Question 12:
Regarding DE-FOA-0000635, the Announcement does not mention the need for submission of a Concept Paper, but this document appears to be required when entering EERE Exchange for this Opportunity.
If the Concept Paper is required, what is the Due Date? Will there be a reply from DOE on the Concept Paper- that is, feedback on the concepts presented- to inform for the completion of the final Proposal.
Finally, instructions in the Concept paper form indicate that the Abstract must match the abstract in the final Proposal. Does this mean word-for-word? Otherwise, where can I get information on the intended content of the Abstract?
Answer 12:
There is no requirement for a Concept Paper for this FOA.
Question 13:
Do you have a phone number that I can reach you at to discuss this grant opportunity? Is there another contact who can field questions?
Answer 13:
Unfortunately, DE-FOA-0000635 is a competitive solicitation and private discussions while the announcement is open are prohibited. As indicated in Section VII of the FOA, all questions regarding this FOA must be submitted through the email address provided in the FOA. All questions asked through this email will be answered through the EERE eXCHANGE system and will be available to all interested parties.
Question 14:
Is the SF-LLL form required with submission even if there are no lobbying activities to report?
Answer 14:
Please refer to Section IV C. 10 of the FOA for the applicability of the SF-LLL. This form should only be completed if it is applicable.
Question 15:
It is unclear from these instructions (Page 18 under para 5 "Budget File" whether it is mandatory to submit two full and separate budgets for the entire project, one for Commercial program and one for Industrial program. Or does this mean only that the projected revenues from both sources should be broken out between the two?
"Applicants should also provide separate annual and cumulative budgets for both the industrial and commercial sectors that include federal funding requested and accounting for projected program income."
Answer 15:
As indicated in Section IV. C. 5. of the FOA, a separate budget for both the industrial and commercial sectors is required.
Question 19:
The amendment 1 to the FOA contains a requirement for lighting efficiency for awards greater than $1,000,000. Is that value based on the total FOA application of the annual funding requested?
Answer 19:
As indicated in Section VI B. 2 of the FOA, the lighting efficiency requirement applies to awards in excess of $1,000,000. This is the total award amount for the life of the project.
Question 21:
The subject solicitation states “If the Applicant’s financial assistance application is chosen for award and the award is in excess of $1,000,000, the applicant will, by the end of the fiscal year, upgrade the efficiency of their facilities by replacing any lighting that does not meet or exceed the energy efficiency standard for incandescent light bulbs set forth in Section 325 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295).” Our Question: Does this requirement apply to ‘leased’ spaces used by applicant?
Answer 21:
In most cases the requirement will apply to leased spaces.
Question 23:
Amendment 001, Item 2c – Does this requirement only apply to owned facilities and not leased facilities?
Answer 23:
This question has been answered and is posted at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.
Question 25:
Page 10, first bullet – Does the SEP-PA supply lead auditors? Does the SEP-PA dispatch lead auditors? What are the requirements of ‘assigning’ lead auditors?
Answer 25:
Please refer to Section I C. of the FOA. The SEP-PA will develop and apply criteria for assigning lead auditors, performance verifiers and verification bodies to avoid conflicts of interest.
Question 30:
One of our partners (subawardee over $100K) would like to submit their SF424A and PMC 123 forms directly to DOE due to business-sensitive information regarding their breakdown of costs. They can email their budgets to this email address the same day we submit the whole application package and/or we can upload a password protected version through the EERE application website, with the password provided to DOE upon request. Are any of the two solutions OK, or do you have another suggestion? Will this jeopardize our application to DOE?
Answer 30:
For instances where the subrecipient does not want to submit budget forms through the Prime due to business sensitive information contained therein only, the subrecipient may submit the budget forms directly to DOE through the FOA email box.
The subrecipient must (1) clearly specify the name of the Prime Applicant and Control Number on their budget justification so that DOE will know what application the file is associated with; (2) indicate on the budget forms that the information is business sensitive and not to be shared with anyone outside the government, including the Prime Applicant; and (3) ensure that the budget files are submitted to DOE in advance of the closing date and time.
Additionally, the Prime Applicant shall clearly state in their application that the subrecipient submitted the budget information directly to the DOE through the FOA email box.