EERE eXCHANGE: FAQs

Question 1: On page 5, the FOA states that Topic Area 1 is for converting “raw biomass sugars, algal oils, or lignin to high quality acrylonitrile.” Are these the only feedstocks that can be considered, or are other pathways that involve (for example) biomass-derived alcohols responsive to Topic Area 1?
Answer 1: For the purposes of this FOA, the feedstock types that are considered to be responsive are defined as non-food/feed biomass constituents from lignocellulosic plants or algae. The FOA has no restrictions on the particular conversion technology pathway an applicant elects to employ to arrive at acrylonitrile from responsive feedstocks. The biomass types that are considered to be non-responsive are outlined in Section 1.C.

Question 2: Can you please let me know the time of the webinar on Feb 13.
Answer 2: For information on the Webinar, please go to https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/. Search for “DE-FOA-0000996: Renewable Carbon Fibers”, and in the description of the FOA the Date and Time of the Webinar is located at the bottom of the description.

Question 3: Phase II validating prototype system has a deliverable of producing 500 kg of stabilized bio-ACN. This is a very large scale-up based on the 50 g deliverable in Phase I. Is this a misprint? Should the Phase II amount be 500 g of bio-ACN?
Answer 3: The Phase II deliverable of 500 kg (kilograms) of stabilized bio-ACN is not a misprint.

Question 4: Can you please clarify: a foreign entity may receive money, but its work must be done in the U.S.? Is that how this is to be interpreted? Also please clarify if this includes cost share.
Answer 4: As stated in Section III.A.3: "A foreign entity may receive funding as a Subrecipient.” A foreign entity may be included as part of a project team without the need of a waiver. As detailed in Section IV.I.3, all work must be performed in the United States unless a waiver is requested and approved by the EERE Contracting Officer. Therefore, a waiver will be required in the event that a foreign Subrecipient is also performing work outside the United States.
As stated in Section III.B.3: “Each Project Team is free to determine how best to allocate the cost share requirement among the team members. The amount contributed by individual Project Team members may vary, as long as the cost share requirement for the project as a whole is met.”

Question 5: As I read the FOA, it seems clear that the primary (or perhaps the sole) task is to produce quality ACN from a non-food biomass. It is clearly implied that this ACN would be for polymerization to PAN precursor, but I’m unsure about the possible subsequent white fiber spinning and thermal conversion to carbon fiber. My questions are, as a part of this FOA and beyond the synthesis of the bio-ACN, does DOE intend to fund the tasks of: 1. Polymerization of the bio-ACN to a PAN precursor polymer ? a. Testing and analysis of the polymer 2. Spinning of white fiber from this precursor polymer ? a. Testing and analysis of the white fiber 3. Thermal conversion of the precursor polymer to carbon fiber ? a. Testing and analysis of the carbon fiber
Answer 5:

High quality and low cost bio-acrylonitrile is a desired deliverable under this FOA. Applicants may elect to employ any type of experimental methodologies or technologies that relate to the stated deliverables of the FOA, so long as they fall within the stated boundaries of the FOA (e.g. budget, timing, responsiveness). Tasks beyond the objectives described in the FOA are not being considered at this time.

The FOA is comprehensive and designed to allow prospective applicants to assess their proposed projects versus the requirements and criteria of the FOA. DOE cannot predetermine the suitability or viability of a proposal in advance of the merit review process. It is up to prospective applicants to review the requirements of the FOA and assess the merits of their proposed project to determine whether to submit an application.

Question 6: Can you please confirm that the objective of projects funded by this FOA should be to produce an in-spec bio-acrylonitrile (ACN) as a precursor to carbon fiber.
Answer 6: The FOA goals and objectives, and how bio-acrylonitrile (bio-ACN) relate to these, are mentioned in several FOA sections, including but not limited to the summary, Section I.A., Section I.B., Section I.C., Section V.A., and Section VI.C.

Question 7: I am wondering if we must now go to the link for Concept Papers at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId9c2b53f7-d61a-45a1-b322-20df23a47d0b? Also I am wondering if for a full application will we need to do the attached documents and no long go to Grants.gov?
Answer 7: Instructions for completing the concept paper and full application are contained in the full text of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) which can be obtained at the DOE EERE Funding Opportunity eXCHANGE website at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/default.aspx. To find this information, click on the FOA number, and the full text of the FOA will be available under “FOA DOCUMENTS”.

Question 8: Is genetically modified plants for increasing mechanical properties of fibers to produce biomass an interest for the current FOA?
Answer 8: The focus of the Renewable Carbon Fiber FOA is on conversion technology pathways to a biomass-derived acrylonitrile. The FOA has no restrictions on the particular conversion technology pathway an applicant elects to employ to arrive at acrylonitrile from responsive feedstocks. The biomass types that are considered to be non-responsive are outlined in Section 1.C.

Question 9: My question is about the 'grain sorghum syrup'. Syrup is typically made from the juice of sweet sorghums, which are currently being developed as feedstocks for fuels and chemicals due to their high productivity and compatibility with poor agricultural land. Grain sorghums are grown for starch (bird seed, ethanol, animal feed). Sorghum syrup and molasses (for human consumption) represent a very small portion of the sugar market relative to corn, sugarcane and sugar beets. Are sugars derived from sweet sorghum juice excluded as a feedstock for bio-ACN?
Answer 9: The eligibility of sugars derived from sorghum juice, it is stated in the FOA that applications that propose the use of food or feed carbohydrates, lipids or proteins are specifically not of interest. In contrast, examples of biomass feedstocks that are of interest to this FOA can be found in Section I.B.

Question 10: In addition, I would like to ask about the 'single concept or technology' limitation (page 20). If an intermediate can be converted using either a chemical or biological method, may we propose to examine both and select the best based on efficiency (cost, yield), or would this be considered as two different approaches.
Answer 10: The “Single Concept or Technology” limitation for the FOA, the FOA has no restrictions on the particular conversion technology pathway an applicant elects to employ to arrive at acrylonitrile from responsive feedstocks. The possibility of down-selecting from competing technologies within a single project is provided for in the description of the Phase I and Phase II objectives, which can be found in Section I.B.

Question 11: Could you please clarify what is meant by the following statement (in the guidelines for the concept paper): “Each Concept Paper must be limited to a single concept or technology. Unrelated concepts and technologies should not be consolidated into a single Concept Paper.” If possible, please provide examples of what would be considered a single concept. Also, is there a direct linkage between the concept paper(s) and the final full proposal with regard to this requirement (e.g., can multiple concepts be combined in the final application)? The section of the FOA describing the final application does not mention this limitation.
Answer 11: Each concept paper should discuss a cohesive, defined, and well thought out approach to solving the proposed problems. Described approaches should be bound by a limited number of specific and cohesive processes at each step of the project. EERE is not looking to fund an exploration of many different solutions to the same problem in a single project, but rather a more focused approach.

Question 12: Is it the correct understanding that the budget info is not required for the concept paper?
Answer 12: Please see Section IV.C.1. for the Concept Paper Content Requirements

Question 13: Would proposals and concept papers prescribing alternate and potentially more cost-effective and value-added outcomes for Phase II be considered non-responsive? Would BETO be open to changing the Phase II deliverable at the stage gate review if the results of Phase I warrant a different approach for the 2nd half of the project?
Answer 13: The FOA expressly states a desired end deliverable of 500 kg of renewable acrylonitrile that meets all specifications for vehicle lightweighting. Achievement of the cost-competitive and performance-competitive renewable acrylonitrile production process would assist EERE in meeting the 2020 goal of $5.00/lb or less carbon fiber for vehicle lightweighting applications. The polymerization of acrylonitrile into polyacrylonitrile, and subsequently, manufacturing carbon fiber composites into advanced vehicle components for material property and safety testing are non-trivial; large volumes of acrylonitrile are required for such end-to-end technology demonstrations. DOE recognizes and acknowledges the technical challenges and risks of this producing this significant quantity of bio-acrylonitrile, but do not believe that it is necessarily insurmountable given the state of technology and prior investments in cellulosic and algal technologies, laboratory infrastructure, as well as pilot and demonstration projects. In the fermentation technology example given, the calculations of the volumetric requirement take into account assumptions of productivity and time online; productivity metrics have also been described as a part of the FOA objectives for both Phases of work. As has been answered in previous questions, applicants may elect to employ any type of experimental methodologies or technologies that relate to the stated deliverables of the FOA, so long as they fall within the stated boundaries of the FOA (e.g. budget, timing, responsiveness). Strategic partnerships with technology and facility providers are also expressly encouraged and emphasized. DOE cannot predetermine the suitability or viability of a proposal in advance of the merit review process, nor will it negotiate project milestones and deliverables in advance of selection. It is up to prospective applicants to review the requirements of the FOA and assess the merits of their proposed project to determine whether to submit an application.

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