Question 9:
In Preparing the Concept Paper:
1) Can the references be included in the 3-page addendum or do they have to be included in the 3-page “Technology Description”
2) Can figures supporting the technology description be included in the 3-page addendum or do they have to be included in the 3-page “Technology Description.”
Answer 9:
EERE does not have a preference for the location of
references or the location of figures supporting the technology
description. This content may be included in the Technical Description or
in the Addendum. See section IV.C.1. of the FOA for Concept Paper Requirements.
Question 16:
1. Cost Share: My proposed project will entail modeling based on analysis of a large amount of data privately gathered, existing/archived image and other well log data.
Questions:
a. If this data is contributed to the project, can the value of this data be used as cost share?
b. How would I calculate the Cost Share value of those data? For instance, if the data from a well log is used as a contribution, can the cost of acquiring the well-log be used directly towards the cost share?
2. Waivers: I will be Prime on the proposal and am employed by a U.S. University, but would like to include a foreign expert in my proposed work as a subcontractor, as well as data from foreign geothermal fields. His work will be the analysis of data gathered in foreign geothermal fields to support modeling in my project and collaboration on analysis of data from within the United States.
Questions:
a. Foreign participation: Is a waiver required to allow his work and data to qualify for DOE funding under this FOA?
b. Is there any restriction on the use and analysis of data generated in foreign geothermal fields to support our research?
c. If a waiver is necessary, what waiver do I need and how can I start the waiver application process?
Answer 16:
Please refer to FOA section III.A.3 for information on participation by foreign entities. A waiver is not required for usage of a foreign expert as a project subcontractor. There are no specific restrictions on the use and analysis of data collected at locations outside the United States. Please note, however, that there is a Program Policy Factor listed in FOA section V.C.1 that analyzes “whether the proposed project is likely to lead to increased employment and manufacturing in the United States."
Any costs incurred prior to the award selection date (such as data collection/acquisition, well drilling, collection of rock/core cuttings, well-field development or power plant construction) are not eligible for consideration as recipient cost share. However, in the case of data collection/acquisition, a current market value may be assigned to the dataset that would require approval by a Contracting Officer following selection for negotiation of an award. Please be aware that the current market value assigned to any given dataset is typically only a small fraction (e.g., 10%) of the original data acquisition cost.
Question 25:
I am submitting a proposal for the subject FOA. Since a National Lab will be performing some of the work, a FFRDC Field Work Proposal (FWP) needs to be included with the submission. There are 2 questions on the FWP which I cannot find the answers in the FOA. Could you let me know the name, phone number, and DOE code for the following contacts?
Headquarters/Operations OFC Program Manager
DOE Field Organization Work Proposal Reviewer
Answer 25:
It appears that the link in the FOA provided for FWP form on page 31 is no longer functional. Click the following link, then choose "Open":
https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/0412.1-BOrder-a/@@download/file
The DOE Work Proposal Instructions included on page 13 of that document specify:
Item 7. When known, enter the name and phone number of the DOE/NNSA program manager responsible for the overall program.
Item 9. When known, enter the name and phone number of the DOE field organization individual responsible for reviewing the proposal.
Based on the instructions, it is not necessary to put names in boxes 7 and 9 if they are not known yet. If you would like to specify contact information, for Item 7 Program Manager use Douglas Hollett (Douglas.Hollett@ee.doe.gov, 202-287-1818), and for Item 9 DOE field organization contact, William Vandermeer (William.Vandermeer@go.doe.gov, 720.356.1806).
Reminder, EERE personnel are prohibited from communicating (in writing or otherwise) with Applicants regarding the FOA except through the established question and answer process as described in FOA Section VII. "Questions/Agency Contacts."
Question 29:
Under section IV. D. 12 U.S. Manufacturing Commitments, EERE is requiring a document to be attached to the proposal for this area, if Applicants are not going to be creating anything that requires manufacturing, what would type of document or comment would EERE like Applicants to put into this area of the application?
Answer 29:
The U.S. Manufacturing Plan/Commitment is a required
document for all Applicants. However, the nature and specificity of the
Applicants’ U.S. Manufacturing Plans are expected to vary based on the FOA, as
well as the nature of the technologies proposed within the application.
U.S. Manufacturing Plans submitted with applications directed at technologies
at lower technology readiness levels may have fewer specific manufacturing
details and may focus more on licensing and other strategies to promote U.S.
manufacturing.
Question 34:
When does EERE expect that the reviews will be completed? What will be the deadline for response to reviewer comments?
Answer 34:
Applicant responses to reviewer comments will be due at 5 pm
EDT on Friday, May 30. Comments made on applications by reviewers will be
made available to applicants approximately three business days before the
deadline for applicant responses.
Question 35:
Are reviewer comments for this FOA available? If so, how do applicants access these comments?
Answer 35:
DE-FOA-0000842:
Integrated Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) Research and Development full
application reviewer comments are now available in EERE Exchange. Please see
page 22 of the EERE Exchange Applicant User Guide for instructions on
how to access and reply to the reviewer comments in EERE Exchange. The Applicant User Guide can be accessed at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx.
As
stated on page 1 of the FOA, the submission deadline for replies to reviewer
comments is Friday, May 30 at 5:00 PM ET. Per FOA Sections IV.A. “Application
Process” and IV.F. “Content and Form of Replies to Reviewer Comments,” responses should be submitted in Adobe PDF
format, and should be limited to 2 pages of text and 1 additional page of text,
graphs, charts, or other data. Please refer to the FOA for
additional formatting and submission instructions. If a Reply to Reviewer
Comments is more than three pages in length, EERE will review only the first
three pages and disregard any additional pages.
Please
also note that submission of applicant replies to reviewer comments is
optional.