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["INSTRUCTIONS"]
[1,"All questions pertaining to this funding opportunity announcement should be emailed to geothermaldrilling@ee.doe.gov."]
[2,"All questions pertaining to EERE Exchange should be emailed to EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include FOA name and number in subject line."]
[3,"All questions and answers pertaining to this FOA will be posted on EERE Exchange within this spreadsheet."]
[4,"DOE will attempt to respond to a question within 3 business days, unless a similar question and answer have already been posted in this spreadsheet. "]
[5,"All questions should be submitted no later than 3 business days prior to the application due date. Questions submitted after this date will not be answered."]
[6,"Questions are assigned a number in accordance with when they are reviewed by DOE.  "]
[7,"Questions are assigned a topic area by DOE when reviewed."]
[]
["TIPS"]
[1,"Applicants may sort questions and answers in the FOA Content Questions tab of this spreadhseet by selecting the drop-down box arrows on the column headers and selecting any of the listed attributes."]
[2,"Applicants may search for questions and/or keywords by holding CTRL+F on the keyboard and typing in a phrase or keyword."]

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["ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTION AND ANSWER LOG"]
["DE-FOA-0002656 - Geothermal Drilling Technology Demonstration Campaign"]
["Question #","Date Submitted","Topic","Question","Answer"]
[1,"2022-02-10","Technical Topics","Regarding the drilling performance baseline requirements, as described on page 11 of the FOA, we are wondering about the ability to use a full-scale drilling and completions laboratory...If we can demonstrate that the use of [our facilicy] will provide an appropriate baseline performance comparison against an actual well drilling test, would we be considered responsive to the FOA? Note, in this scenario [the facility] would only be used for the baseline. We would propose to drill an actual well or a segment of a well for the performance test.","Applications that rely solely on laboratory-based drilling performance measurements would not be considered responsive to this FOA.  Laboratory testing may be allowed as a component of a project, however, both the baseline and the improvements in performance must be validated with relevant field data."]
[2,"2022-02-10","Technical Topics","We recognize that “projects that will not include a field validation during the period of performance of the award” will be deemed non-responsive (page 13 of the FOA). However, considering the unique capabilities of [our facility], we would like to know if we would be responsive to the FOA if our performance test and our baseline test were both performed using [the facility]. That is, we would not drill an actual well or segments of a well, but use [our facility] to satisfy the requirement of “field validation”. As we described in the first question, [the facility] is a full-scale drilling facility and we believe it can be used to accomplish the objectives of the FOA without the need to drill an actual well.","Applications that rely solely on laboratory-based drilling performance measurements would not be considered responsive to this FOA.  Laboratory testing may be allowed as a component of a project, however, both the baseline and the improvements in performance must be validated with relevant field data."]
[3,"2022-02-16","Technical Topics","On page 10, it is mentioned that the anticipated bottom hole equilibriated temperature should be higher than 275F; Is it needed that the well demonstration needs to be till that depth or, can we select a region where targeted temperature will be at 275F at higher depths but the testing will be done at shallower depths?","Projects proposing shallow drilling that is not expected to reach the required minimum temperature will not be considered responsive to this FOA."]
[4,"2022-02-16","Technical Topics","Can the Drilling Demos initiative apply to low-temperature drillers and geothermal operators and developers as well?","Temperature limits are defined on page 10 of the funding opportunity announcement.  In addition, please note that applications focused on drilling for geothermal heat pumps will not be considered responsive to the topic (page 13)."]
[5,"2022-02-23","Technical Topics","Can we utilize this DOE funding  for reworking abandoned wells? ","Please see page 10 of the announcement: “Projects selected under this FOA will involve the drilling of either individual sections of a well or the drilling of entire well(s).”  Well rework processes are not of interest under this FOA, however, some non-drilling well operations may be allowable when they are required to enable the drilling of new well sections."]
[6,"2022-02-25","Foreign Entities/Work","We have a contractor drilling expert based in the UK that we use for computational modeling and technical write-ups that we would like to include as a team member/subrecipient.  Will we need to submit a waiver to allow him to participate with us or is the requirement more in regards to demonstration?","There may be limited circumstances where it is in the interest of the project to perform a portion of the work outside the United States. To seek a foreign work waiver, the applicant must submit a written waiver request to EERE. Appendix C lists the necessary information that must be included in a request for a foreign work waiver. The applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of EERE that a waiver would further the purposes of the FOA and is in the economic interests of the United States. EERE may require additional information before considering a waiver request. Save the waiver request(s) in a single PDF file. The applicant does not have the right to appeal EERE’s decision concerning a waiver request."]
[7,"2022-02-25","Technical Topics","If we have access to the FORGE site and will be a part of future drilling opportunities at that site, can we utilize that planned project to apply for funding under this FOA, even though that is a government-funded testing facility?","Government-funded test facilities may be allowed as drilling demonstration sites.  FOA requirements are the same as for any other demonstration site. Please note: All resources being utilized for a proposed project under this and all EERE FOAs cannot be included as a cost on any other award and must not have been previously paid for in whole or in part by any other federal award."]
[8,"2022-02-26","Technical Topics","Can the applicant propose more than one technology and/or technique targeted at achieving an accumulated 25% improvement in average geothermal drilling rates, and is there a limit to the number of technology and/or techniques to be proposed? An example to be clear: If a Technology A and a Technique B is expected to achieve 10% and 15% as a result of their own contribution and/or cumulative effect, would an application focusing on these two aspects be eligible to be considered in this regard, or should they be expected to achieve 25% improvement each? ","There is no limit on the number of technologies or techniques that may be included in a project. The 25% performance target in the FOA (page 10) refers to the overall project impact and not to individual technologies or techniques."]
[9,"2022-03-02","EERE Exchange","If you select “Create Letter of Intent” in Exchange, will there be additional information required on a subsequent screen? Or by selecting “Create Letter of Intent” will this submit the information for this solicitation without the ability to add, change, or delete any information on this page?  For example, will Key Participants’ information be requested on subsequent screen(s)?","When an applicant clicks the Create Letter of Intent button on the Letter of Intent Details page the information provided in the LOI Details form is saved in Exchange for the Letter of Intent Submission report, creates a Full Application submission record, assigns a Control Number, Prepopulates the Full Application record with the Letter of Intent content.  Applicants can then open the Full Application details submission record to review, add to or edit the information provided in the Letter of Intent phase of the submission process."]
[10,"2022-03-02","Application Content/Format","On page 26 it shows that the technical volume is limited to 25 pages and on page 28 it states that the technical volume should be no more than 30 pages. Can you please clarify the correct page limit for the technical volume?","The technical volume itself should be limited to 25 pages. With the cover page, charts/graphs, etc. included, the entire document should not exceed 30 pages total."]
[11,"2022-03-02","Application Content/Format","The FOA asks for the Letter of Intent to include the following: \"The Project Team, including: The Principal Investigator for the prime recipient; Team Members (i.e., subrecipients); and Key Participants (i.e., individuals who contribute in a substantive, measurable way to the execution of the proposed project).\" The distinction between Team Members and Key Participants is not differentiated on the form. Moreover, the form shows that only the contact information for the lead technical point of contact and % contribution for Team Members is all that is required. Please advise how you want Key Participants to be identified and if you want their % contribution to be reflected. ","After you click on the \"Apply\" button in the FOA, on the next screen, please enter the requested information for the lead organization, i.e. the applicant organization. We do not request information for the Key Participants on this screen. We do, however, request information for any Team Members that will be included in the project, i.e. other organizations involved in the project that will be subrecipients to the lead organization. Since Key Participants are part of the lead organization, it is not necessary to include their percent effort. We are only looking to determine what percentage of the project will be conducted by the lead/applicant organization and what percentage of the project will be conducted by any Team Member(s)/subrecipient organization(s)."]
[12,"2022-03-02","EERE Exchange","When adding a Team Member, a check box asks whether this is a location of work for the project. Does this mean whether the individual will be working on the project at the address shown on the form?","Yes; please mark this check box if the address listed will also be a location where work for the proposed project will be conducted."]
[13,"2022-03-02","LOI","Are you interested in resumes or short biographies of the PI, Team Members, and/or Key Participants for the Letter of Intent or only when the Full Application is submitted?","EERE only requests resumes/CVs for the PI and all Key Participants at the time of full application submission."]
[14,"2022-03-03","Other","What is the projected end-date for completion of the demonstration for this FOA?","DOE anticipates making awards in the Fall of 2022, each with a project period of performance between 24 and 48 months."]
[15,"2022-03-07","Tech Topics","The announcement states that \"applications that propose drilling in oil and gas fields are not of interest.\" Could you please provide clarification surrounding this requirement and a definition of what the DOE considers to be an oil & gas field? ","Applications that propose drilling in sedimentary basins in which oil and gas have been produced are not of interest under this FOA. Applications of interest include lithology that is typically associated with hydrothermal and/or enhanced geothermal system (EGS) resources."]
[16,"2022-03-08","Tech Topics","What specifically does \"geothermal\" mean in the context of this solicitation? ","The anticipated bottom hole temperature must be greater than 275 degrees F, and in lithology that is typically associated with hydrothermal and/or enhanced geothermal system (EGS) resources."]
[17,"2022-03-08","Tech Topics","Would this FOA include Ground Source Heat Pump systems with Vertical or Horizontal Ground Heat Exchangers, or is the FOA more focused on \"hot rock\" approaches with deep drilling in locations with thermal vents, etc.?","Drilling for Ground Source Heat Pumps is not of interest for this FOA."]
[18,"2022-03-08","Tech Topics","Would this FOA support technology that could leverage geothermal applications to make them potentially more economical through added benefits, or is the FOA only looking for improved drilling techniques?","This FOA is focused on increased drilling performance."]
[19,"2022-03-08","Other","Because there are lots of potential technology partners, how can we create flexibility in our application so we’re not just stuck with one or two partner vendors, but rather we can constantly evaluate new options to put downhole while we’re drilling our demonstration well(s). Do we submit the letter of intent independently and then put out RFPs (Request for Proposals) from key service supplier vendors?","Yes, this would be an acceptable approach as long as all other FOA requirements are met, e.g. establishing a drilling performance baseline. See Section VI.B.xvii. for additional information and requirements regarding Participants and Collaborating Organizations."]
[20,"2022-03-10","FFRDCs/Labs","If a national laboratory is the lead on the proposal partnering with a geothermal operator as a sub-recipient and university research partners as third parties, would the partnering funds flow directly from DOE to the partners, or would the funds flow to the national laboratory as prime recipient to be sent out by the laboratory to the partners as subcontract funds?","DOE funds will always flow directly to the prime recipient, either FFRDC or non-FFRDC, who is then responsible for allocating funds among the sub-recipient(s). DOE does not invoice sub-recipients or track their financial progress in any way. The responsibility of ensuring costs are reasonable, allocable, and allowable among sub-recipients falls to the prime recipient. "]
[21,"2022-03-10","Other","Can a sub-recipient award exceed the monetary value of a prime-recipient award?","There is no specific requirement regarding how funding should be allocated among the prime recipient and sub-recipient(s)."]
[22,"2022-03-10","Other","Is there a provision in the FOA that requires Prevailing Wages or Davis-Bacon wage requirements for the portion or portions of the projects that use the FOA monies?","No, this FOA does not stipulate Prevailing Wages or Davis-Bacon wage requirements."]
[23,"2022-03-15","Other","We are trying to determine who to lead the proposal. Will we be able to switch lead organizations after the LOI has been submitted? If so, do both organizations need to submit an LOI or will there be an opportunity to open a new Exchange submission after the LOI phase?","Applicants can change the lead organization and team member information in the full application record in EERE Exchange up to the submission deadline. However, applicants must submit an LOI to be eligible to submit a Full Application. A Lead Org must be chosen in time for the Lead Org to submit an LOI.\n\nApplicants will click the \"Apply\" button for the FOA to open the Letter of Intent Details page (After the Letter of Intent deadline passes, applicants clicking \"Apply\" will be sent to the Full Application Details page).\n\nWhen the applicant clicks the \"Create Letter of Intent\" button on the Letter of Intent Details page, Exchange creates a Full Application submission record and assigns it a Control Number. The information provided on the Letter of Intent Details page is saved to an FOA LOI Report and then used to pre-populate the Full Application submission record that it just created. If the New Lead Org clicks the \"Apply\" button and follows the application process, Exchange will create a new Full Application record with a new Control Number."]
[24,"2022-03-28","Tech Topics","We have on our site two previously drilled wells that are not in use. One encountered poor permeability and moderate temperature and could be a good well on which to test EGS technology. Is that part of this FOA or is it exclusively for new wells?","EGS [stimulation] is not part of this FOA, but deepening an existing well might be allowable.  The well does not have to be new, but there does have to be new footage being drilled in order to meet the FOA requirements.\nThe FOA further stipulates that the hole size of the new section drilled must be 8.75” in diameter or greater, in rocks at 275F or greater, and in rocks typically found in hydrothermal and/or EGS settings.\n\nFrom Page 10 of the FOA:\n\n\"Because the primary interest of this FOA is to implement the proposed technology or techniques in a geothermal well, target drilling conditions of interest are: \n--Anticipated bottom hole equilibrated temperature of 275°F or greater \n--Drilled hole diameter typically 8.5 inches or greater at total well depth \n--Lithology that is typically associated with hydrothermal and/or enhanced geothermal system (EGS) resources\""]
[25,"2022-03-29","Tech Topics","Could you please clarify if applicants are required to obtain access to execute a geothermal drilling activity with the proposed technology/technique? Is such a drilling activity a required part of the proposal?","Please see page 10 of the announcement: \"Projects selected under this FOA will involve the drilling of either individual sections of a well or the drilling of entire well(s).\" This FOA is directed at field demonstrations of drilling technologies/techniques directed at improving drilling rates of geothermal wells."]
[27,"2022-03-31","LOI","EERE Exchange permits 4,000 characters. The FOA permits 200 words (or ~1,200 characters). Which should we adhere to?","Please adhere to the guidance found in the FOA beginning on page 25 regarding content and form of the Letter of Intent. All word and page limits listed in the FOA should be followed."]
[28,"2022-03-31","LOI","The FOA mentions % effort for the lead and EERE requests % effort for all partners. What should we include?","If your organization is planning to partner with one or more suborganizations for your proposed project, please include the % effort for those organizations as part of your LOI submission."]
[26,"2022-04-01","LOI","Is there a screening process after submission of an LOI or are all who submit an LOI eligible to submit the Full Application?","The LOI is not evaluated for merit by EERE. However, all applicants intending to submit a Full Application must submit an LOI to be eligibile for Full Application submission.\n\nAdditionally, please see page 25 of the funding opportunity announcement: Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent by the specified due date and time to be eligible to submit a Full Application. Letters of Intent will be used by EERE to plan for the merit review process. The letters should not contain any proprietary or sensitive business information. The letters will not be used for down-selection purposes, and do not commit an applicant to submit an application. EERE will not review or consider ineligible Letters of Intent (see Section IV.C. of the FOA)."]
[27,"2022-04-01","Tech Topics","Are casing and cementing costs considered allowable costs when developing a demonstration budget?","Yes"]
[28,"2022-04-05","Application Content/Format","On page 26 of the FOA in the document table, it lists the page limit of the Technical Volume as 25 pages (not including the Cover Sheet). On the top of page 28 of the FOA, it states, “The Technical Volume to the Full Application may not be more than 30 pages, including the cover page, table of contents, and all citations, charts, graphs, maps, photos, or other graphics, and must include all of the information in the table below.” (not including Cover Sheet)\n\nDoes this mean that the Technical Volume should be 25 pages of technical content, and the other 5 pages account for Cover Page, Table of Contents, and all other citations? ","Yes, this is correct. The technical content of the Technical Volume should not exceed 25 pages, and the entire document should not exceed 30 pages, including the technical content, cover page, table of contents, citations, etc."]
[29,"2022-04-06","Tech Topics","On page 10 of the FOA, the target metric is defined as a 25% increase of ROP; however, the general theme of the FOA is targeting cost reduction of geothermal well construction. How is this rationalized with proposals that demonstrate technology where drilling cost reduction is seen through other elements of well construction such as reduction in non-productive time (reducing number of trips etc), or reducing fluid losses while drilling? Is there an ROP equivalency metric as a function of cost reduction that can be defined?","Improvement in drilling rate is a requirement for projects selected under this FOA, however, cost reductions due to other improvements may also be considered to varying degrees (see FOA Sections V.A and V.C)  In addition, please note that average daily ROP can measure benefits due to reduced trips and reduced non-productive time. There is not an ROP equivalency metric as a function of cost reduction that can be defined."]
[30,"2022-04-06","Tech Topics","How are temperature capabilities of proposed drilling technology compared against rate of penetration increase in the application review? While the minimum temperature stated in the FOA is 275°F reservoir temperature, this is well below average the temperatures for geothermal development in the US and there is a broad step change in drilling technology required at around 350°F operating temperature of the bottom hole assembly (assumed hotter reservoir temperature but with cooling systems while drilling).\n\nThe concern is that a minimum viable product designed for 275°F reservoir temperature could easily accomplish the FOA goals, but completely lack more realistic temperature capabilities, and technology requirements demanded, such as measurement and logging while drilling systems, in realistic commercial geothermal developments. While this technology may not have an impact on the ROP, it does have a reduction in the cost of well construction and well placement. How is this rationalized?","275°F is the minimum temperature for applications to be considered responsive to this FOA, and technologies that are suitable for higher temperatures are desirable.  Please also see response to Question #29."]
[31,"2022-04-19","Application Content/Format","Is there a separate subrecipient budget justification workbook for DE-FOA-0002656, or should subrecipients use the Excel template labeled “Budget_Justification_Workbook”?","Subrecipients can use the same Excel template that the prime recipient will use, \"Budget_Justification_Workbook\"."]
[32,"2022-04-22","Other","Please let me know whether I need to obtain a UEI number for this solicitation and if so, where it is required in the submittal documents.","All Applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) before submitting their application. Unique Entity IDs are issued by SAM.gov and are a part of an entity's record in the Entity Information section of SAM.gov. The UEI number field has been added to the Registration, My Account, and submission pages.  Additionally, users will have the ability to view the UEI number on submission, organization, and user reports. Please enter your organization's UEI whenever it is requested."]
[33,"2022-04-22","Other","Can you please explain the interpretation of “third party” entities where in the first excerpt it states that third-party in-kind contributions are acceptable when (A) (3) “They are necessary and reasonable for the proper and efficient accomplishment of project or program objectives.” Whereas, the second excerpt describes third parties as “(entities that do not have a role in performing the scope of work).” This seems to be a contradiction; please help explain the difference in meaning and who can contribute in-kind contributions. In addition, can the Prime Recipient’s third-party service providers who are project contributors be third parties with in-kind contributions or do they all have to be formal subrecipients?  Clarification is needed to help understand the differences regarding “third party” described in these two excerpts. What makes a “third party” in this context different than a vendor/contractor?","Third-party entities are not directly involved in performing the scope of work for the project. Only Key Personnel (e.g. Principal Investigators, Co-Investigators) should influence the direction and scope of the project, in conjunction with EERE. In-kind contributions can be made by the prime and sub-recipients and third parties. Third-party entities do not need to be formal subrecipients on an award to make in-kind contributions to the project.  Per 2 CFR 200.331(b), a vendor/contractor provides goods and services for the non-Federal entity's own use and has a procurement relationship with the non-Federal entity.  As such, vendors/contractors do not make in-kind contributions."]
[34,"2022-04-22","Other","Guidance in the FOA says, “EERE anticipates making awards that will run from 24 up to 48 months in length, comprised of one or more budget periods.” If we go for a compressed timeline (perhaps a year or less), how will the judging of the proposal be impacted?  As long as enough milestones, go/no-go decision points are included in the compressed plan, will this approach be acceptable?  And with the compressed plan, will DOE be able to promptly respond (short timeframe) with go/no-go decisions as required by the compressed timeline?  If the decisions are rendered slowly, NPT, mob/demob, and lost rig availability risks (and costs) rise. ","24 months should not be considered a minimum project length.  Shorter projects can be proposed if all FOA requirements are met. Applicants should allow for at least six weeks near the end of each budget period for DOE to evaluate projects for Go/No-go decisions and to formalize the decision with an award modification."]
[35,"2022-04-22","Other","The FOA references “SMART milestones,” “budgetary phases,” and “go/no-go decision points.”  How do these line-up?  Can they be on the same frequency and thus can be all addressed simultaneously in one meeting?  Or are they at different frequencies and thus don’t line up?  And if they don’t line up, are each effectively a go/no-go decision point?","Go/No-go points always correspond with the end of a budget period, and a ‘Go’ decision must be reached before the next budget period will be authorized.  Milestones are not required to align with Go/No-go points. If your application is selected for funding, during award negotiations, you  will work with your Technical Project Officer to establish a final version of your Statement of Project Objectives. This will outline Go/No-go points, milestones, and their timeframes."]
[36,"2022-04-26","Application Content/Format","The Budget Justification Workbook does not allow you to add lines, and we will have more than 50 vendors for our project.","We advise that you create a separate Excel attachment where you can include all of your vendors, and in the Budget Justification Workbook, on the Contractual tab, you can make a note to “See Attachment X for full list of Vendors.” Just be sure to include the Vendors’ totals on the Contractual tab of the Workbook so that your totals in the Budget Justification will sync up."]
[37,"2022-05-04","Application Content/Format","Please confirm that each subrecipient whose budget exceeds $250,000 is required to provide a separate Budget Justification Workbook in the full application. Does each subrecipient who submits a Budget Justification Workbook exceeding $250,000 need to also provide separate Forms SF-424 and SF-LLL, or are Forms SF-424 and SF-LLL only required for the primary recipient? ","Each subrecipient whose budget exceeds $250,000 is required to provide a separate Budget Justification. Prime recipients and subrecipients are each required to complete and submit an SF-LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities”.  Only the prime recipient will be required to complete and submit the SF-424 Application form."]
[38,"2022-05-04","Application Content/Format","An annual audit will be conducted by the DOE for the primary and subrecipients who receive more than $750,000 from the DOE. Is the cost of the audits to be included as part of the Budget Justification Workbook, and if so, does the DOE have an estimate for what this will cost for each audit? Is the audit performed by a third-party auditor? Do the primary and subrecipients select the third-party auditor, or is the third-party auditor assigned by the DOE, and if so, are the costs for the third-party auditor paid by the DOE? ","As stated in Section VIII.P. of the FOA, “Annual Independent Audits”, if a for-profit entity is a prime recipient and has expended $750,000 or more of DOE awards during the entity's fiscal year, an annual compliance audit performed by an independent auditor is required. If an educational institution, non-profit organization, or state/local government is a prime recipient or subrecipient and has expended $750,000 or more of federal awards during the non-federal entity's fiscal year, then a Single or Program-Specific Audit is required. For additional information regarding the cost and selection of auditors, please refer to 2 CFR 910.501 and Subpart F. Applicants and subrecipients (if applicable) should propose sufficient costs in the project budget to cover the costs associated with the audit. EERE will share in the cost of the audit at its applicable cost share ratio.  "]
[39,"2022-05-04","Application Content/Format","The budget amounts in the Budget Justification Workbooks are to be adjusted for inflation. Is justification for the inflation adjustment to be documented in the full application Statement of Project Objectives (SOPO), Technical Volume (TV), or other document(s)? Does the DOE have a source for what the inflation adjustment should be or is this left to the discretion of the primary recipient to determine? ","Estimated budget values should be established in accordance with the applicable cost principles, i.e. amounts chargeable to the project are determined on the basis of costs incurred. \n\nAll expenditures must be allowable, allocable, and reasonable in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles. \nRefer to the following applicable federal cost principles for more information: \n• 48 CFR 31.2 for For-Profit entities; and \n• 2 CFR 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles for all other non-federal entities. \n\nCosts for contingencies are generally unallowable. Fee or profit, including foregone fee or profit, are not allowable as project costs (including cost share) under any resulting award. "]
[40,"2022-05-04","Application Content/Format","How should the cost share requirements of 50/50 and 80/20 subrecipients (FFRDCs) be identified in the Budget Justification Workbook? The Budget Justification Workbook does not differentiate between partners that are 50/50 versus 80/20. ","Please include estimates for all subrecipient, vendor, and FFRDC costs on the Contractual tab of the Budget Justification Workbook. Cost Share contributions from the prime and subrecipient(s) are captured on the Cost Share tab by amount."]
[41,"2022-05-04","Application Content/Format","The legal name, EIN/TIN, and UEI numbers and address are specified in the SF-424 and SF-LLL forms. Does the DOE use this information for determining where to send grant payments as well as for reporting to the IRS for tax purposes? Will the SF-424 and SF-LLL legal name be used for public relations and overall visibility purposes? ","The legal name, EIN/TIN, and UEI that the prime recipient lists on the SF-424 and SF-LLL should match what is listed for the prime recipient organization in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). This information is used during award negotiations to evaluate the current standing of the prime recipient and is necessary for all payment procedures. DOE will use the “d.b.a.” moniker of the prime recipient for public relations purposes, if one exists. Also, please see FOA Section VIII.D., Treatment of Application Information."]
[42,"2022-05-05","Cost Sharing","Does the minimum cost share percentage (20% for R&D and 50% for demonstration) remain unchanged in case of a patent waiver request?   ","A patent waiver request has no effect on the minimum cost share percentage requirement. Please see Section VIII. J. of the FOA for more information on patent waivers. Please also see Section III. B. of the FOA for more information on cost share requirements."]
[43,"2022-05-11","Application Content/Format","In Section 18 of the SF-424, should we reflect the entire project budget for the prime recipient and sub-recipients since we are the prime recipient?","Yes; as the prime recipient, you are the pass-through entity for all federal funding received. You are responsible for distributing the federal funding received to your subrecipients. Section 18 of the SF-424 should reflect the total amounts for the entire project."]
[44,"2022-05-12","Application Content/Format","In Section 18 of the SF-424, part b. Applicant - Is the amount to be reflected with or without cost-share included?","Please include the complete total of cost-share to be contributed and/or received by the Applicant, cash and in-kind contribution(s)."]
[45,"2022-05-12","Application Content/Format","In Section 18 of the SF-424, according to the instructions provided with the Form, it appears that the requested information is only for the first budget period.  Please advise if this is correct or if the total project budget is to be provided.  Please also advise if Form SF-424 is to be included in the full application since it appears that this form is to be completed once an award is provided.","Please include the total amounts for the entire project in Section 18 of the SF-424. This form must be submitted with your full application."]
[46,"2022-05-12","Application Content/Format","Please be advised that the most recent version of Form SF-424 from EERE Exchange (updated 05_05_22) requested the Organizational DUNS whereas the previous version requested the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier).\n\nPlease advise which is requested to be included in the Form SF-424 and if it is OK to use the previous version of Form SF-424.\n\nAlso, please be advised that the most recent 05_05_22 version of Form SF-424 from EERE Exchange is not a fillable form (the previous version was).","Applicants have experienced difficulty downloading and opening the most recent version of the SF-424 from EERE Exchange (downloaded and uploaded from Grants.gov). EERE has replaced the newest version of the SF-424 on EERE Exchange with an older version of the SF-424 . Applicants will not be penalized for submitting the old version of the SF-424 that is currently available on EERE Exchange. Applicants are also free to obtain and submit the newest version of the SF-424 directly from Grants.gov, if they are able to download it."]
[47,"2022-05-12","Tech Topics","On page 10 of the FOA, the target metric is defined as a 25% increase in ROP.  In the Q&A spreadsheet (question 29), it says the measurement basis will be the average daily ROP, but what will the baseline for that be based on?  ","It is up to the Applicant to determine how the performance baseline is set; examples are given on page 11 of the FOA."]
[48,"2022-05-12","Other","We are trying to understand the relationship between Go/No-go decisions and invoicing.  Is it correct to assume that after a positive outcome at a Go/No-go decision, the DOE makes available the budget allocated for the next steps that precede the next Go/No-go decision? ","Yes, that is correct."]
[49,"2022-05-12","Other","Is it correct that, after a positive outcome at a Go/No-go decision point, the available budget is then paid to the project leader's organization on an approved invoice basis (with backup material for the invoicing approved by DOE – receipts, etc.) or on a more frequent time interval agreed to during award negotiation?  ","The specific process for reimbursement will be determined during award negotiations and depends in part on the type of organization that is receiving the award (e.g., institute of higher education vs. for-profit company vs. DOE national laboratory, etc.)."]
[50,"2022-05-12","Other","Is it correct that the project leader's organization must have enough cash liquidity to pay the contractors' invoices ahead of payment from the DOE if the payment for the invoice from the contractor is due before the payment arrives for the project leader's organization invoice to the DOE?  ","This is typically the case, however, the specifics are determined on a case-by-case basis during award negotiations.  Please see the Recipient’s Guide to Award Negotiations with EERE for more information: https://www.energy.gov/eere/funding/downloads/recipient-s-guide-award-negotiations-eere. "]
[51,"2022-05-18","Data Mgmt","Will we be allowed to host the data associated with our project if we were awarded the grant? Are there any costs associated with submitting and hosting our data on the GDR?","If awarded, you will be allowed to use the GDR for data hosting.  The cost of hosting on GDR is covered by EERE.  There is no additional cost from EERE for hosting the data, but EERE does ask recipients to plan into their budgets some time for themselves to organize and properly document their data prior to uploading it.  Depending on the volume and complexity of the data generated by your project, this could take anywhere from a few hours to a week or more."]
[52,"2022-05-19","Application Content/Format","The FOA states that Applicants can use either a two page resume or NSF biosketch. Can the NIH biosketch format also be used?","In this particular FOA, since biosketches are not explicitly required, we will accept either NSF or NIH biosketches in lieu of resumes."]
[53,"2022-05-19","Other","Can an Applicant have Go/No-gos in the middle of a budget period or do they have to be at the end of each budget period? In other words, is it possible to have a Go/No-go decision in month 8 of a 12-month budget period?","Go/No-go points always align with the end of a Budget Period and prior to authorization of the next  Budget Period.  Additional decision points and project controls may be included, but we reserve the term “Go/No-go” for this process occurring between budget periods to avoid confusion.  Please see FOA section VI.B.xiii. Go/No-Go Review for additional information."]
[54,"2022-05-19","Other","If an Applicant includes a Go/No-go in the middle of a budget period, will that affect payment or progress of the project?","Please see response to Question #52."]
[55,"2022-05-19","Other","If there are research and development efforts that are already underway, is it possible for the award to cover the cost of the remaining R&D activities if they tie directly to the project and fall within the project period?","Award funds can be used for continued R&D. However, if the project has received prior federal funding, it is not eligible for an award, and any R&D that occurs prior to selection is not eligible for reimbursement."]
[56,"2022-05-19","Other","In the SOPO template, the tasks are broken up into the budget phases, but in the technical volume workplan template, they seem to be listed without referencing the budget period. If  several tasks span and overlap budget periods, is it possible to list the tasks in the SOPO how they are listed in the workplan without mentioning the budget period? Would an Applicant need to have each task specially confined to one budget period, or can we have the task flowing from one budget period to the next?","No; if a project is planned to include multiple budget periods, then Go/No-go points must be described in the SOPO.  Also, The Workplan should include a summary of the Project Objectives, Technical Scope, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Milestones, Go/No-Go Decision Points, and Project Schedule (Page 29 of the FOA). SOPOs must clearly delineate where the work ends in one Budget Period and what activities begin after the Go/No-go in the next Budget Period. This is typically done by separating ongoing work into separate SOPO tasks.  Exceptions do exist, e.g. a task dedicated solely to project reporting will often span the entire project (including multiple Budget Periods). "]
[57,"2022-05-22","Application Content/Format","Concerning the page limit for the Technical Volume: While the table under Full Application Content Requirements on page 26 of the FOA requires a 25 page limit, the second paragraph of page 28 of the FOA states that: The Technical Volume to the Full Application may not be more than 30 pages, including the cover page, table of contents, and all citations, charts, graphs, maps, photos, or other graphics, and must include all of the information in the table below. Which one is correct?","Please see response to Question #28."]
[58,"2022-05-22","Application Content/Format","If I have an Appendix to the Technical Volume, and directly attaching it to the Technical Tolume will exceed the page limit, could I submit the appendix as a stand-alone document?","Yes; please submit all Appendices as a separate PDF."]
[59,"2022-05-23","Other","Can a prime recipient purchase commercially available supplies or services from the prime recipient’s affiliate(s)? If yes, should these supplies or services be budgeted and purchased at cost or at a for-profit rate? ","Recipients and Subrecipients must compete purchases of commercially available supplies or services in accordance with the “Procurement Standards” outlined in 2 CFR 200.317 – 2 CFR 200.327. Recipients must have a conflict of interest policy and, organizational conflicts must be mitigated."]
[60,"2022-05-23","Application Content/Format","In the “contractual” worksheet,  there are only five lines for sub-contractual vendors, and the worksheet won’t allow us to add any additional rows. How best to resolve this issue if we have more than five vendors? Should we group and sum subcontracting expenses, then explain how the grouping was done in the “Additional Explanation (as needed)” section?","Please see response to Question #36. "]
[61,"2022-05-23","Application Content/Format","Concerning the requirements for quotes for expenses above $250K: do the quotes have to be specific to this project, or can we use quotes from other recent projects and extrapolate based on the unit cost?","Clarification: Subrecipients are required to submit a Budget Justification if their portion of the project costs will be more than $250,000 or 25% of the total work effort (whichever is less). Vendors (including contractors), with total project costs of $250,000 or more, must provide a Vendor quote. Quotes from vendors for Equipment are required for all items that have an individual cost of $50,000 or more. This also applies to individual items that, when assembled, will create a piece of equipment that will cost $50,000 or more. Individual items must be considered in the aggregate when they will be assembled to create one piece of equipment. Also, all items that cost over $5,000 and have a useful life of more than one year will be considered equipment, not supplies. All quotes must be recent and directly related to the proposed project.  If the vendor quote is not an exact price match, provide an explanation in the additional explanation section of the Budget Justification."]
[62,"2022-05-24","FFRDCs/Labs","Who is the program manager and contact phone number that we need to use to complete an NREL field work proposal?","Please leave those fields blank."]
[63,"2022-05-25","Cost Sharing","We understand that there is a cost sharing requirement, however, when we input the budget information into the “Funds and Cost” tab, it says that there is a minimum of 50% cost share. According to the FOA, the recipient’s cost share must be at least 20% of the total allowable costs for research and development activities and 50% of the total allowable costs for demonstration activities (i.e., drilling). We are not including the demonstration activities within our proposal so we do not need to cost share 50%. Can you please provide some insight on why it is requiring 50% cost sharing within the portal?","Cost share between 20% and 50% is allowable because projects that include an initial R&D phase at 20% will result in a blended overall cost share (weighted average of the R&D and demo phases).  Any allowable R&D activities need to be directly relevant to design and planning of the demonstration activities, which are required under the FOA."]
[64,"2022-05-26","Application Content/Format","Is the Current and Pending Support form only required of organizations like National Labs and Universities, or is it required of every company regardless of whether they have any ongoing federally funded research?","The principal investigator and each senior/key person at the recipient and subrecipient level must provide a list of all sponsored activities, awards, and appointments, whether paid or unpaid; provided as a gift with terms or conditions or provided as a gift without terms or conditions; full-time, part-time, or voluntary; faculty, visiting, adjunct, or honorary; cash or in-kind; foreign or domestic; governmental or private-sector; directly supporting the individual’s research or indirectly supporting the individual by supporting students, research staff, space, equipment, or other research expenses. All foreign government-sponsored talent recruitment programs must be identified in current and pending support. Please see Section D.xvii. of the FOA for more information on the current and pending support requirement."]
[65,"2022-05-26","Application Content/Format","For theCurrent and Pending Support form, how do you define senior/key participant?  Are these the team members only or team members and key participants?","The principal investigator and each senior/key person at the recipient and subrecipient level must provide a list of all current and pending support. Key personnel include individuals without whom execution of the project would not be possible, e.g. principal investigator(s), co-investigator(s), etc."]
[66,"2022-05-26","Application Content/Format","Do you need a Current and Pending Support form from the main representative of each subrecipient organization (team member) or every individual team member and key participant who is submitting a resume?","The principal investigator and each senior/key person at the recipient and subrecipient level must provide a list of all current and pending support. Please see Section D.xvii. of the FOA for more information on the current and pending support requirement."]
[67,"2022-05-26","Application Content/Format","When calculating person-months for the Current and Pending Support form, do you reflect the contribution of just the individual on the form or add up the contributions from each team member and key participants within the subrecipient organizations, potentially resulting in a person-month total of more than 12 in one calendar year?","The principal investigator and each senior/key person at the recipient and subrecipient level must each provide a list of all current and pending support. Each key person will list their person-months for each of their current and pending forms of support. Please see Section D.xvii. of the FOA for more information on the current and pending support requirement."]
[68,"2022-05-26","Other","Is the “Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs)” reflective of the total project budget or just the federally provided portion of the budget?","The total award amount is the total amount awarded by EERE. The total project budget is the sum of the total award amount + the recipient cost share amount."]
[69,"2022-05-26","Other","As PI for the entire project, should I reflect for “Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs)\" the amount for the primary plus subrecipient organizations or do you want me to reflect only the amount for the primary participant?","The total project budget should include the amount requested from EERE + the recipient cost share amount (including any subrecipient cost share contributions, both cash and in-kind). While each subrecipient receiving either 25% or more of the total project costs or $250,000 or more (whichever is less) is required to complete a separate budget justification, all subrecipient costs should be captured and reflected on the Contractual tab of the prime recipient’s budget justification."]
[70,"2022-05-30","Application Content/Format","The 2019 version of SF-424 Form is downloadable but not fillable. Do we fill the printed form, scan it and upload to the submission website?","EERE has had difficulty uploading the newest version of the SF-424 to EERE Exchange from Grants.gov. There has also been difficulty filling in the 2019 version of the SF-424, which is currently posted on the FOA page in EERE Exchange. Applicants are encouraged to download the newest version of the SF-424 directly from Grants.gov. Applicants will also not be penalized for submitting the 2019 SF-424, whether digitally or manually completed."]
[71,"2022-05-31","Cost Sharing","We are working on a proposal for this solicitation and the guidance states cost share is between 20% and 50%  - projects include an initial R&D phase at 20% and demonstration/demo activities with cost share at 50%. This will result in a blended overall cost share (weighted average of the R&D and demo phases).  \n\nWe are running into an issue when we enter the budget; it is giving us an error stating the required cost share is 50%, but that does not match the solicitation guidance. Is there a bug in the system?\n\nThe specific error states, The Application requires applicants to contribute at least 50% of total project costs. Please enter a cost share that is at least 50% of the total project costs.","EERE Exchange should now allow you to enter a cost share percentage between 20% and 50%."]

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[]
["Registration Requirements"]
["Webinar"]
["Concept Paper"]
["Eligibility"]
["Labs/FFRDCs"]
["Foreign Entities/Work"]
["Cost Sharing"]
["Due Dates"]
["Application Content/Format"]
["Intellectual Property"]
["Data Management"]
["Other"]
["U.S. Manufacturing Plan"]
["Application Reviews"]
["Technical Topics"]