Q&A 2.pdf

DE-FOA-0003105

Questions and Answers

Amendment 00002 [Note some questions have pending responses that will be provided in an upcoming amendment]

Number Question Answer 1 Since FFRDCs cannot lobby are they required to submit an SF-LLL?

No, it is not required for FFRDCs.

2 Since FFRDCs will be funded through a field work proposal process is a budget justification required?

Yes, in addition to DOE Work Proposal for FFRDCs, if applicable (see DOE O 412.1A, FOA Attachment 2) for DOE and NNSA FFRDCs.

3 Are letters of commitment required for FFRDCs?

For DOE or NNSA FFRDCs - A letter from the cognizant DOE/NNSA Contracting Officer shall provide a written authorization and this authorization shall be submitted with the application:

The following wording is acceptable for the authorization:

Authorization is granted for the Laboratory to participate in the proposed project. The work proposed for the Laboratory is consistent with or complementary to the missions of the Laboratory and will not adversely impact execution of the DOE assigned programs at the Laboratory.

Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs- The federal agency sponsoring the FFRDC must authorize in writing the use of the FFRDC on the proposed project and this authorization must be submitted with the application.

The use of a FFRDC must be consistent with its authority under its award.

4 Under AOI 1 (CMM Supply Chain) can a responder apply to AOI 1B Phase II only thereby skipping Phase I as long as the technology has been demonstrated on a continuous bench scale basis?

Yes, an application can submit to AOI1B if they can demonstrate that they have successfully accomplished the bench scale and are ready to move forward to the pilot scale.

5 I am interested in developing technology specifically for better separation and processing. This is only one step of a complete process from feedstock to CMMs. It seems as if proposals to AOI 1A are expected to be for a complete process? Is this correct?

In most of the AOI’s we’re looking for more than a single step development. The one exception to this is AOI 3 but it comes with a caveat. Under this AOI, we’re not looking for marginal improvements to existing technologies. There have been in the past and may be future funding opportunities within DOE that focus on single step developments and/or marginal improvements to existing technologies.

6 Are rare earth element-free cathode materials for solid oxide electrolysis cells within the acceptable alternatives or substitutes within Area of Interest 4A?

Yes, if eliminating heavy REEs would be the focus of the effort. If only the more abundant La or Ce REEs are being eliminated, then a sound justification would have to be made in the application.

7 Can there be co-PIs? Yes, but each PI will have to meet the expectations and requirements for PIs in the FOA.

8 What are the requirements for a PI as far as how they are employed by the company applying for the project?

Is there a minimum number of hours they need to work for the company?

Are there other requirements?

Pt. 1-There are no requirements but their status or role within the company shall not interfere or subjugated the PI’s responsibilities as outlined in the FOA.

Pt. 2-No, but see answer to pt. 1.

Pt. 3-The FOA has several expectations and requirements of the PI, please review carefully.

9 Is there a minimum required percentage of work that the prime recipient must perform vs subrecipients?

There is no minimum requirement.

END OF AMENDMENT 00001 Q&A

10 Is there a minimum required percentage of work that the prime recipient must perform vs subrecipients?

There is no minimum requirement.

11 As our team is working on preparing a submission, we There are two tracking numbers for each submission. A have noted that the FOA has discrepancies between the required document table, the technical volume detail sections, and the templates provided on the grants.gov workspace. The FOA instructions are similar to many elements typically required in EERE FOAs while the attachments in the grants.gov workspace are more like those typically required of FOAs from FECM. Some of the specific discrepancies and questions include 1) the FOA states that a control number will be assigned in the workspace, but was not.

Grants.gov number, which is automatically assigned to every application submission.

And…

A control number. For the control number please use the prime recipient’s UEI. If the prime recipient is submitting multiple applications, use the prime recipients UEI with the suffix .2, .3 .4 ect. For example:

Application 1: ABC123DEF456 Application 2: ABC123DEF456.2 Application 3: ABC123DEF456.3

12 No SOPO template is provided to indicate the preferred format

A sample format will be provided in the FedConnect Announcement and Grants.gov.

13 Does the summary slide have a template? There is no template.

14 A location of work template has not been provided There is no template.

15 The SF424 is listed as a pdf file in the FOA table but is a webform on the grants.gov workspace;

Please see fillable forms here : SF-424 Family |

GRANTS.GOV

16 Technology Maturation Plan is required in the FOA table but no details are provided in the text

RESPONSE PENDING

17 Project Management Plan is listed as separate required document in the table but details are provided as part of the workplan section of the technical volume document

Please provide the Project Management Plan as a separate document.

18 Clarification on Cost-Share Exemption for Institutions of Higher Education: we are at an R1 university and if we request funding from 09/01/2024 to 08/31/2026, do we qualify for the cost sharing exemption available for the two-year period beginning on August 9, 2022? I am confused about the rules here.

Awards made to IHEs or Nonprofits during the 2-year extension are exempt from the cost share requirement in 2 CFR 910.130 for the period of performance of the award (base + any continuations included at time of award).

19 If a waste product generating less than 10 metric tons of RESPONSE PENDING https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html

CM’s per year would be considered under the FOA?

20 Will the cost share waiver go through the entire project or will it end in July of 2024?

See answer 18

21 Are supercapacitors in scope for this FOA? RESPONSE PENDING 22 Can magnets can be proposed as part of AOI:5 for wind turbines (if we see this as one of the energy technologies) or are they completely excluded?

RESPONSE PENDING

23 Concerning the required control number referenced under IV. Application and Submission Information, A.

Application Process, please note that Grants.gov Workspace generates a Workspace ID number, however, it does not appear that a control number is generated within the submission portal. Will a control number be determined by the agency independently and sent out via email to the point of contact for the application?

See answer 11

24 Please clarify the TRL requirements for AOI 4A and 4B.

It is unclear the TRL range expectations for AOI 4A and 4B.

RESPONSE PENDING

25 Please clarify if the TRL requirement is for the technolog pre-grant, or the TRL anticipated after grant performance.

RESPONSE PENDING

26 With respect to assessing the TRL, should the focus be on the TRL of the alternative material itself, or a specific application of that material, or the proposed substitution pathway(s).

RESPONSE PENDING

27 Finally, there is a dangling clause at the end of the section AOI 4: Alternative Materials, simply reading "TRL 6". Please clarify.

RESPONSE PENDING

END OF AMENDMENT 00002 Q&A