Question 1:
I see that Federal agencies are specifically excluded from this program.
a. A number of DOE offices, especially the Office of Science, publish RFAs stating that Federal agencies are not eligible but allow Federal agencies to email proposals to for consideration as an interagency agreement (see http://science.doe.gov/grants/fed_prop.asp). Is that the case here?
b. If Federal agencies are excluded from applying, can they receive funds as a collaborating sub-recipient?
Answer 1:
a) No, DOE will not be accepting emailed proposals for consideration as an interagency agreement.
b) Yes, Federal agencies may participate as a collaborating sub-recipient.
Question 4:
The text of the FOA (and the preceding RFI) specifically mentions six direct liquefaction pathways, including a solvent liquefaction pathway; however, the diagram in the FOA (quite helpful, BTW), showsonly 5, minus solvent liquefaction. Is there a reason for the omission on the diagram?
Answer 4:
The pathway block flow diagrams are only provided as a reference to illustrate some of the possible pathways that could benefit from improvements to carbon, hydrogen, or separations efficiency. Provided that all other requirements of the FOA are met, improvements to solvent liquefaction would also be allowable.
Question 6:
Could you please advise if non-US citizens can apply for DE-FOA-0000812. If this is not possible, will a US led consortium with an Australian partner be acceptable?
Answer 6:
As stated in Section III.A. of the FOA, “Foreign entities, whether for-profit or otherwise, are also Eligible Applicants. Foreign entities are also eligible to participate as members of consortia as described above, and also as a subawardee. All work by foreign entities must be performed by subsidiaries or affiliates incorporated in the United States (including U.S. territories).”
Question 8:
The FOA states that “foreign entities are eligible applicants, participants or subawardees but then states that “All work by foreign entities must be performed by subsidiaries or affiliates incorporated in the United States (including U.S. territories).” Please clarify (a) can work be done outside the US so long as the subsidiary is incorporated in the US? (b) If a foreign entity does not have a US subsidiary, can they be part of the project team? (c) Can a foreign entity not having a US subsidiary contribute cost share to the overall project while not receiving US funds?
Answer 8:
Please refer to Modification 001 to DE-FOA-0000812 dated Dec. 26, 2012, which includes revisions to eligibility and requirements for performance of work in the US.
(a) As provided in Section II.H. of the modified FOA, all work under this FOA must be performed in the US, unless the prime recipient obtains a waiver of that requirement pursuant to Section IV.C.12. of the modified FOA. Only the prime recipient must have a U.S. subsidiary or affiliate; a foreign subrecipient is not required to have a U.S. subsidiary or affiliate.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes, but any cost shared work by the foreign entity must be performed in the US unless a waiver of that requirement is obtained.
Question 11:
The solicitation states on page 15 that the DOE anticipates making the awards as Cooperative Agreements. However, in other parts of the document it makes reference to both Grants and Cooperative Agreements and we would like clarity on the Intellectual Property Provisions. Could you please confirm that the DOE intends to make the awards as Cooperative Agreements? Also, does the DOE intend to award contracts containing the Authorization and Consent clause as part of the Intellectual Property Provisions?
Answer 11:
As stated in Section II.A. of the FOA, DOE does anticipate awarding Cooperative Agreements under this announcement. The url link to DOE’s standard intellectual property provisions applicable to the various types of recipients is provided in Section VI.B.3 of the FOA. The Authorization and Consent clause (FAR 52.227-1) is included in the CDSB-1003 (Domestic Small Business) and the CDLB-1003 (Large Business, State or Local Government, and Foreign Entity).
For awards made to universities, non-profits and other entities subject to OMB Circular A-110, the award will include the Research Terms and Conditions and the DOE Agency Specific Requirements located at http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rtc/index.jsp. These terms do not include the Authorization and Consent clause.
Question 12:
Would an approach whereby we propose to produce hydrogen via reforming of CH4 from renewable natural gas be responsive (and competitive) to this call?
Answer 12:
Based on the information provided in the question, DOE cannot determine the source of the “renewable natural gas” in order to definitively respond to the question. If the approach is to conduct R&D in the area of fossil fuel reforming to produce hydrogen from natural gas, this would be considered non-responsive to this FOA. Note, the purpose of the concept paper is for applicants to clearly describe their approach and for DOE to provide an “encourage” or “discourage” response to the applicants prior to preparing a full application. All interested parties are encouraged to submit a concept paper for evaluation.
Question 13:
Is there a limitation on how many proposals/awards a PI can submit?
Answer 13:
As stated in Section I.A of the FOA: “An applicant must specify one of the three technical barrier areas described above as the primary objective of their proposed research; however, applications describing a credible approach to making improvements in multiple barrier areas within a single application are preferred. Furthermore, multiple applications can be submitted by one applicant if different barrier areas are identified as the primary objective. Applicants are also allowed to participate on applications submitted by other organizations. Applications must also include the rationale for determining the management structure of the project team, including the designation of the applicant or lead organization and the project management practices that will be used during the execution of the project.”
Question 14:
Please clarify DOE’s intent with regards to foreign partners who may not have U.S. subsidiaries, such as universities, or foreign partners with U.S. subsidiaries but whose R&D subject experts reside outside the U.S. Both types of partners could result in stronger teams to benefit DOE and the purposes of the FOA.
Section 1.H of Mod 1 states “EERE strongly encourages interdisciplinary…collaboration spanning …national boundaries” while section 3.12 of the Mod states that all work (interpreted as including cost share) must be performed in the U.S.
(a) What is DOE’s intent on international collaborations with regards to this FOA?
(b) While it is possible to request a waiver, is it to be assumed that projects of equal merit not requesting a waiver would be given preference?
(c) If a waiver is not granted, would we have the opportunity to replace the foreign partner with a U.S. partner after selection?
Answer 14:
a) DOE encourages interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration spanning organizational and national boundaries; however, work done under this FOA must be performed in the US.
b) Applicants that meet the initial review criteria as stated in Section V.A.1 of the FOA, which includes the eligibility requirements, will be treated equally during the merit review phase. Applications will be evaluated against the merit review criteria stated in Section V.A.2. Preference will not be given to an applicant based on whether or not a waiver was received.
c) If a waiver is not granted, the Contracting Officer and/or Selection Official will determine whether or not an applicant will be given the opportunity to propose a replacement partner.
Question 15:
Would algae based pyrolysis oils be considered responsive?
Answer 15:
In addition to meeting the other requirements stated in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the applicant must show that the proposed feedstock meets the definition of “High Impact” as stated in the FOA. Pyrolysis of a High Impact Feedstock is an allowable pathway under this FOA.
Question 17:
There has been some discussion within DOE to waive the cost share provision for not-for-profit organizations for early stage work, TRL 1-3. Will DOE waive the cost share provision for this FOA?
Answer 17:
No, DOE will not waive the cost share provision for this FOA.
Question 20:
Can you provide some statistics on how many concept papers were “encouraged” to submit a full proposal?
Answer 20:
Those statistics are not available for public release.
Question 26:
Modification II.H. Performance of Work in the US states that “EERE requires all work under EERE funding agreements to be performed in the United States – i.e., prime recipients must expend 100% of the total project costs in the United States,” but these two statements are not the same thing.
a) If we sub-contact to a US company and they end up performing part of their work in one of their non-US locations (say using equipment at a Canadian lab), do we need a waiver?
b) Also, if we need to purchase specialty chemicals from a non-US manufacturer, do we need a waiver for that too since that would not be spending project money in the US?
Answer 26:
a) Yes, if you sub-contract to a US company and they end up performing part of their work in one of their non-US locations, a waiver would be required.
b) No, a waiver would not be needed for purchasing chemicals from a non-US manufacturer.
Question 28:
As specified on p.25 (FOA Mod 2) an Appendix with Letters of Commitment is required for all parties contributing cost share and /or making integral contributions to the success of the project. Please advise correct file name for this Appendix.
Answer 28:
The appendices (bibliography/resume/letters of commitment) listed in Section IV.C.3.H. of the FOA are all part of the Project Narrative File which should be saved in a single file titled “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Project”.
Question 34:
Noting that today’s posted version on the eere site is actually entitled Mod 3, what is the significance of the Mod 4 and Mod 5 listed on the grants.gov site at http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=211274, and the reference to Mod 6 on today’s email?
Answer 34:
On Grants.gov, the Synopsis Modification History shows five (5) modifications. Two (2) were created when corrections were made to typos in the Synopsis language. There have only been three (3) modifications to the FOA, and these are explained under the Description section on Grants.gov.
Please see the current FOA document (FULL TEXT: Modification 003, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Separation Efficiencies in Bio-Oil Conversion Pathways (CHASE Bio-Oil Pathways), posted on the EERE Exchange website. There is no Mod 6.
Question 35:
The FOA states “You must complete the environmental questionnaire (EF-1 and PMC111.1). Do not submit
the form online through the EERE Project Management Center website; it will not be
reviewed as part of the application. Save the questionnaire in a single file titled
“ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Env.”
When we go to the website to fill the information out, there is no way to print out a copy at the end of step 6, only a submit button. What should we do?
Answer 35:
On the EERE-Exchange posting for DE-FOA-0000812, there is a section labeled “Required Application Documents”. In that section, click on the “View Required Application Documents” link. The Environmental_Questionnaire.doc is available for download there.