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["INSTRUCTIONS"]
[1,"All questions pertaining to this funding opportunity announcement should be emailed to CBIFOA2015@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-FOA-0001385 - Solutions to Improve the Energy Efficiency of U.S. Small and Medium Commercial Buildings"]
["Question #","Date Submitted","Topic","Question","Answer"]
[1,"2015-10-29","Application Content/Format","Does this proposal need to include/the project need to initially include an impact of 100 or more buildings? Or Does it require to have a potential impact of at least 100 buildings after the program?","The proposal/project needs to include actual impact on 100 or more buildings by the end of the period of performance."]
[2,"2015-10-29","Eligibility","Can foreign companies apply for this FOA: Solutions to Improve the Energy Efficiency of U.S. Small and Medium Commercial Buildings?","Please see page 11, in Section III. A. 3 of the FOA document"]
[3,"2015-10-29","Eligibility","We will propose a new way to increase building efficiency, does this qualify for for this FOA?","Please see page 6, Section I. B & C of the FOA document"]
[4,"2015-11-01",null,"Are new construction systems or techniques precluded from this FOA? ","Projects involving new construction systems or techniques are not precluded"]
[5,"2015-11-03","Eligibility","I am a small business with only 13500 SF building.  One web page says under 50,000 SF is eligable and another web page states 50,000-100,000 SF buildings apply.  Am I eligible?","The size of your small business building is not taken in to account for the funding opportunity.  The funding opportunity is asking for solutions to improve the energy efficiency in small to medium size commercial buildings.   Please read funding opportunity which can be found here under FOA Documents:  https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaIdd77384ed-97f9-49e9-ba00-94ac05201041  "]
[6,"2015-11-03","Registration Requirements","Could you please guide me to the paperwork?","You need to create an account on the Exchange website in order to access the application documents, but first you must submit a concept paper.  Copy and paste this link: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/  Then on the left hand side, click Register, then Applicant.  Once an account is created you can find the funding opportunity by clicking this link: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaIdd77384ed-97f9-49e9-ba00-94ac05201041  Then click Apply, it will prompt you to fill out some information and create a concept paper which is due 12/4 at 5pm ET."]
[7,"2015-11-03","Webinar","Could you please send me a link to the webinar for November 9th?","https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2765833964507094274 "]
[8,"2015-11-03","Eligibility","Where can I find a list of projects previously funded under this program?","You can find previously funded projects here: http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/commercial-buildings-cooperative-agreements "]
[9,"2015-11-03","Eligibility","We haved a product that would provide a host of applications to support this FOA, please see attached for review.  Please let me know if our product and services would support the team and I would be proud to provide additional information in hope of garnering some support to move this product to field use.","Please see section pages 6-8, Section I. B & C of the FOA document."]
[10,"2015-11-03","Eligibility","Is there a restriction about how many proposals can come from one institution?","Please see page 17 of the FOA document under Section III. F"]
[11,"2015-11-04","Application Content/Format","Can you send me the concept paper example that has been part of a funded project?","Unfortunately DOE is unable to provide that information.  For information on concept papers please see pages 19 and 20, Section IV. C. 1. of the FOA document.  However, you can find out more information on previously funded projects by copying and pasting this link: http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/commercial-buildings-cooperative-agreements  "]
[12,"2015-11-06","Intellectual Property","Will applicants be able to retain IP rights of the project if funded by DOE?","Allocation of intellectual property rights is governed by the regulations at 2 CFR 200.315 (for nonprofits) or 2 CFR 910.362 (for for-profit entities)"]
[13,"2015-11-06","Intellectual Property","Will winning submissions be made public after the performance period for the public to duplicate the proposal? ","Yes, DOE will announce the winners on their website similar to previous years: http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/commercial-buildings-cooperative-agreements "]
[14,"2015-11-05","Technical Topics","If partner demonstration sites are greater than 100,000 sq. ft. but each multi-tenant space in this building is under 100,000 sq. ft., will these buildings be excluded?  Does it depend on sub metering?","DOE expects to fund proposals that affect at least 100 buildings under 100,000 sq ft or 100 separate tenant spaces in buildings under 100,000 sq ft.  Buildings larger than 100,000 sq ft and tenant spaces in buildings larger than 100,000 sq ft are not of interest for this FOA."]
[15,"2015-11-06","Technical Topics","Can DOE funds be used to purchase equipment installed in buildings as part of any proposed demonstration, correct?  Other associated costs could be covered by DOE funds though, such as installation, training, promotion, certification, commissioning, etc.?","DOE funds cannot be used to purchase equipment installed in buildings as part of any proposed demonstration.  DOE funds may be used for other business and program costs to deliver the proposed solution.  The intent of this FOA is to fund the business or programmatic activities necessary to demonstrate and scale up delivery of efficiency solutions.  The intent of the FOA is not to subsidize individual equipment purchases to improve the efficiency of individual buildings."]
[16,"2015-11-09","Technical Topics","Please define \"commercial\".","DOE uses the definitions from the Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), available here: http://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/terminology.cfm     Commercial Building: Commercial Building: A building with more than 50 percent of its floorspace used for commercial activities. Commercial buildings include, but are not limited to, the following: stores, offices, schools, churches, gymnasiums, libraries, museums, hospitals, clinics, warehouses, and jails. Government buildings were included except for buildings on sites with restricted access, such as some military bases. Agricultural buildings, residences, and manufacturing/industrial buildings are excluded. Since 1995, parking garages and commercial buildings on manufacturing sites have also been excluded. For a list of building types, see “Description of types of buildings.” ( See Building , Commercial, and Principal Building Activity .)"]
[17,"2015-11-09","Technical Topics","Page 8, Section C, 3rd bullet reads:  “DOE will not fund building equipment for demonstration or retrofits through this FOA.” - What does \"building equipment\" mean?","DOE funds may not be used to purchase energy-saving equipment installed during a building retrofit.  The intent of this FOA is to fund the business or programmatic activities necessary to demonstrate and scale up delivery of efficiency solutions.  The intent of the FOA is not to subsidize individual equipment purchases to improve the efficiency of individual buildings. "]
[18,"2015-11-09","Technical Topics","Will a solution in a concept paper that will leverage advanced controls & intelligent automation as a spring-board of an overall program approach that includes other traditional low cost measures for a specific under-served market be eligible?","A solution that will leverage advanced controls & intelligent automation as a spring-board of an overall program approach that includes other measures for a specific under-served market would be eligible."]
[19,"2015-11-09","Technical Topics","Is DOE grant funding available for advance control & intelligent automation equipment?","DOE funding may not be used to purchase control and automation equipment."]
[20,"2015-11-09","Technical Topics","Can this FOA be used to support energy efficiency for small and medium sized manufacturers, especially if the improvements are building-related and not the manufacturing processes?","Please see answer to question #19."]
[21,"2015-11-09","Eligibility","Can you please describe eligible project costs?","For eligible project costs please reference 2 CFR 200.402 – 414."]
[22,"2015-11-09","Intellectual Property","Could you please provide an updated link to the Intellectual Property Provisions section on page 46 of the FOA?  ","http://www.energy.gov/gc/standard-intellectual-property-ip-provisions-financial-assistance-awards"]
[23,"2015-11-09","Intellectual Property","Does this FOA contain a Special Data Statute for IP purposes?","It may depending on the project, e.g. EPACT."]
[24,"2015-11-09","Technical Topics","What are the specific sizes of the small as well as the medium buildings defined in this FOA? (i.e., how much square feet (or square feet range) is defined for small buildings? How much is for medium buildings?)","Please see page 5, Section I. A. of the FOA document"]
[25,"2015-11-10","Webinar","Where can I find a copy of the webinar slides and transcript?","The webinar and transcript are posted to the exchange website: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaIdd77384ed-97f9-49e9-ba00-94ac05201041"]
[26,"2015-11-10","Cost Sharing","Can national lab staff time associated with a user facility be utilized for match?","If a national lab is listed on the budget as a subaward/subrecipient, they are paid directly by DOE and therefore national lab staff time cannot be counted toward cost share/match.  Please note 50% of the total budget, including the national lab amount, must be funded by the prime recipient or other eligible cost share sources."]
[27,"2015-11-10","Cost Sharing","With there being a 50% cost share, are there any earning potential or profit opportunities with this FOA? ","All program income or profit will be contributed back to the project as cost share.  No profit can be kept for the prime or subrecipients.  Vendors however, can build profit in to their rates."]
[28,"2015-11-11","Eligibility","Question regarding the limitation on number of concept papers and full applications… Does the limitation apply to the principal investigator or to the institution? For example can there be more than one application from a University if the applications have different principal investigators?","Yes, multiple Pis can apply from the same institution.  Of course, as long as the proposals are different. "]
[29,"2015-11-17","Eligibility","It is understood that DOE will not fund building equipment for demonstration or retrofits through this FOA.  DOE will NOT fund the purchase of energy-saving equipment installed during a building retrofit.  However, can the associated costs (labor for the installation of an energy efficient upgrade) be covered using DOE funds?","This is essentially the same as purchasing and installing energy-saving equipment which is not the intent of the FOA.  The intent of this FOA is to fund the business or programmatic activities necessary to demonstrate and scale up delivery of efficiency solutions."]
[30,"2015-11-17","Eligibility","What is meant by the following on page 8, section C, fourth bullet, “DOE will not fund incentives or rebates that are not sustainable after the award period.”  For example, suppose that a project uses DOE funding to pay for a portion of the cost of energy audits on 100 buildings, with the remaining portion covered by the building owner.  Assume this project proposes a new financial model which proves sustainable after the initial demonstration.  Is it allowable to use a portion of DOE funding for these initial 100 energy audits?","If the project demonstrates an approach during the period of performance with DOE funds, and the project has shown how it will be financially sustainable later without DOE funds, then that is acceptable."]
[31,"2015-11-18","Eligibility","Do multi-family housing complexes qualify as commercial buildings?","Yes, multifamily housing complexes may be considered commercial buildings for the purposes of this FOA."]
[32,"2015-11-20","Eligibility","Are all submissions considered demonstration projects?","Yes, all submitted proposals must be demonstration projects."]
[33,"2015-11-20","Cost Sharing","Are universities as lead organizations or sole bidders subject to the same match requirement of 50%","Yes."]
[34,"2015-11-20","Cost Sharing","Does the 50% cost share relate only to the ‘demonstration project” costs or the whole project cost? For example if the total project cost is $900,000 of which the cost for demonstration part is $200,000 would the 50% cost share be applicable only to the $200,000?","The 50% cost share requirement applies to total project costs."]
[35,"2015-11-20","Application Content/Format","What is a common time period between project award & the 1st day of period of performance?  Would a 4 months (IE award July & period of performance November) be okay?  6 months?","We’d like to encourage all applicants to plan to begin as quickly as possible after awards are signed (i.e. use the time period of award negotiation to get your team ready).  It would be best to start the project before DOE fiscal year end (9/30) and should plan to start in July or August.  We’d also like to encourage people as much as possible to treat the end date of 3 years after award as a hard date and plan to be complete by then."]
[36,"2015-11-21","Eligibility","Is there a SBIR/STTR or other small business set-aside component to the Small and Medium Commercial Buildings effort?","No, there is no SBIR/STTR component for this FOA."]
[37,"2015-11-21","Application Content/Format","Is it allowable to submit a proposal for less than $500,000 to cover a 3 year program?","Yes, as long as it complies with the intent of the FOA."]
[38,"2015-11-21","Eligibility","Does demonstration of a new technology qualify for this FOA?","No, that is not the purpose of this FOA. Our program doesn't have a FOA covering technology demonstration this year, but we may next year. "]
[39,"2015-11-29","Eligibility","Am I correct that these percentage savings targets are in relation to  CBECS average EUIs for specific building types as baselines and NOT a particular code or version of ASHRAE 90.1?","In parallel with the preparation of the recent CBI FOA, BTO has been developing a new set of overall program goals.  In early October, DOE released a draft Multi-Year Program Plan describing the new program goals (see attached, with specific reference to pages 29-35).  After considering the public comments received on this draft, BTO plans to issue a revised, final MYPP early next year. \n\nThe new BTO goals, as described in the draft MYPP, will be to reduce, by 2030, energy use per square foot of all U.S. buildings by 30%, with a longer term goal of achieving a 50% reduction, relative to the actual energy use intensity (EUI) of all buildings in 2010 (derived from the primary energy use and square footage of buildings reported by DOE’s Energy Information Administration). \n\nMost of the new BTO goals are based on actual or estimated EUI of buildings, based on EIA data.  However, some goals are relative to baselines derived from building energy modelling estimates of the energy use of buildings that are designed or equipped according to specified models codes, appliance and equipment standards or other technology specifications.   The draft MYPP provides a summary description of the basis of all goals and more detailed documentation of these goals is under preparation.\n\nPlease see Section V.A.1 of the FOA for Concept Paper Criterion."]
[40,"2015-11-30","Cost Sharing","In DE-FOA-0001385, the DOE states its intention to make awards between $500K and $2M. Do these amounts include cost sharing? In other words, is the Federal share $250K-$1M, with an equal amount of cost sharing, for a total budget of $500K-$2M?","The $500K - $2M range is federal share, therefore total project costs would be $1M - $4M.  The dollar range set in the FOA document is not firm so if your proposal is $800K ($400K fed, $400K recipient) in total project costs we will still consider your application if it meets the intent of the FOA."]
[41,"2015-12-02","Eligibility","Can we have Co-PIs? Should a PI be a full-time? ","Yes, you can have Co-PIs.  The PI or Co-PIs do not have to be full-time to the grant.  "]
[42,"2015-12-02","Registration Requirements","I have attempted to register for the grant on the Grants.gov site to no avail.","The funding opportunity can be found on DOE’s Exchange website, here is a direct link to the funding opportunity: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/#FoaIdd77384ed-97f9-49e9-ba00-94ac05201041"]
[43,"2015-12-02","Registration Requirements","Our company have a business name registered with DUNS, and another one- Doing Business As (DBA) name. Please advise me which name we should use.","You can use either for all three you list below as long as SAM.gov indicates both names.  If you’re not registered in SAM.gov that OK, registration is not required at this point but in order to receive funding from any federal agency you must be registered in this system."]
[44,"2015-12-02","Eligibility","Is there a similar proposed funding for innovation for funding Transportation Infrastructure type structures for Energy Efficiencies?","Please see Section III.G - Questions Regarding Elibility."]
[45,"2015-12-02","Application Content/Format","Does it mean that the organization PI should be technical person who will lead research/development?","The PI should be the technical point of contact."]
[46,"2015-12-03","Eligibility","Would schools be considered commercial buildings?","Please see answer to question #19."]
[47,"2015-12-03","Registration Requirements","How do you get the control number to include in the concept paper? ","Please see Section VI.B.1.i of the FOA document"]
[48,"2015-12-03","Application Content/Format","What can any authorized funding cover? ","Please see CFR _____."]
[49,"2015-12-08","Eligibility","If we missed the December 4th Deadline for Concept Papers are we still qualified to make a submission for Full Application by Feb 1, 2016?","In order to submit an application, per page 17 Section IV.A of the funding opportunity announcement document, only applicants who have submitted an eligible concept paper will be eligible to submit a full application."]
[50,"2015-12-08","Application Reviews","I am curious when we should expect to receive a notification declaring “discourage” or “encouraged” from our Concept Paper submission.","We cannot provide an accurate timeframe however please see page 21, Section IV.D of the FOA document in the second paragraph."]
[51,"2015-12-09","Eligibility","Can the 50K-100K sg. Ft. gross floor area specified in the FOA be part of a larger complex?","It depends on what is meant by complex.  A small/med building under 100k sq. ft. can be part of a campus and still be a small/med building. But a 50k sq. ft. space in a 1M sq. ft. building is not a small building. It's just a part of a large building and large buildings do not qualify for this FOA.  In addition the proposal/project needs to include actual impact on 100 or more buildings by the end of the period of performance."]
[52,"2015-12-09","Application Content/Format","Can we change the name of our organization between the submission of the concept paper and the submission of the full application?","Yes, at this point in the process the company name is irrelevant to DOE.  You can edit your Exchange account to reflect the new company name and your control number should not change. If you are having any difficulties with your Exchange account please contact the helpdesk at EERE‐ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov."]
[53,"2015-12-14","Cost Sharing","In preparing to meet the 50% cost share, our team is going through a number of different strategies that include a variety of different sources of cost share. How and when do we work with DOE to appropriately determine what can and cannot be considered cost share?","If you are selected for an award DOE will discuss the allowability of the cost share items you are proposing.  In the meantime, please see the 2 CFR 200 Subpart E and review the cost principles for federal grants.  Here is the website: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=2:1.1.2.2.1.5&rgn=div6 "]
[54,"2015-12-17","Registration Requirements","Is it possible to be contacted when this grant is posted/available again?","You can receive notifications through grants.gov. If you need assistance in setting up notifications please contact the grants.gov support desk at 800-518-4726 or Support@Grants.gov."]
[55,"2015-12-18","Application Reviews","I received a discourage notification for my concept paper.  Can I resubmit another concept paper or should I just submit a full application?","If you received a discourage notification you can still submit a full application by the February 1st deadline but you cannot resubmit another concept paper."]
[56,"2015-12-23","Application Content/Format","Where can I find the application documents for the funding opportunity? (i.e. SOPO, 424, Budget)","The documents can be found by logging on to the exchange website, opening the funding announcement and navigating to the Full Application section.  Within this section the documents are under Full Application Documents."]
[57,"2015-12-30","Technical Topics","Please define \"building equipment\"","Building equipment refers to equipment used to save energy in buildings, such as lighting, HVAC equipment, sensing and control systems, occupant feedback systems, etc.  DOE funds may be used for measurement equipment that is used to measure and document savings as part of the project."]
[58,"2015-12-30","Cost Sharing","If a Sub-Recipient pays for services and materials to the Prime recipient for the installation of open market products, is this considered part of the Prime Recipients Cost Share","No."]
[59,"2015-12-30","Cost Sharing","The FFRDC sub-recipient portion appears to be paid from Federal Funds 50% portion.  Will those funds be paid directly from DOE to the FFRDC and be counted as part of the total project costs?","The total budgeted amount for the FFRDC will be paid by DOE directly to the FFRDC.  The 50% cost share portion of the FFRDC is the responsibility of the prime recipient."]
[60,"2015-12-30","Application Content/Format","Can indirect costs within labor hourly rates for Prime Recipients cost share be included for this FOA?","Yes, if you are able to segregate them so DOE can see which portion is labor and which portion is indirect costs."]
[61,"2015-12-30","Application Content/Format","Is “third-party organization” the Prime Recipient for this FOA, when the Sub-Recipient is paying the Prime Recipient for services?","No, a third party is a subrecipient or contractor."]
[62,"2015-12-30","Application Content/Format","Is the “federally negotiated indirect cost” rate the GSA Schedule negotiated and awarded contract rate in which the Prime Recipient already holds?  If not, when and how is the indirect cost rate negotiated?","A federally negotiated rate must be a document from a federal agency confirming the negotiated indirect rate.  If you have had any prior awards with federal agencies you should have one in place.  If not, then if you are selected for an award you can submit an indirect rate proposal to us and DOE will be your cognizant agency and will negotiate your indirect rate."]
[63,"2016-01-05","Cost Sharing","A National lab will be a subrecipient, does that cost share portion for the national lab should be covered by the prime recipient? Can it be covered by other sub-recipients?","Yes, the portion can be covered by either sub or prime."]
[64,"2016-01-05","Cost Sharing","Can the Government Owned Government Operated facility staff use their time for cost share?","No."]
[65,"2016-01-05","Application Content/Format","Can we change the lead applicant from what was submitted with the concept paper?","Yes, DOE has no problem with this and there will be no issues in the Exchange system."]

{"sheet":"Admin Pick List","index":2,"n_rows":15,"n_cols":1,"rows_kept":15,"cut":false,"hidden":true,"merged":[]}
["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"]