Question 8:
We are in the process of putting together our LOI for the above grant FOA and I was hoping for a clarification. We currently have a bench top prototype for wireless recharging and have been working with OEM's of light weight vehicles as well as paratransit and bus manufacturer's, we were hoping to include shuttle buses to Phase III of this FOA. The FOA says a maximum of 10,000 can we include one shuttle and 4 vehicles?
Answer 8:
We ask that all potential applicants carefully read the entire Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) from beginning to end in order to make a determination of whether to apply or not to apply based upon the information outlined in the FOA. The Department of Energy cannot make and will not make any determination up front on whether an application will be acceptable or not.
The technical requirements of the FOA are referenced in Section I – Funding Opportunity Description, specifically, Parts A, B, and C, specifically Part C, addresses the objective of this FOA which clearly identifies the intent as being for a light duty vehicle application. Each potential applicant must make an informed business decision on what to include in their application based upon the information contained in the FOA.
Question 9:
There are many medium weight vehicles that have a GVW slightly over 10,000 pounds (example, 11,500 pounds). Will an application be automatically disqualified if the target vehicle for the wireless system is above the 10,000 pound limit as expressed in the grant outline?
Answer 9:
We ask that all potential applicants carefully read the entire Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) from beginning to end in order to make a determination of whether to apply or not to apply based upon the information outlined in the FOA. The Department of Energy cannot make and will not make any determination up front on whether an applicant is eligible or not eligible or if a particular technology is applicable. The technical requirements of the FOA are referenced in Section I – Funding Opportunity Description, specifically, Parts A, B, and C, this section, specifically Part C, addresses the objective of this FOA which clearly identifies the intent as being for a light duty vehicle application.
Question 10:
We are exploring the idea of applying for the funding for EV contactless charging, but we are not sure we would quality. We are a global manufacturer of electric motors, gears, electronic variable speed drives and electric vehicle components. We have close to 1 million square feet of manufacturing and assembly in 6 locations in the US. In 5 locations we perform assembly, application engineering and sales support, and the 6th we manufacture gear components. But, all of our research and development is done in Germany at our global headquarters. Would this disqualify us from potential funding? Any product that we develop and manufacture globally is available for sales in the US via our 5 local assembly/sales offices.
Answer 10:
Please refer to Section III, Part A-Eligible Applicants for the eligibility requirements of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). We ask that all potential applicants carefully read the section on eligibility and make an informed business decision on whether to apply or not to apply under this FOA. The Department of Energy cannot make and will not make any determination up front on whether an applicant is eligible or not eligible to apply under the FOA. Each potential applicant must make an informed business decision based upon the information contained in the FOA.
Please also note, Section V – Application Review Information, Part A, Item 2 – Merit Review Criteria, specifically under Project Approach, letter "i" which will evaluate the extent of work performed in the United States as part of the Merit Review Criteria.
Question 11:
I have a question regarding letter of intent. Do we just send the project name and applicant name in the letter of intent through email? Is there a template we have to use or do we have to send that through a word document. Is the letter of intent also submitted through the FOA website? After sending in the letter of intent, will we get a an email/notification for us to move forward in submitting the whole application?
Answer 11:
Section IV - Application and Submission Information, Part B: Letter of Intent and Pre-Application addresses what is required to be included in the letter of intent and how and where to submit the letter of intent. The letter of intent can be submitted as a word file. DOE will not be providing a notification of receipt since DOE is simply using the letter of intent for internal planning purposes.
Question 12:
Our company owned and managed by french citizen is currently settled in
Japan (HQ) and Mauritius Island (Research Center) working in cooperation
with Company X. We are developing systems that are in accordance with your funding opportunity but have no US domestic structure yet. It is in our short term plans to move our research structure and HQ to USA to work in collaboration with competent engineers and universities on our innovative technology leaving only liaison office in japan for our local customers and partners in charge of industrialization as well as size and cost reduction of dedicated parts and modules. Would we be eligible for this opportunity of funding if we pledge to set our HQ and R&D structure in USA if we are successful in receiving the award?
Answer 12:
Please refer to Section III, Part A-Eligible Applicants for the eligibility requirements of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). We ask that all potential applicants carefully read the section on eligibility and make an informed business decision on whether to apply or not to apply under this FOA. The Department of Energy cannot make and will not make any determination up front on whether an applicant is eligible or not eligible to apply under the FOA.
Please also note, Section V - Application Review Information, Part A, Item 2 - Merit Review Criteria, specifically under Project Approach, letter "i" which will evaluate the extent of work performed in the United States as part of the Merit Review Criteria.
Question 13:
Could we use following title or subject to FAO’s project : Cordless charging for electric vehicles, Instead of "Wireless charging for electric vehicles"?
Answer 13:
The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0000667 does not mandate that you title or name your project/application in a particular scheme. You may name your application as you desire. However, DOE does not anticipate making any changes to the FOA or the title of the FOA at this time.
Question 14:
I am preparing the letter of intent to be submitted for this opportunity. The FO states that the letter should be e-mailed. However, in reviewing the Exchange website I note that a letter of intent is also an electronic document to be completed online. Are both necessary?
Answer 14:
Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0000667) Section IV-Application and Submission Information, Part B(l) Letter of Intent which specifically addresses what the letter of intent should contain and how it should be submitted, specifically in an email to DE-FOA-0000667@netl.doe.gov . You may also submit your letter of intent through the Exchange system as well. Submission of the letter of intent via email or Exchange is acceptable.
Question 15:
In reviewing the online application, I note that an online letter of intent is available. I do not have the information required at this time to complete all of this form (ie amount of federal funding). Is the online form required and if so how do I bypass information that is not yet available?
Answer 15:
Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0000667) Section IV-Application and Submission Information, Part B(l) Letter of Intent which specifically addresses what the letter of intent should contain and how it should be submitted, specifically in an email to DE-FOA-0000667@netl.doe.gov . You may also submit your letter of intent through the Exchange system as well. Submission of the letter of intent via email or Exchange is acceptable.
Question 16:
Relative to IP (intellectual property). Do we retain ownership of intellectual property developed prior to the grant, that may be used in fulfilling the technical requirements and objectives? Do we retain ownership of intellectual property developed under the grant? Is this waived by DOE?
Answer 16:
Please reference Section VIII-Other Information, Part(s) D, E, F, and G of the FOA. In addition, the following information in response to your question is provided as follows:
Rights to Inventions: The government will have certain rights in all subject inventions. A subject invention is one which is conceived or first actually reduced to practice under a DOE award. This may include inventions that have been patented prior to the award of the grant, if the invention is first actually reduced to practice (embodying the concept in a physical form and demonstrating it to be a workable embodiment) under the award. The statutes defining the government’s rights are found at 35 U.S.C. 200 to 212, and the regulations are found at 10 CFR 600.100 (particularly at 600.136). If the invention was first actually reduced to practice outside the scope of the Government award, the Government would not take any rights in the invention.
The Bayh-Dole Act (35 U.S.C. 202) provides that nonprofit organizations or small business firms have an automatic right to retain title to subject inventions. The Government will still retain certain rights in these inventions, such as a license for Government use and march-in rights. Entities other than nonprofit organizations of small business firms have the right to petition the Department for a waiver of rights to any subject inventions subject to certain conditions.
Rights in Technical Data: Normally, the government has unlimited rights in technical data created under a DOE agreement. Delivery or third party licensing of proprietary software or data developed solely at private expense will not normally be required except as specifically negotiated in a particular agreement to satisfy DOE's own needs or to insure the commercialization of technology developed under a DOE agreement.
Please keep in mind that the Department of Energy (DOE) cannot make any determination on intellectual property requirements prior to the submission and selection of applications leading to negotiations for award.
Question 17:
We have missed the deadline for the letter of intent for DE-FOA-0000667. Can we still submit a proposal
Answer 17:
As outlined in Section IV-Application and Submission Information, Part B, Letter of Intent, which states that "Failure to submit such letters will not negatively affect a responsive application submitted in a timely fashion." With that said, you may still submit an application under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0000667, as long as it is submitted timely. All applications are due by May 31, 2012, no later than 8:00 pm Eastern Time as outlined in the FOA.
Question 18:
Section VIII F., Intellectual Property Developed Under this Program states that any entity, ".can elect to participate in the class waiver if they meet the requirements set forth in the waiver determination." Where can I find the "waiver determination" referenced above to review the requirements set forth in it?
Answer 18:
As outlined in the FOA, Section VIII- Other Information, PART F - Intellectual Property Developed Under This Program. It is DOE's intent to execute/pursue a "patent class waiver". That waiver has not yet been approved, which is why the specific class waiver terms for the projects that are selected under this FOA are not yet available. Please reference the following website which references the standard patent rights provision. It is anticipated that the class waiver terms under this FOA will be similar to the terms contained in the this provision. http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/gcprod/documents/patwaivclau.pdf
Question 20:
Are Prime Applicants responsible for payments to Subrecipients, or can Subrecipients invoice and receive payment directly from DOE?
Answer 20:
Awards resulting from this FOA are to Prime Recipients only, not to sub-recipients. The "Prime" recipient of the awards resulting from selections under this FOA will be responsible for payments to their sub-recipients. The sub-recipient would not invoice the federal government directly for payments but instead would submit their invoice to the Prime Recipient for reimbursement.
Question 21:
Regarding the measurement of efficiency, is the input power to the vehicle measured at the battery input terminals or the input to the vehicle’s on board battery charger? 1a.) Does the efficiency target include all components up to the battery HVDC bus?
Answer 21:
As identified in the FOA, the efficiency is measured from “the wall power source and the GCEDV high voltage direct current bus”. The high voltage bus is measured at the output of the on-board vehicle charger.
Question 27:
Does the DOE require that FOA-667 applicants identify in the application fully committed OEM partners, or are appropriate LOIs (Letters Of Intent) from potential OEM partners that are included in the application acceptable to the DOE as sufficient for the application process?
Answer 27:
As outlined in Section I- Funding Opportunity Description of the FOA, "It is highly encouraged that the proposing applicant team includes a wireless charging technology developer partnered with a vehicle manufacturer currently producing vehicles in the United States, with either the vehicle or wireless charging technology developer as the lead." Please also review Section V-Application Review Information, Part A of the FOA.
Question 29:
Regarding the submission of the proposal, can the Technical Point of Contact be any member of the team (e.g. someone employed with a participating company other than the Prime Applicant)? Similarly, if we propose to have one Principle Investigator, can it be any member of the team or only someone employed by the Prime Applicant?
Answer 29:
The Technical Point of Contact and the Principal Investigator would be employed by the Prime Applicant as the prime is the entity that would be receiving the award. The agreement will be between DOE and the Prime. DOE will only contact the prime who would be responsible for contacting any of their sub-recipients or "team" members for required actions concerning the project.
Please keep in mind that the Prime, if selected will be responsible for the successful completion of the project and management of the project since the award is between the Government and the Prime. The Government will NOT have any contractual vehicle setup between any other project partners other than the Prime. The Prime will be responsible for setting up the contractual arrangements between themselves and the other project partners to ensure efforts are completed.