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["INSTRUCTIONS"]
[1,"All questions pertaining to this Funding Opportunity Announcement should be emailed to Power.Electronics@ee.doe.gov"]
[2,"All questions pertaining to EERE Exchange should be emailed to EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include FOA name and number DE-FOA-0001740 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 has already been posted in this spreadsheet. "]
[5,"All questions should be submitted not 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 question tab of this spreadhseet by selecting the drop-down box arrow 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-FOA0001740 Advanced Power Electronics Design for Solar Applications"]
["Question #","Date Submitted","Topic","Question","Answer"]
[1,"2017-09-12","Application Reviews","Is there a deadline for applicants being notified about the results of their Concept Paper? I know the deadline to submit a concept paper is October 12, 2017, but the solicitation does not say by when applicants will be notified.","There is not a published deadline for applicants to be notified about the results of their Concept Paper. As stated in Section IV.D of the FOA document, “Applicants will have approximately 30 days from receipt of the Concept Paper Encourage/Discourage notification to prepare and submit a Full Application. Regardless of the date the applicant receives the Encourage/Discourage notification, the submission deadline for the Full Application remains the date and time stated on the FOA cover page.”"]
[2,"2017-09-12","Application Content/Format","Could you tell me if submitting a Concept Paper is required?","Yes, submission of a concept paper is required as per Section IV.A of the FOA document, “Only applicants who have submitted an eligible Concept Paper will be eligible to submit a Full Application.” Please see the full requirements in Section IV - Application and Submission Information."]
[3,"2017-09-13","Webinar","We have several folks interested in attending the webinar that is listed as September 21st in the FOA. How do we register?","Please look at the FOA in Exchange, by pasting this link into your browser: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId53bdf98a-0c8e-4bc1-9a5c-81810df79f69 . The link to the webinar is listed there. Click on the webinar link to register."]
[4,"2017-09-14","Cost Sharing","Could money from a foreign government count toward cost share? (The foreign entity would be a subrecipient.)","Yes, funds from a foreign government may be used towards cost share, if the foreign entity is a subrecipient. Please note that restrictions may apply if the foreign country providing the funds is recognized as a “politically sensitive” country."]
[5,"2017-09-15","Eligibility","We may have an industry partner in the full proposal, but do we need to identify the industry partner in the concept paper?","Please see Section IV.C. Content and Form of the Concept Paper, especially the Addendum requirements: \"Applicants are required to describe succinctly the qualifications, experience, and capabilities of the proposed Project Team...\""]
[6,"2017-09-15","Eligibility","Is this DOE funding available for \"customer-sited projects\"?","As indicated in the Topic Area - 1 (TA-1) description, on page 14, \"Proposed power electronics designs must be for behind the point of common coupling (PCC) systems integrated as a part of the PV plant.\" Moreover for Topic Area - 2 (TA-2), on page 20, the same requirement for behind the PCC systems integrated as part of the PV plant text is specified. Full details of examples applications of interest and technical requirements for TA-1 and TA-2 power electronic designs are found in Section I.B. Details of applications specifically not of interest are found in Section I.C."]
[7,"2017-09-15","Eligibility","Is a Principal Investigator (PI) who is not a permanent resident as of now, but who should be by the time of submission eligible to participate? If permanent residency is required for the PI, is it sufficient to have it at the time of the final proposal submission?","As per Section III.A., lawful permanent residents are eligible to apply for funding. Given the suggested timeline for your permanent resident application and if it was approved before December 15, 2017, you would be eligible to apply for a Full Application having had a compliant Concept Paper submission. Given the uncertainty of your achieving permanent resident status by the Full Application due date, EERE suggests you state this contingency in your Concept Paper submission as part of the Project Team qualifications section. Persons who are part of an organization applying as a Domestic Entity are not required to have a particular immigration status."]
[8,"2017-09-18","Application Content/Format","Where are the instructions for the concept paper located (such as format, length, address, etc.)?","Please refer to the FOA, section IV. Application and Submission Information, Section A. Application Process. This section addresses where and how to submit the Concept Paper. Please also refer to section IV. C. i. Concept Paper Content Requirements, for specifics such as format, length, etc. of the Concept Paper."]
[9,"2017-09-18","Application Content/Format","How many concept papers are allowed to be submitted per institution, per Topic Area?","More than one concept paper submission is allowed, including multiple within one topic area and/or to each topic area. Please see the FOA for specific compliance and submission requirements, specifically for how \"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\" (Section IV.C.i.), and likewise how \"Applicants may only submit one Full Application for each topic area of this FOA. If an applicant submits more than one Full Application to the same topic area, EERE will only consider the last timely submission for evaluation.\" (Section III.F.)"]
[10,"2017-09-19","Application Content/Format","Where can I find a template for the concept paper?","There is not a template for the Concept Paper. However, please reference the answer to Question 8 above, which details where specific requirements for the Concept Paper are listed within the FOA document. "]
[11,"2017-09-19","Eligibility","In Section III.F. (Page 34, Limitation on Number of Concept Papers and Full Applications Eligible for Review) it is stated that \"applicants may only submit one application for each topic area.\" Does this apply to individuals or institutions? In particular, I am a professor at a university, and would like to serve as a Principal Investigator (PI) for a proposal for Topic Area I. Would this mean that no other professors from the same university can serve as a PI for a different proposal within the same topic area?","Please see Section III.A. As a prime recipient, eligible applicants can be \"Individuals\", including multiple eligible university professors, and can be \"Domestic Entities\", including a university. Separate and distinct applications could come from any entity, as long as by being the prime recipient they are eligible as specified in detail in Section III.A. EERE suggests applicants seek legal council from their employer if uncertain about their ability to be the prime recipient as \"Individuals\" as compared to their employer being the prime recipient as a Domestic Entity."]
[12,"2017-09-20","Eligibility","In Section II.A.iii New Applications Only you state “EERE will not consider applications for renewals of existing EERE-funded awards through this FOA.” We have been funded by EERE in the past which allowed us to develop and demonstrate our technology in the field. We would like to productize and industrialize the technology which will involve substantial development effort. Can we apply under this FOA?","Yes, if your prior EERE-funded project is fully complete and the project is closed. No, if your prior EERE-funded project is not complete and closed. Funding for DE-FOA-0001740 will not consider applications for renewals or extensions of current EERE-funded projects."]
[13,"2017-09-19","Cost Sharing","Can the Prime provide in-kind cost share consisting of volunteer or unpaid hours contributed from a regular 40-hour week?  If so, what are the limitations for such cost share? Who from the Prime can or cannot contribute in-kind cost share consisting of volunteer or unpaid hours as defined earlier?","Please see Section III.B of the FOA document for the full cost share requirements. See also Appendix A and Appendix B."]
[14,"2017-09-19","Cost Sharing","Is the selection criteria impacted by the type of cost share that a team proposes?  In other words, is direct cash based cost share graded higher than in-kind cost share?  Is third-party cost share graded higher than Prime provided in-kind cost share?","No, the selection criteria is not impacted by the type of cost share that a team proposes."]
[15,"2017-09-21","Webinar","Where can I get a copy of the webinar slides?","A copy of the webinar slides and the transcript from the webinar has been made available in Exchange. Please download the DE-FOA-0001740 Informational Webinar Slides and DE-FOA-0001740 Informational Webinar Transcript documents from the Documents section of the posting in Exchange."]
[16,"2017-09-21","Application Content/Format","Where can I get a format for the concept paper… requirements and length?","Please refer to the FOA, section IV. Application and Submission Information, Section A. Application Process. This section addresses where and how to submit the Concept Paper. Please also refer to section IV. C. i. Concept Paper Content Requirements, for specifics such as format, length, etc. of the Concept Paper."]
[17,"2017-09-25","Eligibility","Does an applicant need to be a U.S. permanent resident?","As per Section III.A., lawful permanent residents are eligible to apply for funding. Please also note that persons who are part of an organization applying as a Domestic Entity are not required to have a particular immigration status."]
[18,"2017-09-27","Application Content/Format","Should the Concept Paper include any cost and schedule information?","See Section IV.C. In terms of cost for any proposed solar power electronics design, applicants are encouraged to highlight or reference potential lifetime cost impacts as part of describing the overall proposed technology’s level of performance and impact. Cost performance can be understood through a current state of the art analysis, including shortcomings, limitations, and challenges, and compared to potential performance and impact from the proposed design. While a schedule is required as part of the workplan for Full Applications, a schedule is not required for Concept Papers. Pleas see Section IV.C for Concept Paper requirements."]
[19,"2017-09-27","Application Content/Format","I see the grant for PV solar on Grants.gov. Could you guide me to some appropriate contacts? I am looking for the right people to connect with on this.","In order to ensure fair and equitable access to FOA information to all applicants, EERE cannot provide contacts or other personally identifiable information to any potential applicants. Applicants are encouraged to find potential partners through ther personal or various industry means."]
[20,"2017-09-29","Application Content/Format","As a prime applicant, we understand that we can only submit one full application. However, at the concept paper phase, could we submit two concemt papers wherein wer are the prime applicant in both?","More than one concept paper submission is allowed, including within one topic area and/or to each topic area. Please see the FOA for specific compliance and submission requirements, specifically for how \"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\" (Section IV.C.i.), and likewise how \"Applicants may only submit one Full Application for each topic area of this FOA. If an applicant submits more than one Full Application to the same topic area, EERE will only consider the last timely submission for evaluation.\" (section III.F.)"]
[21,"2017-10-05","Eligibility","We are a laboratory (a Department of Energy Laboratory), not an Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). Are we eligible to apply for funding under the subject FOA?","No, as a DOE entity, you are not eligible to apply as a prime recipient and likewise as a subrecipeint."]
[22,"2017-10-12","Application Content/Format","My university is trying to submit a concept paper. The award amount from the FOA says $500,000 to $3,000,000. Can I quote a budget less than $500,000? Do we need to have exact budget details when we submit the concept paper?","Yes, budgets less than $500,000 will be considered. Regarding including budget details within the concept paper, see Section IV.C. for concept paper content requirements."]
[23,"2017-11-01","Foreign Entities/Work","Under the assumption that the teaming organizations named in the concept paper remain consistent, can the lead organization be transferred from one organization to another prior to submission of a full proposal?","Yes, the lead organization can be changed during the full application submission process. The prime recipient as well as sub-recipient partners are able to be changed in the submission forms. Exchange allows submission details to be shared among registered users to support this process. Please keep in mind that regardless of prime recipient designation in the forms or shared submission details access, the unique application Control Number is assigned to the original concept paper submission account (e.g. the original principle investigator(PI)). Full application submission will therefore be logistically done via the original PI Exchange account.  "]
[24,"2017-11-01","Due Dates","We submitted a concep paper through Exchange by the published deadline. Can you please provide an estimate as to when the decision will be made to encourage or discourage, and when this decision will be communicated to us?","As per Section IV.D., “Applicants will have approximately 30 days from receipt of the Concept Paper Encourage/Discourage notification to prepare and submit a Full Application. Regardless of the date the applicant receives the Encourage/Discourage notification, the submission deadline for the Full Application remains the date and time stated on the FOA cover page.”"]
[25,"2017-11-06","Due Dates","I submitted a concept paper for this FOA and have been checking on the website regularly for updates, however, it still states that my concept paper is 'in review' and 'decision not yet available'. I believe the full application is due in December and I am trying to keep the other partner entities informed on the status. Can you provide an update?","As per Section IV.D., “Applicants will have approximately 30 days from receipt of the Concept Paper Encourage/Discourage notification to prepare and submit a Full Application. Regardless of the date the applicant receives the Encourage/Discourage notification, the submission deadline for the Full Application remains the date and time stated on the FOA cover page.”"]
[25,"2017-11-14","Due Dates","Do you have an update on when we should hear back on the concept paper outcomes? The Full Application deadline is in a month (12/15), which is a rather quick turnaround. So, we are eager to hear if we were encouraged to submit a full proposal or not.","As per Section IV.D., “Applicants will have approximately 30 days from receipt of the Concept Paper Encourage/Discourage notification to prepare and submit a Full Application. Regardless of the date the applicant receives the Encourage/Discourage notification, the submission deadline for the Full Application remains the date and time stated on the FOA cover page.”"]
[26,"2017-11-14","Eligibility","Can we add another institution/organization (as a co-PI or additional PI) for the full application submission in case the concept paper of the prime PI is approved for this FOA?","Yes, the lead organization or individual, or partners can be changed during the full application submission process. The prime recipient as well as sub-recipient partners are able to be changed in the submission forms. Exchange allows submission details to be shared among registered users to support this process. Please keep in mind that regardless of prime recipient or partner designation in the forms or shared submission details access, the unique application Control Number is assigned to the original concept paper submission account (e.g. the original principle investigator(PI)). Full application submission will therefore be logistically done via the original PI Exchange account.  "]
[27,"2017-11-13","Application Content/Format","The FOA calls out a requirement for a summary slide, however, the template for this is not available in the required documents section on EERE. Will there be a summary slide template provided?","There is not a template and one will not be provided. Applicants should simply create a slide with the information required as per the list in the FOA (Section IV.D.vii.)."]
[28,"2017-11-27","Application Content/Format","Please clarify how “applicant” is designated, specifically when two PI’s from the same organization wish to submit to the same topic area? Is it allowable for two PI’s who will be submitting to the same topic number to be listed as a Co-PI on the other’s same-topic application?","Answer pending."]
[29,"2017-12-05","Application Content/Format","Who is the DOE Program Manager?","The DOE Program Manager is Guohui Yuan."]
[30,"2017-12-05","Application Content/Format","Do subrecipients need to submit SF-424s as well?","Subrecipients are not required to submit an SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance. "]
[31,"2017-12-13","Application Content/Format","I am working with a subcontractor who plans on submitting a rate proposal in lieu of a negotiated rate agreement. The rationale is that they have an ARPA-E award where their rate proposal was accepted. Additionally, they argue that the budget template allows them to proceed with just a cost proposal. Am I correct in stating that DOE will not accept their rate proposal, or negotiate with them?","The DOE will not accept a rate proposal from a subrecipient, nor negotiate indirect and/or fringe rates with a subrecipient. It is up to the prime recipient to negotiate rates with any subrecipients, as necessary."]
[32,"2017-12-14","Cost Sharing","The program guidelines indicate that indirect costs are allowable as part of the cost-share. However, the EERE budget template instructions indicate that applicants must have prior approval in order to include indirect costs as part of their cost-share contribution. We would like to request approval to include indirect-costs as part of our institution’s cost-share contribution. Can you please let me know what steps are needed in order to receive approval?","If your full application is selected to move forward to award negotiations, the DOE will discuss allowable cost-share contributions with you during the award negotiation period."]

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