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["INSTRUCTIONS"]
[1,"All questions pertaining to this funding opportunity announcement should be emailed to SETO.OPTIMA.FOA@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 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 tabs 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-FOA0003034 - Operation and Planning Tools for Inverter-Based Resource Management and Availability for Future Power Systems (OPTIMA)"]
["Question #","Date Submitted","Topic","Question","Answer"]
[1,"2023-05-17","Other","Why was my email to SETO.OPTIMA.FOA@ee.doe.gov return as undeliverable?","Initially there was an issue with the mailbox that has now been resolved. If you received this message, please resend your email now and it will be received. You will have confirmation of acceptance by an automatic email replay saying it has been received."]
[2,"2023-05-17","Application Content/Format","Do successful proposals need to touch on all aspects for a given topic, or can a proposal focus on specific items within the topic area (i.e. focusing on just capacity expansion planning for renewable resources in Topic 1 without addressing transmission planning)","Project proposals do not need to address every technology described in the Topic Area description. Applicants are recommended to address as many of the items described in the “Project Requirements” section and table as possible. Projects that address more of the listed requirements will be viewed as more meritorious by DOE."]
[3,"2023-05-17","Technical Topics","The \"Scalability of Studies\" requirements indicates power system sizes > 10 GW.  Does this mean an actual deployment or field demonstration would need to be this size? ","No, the “Scalability of Studies” requirement refers to the ability of the project to show that simulations or studies can be performed on systems up to this size. There are no connected system size requirements for the field demonstrations in Topics 2 and 3 and Topic 1 has no field demonstration requirement."]
[4,"2023-05-17","Registration Requirements","Does DOE help applicants find utility partners in the projects?","DOE provides assistance in finding project partners through the Teaming Partners List on EERE Exchange. See FOA Section I.A.vi \"Teaming Partner List\" for additional information. If you are having trouble using the Teaming Partners List on exchange, please reach out to the FOA email address SETO.OPTIMA.FOA@ee.doe.gov or the Exchange help desk EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. "]
[5,"2023-05-17","Intellectual Property","With the focus on commercialization in order to achieve market stability for the project technologies - what are the IP rights expected by DOE?","The standard DOE financial assistance intellectual property provisions applicable to the various types of recipients are located at http://energy.gov/gc/standard-intellectual-property-ip-provisions-financial-assistance-awards."]
[6,"2023-05-17","Application Content/Format","For Topic 3, do you consider a proposal focused on distribution system health and risk assessment responsive to the FOA? ","Distribution system operations are not the intended focus of Topic Area 3. Per the topic description, project proposals must include transmission-level monitoring points."]
[7,"2023-05-17","Cost Sharing","If a proposal has both R&D and field demo, would the cost share be 50% of the total project, or 20% for R&D part and 50% for field demo part?","It would be 20% for the R&D part and 50% for the field demo. Please see Appendices A and B of the FOA for a sample calculation on split cost shares."]
[8,"2023-05-17","Eligibility","Can one person participate in two or more proposals?","Yes, an individual may apply to multiple proposals, even within the same topic area, so long as each proposal is scientifically unique. Please see FOA Sections IV.D.xv. \"Current and Pending Support\" and IV.D.xvii. \"Potentially Duplicative Funding Notice\" for additional information."]
[9,"2023-05-17","Foreign Entities/Work","Are there any restrictions or limitations to partnering with universities or organizations based outside of the United States?  ","Yes, in limited circumstances, EERE may approve a waiver to allow a foreign entity to participate as a prime recipient or subrecipient. A foreign entity may submit a Full Application to this FOA, but the Full Application must be accompanied by an explicit written waiver request. Likewise, if the applicant seeks to include a foreign entity as a subrecipient, the applicant must submit a separate explicit written waiver request in the Full Application for each proposed foreign subrecipient.\nPlease see FOA section III.A.ii. \"Foreign Entities\" and Appendix C , which lists the information that must be included in a foreign entity waiver request. The applicant does not have the right to appeal EERE’s decision concerning a waiver request."]
[10,"2023-05-17","Cost Sharing","If a field demonstration is included in the project, does it require 50% cost share for the entire project term or just during the demonstration work?  For instance, if the first two years are research to prepare the necessary software, can it be 20% first two years and 50% for the final, field demonstration year?","The 50% cost share requirement only applies to the Tasks associated with the field demonstration. Ideally, Tasks will be separated such that each budget period is comprised of either R&D tasks or demonstration tasks. Please see Appendices A and B of the FOA for a sample calculation on split cost shares."]
[11,"2023-05-17","Cost Sharing","Is cost share provided by a subcontractor or vendor partner on the project team be considered  valid?","Cost share may be provided by the prime recipient, subrecipients, or third parties (entities that do not have a role in performing the scope of work). Vendors/contractors may not provide cost share. Please see FOA Section III.B.iii \"Cost Share Types and Allowability\" for further information. "]
[12,"2023-05-17","Application Content/Format","Does the Community Benefits Plan count toward the 15-page limit of the technical volume of the proposal?","The Community Benefits Plan is a separate document with a 5-page limit."]
[13,"2023-05-17","Foreign Entities/Work","Can foreign nationals legally in the U.S. be Co-PIs of a proposal? ","Yes, with DOE's concurrence, foreign nationals can participate in project proposals. Please see FOA Section VI.B.iii \"Foreign National Participation\" for more details."]
[14,"2023-05-17","Webinar","Is there a recording of the webinar hosted on May 4th regarding this FOA?","Yes, you may find the webinar recording at EERE Exchange or here: Funding Notice: https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/funding-notice-operation-and-planning-tools-inverter-based-resource-management"]
[15,"2023-05-18","Labs/FFRDCs","Could you please advise on the interpretation of NETL's eligibility to respond to this FOA solicitation as a prime recipient?","\nNETL, owned and operated by the Government, is a DOE national laboratory that is not an FFRDC. Federal agencies are instrumentalities (other than DOE) are eligible to participant as a subrecipient but are not eligible to apply as a prime recipient.\nPlease see Section III. A. i. for further information."]
[16,"2023-05-23","Technical Topics","Our utility partner is near the limit requirements listed in the FOA, should we find a larger utility partner?","There is no system size requirement for utility partners to participate in projects or to demonstrate technologies. The listed system sizes are the desired size of transmission network that the developed software tools can be shown to be used on."]
[17,"2023-05-26","Concept Paper","How do I receive a \"control Number\" for my Concept Paper?","A Control number will be issued (auto-generated) when an applicant begins the EERE Exchange application process. \nPlease see \"Manuals\" tab at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx or contact the Exchange Helpdesk if further help is needed."]
[18,"2023-05-28","Concept Paper","Are we able to submit a concept paper to two topic areas (combined), or do we have to submit them individually?","Please see FOA section IV.C. \"Content and Form of the Concept Paper\". \nEach concept paper must be limited to a single concept or technology.  The Cover Page of the Concept Paper should include the specific announcement Topic area being addressed."]
[19,"2023-05-29","Concept Paper","May we have additional pages for the references of the concept proposal, or do these have to be accommodated within the already set page limit? ","No. All information must remain in the page limit. Please see FOA Section IV.A. \"Application Process\". "]
[20,"2023-05-31","Due Dates","My Q&A answers have not yet been answered, can I have an extention on the Concpt Paper?","There was a technical issue with the FOA email address and not all initial questions were received. The Concept Paper deadline has been extended until June 12th, to allow for these questions to be answered before submittal. Current Q&A responses can be found at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId60518cca-639a-4227-9f0a-46d56f9c6a0b"]
[21,"2023-05-31","Other","I receive a \"login Error\" and am unable to log in to the Exchange website.","Please contact the Exchange Hepldesk at: EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov"]
[23,"2023-06-01","Due Dates","It appears that the Mod 1 announced last night has not been uploaded to the FedConnect web a site?  Only the original posting is available.  Has the concept paper deadline been moved?","The preferred website to receive current information regarding this FOA is EERE-Exchange.energy.gov. You can also find FOA information at Grants.gov."]
[24,"2023-06-01","Registration Requirements","We are teaming up with a software company and they will be a sub-recipient if we get the award. In that case, do we list that company in the “Other Organizations” Exchange field? ","Yes."]
[25,"2023-06-01","Due Dates","I have seen 2 different Concept Paper due dates online - one for 6/5 and the other for 6/12.","The Concept Paper deadline has been extended by one week to 6/12/2023."]
[26,"2023-06-03","Cost Sharing","If University is a sub-recipient, can they contribute to the cost share?","Yes."]
[27,"2023-06-01","Other","Can you point me to a FOA that will fit the project I'm working on.","No. This mailbox is used for questions only about DE-FOA-0003034."]
[28,"2023-06-12","Due Dates","When will Concept Paper Excourage /Discourage notifications be available for Concept papers?","An exact date cannot be provided but notifications are intended to be released by the end of June 2023. This is only an estimate and may happen afterward."]
[29,"2023-06-15","Concept Paper","Can I open and edit a Concept Paper after it's been submitted?","The deadline for Concept Papers passed on 6/12/23, therefor you may not edit your Concept Paper."]
[29,"2023-06-16","Application Content/Format","Can you please explain what is meant by excluding \"Applications that focus on electricity market design\" on page 28 of the FOA?","Solutions to the challenges posed in Topic Area 2 should be technical in nature, such as the decision-making tools for scheduling and dispatch, analytical tools, and visualization tools described in the Project Requirements section. Applications that propose to study how new economic frameworks or market policies may incentivize actions from solar energy producers are not of interest."]
[null,"2023-07-19","Intellectual Property","When will the Concept Paper Encourage/Discourage notifications be released? ","A Modification to the FOA has been released on Exchange, updating the Full Application deadline to 9/14/2023."]
[null,"2023-07-25","Intellectual Property","On page 40 of the FOA there is a sentence that states, “Software licenses for software owned by prime or sub-recipients will not be considered allowable as cost share.”  Does that mean to apply only to the owner of the software claiming such costs for their own use of their own software, or does it apply across usage of that software across all participating entities in the project?  That is, if project member A produces software X, then we understand that they cannot claim cost share for their own use. But if member A who produces software X makes it available to project member B, can it be claimed as cost share then? ","In order for a licensing fee to use software to be considered cost share, there must be an incurred cost or a third-party in-kind contribution under the award.  When a recipient already owns the software, then the recipient has the right to use the software without an additional cost.  In such cases, the recipient cannot charge itself to use the software because the charge is not offsetting an actual cost incurred specifically for the award.  This does not exclude allowing actual incurred costs needed to support the software during the project, such as, incurred labor costs to maintain or service the software or incurred hardware cost needed to store, host, or otherwise make the software available.  Licensing fees between prime recipients and subrecipients may also lack a cost incurred specifically for the award.  For example, if a subrecipient is charging a licensing fee to the prime recipient for software owned by the subrecipient, there is no net incurred cost for the award because any funds paid by the prime recipient are being received by the subrecipient.  The funds being received by the subrecipient are not offsetting any incurred cost by the subrecipient when the subrecipient already owns the software.  In this circumstance, there is no net incurred cost for the award.  Moreover, this licensing agreement under the award would usually be prohibited.  Prime recipients and subrecipients are not allowed to earn or keep any profit under an award.   The licensing fee received by the subrecipient will likely be considered profit when the subrecipient already owns the software unless the subrecipient can demonstrate that the licensing fee is for an actual incurred cost of the subrecipient.      "]
[null,"2023-07-25","Labs/FFRDCs","Cost share from Federal Utilities. It is our understanding that Federally operated utilities, such as the Bonneville Power Administration, receive their revenues from rate-payers, and not from federal funds.  Can working with such entities count towards cost share?","No, because BPA is a federal entity, they cannot provide cost share. "]
[null,"2023-07-28","Due Dates","My team has recently come across this funding opportunity and have missed the deadline for concept papers. Can we still apply for the 'Full Application' deadline slated for 9/14/23 and be considered for this funding opportunity?","No. An eligible Concept Paper must be received by the Concept Paper deadline in order for an applicant to submit an eligible Full application. Please see section IV. A of the FOA for more details."]
[null,"2023-08-03","Concept Paper","I understand that DOE has rendered decisions as to which proposals were encouraged to submit full proposals for consideration and which were not.  I am trying to find that information of DOE’s website but so far have been unable to do so.  ","A Concept Paper Encourage/Discourage status can be found on https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/ by using your user name and password to log in to the website and navigating to the \"My Submissions\" tab on the lefthand side. If you still have issues, please write to EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov for assistance using the Exchange website."]
[null,"2023-08-14","Cost Sharing","Can you please confirm if the greater than $250,000 or 25% of total work threshold for requiring a Subrecipient Budget Justification, is applicable to both federal funds and cost share amounts? For example, if there is a proposed partner that is not receiving federal funds, but providing more than $250K in cost share, do they still need to provide a Subrecipient Budget Justification as the total is greater than $250K?","Yes, a budget justification will be required for a subrecipient if the total is $250,000 or greater, regardless if they are Federal or Cost share funds."]
[null,"2023-08-16","Concept Paper","Are there any comments or feedback on our Concept Paper? I have not received this info.","Any reviewer comments and feedback will be found in EERE Exchange by logging in to the website then clicking on the \"My Submissions\" tab on the left hand side. Once here, click on the control number for the application you wish to see more infor mation for."]
[null,"2023-08-16","Labs/FFRDCs","As a DOE FFRDC subrecipient with a budget that exceeds $250k, are we exempt from submitting a subrecipient budget justification since we are required to submit a work proposal (WP)? Or are both required to be submitted?","No, a subrecipient budget justification for a DOE FFRDC is not required. Only the Work Proposal  and CO Authorization are required."]
[null,"2023-08-17","Other","Will there be a FY2024 SETO OPTIMA funding opportunity or similar programs to address power electronics, grid management, and renewable resources optimization","This mailbox is used solely to collect Q&A for DE-FOA-0003034 OPTIMA FOA, and will not comment on any other FOAs, current or future."]
[null,"2023-08-10","Cost Sharing","Per III.B.III \"Cost Share Types and Allowability,\" The prime is a university, and our sub-recipient is a software vendor that produces SCADA/EMS/DERMS for utilities in the USA. As a Prime (university), can we accept our sub-receipt software vendor's software system and license, such as SCADA/EMS/DERMS, as cost-share when they donate the software system to the Prime (university) for the project's R&D tasks carried out by Prime at the Prime's (university's) location?","In order for a licensing fee to use software to be considered cost share, there must be an incurred cost or a third-party in-kind contribution under the award.  When a recipient already owns the software, then the recipient has the right to use the software without an additional cost.  In such cases, the recipient cannot charge itself to use the software because the charge is not offsetting an actual cost incurred specifically for the award.  This does not exclude allowing actual incurred costs needed to support the software during the project, such as, incurred labor costs to maintain or service the software or incurred hardware cost needed to store, host, or otherwise make the software available.  Licensing fees between prime recipients and subrecipients may also lack a cost incurred specifically for the award.  For example, if a subrecipient is charging a licensing fee to the prime recipient for software owned by the subrecipient, there is no net incurred cost for the award because any funds paid by the prime recipient are being received by the subrecipient.  The funds being received by the subrecipient are not offsetting any incurred cost by the subrecipient when the subrecipient already owns the software.  In this circumstance, there is no net incurred cost for the award.  Moreover, this licensing agreement under the award would usually be prohibited.  Prime recipients and subrecipients are not allowed to earn or keep any profit under an award.   The licensing fee received by the subrecipient will likely be considered profit when the subrecipient already owns the software unless the subrecipient can demonstrate that the licensing fee is for an actual incurred cost of the subrecipient.      "]
[null,"2023-08-10","Cost Sharing","For a demonstration at a utility's environment, our utility partner plans to provide Data and an operation training environment to demonstrate the project's technology at no cost and therefore no-cost-share by the utility partner. Being Prime (university), should we consider the task cost under the 50% cost-share or can we apply task cost under the 20% cost-share for the time and activity of researchers?","A demonstration phase is required for projects under Topics 2 and 3. All tasks associated with the demonstration phase of the project must be funded with 50% cost share. The minimum demonstration period is 1 month, but 3 months is recommended so that a sufficient diversity of operating conditions can be explored. Applicants should indicate the duration of their demonstration in their proposal."]
[null,"2023-08-10","Application Content/Format","Could you please provide more details on the \"operation training environment\" description under the Field Demonstration of Table 12"," An “operation training environment” is a facility, testbed, console, etc. that emulates a control room operator’s or other operations engineer’s operational technology (OT) interface but does not control the power system. To be considered a field demonstration, testing in either an actual operations environment or operation training environment must be done using real-time data from the grid. Data may be streamed via an independent or parallel research IT network for security purposes. "]
[null,"2023-08-21","Application Content/Format","Does a subrecipeint need to submit a letter of commitment with the full application.","Yes, a Letter of Commitment is required for all subrecipients. It should state the subrecipeint funding amount including any cost share that may be contributed."]
[null,"2023-10-23","Due Dates","When is the updated Replies to Reviewer Comments due date?","The Full Application reviewer comments will be displayed to applicants from 10/24/2023 8:00:00 AM ET to 10/27/2023 5:00:00 PM ET. Replies to Reviewer Comments are due 10/27/2023 5:00:00 PM ET. Applicants should expect to be notified of moving forward to the interview stage of the review process ~2-3 weeks after Replies to Reviewer Comments are due."]
[null,"2024-03-01","Due Dates","When should applicants expect to hear about award announcements?","The announcement timeframe the FOA team last indicated to the applicants of late February has been moved out until late March."]

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["Pick List"]
[]
["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"]