EERE eXCHANGE: FAQs

Question 1: Does this FOA cover locomotives?
Answer 1: No, this FOA does not cover locomotives.

Question 2: Will you be publishing the link and log in information for the webinar.
Answer 2:

Yes, please use this link to access the webinar information:

https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId3c3ef476-ab3f-499e-ab13-d218b9c0043f

Question 3: Since the costs of vehicle purchases or the incremental cost to convert the vehicles to dual fuel operation are not allowed as a project cost or cost share, what type of costs are allowable under AOI 2? Would fuel costs during the demonstration be eligible? Would truck maintenance be eligible?
Answer 3:

Consistent with the FOA, AOI 2 Special Requirements:

Vehicle depreciation or lease values are allowable in accordance with 2 CFR §200.436 and 2 CFR §200.465 respectively. The DOE has determined that forty percent of the vehicle depreciation, use allowance, or lease value may be recognized as an allocable project cost.

Question 4: For the purpose of this solicitation, does “Medium-Duty” range of interest start at 8,501 lbs GVWR (Class 2B) or 10,001 lbs GVWR (Class 3) or something else?
Answer 4: Medium and Heavy Duty vehicles, as defined by the Department of Transportation, are classified as Class 3 through Class 8.

Question 5: Would a technology and engine that has completed all EPA and CARB testing requirements, including in-use altitude testing, and is simply held up pending EPA approval be eligible for Area of Interest 2?
Answer 5:

Consistent with the FOA, Section I.B. AOI 2, “The vehicles and dual fuel technologies shall be compliant with New or Inside Useful Life Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification requirements.” Please note that an amendment further clarify this requirement is forthcoming.

Question 6: I would like to attend tomorrow's webinar, but I will not be available. Will a recording of the webinar be available?
Answer 6: No, the webinar will not be repeated. Please note: the information that will be discussed in tomorrow's webinar is information that is already available in the FOA. Additionally, all the questions and answers from tomorrow's webinar will be posted in Exchange.

Question 7: Do the vehicles have to EPA compliant at the time of application submission?
Answer 7: No, the proposed demonstration vehicles do not have to be EPA compliant at the time of application submission. An amendment to further clarify this requirement will be forthcoming.

Question 8: I was wondering if you could clarify whether the electrification of a medium or heavy duty vehicle in relation to the grant opportunity must be a “new” technology?
Answer 8: Per Section I.B of the FOA, Area of interest 1 includes research, development, and demonstration. The technology readiness level for the powertrain components is not defined in the FOA.

Question 9: Is there a benefit or an expectation for including a well-to-wheels energy and emissions analysis (inclusion of “grid energy cycle”) in the proposal or is it acceptable to simply exclude energy and emissions from the production of grid electricity?
Answer 9: A grid energy and emissions analysis is not requested in the FOA.

Question 10: Can this grant be applied to the development of safety standards for allt-e vehicles such as propane, natural gas and EV?
Answer 10: No, this FOA is not for the development of safety standards.

Question 11: Will data generated from AOI 1 be required to be sent to a national laboratory (as in AOI 2)?
Answer 11: The FOA does not require the data generated from AOI 1 be provided to a DOE national laboratory.

Question 12: Could you please explain the intent of the below paragraph quoted from the FOA? Is this criteria for the demonstration vehicle? Does this mean that no new dual fuel technology can be worked on as part of the project? "The vehicles and dual fuel technologies shall be compliant with New or Inside Useful Life Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification requirements (or California Air Resources Board equivalent – CARB), Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), be commercially available, and not experimental, pre-production, or planned for further development under the project."
Answer 12: Area of Interest 2 does not include development of dual fuel technology.

Question 13: Must conversion kits used in AOI-2 be listed as approved by the EPA?
Answer 13: Yes, the EPA certification must be met as defined in Section I.B of the FOA.

Question 14: Are fuel cell vehicles eligible for Area of Interest 1?
Answer 14: Fuel cell vehicles are eligible for Area of Interest 1; however, development of the fuel cell is not within the scope of the FOA.

Question 15: For Area of Interest 1, how do you define powertrain?
Answer 15: The powertrain includes the system providing motive power for the vehicle. In a conventional vehicle this would include the engine, transmission, driveline, and axles.

Question 16: Can the cost of new aftertreatment systems be included in the project cost or cost share?
Answer 16: No, this would not be an allowable cost. Per the Section I.B of the FOA, "The costs of vehicle purchases or the incremental cost to convert the vehicles to dual fuel operation are not allowed as a project cost or cost share."

Question 17: Will an engine which can run on either 100% natural gas or 100% diesel, but not a mixture of the two, meet the technical requirements in the FOA?
Answer 17: The engine must operate with a mixture of fuels. Per Section I.B of the FOA "The objective of this AOI is to demonstrate and evaluate the performance and emissions systems of dual fuel heavy-duty vehicles equipped with engines capable of operation using a mixture of diesel fuel and gaseous fuels (natural gas, propane or natural gas derived fuels such as DME)."

Question 18: Since Ethane liquefies under compression (like propane and unlike methane) the range of an ethane fueled vehicle is far greater than CNG.
Answer 18: Per Section I.B of the FOA "The objective of this AOI is to demonstrate and evaluate the performance and emissions systems of dual fuel heavy-duty vehicles equipped with engines capable of operation using a mixture of diesel fuel and gaseous fuels (natural gas, propane or natural gas derived fuels such as DME)."

Question 19: The data collected from the demonstration will be provided to a DOE national laboratory for data analysis.” 2. Has a specific DOE national laboratory been selected for this data analysis? 3. If a proposal includes a DOE national laboratory as a partner to perform additional work, can that DOE national laboratory also propose to analyze the data? 4. Should funding for the data analysis be included in the FOA proposal budget, or will this work be negotiated outside separately from the FOA proposal?
Answer 19: Data collection would not preclude the national lab from analyzing the data generated during the project. The selection of a DOE national laboratory for analysis will be a separate programmatic determination after the selection of projects.

Question 20: Is there a data collection protocol and/or minimum data requirement with regard to data analysis requirement in FOA AOI 1 and 2?
Answer 20: The data to be collected for Area of Interest 2 is outlined in Section I.B of the FOA.

Question 21: Does this funding opportunity include the researches about the thermal management technologies for the waste heat recovery technology to improve the electric generation in vehicles? Is this research area in the current funding research scope?
Answer 21: No, Waste heat recovery is not within the scope of the FOA.

Question 22: How many applications you expect at the concept stage?
Answer 22: The number of applications and papers received is not disclosed.

Question 23: Would reducing the weight for a class 3 vehicle, yet maintaint structural intergrity, wheel base, and towing and hauling power will this disqualify us from funding?
Answer 23: Area of interest 1 is for medium and heavy duty vehicle powertrain development. Chassis weight reduction is not within the scope.

Question 24: Can custom designed chassis that offer a weight reduction for class 3 - 5 vehicles as an efficiency gain and still qualify for funding?
Answer 24: Area of interest 1 is for medium and heavy duty vehicle powertrain development. Chassis weight reduction is not within the scope.

Question 25: Can a combination of technologies receive multiple fundings on the same subject vehicle?
Answer 25: The technology areas are identifed within each area of interest contained within the FOA.

Question 26: Are the SAM, DUNS etc. numbers needed before concept paper submittal?
Answer 26: No. However these items are required for submission of the full application.

Question 27: Who will give us the control number?
Answer 27: The control number is generated in Exchange when you begin the submission process.

Question 28: Who should be the program manager in charge?
Answer 28: The determination of personnel roles is up to the applicant.

Question 29: Is there a format for the Concept Paper?
Answer 29: The format for the concept paper is defined in section IV.C of the FOA.

Question 30: Does the president of the company have to be the main investigator?
Answer 30: No, the principal investigator does not have to be the president of the company.

Question 31: If some of the work is done outside the US, can this portion be used as cost share?
Answer 31: No, the FOA requires that 100% of the direct labor cost be performed in the United States.

Question 32: Can material cost from outside the US be included as cost share for instance cost of inverter/converter, etc from EU subsidiary?
Answer 32: See Section IV.I.3 of the FOA regarding purchase of supplies and equipment outside the United States.

Question 33: Are battery packs include in "powertrain"?
Answer 33: No, Battery pack development is not included in the powertrain.

Question 34: Does integration of electric auxilliaries (AC/steering/etc.) and battery pack (controls/thermal/etc.) to power electronics count?
Answer 34: No, electrification of auxiliaries is not included in the scope of Area of Interest 1.

Question 35: Is there a minimum font size requirement for the concept paper, or a margin requirement?
Answer 35: Per Section IV.A, "All pages must be formatted to fit on 8.5x11 inch paper with margins not less than on einch on every side. Uste Times New Roman typeface, a black font color, and a font size of 12 point or larger…."

Question 36: So the larger the demonstration fleet, the higher the weighting of the impact in the evaluation criteria?
Answer 36: The evaluation criteria for Technical Merit for Area of Interest 2 includes the "number of vehicles to be included in the demonstration" among other sub-criteria and is not the sole determination for the Technical Merit and Impact.

Question 37: Is the number of demonstration vehicles a weighting factor for the selection criteria?
Answer 37: The evaluation criteria for Technical Merit for Area of Interest 2 includes the "number of vehicles to be included in the demonstration" among other sub-criteria and is not the sole determination for the Technical Merit and Impact.

Question 38: Can this grant be applied to offroad vehicles?
Answer 38: Area of interest 1 for this funding opportunity announcement covers Class 3 through Class 8 on-road vehicles. An amendment is forthcoming to clarify the vehicle classes.

Question 39: What are the budgetary requirements for concept paper?
Answer 39: See Section III.C of the FOA. "The content and form of the Concept Paper does not require proposing a cost share amount during this concept paper submission phase, the Exchange system will require entering a proposed cost share as a step in the submission process."

Question 40: Are there requirements for partner identification and intent in the concept paper?
Answer 40: See Section III.C.1 of the FOA. "Applicants are required to describe succintly the qualifications, experience, and capabilities of the proposed Project Team…."

Question 41: Will project require all FAR accounting processes?
Answer 41: See Section VIII (P) of the FOA entitled "Annual Compliance Audits"

Question 42: Can the funds be used to purchas and install propane or natural gas equipment on busses for fleet feasability study?
Answer 42:

No, the funds cannot be used to convert vehicles. See Section III.B of the FOA.

Question 43: Are fuel costs eligilble in AOI 2 or not?
Answer 43: No, fuel costs are not eligible for Area of Interest 2.

Question 44: Can this funding for AOI 2 be combined with State incentives?
Answer 44: If the state incentives funds would be allowable if they are not from federal funds.

Question 45: Is it recommended that partners be identified in Concept Paper for AOI 2?
Answer 45: See Section III.C.1 of the FOA. "Applicants are required to describe succintly the qualifications, experience, and capabilities of the proposed Project Team…."

Question 46: Is this FOA vehicles only, or will fueling technologies be considered?
Answer 46: The fueling infrastructure costs are not allowable costs under this FOA.

Question 47: Are vehicle base costs eligible as matching funds under area of interest 1?
Answer 47: Yes.

Question 48: Is there a minimum required period of time for the demonstration period under either AOI 1 or 2?
Answer 48: For Area of Interest 1, "Vehicle demonstration periof is at least one year but may not exceed two years" and for Area of Interest 2, a minimum demonstration period is not defined.

Question 49: We are an electric motor supplier only. Can you connect us with a vehicle partner to respond to this?
Answer 49: No, it is up to the applicants to determine teaming arrangements.

Question 50: Does the allowable depreciation for AOI2 also apply to Phase 3 of AOI1?
Answer 50: Area of interest 1 does not limit the project costs to the allowable depreciation amount defined in Section III.B for Area of Interest 2. The allowable cost is defined according to 2 CFR200.

Question 51: The number of demo vehicles for AOI 1 does not appear to be a merit criteria. Are more or fewer vehicles preferred? More vehicles allows more drive cycles and vehicles variations to be demonstrated.
Answer 51:

The number of vehicles for Area of Interest 1 is to be determined by the applicant.

Question 52: Can non-USA sub-contractors receive project funding through a USA primary applicant?
Answer 52: The FOA requires that 100% of the direct labor cost be performed in the United States. See Section III of the FOA.

Question 53: For AOI 1 for phase 1 or 2, could it be an improvement on the technology or new powertrain technology?
Answer 53: The technology readiness level for the powertrain is not defined in the FOA.

Question 54: For AOI 2, is a DME Only engine disqualified because it is not Dual Fuel?
Answer 54: A DME-only engine is not a dual-fuel engine and would not meet the requirements for Area of Interest 2.

Question 55: Is there a target geographic area?
Answer 55: No, a target geographic area is not requested in the FOA.

Question 56: Is there a cap for administrative costs?
Answer 56:

The rules associated with what is allowable as cost share are specific to the type of organization that is receiving funds under the grant or cooperative agreement, though are generally the same for all types of entities. The specific rules are contained in the following:

• FAR Part 31 for For-Profit entities, (48 CFR Part 31); and
• 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles for all other non-federal entities.

Question 57: Would charging or fueling infrastructure be considered as cost share?
Answer 57: The infrastructure costs cannot be counted as a project cost or cost share.

Question 58: What is the demo scale in terms of vehicles?
Answer 58: The demo scale refers to the number of vehicles.

Question 59: For the demonstration in AO1, does DOE prefer a side-by side comparison or is before and after comparison acceptable?
Answer 59: Section I.B of the FOA states "...reduce fuel consumption by at least 50% when compared to an equivalent vehicle with a conventional internal combustion engine powertrain driven on a comparable duty cycle." and does not require a side by side comparison.

Question 60: Does the application process include an interview with the applicant in person or by phone?
Answer 60: No. Phone interviews will not be conducted.

Question 61: Are health impacts considered in the evaluation criteria?
Answer 61: No. Please see Section V.A of the FOA.

Question 62: If a state government agency has conducted an RFP and selected projects for similar objectives as the FOA 1349, can these projects be eligible for USDOE co-funding if the projects begin development and demonstration in 2016?
Answer 62: All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the FOA. State funds from non-federal sources can be used in the projects.

Question 63: Can the application include a combination of a state government agency and an OEM/development team?
Answer 63: Yes

Question 64: How do you define power train? What types of equipment and elements are included?
Answer 64: The powertrain includes the system providing motive power for the vehicle. In a conventional vehicle this would include the engine, transmission, driveline, and axles.

Question 65: Are there go/no go at end of each phases?
Answer 65: For Area of Interest 1 the projects will include decision points at the end of each phase.

Question 66: Are the evaluators from outside of US?
Answer 66: In accordance with the DOE Merit Review Guide, reviewers must be well qualified, by training, experience or both, in the particular scientific or technical fields that are the subjects of the FOA and applications being reviewed.

Question 67: Can the data generated by the study be used by the retrofit manufacturer for marketing purposes?
Answer 67: Yes, data generated during the project can be made public by the applicant.

Question 68: Does the emissions performance evaluation pertain only to regulated emissions or does it extend to some unregulated pollutants as well?
Answer 68: The demonstration vehicles must meet EPA certification as outlined in the FOA. There are no requirements regarding collection of exhaust emissions.

Question 69: For area of interest one: For phase one, what will be the interaction between the grantee and grantor whereas oversight is concerned?
Answer 69: The cooperative agreement substantial invovlement language is outlined in Section VI.C of the FOA.

Question 70: Have the concept papers been shared with other parties, or have they remained internal to DOE?
Answer 70: The due date for the concept papers is on page 1 of the FOA. The submitted concept papers will be procurement sensistive information.

Question 71: For AOI do you need to do all three phases?
Answer 71: Yes.

Question 72: For AOI 2, what is the payback/benefit to a potential fleet partner that purchases a truck?
Answer 72: The applicant should make that determination.

Question 73: I submitted a concept paper; when will I receive notification that I am being encouraged or discouraged to submit a full application?
Answer 73: Concept papers were due on October 8. You should receive feedback within 1-2 weeks of the submission due date.

Question 74: There are several DOE FOA's past and present for component technologies (batteries, traction motors, power electronics). Is this FOA specifically more interested in the integration of such technologies into a complete powertrain that can be demonstrated? Meaning if the battery, motor, and power electronics proposed are commercially available today but the powertrain integration and control and vehicle deployment to achieve 50% savings is new is the proposal not of interest.
Answer 74: The technology readiness level for the powertrain components is not defined in the FOA. There is not a restriction on using commercially available components.

Question 75: Is R&D that includes the power electronics for the electric motor, powertrain controller, and thermal management system for the electrified powertrain within the scope of AOI 1?
Answer 75: The area of interest does not restrict technologies or distinguish between technology maturity levels.

Question 76: Can you please define OEM more specifically? Does it only include only vehicle manufacturers or are Tier 1 and 2 Suppliers also included in this category? The FOA states “Extent of involvement of an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or technology developer in the project” and “Examples include participant support letters from OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.” For this FOA, the OEM would be a vehicle manufacturer and the technology developer would be a supplier or development partner. The FOA states “Extent of involvement of an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or technology developer in the project” and “Examples include participant support letters from OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.” For this FOA, the OEM would be a vehicle manufacturer and the technology developer would be a supplier or development partner.
Answer 76:

The FOA states “Extent of involvement of an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or technology developer in the project” and “Examples include participant support letters from OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.” For this FOA, the OEM would be a vehicle manufacturer and the technology developer would be a supplier or development partner.

Question 77: What is the demonstration period for the FOA?
Answer 77: The demonstration period for Phase 3 of Area of Interest 1 is “for at least one year but may not exceed two years.” The demonstration period for Area of Interest 2 is a “period not to exceed one year.”

Question 78: Can you provide more information on what is considered to be part of the AOI 1, phase 3 demonstration phase. For example, would calibration and testing of vehicles and their parts in the lab be considered part of phase 3 or does it only include real world testing scenarios?
Answer 78:

Please see Amendment 000002 to the FOA, which was posted today 10/21/2015.

Question 79: 1. Amendment 2 made a change on page 8 to say "Phase 3: Vehicle build, test, and deployment for a demonstration period of at least one year but may not exceed two years." Does this mean that a vehicle can't be built in phase 2? Can you clarify what the limit of work in Phase 2 is?
Answer 79: Here is clarification for what can be included for Phase 1 and Phase 2:

Phase 2: Integration into a vehicle for development and test.
Phase 3: Demonstration vehicle build, test, and deployment for a demonstration period of at least one year but may not exceed two years. Phase 2 development vehicle(s) may also participate in the demonstration.

So the answer to your question is yes, Phase 2 development vehicles may also participate in demonstration.

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