1-BAA_Solicitation_PHMSA-26HM-BAA_AMD_0004.docx

AMENDMENT 0004 - Summary of Changes The following changes are incorporated into solicitation PHMSA-26HM-BAA via Amendment 0004:

1. PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT

The purpose of this Amendment 0004 is to incorporate additional responses to inquiries concerning the solicitation as a continuation of questions 14 through 18 under Amendment 0003.

2. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q&A)

Question 19: Indirect Rates

· Inquiry: The cost table in the white-paper template lists fringe benefits (36.06%), labor overhead (50.62%) and general and administrative expense (35.80%). May I enter one fully burdened hourly rate for a single labor category, leave those three lines at zero, and state the rate basis in the narrative?

· PHMSA Response: Yes.

Question 20: Estimated Cost

· Inquiry: The cover page asks for Estimated Cost. In the cost table, line 13 is "Total Estimated Cost (Line 8 + Lines 9 to 11)" and line 16 is "Total Technical Effort". Which line should the cover page carry, and is a fee or profit line permitted?

· PHMSA Response: Provide the largest total amount on the cover page. You are welcome to add lines to the cost.

Question 21: Representations and Certifications

· Inquiry: The attachment "Clauses and Contractual Requirements" opens its Section II ("Regulatory Provisions and Contract Clauses") with "Prior to the submission of a proposal, the Offeror must thoroughly review and complete the provisions detailed below." One of those provisions, FAR 52.240-90, has a representation that the offeror completes by marking WILL or WILL NOT, and a certification that begins "By signing this proposal." Does Section II apply to a Phase I white paper, or only to a Phase II proposal?

· PHMSA Response: This applies to a Phase II proposal.

Question 22: Which BAA File Governs

· Inquiry: Amendment 0002, Question 3 says the November 18, 2026 (11:59 AM Eastern Time) deadline applies to Phase I white papers, and Amendment 0001 changed the submission address to tremayne.terry@dot.gov. SAM.gov also lists a file named "1- BAA Solicitation_PHMSA-26HM-BAA.docx", posted October 15 after Amendments 0002 and 0003, whose submission window and submission address still read December 22, 2026 and "PHMSA submission inbox". Please confirm that the amendments govern, so that a white paper is due November 18, 2026 and goes to tremayne.terry@dot.gov.

· PHMSA Response: The white papers are still due on November 18, 2026 and due to tremayne.terry@dot.gov.

Question 23: Points of Contact

· Inquiry: The BAA asks for at least two points of contact. May one person serve as both the technical and the business point of contact?

· PHMSA Response: Yes.

Question 24: Cover Page Additions

· Inquiry: The BAA lists a principal investigator and an institution address among the cover page contents, and the template cover page has no lines for them. Should I add them to the template's cover page?

· PHMSA Response: Please add them to the cover page.

Question 25: Expected Project Outcomes

· Inquiry: Section IV.D lists research reports as deliverables with prototypes and demonstrations designated as “if applicable.” Is the ultimate goal of the program to culminate in a hardware and prototype, or is the target just general research to the interested questions?

· PHMSA Response: We welcome white papers along the spectrum of basic to applied research and beyond. Final deliverables therefore will vary depending on the proposed research. Basic research may result in reports, while other projects may result in prototypes that address a specific issue.

Question 26: Starting Maturity

· Inquiry: Are there preferred or minimum starting TRL maturity state for the proposed ideas? Does PHMSA look for early-stage ideas or a more matured and prototype-ready one?

· PHMSA Response: There is no minimum or preferred starting TRL for proposed ideas.

Question 27: Mineral-Recovery Scope

· Inquiry: The solicitation asks how emerging critical-mineral recovery techniques affect energy storage classification. Is PHMSA primarily seeking an assessment of existing and emerging recovery technologies, or would the development and experimental validation of a novel critical-mineral recovery process also be within scope?

· PHMSA Response: Development and experimental validation of novel critical-mineral recovery processes may be in scope, as long as it addresses safety for energy storage.

Question 28: Submission Inbox Confirmation

· Inquiry: Could you confirm the email address to which Phase I white papers should be sent?

· PHMSA Response: PHMSA recently published Amendment 0001 to the solicitation, which designates tremayne.terry@dot.gov as the official submission address for all white papers and proposals. The amendment also updated the submission deadline to November 18, 2026, at 11:59 AM Eastern Time.

3. CONTINUATION OF SOLICITATION TERMS

Except as provided herein, all other terms, conditions, specifications, and submission instructions of Solicitation PHMSA-26HM-BAA (including all Amendments) remain unchanged and in full force and effect.