incorporate the use of state-of-the-art capabilities that align and support current and future missions of DOE-EM.

The newly designed practicums will supplement college and university theoretical programs by exposing collegiate students to cutting edge research capabilities and development activities at the early onset of their career, maximizing the growth of students in applied STEM fields.

Through the SIRP, collaborations between EM, DOE National Laboratories and MSIs will be established to enhance relationships, promote EM mission areas, and expand educational and research capacity. The program will fund collaborative projects addressing the needs of DOE-EM’s cleanup mission. Areas of focus may include science and health, engineering, environmental science, technology development, manufacturing, and/or cybersecurity. Concept papers and Applications are specifically sought to leverage the research capabilities of two or more universities collaborating to build capabilities at their respective MSI. Thus, partnering with other institutions to help build capabilities for all institutions involved is highly recommended. Additionally, faculty and student participation at the collaborating National Laboratory will be strongly encouraged.

ii. Goals and Objectives

Specifically, CPDP and SIRP will create and foster a sustainable and diverse DOE- EM workforce STEM pipeline by accepting Concept Papers and Applications for grants addressing the following areas:

• Curriculum enhancement through instrumentation/computing assistance o Cost, installation, and maintenance of specialized equipment and instrumentation.

o Curriculum exploration, development, and improvement leading to substantive and purposeful integration of theoretical and experimental learning activities of collegiate students.

• Development of high-quality courses embedded in majors and minors aligned with the DOE-EM missions and/or the development of majors and minors aligned with the DOE-EM missions that are sustainable beyond the period of the funding.

• Modification of existing courses and curricula to deepen and/or better integrate learning and teaching activities in STEM-related fields as related to the DOE mission through the engagement of the national laboratory’s community by:

o Embedding facilities and personnel in their courses and curricula.

o Use of state-of-the-art instrumentation available within the DOE-EM complex (national labs and user facilities) to further drive critical scientific and technological advances.

• University Faculty Professional Development Training.

• Travel to DOE Field Sites and National Laboratories o DOE Field Sites and National laboratory visits and tours will offer unprecedented training and educational opportunities to collegiate students and faculty members. National laboratory experts will provide onsite presentations and professional development training to MSI collegiate students. Throughout the project’s lifetime MSI collegiate students may present research findings at national, regional, and local symposiums/conferences, MSI Monthly Seminars, and national laboratories’ events that focus on the DOE-EM technology needs.

These initiatives will:

• Develop creativity and skills needed in their future careers: being able to collaborate, write well-organized information, find solutions to problems, and research effectively.

• Assist and teach students on how to present a successful project in a formal technical symposium from conception, experimental design, data collection and analysis, reporting and writing, and developing conclusions, etc.

• Provide unique educational opportunities to the students to learn about the broad research areas conducted by other students and researchers in the DOE-EM complex.

• Students will interact with national laboratory researchers by conducting laboratory and site visits.

• Research studies completed by students at their universities and within the DOE complex through internships and fellowships will be disseminated within DOE- EM’s symposiums, conferences, poster sessions and meetings which will provide unique educational opportunities to the students to learn about the broad research areas conducted by other MSIPP students. National laboratory scientists will also serve as ambassadors/mentors and/or advisers on student’s thesis dissertations to create a pathway to enhancing student’s professional development while advocating and promoting DOE-EM missions.

• Serve as a continued effort toward community engagement, minority student recruitment and research involvement.

Selected applications must address the following components:

• Business Case for DOE-EM related project

• Approach Details o What in-demand position and/or skill does your proposal address?

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

o What are the relevant resources your academic institution currently provides?

(e.g., lab space, relevant equipment and software, faculty expertise, etc.)

o What new specific resources will this funding opportunity provide your institution?

o How will this investment be sustained at your academic institution?

o What is the number of current students and anticipated annual year (2022-25) graduates in identified academic program(s)?

B. Topic Areas The following program descriptions are offered to provide more in‐depth information on STEM areas of interest that will aid in a future, sustainable and diverse DOE-EM workforce. Specific areas of interest are identified in each of the Sub‐Program Priority Areas.

i. Soil and Groundwater Remediation

Basic scientific research through experiential learning can include characterization and monitoring; stabilization, remediation and processing; and modeling, visualization, and analysis. The goal of the research and technology development activities is to deliver approaches and technologies from highly leveraged and strategic investments that maximize the reduction of risk and life‐cycle cleanup costs.

Sub-Program Priority Areas (PA):

PA1: Attenuation-Based Remedies for the Subsurface

PA2: Deep Vadose Zone PA3: Remediation of Mercury and Industrial Contaminants

PA4: Monitoring at Environmental Remediation Sites PA5: Across the DOE Complex, long-term monitoring of residual subsurface contamination that is undergoing attenuation and/or bioremediation naturally requires new approaches, sensors, and data analysis to ensure the safety and health of the environment. For additional information, please visit https://www.pnnl.gov/main/publications /external/technical reports/PNNL21379.pdf

ii. Radioactive Tank Waste Stabilization, Treatment, and Disposal

The Department has approximately 88 million gallons of liquid waste stored in underground tanks and approximately 4,000 cubic meters of solid waste derived from the liquids stored in bins. Efforts currently focus on improving pre‐treatment to reduce the amount of waste that must be disposed, retrieval technologies, vitrification performance, and breakthrough immobilization technologies.

Sub‐Program Priority Areas (PA):

PA1: Current DOE tank waste and waste processing approaches PA2: Alternative DOE tank waste processing options

PA3: Tank Management and Closure https://www.pnnl.gov/main/publications%20/external/technical%20reports/PNNL21379.pdf

iii. Cybersecurity, Robotics, and Computer Science

Across all DOE EM sites, EM would like to enhance operations such as cybersecurity, robotics, and computer science as applicable. Because of this, DOE is advancing mitigation and resilience measures to protect infrastructure, looking towards remote operation for safety and efficiency, and the digital supply chain to optimize performance. EM is supporting these efforts by working closely with MSIs to develop and enhance robotics, computer science, and cybersecurity programs including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Sub‐Program Priority Areas (PA):

PA1: Increase support for critical systems

PA2: Strengthen the current and future workforce PA3: Establish policies, procedures, and capabilities to enable preparedness and effective operation

C. Applications Specifically Not of Interest

The following types of applications will be deemed nonresponsive and will not be reviewed or considered:

Applications that fall outside the goals, objectives and parameters specified in Sections I.A. and I.B. of the FOA.

II. Award Information

Award Overview

i. Estimated Funding

EM expects to make a total of approximately $24,500,000 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. EM anticipates making approximately 12-15 awards under this FOA. EM may issue one, multiple, or no awards. Individual awards may vary between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000.

EM may issue awards in one, multiple, or none of the topic areas listed in Section B.

above. 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.

iii. 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.

iv. 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.

v. Grants & Cooperative Agreements

EM generally uses grants and cooperative agreements to provide financial and other support to prime recipients. Through these grants and cooperative agreement, 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. Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)

MSIs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions (HBCUs/OMIs) as educational entities recognized by the Office of Civil

Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education, and identified on the OCR's Department of Education U.S. accredited postsecondary minorities’ institution list.

See https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html.

**Please note that only accredited MSIs may submit concept papers and applications under this FOA.** If non-MSI subawards are proposed, the total value of the subaward cannot exceed 20% of the total grant or cooperative agreement award value.

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 MSIPP-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, 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 https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html

• The applicant successfully uploaded all required documents and submitted to MSIPP-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 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 the date on which applications to this FOA must be submitted. The decision whether to submit an application in response to this FOA lies solely with the applicant.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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 MSIPP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov (concept paper) and via Grants.gov (full application), unless specifically stated otherwise.

mailto:MSIPP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov

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

• 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.

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: MSIPP-FOA@doe.emcbc.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 do 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 and students enrolled);

• 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

• Technical Topic or Area

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.

i. 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 shall include the project title, lead organization/entity, organization type and size (i.e., number of employees and students enrolled), the specific announcement Topic Area(s) being addressed, both the technical and business points of contact, names of all collaborating institutions, and any statements regarding confidentiality.

mailto:MSIPP-FOA@doe.emcbc.gov

Section Page Limit Description

Project Description

4 pages maximum

Applicants are required to describe succinctly:

• The proposed program, including its basic operating principles and how it is unique and innovative;

• 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 in the relevant field and application; and the potential impact that the proposed program would have on the relevant field and application;

• 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

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 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.

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

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.

https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/CERTSASSURANCESSF424.pdf

i. 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 50 RecipientNameTechnicalVolume

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

ii. 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 50 pages, including the cover page, table of contents, and all citations, charts, graphs, maps, photos, or other graphics, and must include all of 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 should include the project title, the specific FOA and both the technical and business points of contact, names of all team member organizations, names of the senior/key personnel and their organizations, and any statements regarding confidentiality.

Program Overview (Approximately 10% 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 current status of STEM programs relevant to the topic being addressed in the Full Application.

• Major Goal: The applicant should explicitly identify the targeted improvements to the baseline STEM programs and the critical success factors in achieving that goal.

• DOE 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 Outcomes: The applicant should provide a detailed description of the STEM programs that will be implemented or enhanced during the course of the project.

This section should describe the relevance of the proposed programs to the goals and objectives of the FOA, including the potential to meet specific DOE workforce development goals or other relevant performance targets. The applicant should clearly specify the expected outcomes of the project.

• 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.

• Metrics and Performance: The applicant should describe the current state-of-the-art in the applicable field, the specific innovation of the proposed program, and the overall impact on advancing the program if the project is successful.

Section/ Page Limit Description

Statement of Project Objectives (Approximately 30% 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.

• 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. A milestone may be either a progress measure (which can be activity based) or a SMART technical milestone. SMART milestones should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely, and must demonstrate a technical achievement rather than simply completing a task. 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 with at least one SMART technical milestone per year (depending on the project, more milestones may be necessary to comprehensively demonstrate progress). The applicant should also provide the means by which the milestone will be verified.

• End of Project Goal: The applicant should provide a summary of the end of project goal(s). At a minimum, each project must have one SMART end of project goal.

• 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 20% 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, demonstrated innovations, and how these enable the applicant to achieve the project objectives.

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

• For teaming or subawards to other MSI’s describe succinctly:

o The roles and the work to be performed by each PI and senior/key personnel;

o Business agreements between the applicant and each PI and senior/key personnel;

o How the various efforts will be integrated and managed;

o Process for making decisions on scientific/technical direction;

o Publication arrangements;

o Intellectual Property issues; and o Communication plans

iii. Resumes

A resume provides information that can be used by reviewers to evaluate the individual’s skills, experience, and potential for leadership within the scientific community. Applicants are required to submit two-page resumes for the Principal Investigator and all Senior/Key Personnel that include the following:

1. Contact Information;

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

3. Research and Professional Experience: Beginning with the current position, list professional/academic positions in chronological order with a brief description. List all current academic, professional, or institutional appointments, foreign or domestic, at the applicant institution or elsewhere, whether or not remuneration is received, and, whether full-time, part-time, or voluntary;

4. Awards and honors;

5. A list of up to 10 publications most closely related to the proposed project.

For each publication, identify the names of all authors (in the same sequence in which they appear in the publication), the article title, book or journal title, volume number, page numbers, year of publication, and website address if available electronically. Patents, copyrights, and software systems developed may be provided in addition to or substituted for publications. An abbreviated style such as the Physical Review Letters (PRL) convention for citations (list only the first author) may be used for publications with more than 10 authors;

and

6. Synergistic Activities: List up to five professional and scholarly activities related to the proposed effort.

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

iv. 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.

v. SF-424A: Budget Information -Non-Construction Programs

Applicants are required to complete the appropriate SF-424A Budget Information Form. These forms are available on Grants.gov.

vi. 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.

vii. 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 project as a whole, 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.

viii. Additional Requirements

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;

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

• Environmental Questionnaire.

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 https://www.sam.gov/ 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.

Submission Dates and Times

All required submissions must be submitted via e-mail to MSIPP- 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.

Funding Restrictions

i. 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.

ii. 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.

iii. Performance of Work in the United States

1. 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 mailto:MSIPP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov the United States. The prime recipient must flow down this requirement to its subrecipients.

2. 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.

The prime recipient is responsible should any work under this award be performed outside the United States, absent a waiver, regardless of whether the work is performed by the prime recipient, subrecipients, contractors or other project…