Questions and Answers for FOA # DE-NE0002967 (revised as of 27 January 2025).pdf

Questions and Answers for DE-FOA 0002967 Date

Question received

Date Answer Posted

Question Answer

11/25/2024 12/02/2024

Question #1

Are proposals limited to four under Topic 1 (up to one each for oxide, metal, UF6, and combination) and four under Topic 2 (up to one each for oxide, metal, UF6, and combination), for a total of up to eight proposals per organization

Applicants may submit up to one application for each topic area.

Applicants may submit one application for Topic Area 1 and one application in Topic Area 2 for a combined maximum of two applications. See NOFO Part 1 Section II.B. (Pages 10-11) for more information.

12/02/2024 12/11/2024 (Answer Revised)

Question #2

Are foreign companies eligible to apply as either prime applicants or sub-recipients?

With regards to foreign companies applying, Prime and Sub-Recipients refer to NOFO part 1 pages 9-10, and NOFO part 2 page 18 for instructions regarding foreign companies applying and how to request a waiver for a foreign company’s participation, if needed.

Applicants can submit to DOE waivers for foreign entity participation at any time before the application due date, or wait and submit the waiver with the application.

12/06/2024 12/11/2024

Question # 3

Under the special statutory authority can the “Protected Data” generated under this NOFO be protected for longer than five years, i.e. 50 years?

Under Topic Area 2, the Offeror is extending previously owned and licensed technical information for modification to meet the DOE requirements for HALEU transportation packages. However, the market for the final product is not expected to be realized for 10-15 years making the 5-year protection moot. Publication of the modifications to existing package technical data will provide access to protected data and

Selectees and recipients may request an extended period of protection (more than 5 years and not to exceed 30 years) if reasonably required for commercialization for specific categories of data first produced under the resulting awards. DOE does not have unlimited rights in data that is not generated under the award, such as data owned by the applicant or produced outside of the award.

The period of protection can be addressed during the negotiation process after award selections are made.

Intellectual Property while eliminating protections for years prior to market need for the product. This will violate IP protections inherent in privately funding research and development and for-profit investment.

12/06/2024 12/11/2024

Question # 4

Will the awardee retain all licenses and NRC certifications in perpetuity for all products resulting from the NOFO award or is the intent for DOE to be the NRC certificate license holder of the newly developed or modified packages?

Awardee will retain all NRC certifications and/or licenses as a result of this NOFO.

12/06/2024 12/11/2024

Question # 5

Many commercial organizations focused on serving the nuclear material transport market have invested time and funding to create special purpose packages that can be licensed to transport HALEU and other sensitive materials to meet the emerging market demand. Is the intent of the DOE NOFO to supersede those efforts through the development of competing technologies and compete with private industry?

No. DOE is working to support industry efforts to develop additional new or updated transportation packages to support the transportation of large quantities of HALEU. DOE seeks more efficient and cost-effective transportation packages for shipping large quantities of HALEU, while maintaining high safety standards.

12/06/2024 12/11/2024

Question # 6

Many Uranium forms and finished materials including uranium salts, TRISO fuels, U-AL, U-Si, U-Mo, are omitted from the NOFO. Are these forms to be included in the development of a new package for this grant opportunity or will this be a focus of a future funding opportunity?

Is there an isotopic characterization range that should be the basis for the design of new or modified packages?

Yes, the listed Uranium forms can be included as a new package for this NOFO as long the proposals meet the objectives and requirements set forth in the NOFO. Any isotope characterization range that can meet the objectives/requirements of the NOFO and pass the NRC criticality criteria will be considered.

12/06/2024 12/11/2024

Question # 7

For the oxide and metal packages, can additional information on material forms the transport package must support be provided, (i.e. powder, metal ingots, spherical TRISO pebbles, etc.) with dimensional data and how much in terms of overall uranium weight is needed to be shipped (either on a per transport or per campaign basis)? Should the design include accommodation of multiple configurations at fuel fabrication facilities?

DOE aims to provide flexibility rather than limitations. The proposal, depending on the type of fuel or combination being pursued, can support multiple configuration or size. The ultimate goal is to maximize large HALEU shipping quantities while maintaining high safety standards.

12/06/2024 12/11/2024

Question # 8

What operational criteria will be considered in the evaluation criteria?

Are transport viability and cost included in the evaluation criteria?

Applications will be evaluated against the technical review criteria included in the NOFO.

12/06/2024

12/11/2024

Question # 9

Can the NOFO application due date be extended to 31 January 2025

Yes, the NOFO application due date has been extended to 31 January 2025. The revised NOFO document reflects this new date.

12/18/2024

12/19/2024

Question #10

Will a foreign entity waiver be required for a subrecipient if the prime grant holder is a FOCI mitigated entity?

Yes, a Foreign Entity Waiver is still required for each proposed foreign subrecipient if the prime grant holder is a FOCI mitigated entity.

Also, ensure that the document Transparency of Foreign Connections is also included in the application.

12/18/2024

Question #11

Please confirm that the R&D Community Benefits template is the proper template to use for this grant

Yes, the R&D Community Benefits Plan template is the template to use for the HALEU Transportation

NOFO.

Question #12

NOFO Part 1 Section 3. In the Required Application Documents list, The Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424 is listed as required. This document appears to be the same document as the Research and Related Budget – Section A-B Form, also listed as required. Can you please clarify?

The Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) is not the same document as the Research and Related Budget – Section A-B Form.

The SF-424 is the application cover sheet and only the prime applicant is responsible for the SF-424. The Research and Related Budget – Section A-B Form is the budget sheet for the length of the project.

The prime applicant and all subrecipients must submit the budget form.

Both forms are required with your application.

12/26/2024

12/30/2024

Question #13

In NOFO Part 1, Section IV.4, Page 23, WBS and Task Description Summary, should the reference in the NOFO Workplan instructions be to the Project Management Plan (PMP) instead of the SOPO? The PMP template specifically includes requirements for a WBS and Task Descriptions and has a larger 20-page limit.

Use the Project Management Plan (PMP) as the reference for providing a response to In NOFO Part 1, Section IV.4, Page 23 under WBS and Task Description Summary.

Question #14

In NOFO Part 1, Section IV.4, Page 23, for the required Workplan under Milestone Summary, should the reference in the NOFO Workplan instructions be to the Project Management Plan (PMP) instead of the SOPO? The PMP template specifically includes requirements for a response to In NOFO Part 1, Section IV.4, Page 23 for the required Workplan under Milestone Summary.

a WBS and Task Descriptions and has a larger 20-page limit.

Question #15

In NOFO Part 1, Section IV.4, Pages 23-24 the instructions for the required Workplan under "Go/No-Go Decision Points" and "End of Project Goal", Should the reference in the NOFO Workplan for these items be to the Project Management Plan (PMP) instead of the SOPO?

a response to In NOFO Part 1, Section IV.4, Pages 23-24 with the instructions for the required Workplan under Go/No-Go Decision Points and End of Project Goal.

Question #16

In NOFO Part 1, Section IV.4, Page 25, instructions under the Technical Qualifications and Resources, What definition should be used for "multi-organizational"?

In this NOFO, Multi-organizational means Recipient and Sub-recipients.

Question #17

In NOFO Part 1, Section IV.4, Page 25, the 8th bullet under "Technical Qualifications and Resources" reads " Strategy to address known resource, constraints or challenges, including those involving intellectual property and real property." Should the first comma be removed?

The first comma can be removed so that the 8th bullet under “Technical Qualifications and Resources” so that it reads:

Strategy to address known resource constraints or challenges, including those involving intellectual property and real property

Question #18

In NOFO Part 2, Section IV.D Funding Restrictions, Page 35, can prototyping include initial batch production

Yes, Initial batch production can be included within prototyping. If Initial batch production is included with prototyping, ensure that the application clearly states how initial batch production is going to be included within prototyping.

01/14/2025

01/14/2025

Question #19

Where do applicants submit their applications?

Submit applications via email to:

1. Primary Application Submission: Jeff Rigby-Email:

rigbyja@id.doe.gov

01/15/2025

Question #20

With the requirement to submit applications by email, is there a maximum file size for email submission

The maximum email size for individual email submission is 22MB. If needed, Applications can be submitted using multiple emails.

Question #21

Has there been discussion within the technical team of co-locating deconversion at the fuel fabrication facilities to minimize transportation packages and logistics?

There has been some discussion with the technical team of co-locating deconversion and fuel fabrication facilities. At this point, DOE does not foresee any issue with co-locating deconversion at the fuel fabrication facility. However, this is a question or challenge applicants should address within the application. It is important to consider any safety or health concerns, potential exposure risk, and any unforeseen impact (e.g. a radiation event at the deconversion facility). Additionally, the application should demonstrate efficiency such as by minimizing transportation packaging and overall logistics.

mailto:rigbyja@id.doe.gov

01/20/2025

01/21/2025

Question #22

Can DOE provide an update on the impact that these Executive Orders will have on the NOFO? Is DOE considering pausing or extending the due date until this information is developed and any modifications to the NOFO are made?

As of today, the NOFO has not been affected by recent Presidential Executive Orders. Also, the application due date remains the same - January 31, 2025. Updates will be posted on Grants.gov should DOE receive any required changes for the NOFO.

01/17/2025

Question #23

Will DOE consider extending the due for applications?

DOE is still evaluating if the application due date extension will be needed. If DOE decides to grant the application due date extension, a NOFO amendment will be posted ASAP after the decision is made.

Question #24

Per the Part 1 requirements is the ARPA-E Attachment intended as guidance for the applicant or are we required to complete and submit the ARPA-E Budget Justification Form Workbook? If the latter, how does that applicant assign each phase of the project, annually, quarterly?

A completed budget justification workbook is required to be completed and submitted as part of the application package. The budget justification workbook is provided with the NOFO announcement on grants.gov. In the budget workbook budgets should be filled out on an annual basis.

Question #25

Will recipients be required to follow the ARPA-E requirements for submitting invoicing packages?

Yes

Question #26

Will subcontractors and subrecipients be required to follow the ARPA-E requirements for invoicing backup data?

Yes

Question #27

Will recipients be allowed the option to invoice quarterly?

Prime awardees normally submit invoices to DOE monthly. If the prime applicant wishes to invoice with a longer period than monthly, then after the award starts, the awardee will need to work with the contracting officer concerning invoice submittal details.

Question #28

With the change to email submittal, are applicants required to submit individual files for all items listed as Required Application Documents in NOFO Part 1?

All documents required for application submission must be emailed to the email address listed on NOFO part 1, page 6, no later than January 31, 2025. The application documents may be emailed individually, or as a group of documents attached in a PDF package. Please note the DOE email server can only process emails with a total of 23 MBs or less per email.

More than one email submittal may be required to submit your entire application package. Please document your email subject lines accordingly.

Question #29

Are all items listed in the Summary for Public Release document required for the email submittal? If some of those documents do not apply, how do we handle those submittals?

All documents required for application submittal must be emailed to the email point of contact listed on NOFO part 1, page 6. If there are documents not applicable to a specific application, the applicant must submit a note stating that a specific document is not applicable with a brief statement saying why the specific document is not applicable with the application package

01/23/2025

01/27/2025

Question #30

Given the recent Executive Orders, our INL collaborator is currently unable to complete the FFRDC Form. Would it be possible to delay the deadline for this NOFO until signature authority is restored by the new administration?

Because of new Administration Executive Orders, applicants may experience delays in getting an FFRDC Field Work Proposal and/or the FFRDC Contracting Officer Authorization letter from the FFRDC. If the applicant is not able to submit the above documents with their application package the applicant may submit the two above documents to the DOE after the application due date. In the application package submit a note stating you are waiting for the FFRDC to submit the above documents to you, and then you will forward the two documents to DOE soon after receiving the documents.

Ensure your application package accounts for the the anticipated FFRDC costs if an FFRDC will be supporting your project.

01/24/2025

Question # 31

What are the effects of the executive order that impact DEI initiatives, community benefits plans and Justice40 environmental initiatives?

Will community benefits plans, that include DEI and Justice40 initiatives, be removed from the Transportation

NOFO?

Yes, in the next NOFO amendment the community benefits plan, DEI initiatives, Justice40, and environmental initiatives are being removed from the NOFO. This NOFO amendment will also revise the scoring criteria of the applications with the above items removed from the NOFO.

01/24/2025

Question #32

Can the application due date for the Transportation NOFO be extended

Yes, the application due date has been changed from Friday, January 31, 2025, to Friday February 14, 2025 at 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST).

01/25/2025

Question #33

The Transportation NOFO requires a 50% cost share and submittal of the SF-424 budget excel file. Are applicants to assume that the total budget submitted in the SF-424 file is divided exactly in half for the federal and cost share applications?

Submit your application documents, which include the SF424A, with all costs for the project listed on this document. If you have an FFRDC support cost, it doesn’t need to be listed on the SF424A document but must be included as part of the total project cost. The cost share requirement is based on 50% of the total project cost, which includes FFRDC cost if applicable. The funds for the FFRDC will not be obligated on the award but will be shown on the DOE budget document as part of the total project cost and as part of the DOE cost share amount.

Question #34

What is the status of the BIL/IRA funding that the Transportation NOFO is based on?

Executive Order entitled, “Unleashing American Energy”, was signed on January 20, 2025. Section 7(a) of this order directed a pause for the disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). DOE has not received specific directions related to this NOFO. Until such direction is provided, DOE will continue through the NOFO process. No awards will be made until DOE has been given approval to disperse funds. If anything should change in the future regarding BIL/IRA funding, DOE will provide an update to this answer.

Submit applications via email to: