EERE eXCHANGE: FAQs

Question 1: Would a ferry would fall under the definition of an "off road vehicle"?
Answer 1: The focus of the FOA does not include technologies for marine applications.

Question 2: For this FOA, is the award amount $1M-$1.5M for each of the three years or instead is it the total budget per funded project for a yearly budget in the $300k-$350k range?
Answer 2:

The anticipated federal share of $1M - $1.5M is for the entire project period. The applicant must also supply 20% cost share. Refer to Appendix B of the FOA for Cost Share Calculation Examples.

Question 3: I am wondering if our R&D project fits well within your guidelines
Answer 3: It is the Applicant’s responsibility to determine if its technology is responsive to the FOA and submit a concept paper as instructed in the FOA. As stated in Section IV. C. of the FOA, EERE makes an independent assessment of each Concept Paper based on the criteria in Section V.A.i of the FOA. EERE will encourage a subset of applicants to submit Full Applications. Other applicants will be discouraged from submitting a Full Application. An applicant who receives a “discouraged” notification may still submit a Full Application. EERE will review all eligible Full Applications. However, by discouraging the submission of a Full Application, EERE intends to convey its lack of programmatic interest in the proposed project in an effort to save the applicant the time and expense of preparing an application that is unlikely to be selected for award negotiations.

Question 4: from the webinar: Will we be getting a copy of this presentation? If the information is all in the FOA why not share the presentation?
Answer 4: The informational webinar PowerPoint slides are not an official document and will not be provided. The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is the basis for submission of an application. The FOA is updated during the open period to address questions, comments, or concerns from the public and should reviewed for updates.

Question 5: from the webinar: Thank you for the information. Quick question. Does an engine technology have to be uniquely applicable to the off-road fluid-power sector? Or can it be a solution that might also apply to on-road transport, or generators, for example? Like a novel Diesel/gas engine concept
Answer 5: Reference Section I. B. of the FOA for the technical requirements. In accordance with Section III (G) of the FOA, EERE will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which the concept papers or applications to this FOA must be submitted. The decision whether to submit a concept paper or an application in response to this FOA lies solely with the applicant.

Question 6: from the webinar: How many concept papers do you anticipate encouraging? Can full proposals be accepted for concepts not encouraged?
Answer 6: Reference Section VI C of the FOA. Concept papers will be evaluated in accordance with the compliance criteria and Technical Review Criteria including in the FOA. EERE will encourage a subset of applicants to submit Full Applications. Other applicants will be discouraged from submitting a Full Application. An applicant who receives a “discouraged” notification may still submit a Full Application.

Question 7: from the webinar: Fluid power includes hydrogen fuel cell and hybrid battery off-road equipment, correct?
Answer 7: In accordance with Section III (G) of the FOA, “EERE will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which applications to this FOA must be submitted. The decision whether to submit an application in response to this FOA lies solely with the applicant.” The objective of this FOA is to research technologies that can improve the energy efficiency of fluid power systems for commercial off-road vehicles. Since there is a large variation in equipment in this sector, technology solutions should address common sources of inefficiencies that can be applied to curb fuel consumption across the sector to the greatest extent possible. The FOA does not limit the overall mission, purpose, or use of the off-road equipment.

Question 8: from the webinar: Quick question for the staff: could a recording of this webinar be made available afterwards? Thank you,
Answer 8: A recording of the informational webinar will not be provided. The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is the basis for submission of an application. The FOA is updated during the open period to address questions, comments, or concerns from the public and should reviewed for updates.

Question 9: from the webinar: The structure of the concept paper you showed in your slide appears different than the online document. In the document I downloaded it states 2 pages technical description, 1 page addendum to describe the team. In your ppt you stated differently. Can you please clarify?
Answer 9: The requirements contained in the published FOA (reference Section VI.C.) should be used when developing the concept paper.

Question 10: from the webinar: For the concept paper, you mentioned we can provide graphs, charts and other data within one page. Is this page included in the Addendum part or is it actually an extra page?
Answer 10: Per the FOA, the submission must not exceed the specified maximum page limit, including cover page, charts, graphs, maps, and photographs when printed using the formatting requirements set forth above and single spaced. If applicants exceed the maximum page lengths, EERE will review only the authorized number of pages and disregard any additional pages.

Question 11: from the webinar: Does the government own IP developed if funded?
Answer 11: Per the FOA, the standard DOE financial assistance intellectual property provisions applicable to the various types of recipients are located at https://energy.gov/eere/funding/eere-funding-application-and-management-forms.

Question 12: Is there a sample U.S. Manufacturing Plan posted anywhere on the EERE or DoE website?
Answer 12:

The DOE does not have sample Manufacturing Plans available - Reference Section IV.D.xiii. for details to consider when developing your Manufacturing Plan

Question 13: We, a large business, submitted a concept paper to DE-FOA-0001815 and have been selected for full proposal. One of our main subcontractors is a FFRDC. In continuing communications we believe the FFRDC would be a better prime than the large business that originally submitted the concept paper. The question is, can we submit the full proposal with the FFRDC as the prime and large business as the sub?
Answer 13:

NO -

As stated in section III.A.iii. of the FOA -

DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are eligible to apply for funding as a Subrecipient, but are not eligible to apply as a Prime Recipient.

Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs are eligible to apply for funding as a Subrecipient, but are not eligible to apply as a Prime Recipient.

Question 14: The FFRDC Contractor Authorization letter that’s required should be addressed to whom, name and mailing address, please?
Answer 14:

The authorization can be addressed to the Contracting Officer of the Federal agency sponsoring the FFRDC contractor

Question 15: On page 33 of "Amendment 0001 to DE-FOA-0001815" it says, "The slide must be submitted in Microsoft PowerPoint format using the supplied template". I can't find a PowerPoint template.
Answer 15:

The template can be found on Exchange under the section titled 'Required Application Documents" - the name of the template is "Revised Summary Slide Template" last updated on 11/29/2017

Question 16: Can we shift to a University as the prime contractor instead of the large business listed as the prime on the concept paper?
Answer 16:

No. Only organizations that submit a Concept paper may submit a Full Application. Subcontractors or team members may change after submission of a Concept Paper.

Per Section IV.A, page 21 of the FOA in bold and underlined -

Only applicants who have submitted an eligible Concept Paper will be eligible to submit a Full Application

Frequently Asked Questions