Frequently Asked Questions

There are multiple Funding Opportunity Announcements listed on the EERE Exchange website (http://eere.energy.gov/financing/exchange).  Please scroll down on the page to view all funding opportunities available on EERE Exchange.

The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to fund projects that develop technologies in power electronics that reduce the overall photovoltaic (PV) system costs, allow high penetrations of solar technologies onto the grid, and enhance the performance, reliability, and safety of the PV system.  The purpose of this FOA is to develop and demonstrate technologies that allow high penetrations of solar technologies onto the grid, reduce overall BOS costs, and/or harvest more energy from the sun. 

Based on the description provided, the proposed activities would be considered responsive to the objectives of this FOA.

Each of the 2 topics under this FOA have specific cost share requirements for each phase of the project.  All selected projects will be required to meet the minimum cost share for that phase.  For further details please see Section II.C. Maximum and Minimum Award Size.

In general, provided that the costs come from non-Federal sources and are allowable and allocable to the project (see Appendix C and 10 CFR Part 600 for the applicable cost sharing requirements) they may be counted as cost share.

However, please note that the objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to fund projects that develop technologies in power electronics that reduce the overall photovoltaic (PV) system costs, allow high penetrations of solar technologies onto the grid, and enhance the performance, reliability, and safety of the PV system.  If the solar installation proposed is part of a pilot demonstration to demonstrate the feasibility of new power electronics technologies in the field (identified as Topic 2, Phase 3 in the FOA) then the project may be responsive to the FOA objectives, but this solicitation is not intended to provide direct funding for solar installations.

The Bibliography & Reference section should be included in the Preliminary Application Narrative File document.  As noted in the FOA, this section will not count toward the 4 page limit.

To report the percent of total work effort for each organization, the response should be based on the percent of dollars for each entity: prime recipient and subrecipient(s). 

Please note that entities that do not meet the eligibility criterion listed under Section III, Eligibility Information, on Page 10 of the Funding Opportunity Announcement are not eligible to apply as the prime applicant.  However, entities not meeting this criterion are allowed as subrecipients to an eligible applicant provided that, in aggregate, not more than 20% of the total estimated DOE funding is provided to entities that do not meet the eligibility criteria.

The table in Section III.B of the FOA and the language in Section II.C is meant to illustrate the anticipated focus and required cost share by phase for each topic, along with the anticipated timeframes for each phase.  The actual cost share requirement will be determined by the type of activities proposed (See Appendix C and 10 CFR Part 600 for the applicable cost sharing requirements). 

If an applicant has already completed the initial research and development of their technology, they may propose just the prototype development and pilot demonstration phases.  The application should justify the technology readiness and include a clear description of what activities are being proposed.  In this case the prototype development would be Phase 1 of the project and the pilot demonstration would be considered Phase 2.  However, please note that the cost share requirement would still be 20% for the prototype development and 50% for the pilot demonstration.    

The Application forms and/or instructions can be found on the EERE eXCHANGE website at http://eere.energy.gov/financing/exchange.

The SF424 Application for Federal Assistance includes the following statement, which is sufficient for the application submission:

By signing this application, I certify (1) to the statements contained in the list of certifications** and (2) that the statements herein are true, complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I also provide the required assurances** and agree to comply with any resulting terms if I accept an award. I am aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or claims may subject me to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties. (U.S. Code, Title 218, Section 1001).

** The list of certifications and assurances, or an internet site where you may obtain this list, is contained in the announcement or agency specific instructions.

As stated in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, applicants must submit a Preliminary Application by May 9, 2011, not later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time to be eligible to submit a Full Application.  Only Applicants who submitted Preliminary Applications by the due date, whose Preliminary Applications are deemed compliant, and who receive an invitation to submit a full application will be eligible to submit a Full Application.  All Application submissions must be made via the EERE Exchange at http://eere.energy.gov/financing/exchange. Applications received after the noted deadlines or by any other means will not be reviewed or considered for award. 

Edits to the Preliminary Applications will not be allowed, as the due date has now passed.  However, if the Preliminary Application is deemed compliant and you are invited to submit a full application, edits to the Full Application in EERE eXCHANGE are allowable up to the deadline for Full Applications, which is on June 23, 2011 11:59PM Eastern Time.

If an applicant would like to partner with another applicant, both of whom were invited to submit a full application, the team should identify which applicant is the lead and submit the full application under that applicant's existing control number.

An eligible applicant is 1) a legal entity established pursuant to United States Federal or State laws, with operations in the United States or its Territories or; 2) a foreign legal entity having a place of business in the United States or its Territories.  An eligible entity must be able to demonstrate that its use of DOE funds will be in the economic interests of the United States, including, for example; creation of domestic manufacturing capability; use of American products, materials or labor; payment of United States taxes; or United States technological advancements.  

Eligible applicants include but are not limited to: (1) institutions of higher education; (2) National Laboratories; (3) nonprofit and for-profit private entities; (4) State and local governments; (5) consortia of entities (1) through (4). If applying as a consortium, one member of the consortium that is an established legal entity must be designated as the lead applicant.

Entities that do not meet this eligibility criterion are not eligible to apply as the prime applicant.  However, entities not meeting this criterion are allowed as subrecipients to an eligible applicant provided that, in aggregate, not more than 20% of the total estimated DOE funding is provided to entities that do not meet the eligibility criteria.  

Nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible to apply or to be a subrecipient to an eligible applicant.

 Please see the following sections and Parts of the Federal Financial Assistance Regulations 10 CFR 600 for further discussion regarding eligibility:

600.6 Eligibility, 600.503 Determining the economic interest of the United States and 600.502 What must DOE determine.

The NEPA Environmental Checklist must include all activities under the proposed project.  Therefore, the NEPA Environmental Checklist should describe if the work is being performed at multiple project/performance site location(s), such as at a subcontractor's facility.  If selected for negotiation of an award, a separate Environmental R&D Questionnaire for each facility may be required.  

These registration requirements could take several weeks to process and are necessary in order for a potential applicant to receive an award under this announcement. Therefore, all potential applicants lacking a DUNS number, or not yet registered with CCR or FedConnect should complete those registrations as soon as possible. Applicants that do not have this requirement in place prior to September 1, 2011 may not receive an award under the announcement.

Please see the application process outlined in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, Section IV – Application and Submission Information, for Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems – Advanced Concepts.

The application process includes two phases: a preliminary application phase and a full application phase.  Following completion of the preliminary application phase, applicants will be notified as to whether or not they are eligible to submit a full application.  Only applicants who are favorably selected in the preliminary application phase will be eligible to submit full applications. If you did not submit a preliminary application by 05/09/2011 and get notified of your eligibility to submit a full application, you may not start the application process for this Funding Opportunity now. Full applications are due 06/23/2011 11:59 PM ET.

Grants under this Funding Opportunity Announcement are not part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and therefore Buy American requirements does not apply.  Please see Section III, which states, an eligible entity must be able to demonstrate that its use of DOE funds will be in the economic interests of the United States, including, for example; creation of domestic manufacturing capability; use of American products, materials or labor; payment of United States taxes; or United States technological advancements. 

It is the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased with funds made available under this Funding Opportunity Announcement should be American-made.

There is an error in the formula in cell AL97 of tab “Budget 1 A”.  To repair the formula, complete the following:

 1.     Click on “Review” in the Excel menu bar

 2.     Click on “Unprotect Sheet” (there is no password).

 3.     Paste the following into cell AL97: “=SUM(AL19,AL28,AL37,AL46,AL66,AL75,AL84,AL93,AL95)”

Please name NEPA forms for the specific organizations name, whether a sub recipient or prime.

DOE anticipates notifying applicants selected for award by the end of August, 2011.

The subject Funding Opportunity Announcement(s) are now closed.  Applications had to be submitted by the due date (closing date) specified on the cover page of the FOA in order to be considered for award. 

The Full Application review has been completed and selections have been announced.  Applicants can check their selection status and view the Record of Consensus Strengths and Weaknesses in Exchange (see http://eere-exchange.energy.gov/MySubmissions.aspx).

The Full Application review has been completed and selections have been announced.  Applicants can check their selection status and view the Record of Consensus Strengths and Weaknesses in Exchange (see http://eere-exchange.energy.gov/MySubmissions.aspx).

The Full Application review has been completed and selections have been announced.  Applicants can check their selection status and view the Record of Consensus Strengths and Weaknesses in Exchange (see http://eere-exchange.energy.gov/MySubmissions.aspx).

This Funding Opportunity has closed and all successful and unsuccessful applicants have been notified. DOE will not answer any more questions related to this Funding Opportunity.