DOE-EM MSIPP NOFO.pdf

Department of Energy (DOE)

Office of Environmental Management (EM)

Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number: DE-FOA-0003422 NOFO Type: Initial

Assistance Listing Number: 81.137

NOFO Issue Date: September 12, 2024 Informational Webinar: September 19, 2024 11:00 AM ET Submission Deadline for Expression of Interest E-Mail: October 4, 2024 5:00 PM ET Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: October 15, 2024 5:00 PM ET Submission Deadline for Full Applications: January 15, 2024* 5:00 PM ET

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

MSIPP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov. In order to be eligible to submit a Full Application, a Concept Paper must be submitted by 5:00 pm ET on the due date listed above.

*The due date listed for Full Application submission is tentative and may be revised.

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW

Informational Webinar

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

Attendance is not mandatory and will not positively or negatively impact the overall review of any applicant submissions. As the webinar will be open to all applicants who wish to participate, applicants should refrain from asking questions or communicating information that would reveal confidential and/or proprietary information specific to their project. An informational webinar will be held September 19, 2024 at 11:00 AM ET.

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device Click here: Join the meeting now (or use below link) https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_N2RiZDZmZDYtZTdjNi00YjNkLTgzMjQtMjMzZTc4MGJkMjJk%40thre ad.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2242610bbc-5b07-459c-9fe7-b40cbaa91cf4%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%225d03b8bc-a18d-447a-b814-6b85bc306f59%22%7d

Meeting ID: 271 367 777 272 mailto:MSIPP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_N2RiZDZmZDYtZTdjNi00YjNkLTgzMjQtMjMzZTc4MGJkMjJk%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2242610bbc-5b07-459c-9fe7-b40cbaa91cf4%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%225d03b8bc-a18d-447a-b814-6b85bc306f59%22%7d https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_N2RiZDZmZDYtZTdjNi00YjNkLTgzMjQtMjMzZTc4MGJkMjJk%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2242610bbc-5b07-459c-9fe7-b40cbaa91cf4%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%225d03b8bc-a18d-447a-b814-6b85bc306f59%22%7d https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_N2RiZDZmZDYtZTdjNi00YjNkLTgzMjQtMjMzZTc4MGJkMjJk%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2242610bbc-5b07-459c-9fe7-b40cbaa91cf4%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%225d03b8bc-a18d-447a-b814-6b85bc306f59%22%7d https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_N2RiZDZmZDYtZTdjNi00YjNkLTgzMjQtMjMzZTc4MGJkMjJk%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2242610bbc-5b07-459c-9fe7-b40cbaa91cf4%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%225d03b8bc-a18d-447a-b814-6b85bc306f59%22%7d https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_N2RiZDZmZDYtZTdjNi00YjNkLTgzMjQtMjMzZTc4MGJkMjJk%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2242610bbc-5b07-459c-9fe7-b40cbaa91cf4%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%225d03b8bc-a18d-447a-b814-6b85bc306f59%22%7d

Passcode: SvXX7N

Or call in (audio only) +1 323-433-2200,,189957276# United States, Los Angeles Find a local number Phone conference ID: 189 957 276#

Questions

Questions regarding the content of the notice of funding opportunity 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 September 10, 2024, may not be answered before the submission deadline for Concept Papers.

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

Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

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

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

2. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

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

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

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

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

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html tel:+13234332200,,189957276 https://dialin.teams.microsoft.com/1214847b-bdff-4c2d-85e3-9cceced84e12?id=189957276 mailto:MSIPP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov https://grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov 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.

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 B. Topic Areas

i. Deactivation & Decommissioning

ii. Digital Technologies

iii. Robotics

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 NOFO 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 Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) is enhancing and fostering a sustainable and diverse DOE-EM workforce STEM pipeline. Through technology curriculum and professional development and shared interest research, 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 technology curriculum and professional development objectives are focused on strengthening and promoting theoretical and experimental knowledge, skills, and dispositions Minority Serving Institution (MSI) collegiate students need to acquire to prepare and retain them as leading scientific and technical innovators in the Department of Energy complex. Curriculum and professional development will provide the MSI research community with support for resources, including purchases of specialized equipment and instrumentation for field and laboratory-based studies.

It will also support MSI academic teams that cultivate and integrate 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 shared interest research, research collaborations between EM, DOE National Laboratories and MSI institutions will be established to enhance relationships, promote EM mission areas, and expand educational and research capacity. Shared interest research supports collaborative projects addressing the research needs of DOE-EM’s cleanup mission. Areas of research may include science and health, engineering, environmental science, and technology development. Applications are specifically sought to leverage the research capabilities of one collaborating organization to build capabilities at one or more MSIs. Faculty and student participation at the collaborating National Laboratory will be strongly encouraged.

B. Topic Areas The Areas of Interest of this Announcement are offered to provide more in‐depth information on STEM areas of interest to the Office of Environmental Management.

Specific areas of interest are identified in each Sub‐Program Priority Areas (PA), Research Needs (RN), and Conditions (C). Research and technology development (R&TD) activities must complement and enhance classroom and laboratory learning as well as off-campus experiential learning.

i. Deactivation & Decommissioning

Deactivation and Decommissioning (D&D) is the process of taking an active/excess/abandoned facility to a final disposition end state. Because of residual radioactivity, other hazardous constituents, and the physical condition of EM’s facilities, D&D presents unique hazards that must be addressed from a safety, programmatic, environmental, and technological standpoint. The general D&D process applies to all facilities across the EM complex. The D&D function within the Office of Infrastructure and D&D focuses on innovative applications and timely insertion of existing commercially available technologies, to address D&D risks and challenges. In cases where appropriate technologies do not exist or are not at the required level of maturity, the Office supports R&D to increase technology maturation. The program supports the development of an informed facility D&D strategy such as In‐Situ Decommissioning (entombment), enhanced verifiability of the efficacy of D&D operations, increased productivity, personnel safety of D&D operation, facilitation of acceptable facility end‐states, and independent verification.

Sub-Program Priority Areas (PA):

PA1: Unique sensor (i.e. physical (temperature, pressure, volume density), chemical, radiological, etc.) networks for remote monitoring of entombed facilities and tanks.

RN1: R&TD activities leading to a better understanding of the application and utility of these networks and potentially contributing to the advancement of the state-of-the-art of technical needs and applications.

C1: Related R&TD should extend techniques already developed at DOE laboratories.

PA2: Interactions between radiological and chemical contaminants of concern to DOE (e.g., plutonium, cesium, mercury, beryllium, etc.) and facility materials (e.g., concrete, steel, nickel, etc.).

RN2: R&TD activities leading to a better scientific understanding of these interactions and their ability to reduce the concentration or eliminate the presence of contaminants (i.e., decontamination).

C2: Scientific understanding should support the development of cost-effective methods to decontaminate materials of construction.

PA3: Incombustible fixatives and decontamination agents.

RN3: R&TD activities that potentially contribute to advancement of the state-of-the-art of these fixatives and agents for a nuclear facility. Also, the development of testing and evaluation protocols to demonstrate their acceptance. Additional RN would be the re-assessment of relevant handbooks/directives/regulations to consider the application of new technologies and the strategic integration of consensus-based standards to facilitate complex-wide technologies.

C3: Meets ASTM standard from E10.03. Protocols should be applicable to various DOE facilities.

PA4: Enhanced Characterization and Real-Time Monitoring Technologies RN4: R&TD activities that potentially contribute to advancement of the state-of-the-art of field deployable instrumentation such as, but not limited to, improved detection limits as well as enhanced precision and accuracy for both radiological and chemical contaminants (i.e. asbestos, etc.).

C4: Research could include development of a real-time field-deployable characterization/quantification instrument and fixed radiation monitors with automatic shift in the direction of prevailing and changing winds.

PA5: Models for facility decommissioning.

RN5: R&TD activities that potentially contribute to advancement of the state-of-the-art of in computer modeling and simulation for facility integrity, decommissioning strategy, and environmental impact of nuclear decommissioning and demolition.

C5: R&TD activities could include modeling of degradation and its effects on decommissioning scope and costs.

ii. Digital Technologies

The sub‐program priority area is focused on anticipating and leveraging the opportunities offered by the emergence of leading-edge and future-of-the-art technologies including, but not limited to, rapidly advancing artificial intelligence along with its subset of machine learning; specialized sensor technologies; alternative realities; and wearable technologies and smart devices.

Sub‐Program Priority Areas (PA):

PA1: Alternative Reality and Digital Twinning.

RN1: The research and technology area covers the use of alternative reality technologies, including non-immersive, fully immersive, semi-immersive, and collaborative virtual realities; augmented reality; mixed reality; extended reality; and hybrid reality. Developers and researchers should consider use applications such as engineering design; work quality improvements; work process simulations;

troubleshooting, post-event, and forensic simulations; investigation worker efficiency and productivity; and worker training and proficiency.

PA2: Connected Worker - Integrating Workers and Technology in the Workspace RN2: This research and technology area covers connective technologies and smart technologies that are used to “connect” the worker with assistive data-exchange devices in the workspace to enhance real-time situational awareness; enable continual real-time self-awareness; provide immediate and on-demand access to real-time information; enhance collaboration among workers who are not co-located; enable more informed decision-making when responding to off-normal events; and other use scenarios that allow workers to perform tasks safer, more efficiently and produce quality results by becoming integrated with technology in the immediate work space and work environment.

PA3: Advanced and Alternative Sensor Technology.

RN3: Radioactive Materials, Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (Terrestrial and Cosmogenic), Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials.

PA4: Cutting-Edge Airborne Methane Detection Technology.

RN4: The objective is to explore the concept for development of an airborne, autonomous (but human pilot monitored), real-time leak detection technology that applies machine learning to passive optical sensor data to mitigate methane leak emissions through early detection.

C4: Smart Methane Emission Detection System Development (SLED/M): Consider the development of technologies which allow SLED/M to operate from an aerial platform or drone. Such technologies should allow for testing performance, data collection, and development of machine-learning-based detection algorithms that may detect leaks from a drone using the existing SLED/M components.

PA5: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applied to Environmental Contexts RN5: Artificial Intelligence. This research and technology area covers the use of artificial intelligence to support structured decision making, perform sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, support the analysis of big data, and perform high-computing modeling and simulations.

C5: Researchers and developers should consider AI applications that could be applied to optimizing remediation strategies, reducing long-term monitoring costs, optimizing sensor networks, integrating data from multiple sources (e.g., in situ sensors, drone/satellite-based remote sensing, reactive transport modeling, etc.), scaling data/models for different purposes, and providing actionable information from vast datasets to support decision making.

iii. Robotics

Many of the risks and challenges faced by the EM cleanup mission can be mitigated using advanced technology. Providing better tools to the workforce can allow work to be completed in a safer and more efficient manner. Robotics and remote systems are particularly compelling tools because they can provide advanced capabilities while removing workforce personnel from direct proximity of hazards.

Sub‐Program Priority Areas (PA):

PA1: Robotics and Remote Systems.

RN1: This research and technology area covers use of robotics, remote systems, and related technologies to support EM’s broad mission areas of: (1) nuclear and industrial facility operations, including surveillance, monitoring, and inspection; (2) environmental (soil and water) cleanup and post-closure stewardship; (3) radioactive solid waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities; (4) radioactive waste liquid treatment and stabilization, including the maintenance, operation, and final closure of critical infrastructure and tanks/vessels; (5) nuclear materials and spent nuclear fuel stewardship and disposition; and (6) emergency preparedness and response.

• Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV): Solutions in tracked, wheeled, legged, and marsupial UGVs.

• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS): Solutions in fixed wing, rotary wing, and counter-/anti-UAS.

• Wearable Systems: Solutions in exoskeletons, exosuits and other wearable robotic devices designed to: (1) enhance worker safety and health by preventing bodily injuries; (2) enhance worker safety and health by reducing or mitigating occupational exposure to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive, or otherwise hazardous materials; and (3) improve worker performance and efficiency by augmenting human capabilities and abilities.

• Industrial and Specialty Robot: Solutions in industrial robots, including articulated robots, Cartesian robots, delta robots, polar robots, collaborative robots, and selective compliance assembly robot arm (SCARA) robots;

aquatic and submersible robots; marsupial and hybrid robots; and other specialty robotic devices, remote systems, and stand-off systems used for accomplishing tasks.

C1: Research should support component concepts development with potential application to DOE nuclear and radiological facilities and high-hazard industrial facilities. Concepts developed for DOE nuclear facilities should be rugged and possess the ability to operate in radioactive environments ranging from low to high radioactivity. Developers and researchers should consider the facilities to be an industrial setting with the objective to execute tasks that are dirty (contaminated), dull (routine, repetitive), dangerous (occupational hazards), and difficult (requires engineered measures).

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 NOFO.

II. Award Information

Award Overview

i. Estimated Funding

EM expects to make a total of approximately $15,500,000 of federal funding available for new awards under this NOFO, 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 5-10 awards under this NOFO. EM may issue one, multiple, or no awards. Individual awards may vary between $1,000,000 and $3,000,000.

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 NOFO. EM will not consider applications for renewals of existing EM-funded awards through this NOFO.

iv. EM Funding Agreements

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

III. Eligibility Information

To be considered for an award under this NOFO, 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)

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 restricts this funding to 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. In order to enhance opportunities for underrepresented MSIs, this NOFO further restricts eligibility to MSIs with a student population less than or equal to 5,000. For implementation of this limitation, an MSI whose student population numbers are less than or equal to 5,000 in the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) College Navigator https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ shall be determined eligible to apply under this NOFO.

**Please note that only accredited MSIs may submit concept papers and applications under this NOFO. Also, non-MSI subawards are unallowable and subawards to MSI’s with more than a 5,000 student population 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 NOFO.

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 https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html 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 NOFO; and

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

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 NOFO; and

• The applicant successfully uploaded all required documents and submitted through the Grants.gov, by the deadline stated in the NOFO.

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 NOFO; and

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

v. Responsiveness Criteria

All “Applications Specifically Not of Interest,” as described in Section I.C. of the NOFO, 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 NOFO. 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 mailto:MSIPP-FOA@emcbc.doe.gov 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 NOFO.

vii. Questions Regarding Eligibility

EM will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which applications to this NOFO must be submitted. The decision whether to submit an application in response to this NOFO 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 NOFO. 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.

EM will not review or consider submissions submitted through means other than the e-mail address (Concept Paper) and Grants.gov (Full Application), submissions submitted after the applicable deadline, or incomplete submissions.

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

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

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

• Each must be written in English;

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

• Each submission must not exceed the specified maximum page limit, including cover page, charts, graphs, maps, and photographs when printed using the formatting requirements set forth above and single spaced. If applicants exceed the maximum page length 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 NOFO.

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@emcbc.doe.gov. Expression of Interest E-mails will be used by EM to plan for the merit review process. The e-mails should not contain any proprietary or sensitive business information. The e-mails will not be used for down-selection purposes, and 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

NOFO).

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.

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

Section Page Limit Description

Addendum 1 page maximum

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

• Whether the Principal Investigator (PI) and Project

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

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

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

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

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

If applicants exceed the maximum page lengths as indicated above, EM will review only the authorized number of pages and disregard any additional pages. EM makes an independent assessment of each Concept Paper based on the criteria in Section V.

of the NOFO. 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 NOFO. 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

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 NOFO cover page.

i. Full Application Content Requirements

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

NOFO).

Full Applications must conform to the following requirements:

Component File Format

Page Limit

File Name

Technical Volume and Statement of Project Objectives

PDF 30 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

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 NOFO. 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 NOFO) 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 NOFO 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-EM 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 NOFO, 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.

Section/ Page Limit Description

• 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 program in the applicable field, the specific innovation of the proposed program, and the overall impact on advancing the program if the project is successful.

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 NOFO.

• 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 NOFO, 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 and mitigation of challenges.

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…