Financial Opportunities: FAQs

Question 1: On the FOA and related materials for the Rooftop Solar Challenge II opportunity, there is a mention of a tentative webinar to be held on January 8th. Is this still taking place, and if so, could you pass along registration or call-in information?
Answer 1:

Please see below for scheduling and registration information for the Rooftop Solar Challenge II Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Concept Paper and Full Application webinars:

Rooftop Solar Challenge II FOA: Concept Paper Webinar

Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST

This webinar will focus on the Concept Paper stage of the Rooftop Solar Challenge II FOA application process. Applicants will be able to submit questions on any topic related to the Concept Paper up to three (3) business days prior to the webinar. Relevant questions submitted prior to the deadline will be answered during the webinar and in writing, and will be posted to the Exchange website. Questions may be submitted to RooftopChallenge@go.doe.gov with the subject line “Concept Paper Webinar Question.”

If you wish to attend, you must register for the webinar at:

https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/894277008

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements

PC-based attendees

Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees

Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Mobile attendees

Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

Rooftop Solar Challenge II FOA: Full Application Webinar

Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST

This webinar will focus on the Full Application stage of the Rooftop Solar Challenge II FOA application process. Applicants will be able to submit questions on any topic related to the FOA up to three (3) business days prior to the webinar. Relevant questions submitted prior to the deadline will be answered during the webinar and in writing, and will be posted to the Exchange website. Questions may be submitted to RooftopChallenge@go.doe.gov with the subject line “Full Application Webinar Question.”

If you wish to attend, you must register for the webinar at:

https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/880300145

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements

PC-based attendees

Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees

Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Mobile attendees

Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

Question 2: If a recipient of Rooftop Solar Challenge 1 funding is successful in its application for RSC2 funding, is there a way to bridge the funding gap between Feb 14, 2013 and the May decision date for RSC 2?
Answer 2:

The Rooftop Solar Challenge II (RSC II) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is an independent and separate announcement, and any awards made under the RSC II FOA will be new awards, which will not correspond or tie to the awards made under the Rooftop Solar Challenge I (RSC I) FOA. In addition, selection for award under the RSC I FOA does not guarantee an award under the RSC II FOA. Therefore, DOE will not be able to bridge the funding between awards made under RSC I with any awards made under RSC II.

Question 3: I normally do Information Systems, but I want to divert into solar energy and I found a grant with you as the contact: CFDANumber 81.117 -- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach,Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance. The problem is that I am not eligible; I have been searching the site for several months and not found any for which I qualify. I am wondering, since you are the expert, if you could point me in the right direction.
Answer 3:

Thank you for your interest in solar-related funding opportunities.

Unfortunately, the only information we can provide to you is that which is already publicly available. DOE representatives are not able to disclose future Funding Opportunities or plans. Please check the websites below periodically for new Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs).

The Department of Energy’s Golden Field Office posts funding opportunity announcements on EERE eXCHANGE at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://eere-exchange.energy.gov, on FedConnect at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://www.fedconnect.net, and on Grants.gov at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/http://www.grants.gov,. Not all FOAs are available in both the EERE eXCHANGE website and FedConnect, however all FOAs are posted at Grants.gov.

At the eXCHANGE website, simply scroll through the opportunities on the main page.

To view the Golden Field Office’s current opportunities at the FedConnect website, click on “Search Public Opportunities” on the right side of the screen. Under “Search Criteria”, select “Issuing Office”, enter “Golden Field Office”, and then click on “Search” to bring up the list of funding announcements. When you select a particular announcement, there will be a list of documentation on the right side of the screen. Click on any attachment to view it.

At Grants.gov, click on “Find Grant Opportunities”, then choose one of the search options to locate opportunities of interest to your organization.

Question 4: We are just bringing a brand new product on the market that is “Click and Play” and can be installed on every home roof. We are based in GA-USA, and we created roof tiles with integrated solar cells, which include a unique cooling and locking system. Can you let me know if it would still make sense to apply for the DE-FOA-0000788: Rooftop Solar Challenge II based on where we are in the process?
Answer 4:

As stated in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential Applicants prior to the date on which applications to this FOA must be submitted. The decision whether to submit an application in response to this FOA lies solely with the Applicant.

Question 5: Our Company is intending to submit an application to participate in the SunShot Rooftop Challenge II; however, we are very concerned with the deadline of March 8. Adding an additional month to the deadline would be most beneficial and could make the difference in our ability to submit an application. Additional time would also allow us to devote the necessary time to complete a better application for Rooftop Challenge II. Is there any thought of extending this deadline? Secondly, can you confirm whether the population minimum (and therefore, the letters of commitment and Market Scores) applies to just those municipalities that are participating in the permitting and zoning processes or whether that total can include municipalities that are participating in the financing processes, but not the permitting/zoning.
Answer 5:

At this time the Department of Energy (DOE) does not anticipate extending the deadline for the Rooftop Solar Challenge II Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). However, if an extension is granted, an Amendment to the FOA will be posted and available on the EERE Exchange website https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. Prospective applicants registered to receive notifications of FOA Amendments in Grants.gov will be notified via automatic notification.

All participating jurisdictions count towards population totals, regardless of market maturity levels or project focus.

Question 6: Can you let me know if the following links are working?. When I click on these nothing is happening. It’s asking me to sate the LINK?? I am trying to find out what specifics do I need to provide in supporting documents. I got a supporting document of 14 pages but not sure if I hit all your requirements.
Answer 6:

Please contact the EERE Exchange Helpdesk at EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov for questions regarding technical problems with the links to the EERE Exchange Applicant User Guide and User Registration Manual.

In order to verify that you have all of the required supporting documents, please see the Funding Opportunity Announcement, “Section IV – Application and Submission Information; A. Application Forms”. This section includes all of the necessary information on submitting the required documents.

Question 7: I have read the link in grants.gov as below . We are Non Profit Organization in Pakistan. Can we proposed a concept note or proposal for pakistan?
Answer 7:

Eligibility for award under the Rooftop Solar Challenge II Funding Opportunity Announcement is restricted to Applicants:

· Located in the United States; and

· State or territorial governments; or

· Local governments; or

· Consortia, made up of regional or statewide teams of local, governments, large single jurisdictions, or Tribal governments; or

· Non-profit or for-profit entities authorized to act on behalf of a consortia of state and/or local governments, and

· The total population represented or impacted by an Applicant for this FOA must be 1,000,000 or greater as defined by the 2010 report of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Additional eligibility requirements are provided in “Section III – Eligibility Information” of the Funding Opportunity Announcement. Please review this section for all eligibility requirements.

Question 8: I have a question about DE-FOA-0000788. In the Concept Paper Phase, applicants are required to submit a summary slide with requested DOE funding, proposed cost share, and total budget for the entire project period. Is it possible for an applicant to modify any of those budget numbers between the time of the Concept Paper and the Full Application, or are the numbers in the Concept Paper binding?
Answer 8:

Yes, it is possible to modify any budget numbers between the time of the Concept Paper and the Full Application, as long as the minimum required cost share is still met.

Question 9: Are letters of commitment and SM3 scorecards required from all participating jurisdictions, or is a representative sample sufficient? This question applies for Topic Area A efforts which may not be geographically based, and also for Topic Area B efforts which may be statewide and involve a large, expanding pool of participating communities.
Answer 9:

See the following table for letters of commitment and SM³ Indicator requirements.

Application Stage:	Concept Papers	Full Application	Award Negotiation and Finalization
Due Date:	January 2013	March 2013	April-May 2013
SM³ Indicator Data Required from Jurisdictions?	No.	Yes.	Yes.
SM³ Indicator Data Required	None.	Data from at least 5 participating jurisdictions representing at least 25% of the expected population that the project will represent.	Data must be entered from all participating jurisdictions prior to award finalization. Delays in data collection may result in termination of Award negotiations.
Letters of Commitment/Support from Jurisdictions?	Recommended, not required.	Required from all participating jurisdictions.	Required from all participating jurisdictions.

Applicants must provide a Letter of Commitment from the chief elected official of each participating jurisdiction that confirms that the jurisdiction will contribute cost-share to the project in the form of staff time or other resources, and will make personnel in relevant city departments available as needed to support the objectives proposed. The participating jurisdictions must submit Letters of Commitment if they are intended to contribute to the 1,000,000 population minimum required to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Further, DOE expects all jurisdictions that agree to participate in activities as part of the Rooftop Solar Challenge II (RSC II) FOA to provide SM³ indicators.

Question 10: Can a prime recipient also be a sub-recipient on a separate application, either within the same Topic Area or in a different Topic Area?
Answer 10:

Yes, a Prime Recipient on an application may also apply as a sub-recipient on a separate application.

Question 11: Are communities who have received funding in RSCI eligible to participate in RSCII?
Answer 11:

Yes, communities that received funding under the Rooftop Solar Challenge I (RSC I) FOA are eligible to participate in the Rooftop Solar Challenge II (RSC II) FOA, subject to the eligibility requirements provided in “Section III – Eligibility Information” of the FOA.

Question 12: Does previous soft cost reduction success need to be demonstrated within the same geographic area for which the application is seeking funding?
Answer 12:

No, this is not a requirement.

Question 13: Can you clarify if an applicant to the Rooftop Solar Challenge II must address each of the four Action Areas (Permitting/Interconnection, Financing, Planning/Zoning, and Net-Metering) within a single application proposal or can a proposal address just a single Action Area?
Answer 13:

The four action areas were designed so that awardees that succeed in all action areas will have the necessary policy and process framework in place to support a robust solar market in their region. While success in one action area would represent important progress, it is only with results in all four action areas that awardees will truly reap the economic and environmental benefits associated with a healthy solar energy market. Therefore, Applicants should propose compelling and innovative means of achieving improvements and standardization in the four action areas.

Question 14: While we didn’t learn about the new FOA in time to submit a letter of intent, San Francisco is planning to apply for the next Rooftop Solar Challenge, and would appreciate being put on the email distribution list of for the webinar and related FOA updates.
Answer 14:

Submitting a Letter of Intent to Apply is strongly encouraged but not mandatory. However, only Applicants that submit a compliant and responsive Concept Paper are eligible to submit a Full Application to the Rooftop Solar Challenge II Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). In order to receive automatic notifications regarding newly issued FOA’s or FOA Amendments, please register in www.Grants.gov. However, please note that applications and Concept Papers will NOT be accepted through Grants.gov.

Question 15: To whom should letters of support be addressed?
Answer 15:

Please address the Letters of Support to the United States Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office, Office of Financial Assistance. Please include the Funding Opportunity Announcement name and number.

Question 16: I already emailed EERE Exchange Support but the RSCII FOA is not listed in the dropdown box to create a concept paper.
Answer 16:

The Rooftop Solar Challenge II FOA should now be available in the dropdown menu box to create a concept paper.

Question 17: If we did not submit a Letter of Intent before January 11, 2013 is it too late for our organization to apply for this Funding Opportunity? We could submit a letter by tomorrow along with a concept paper by the 25th.
Answer 17:

Submitting a Letter of Intent to Apply is strongly encouraged but not mandatory. However, only Applicants that submit a compliant and responsive Concept Paper are eligible to submit a Full Application to the Rooftop Solar Challenge II Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). In order to receive automatic notifications regarding newly issued FOA’s or FOA Amendments, please register in www.Grants.gov. However, please note that applications and Concept Papers will NOT be accepted through Grants.gov.

Question 18: Below is the type of business I'm going to launch in partnership with a certified PV installer. Although our businesses are separate we'll be an asset to the community. Since my business is the newest, I'll need some Start-Up financing. Would the Rooftop Solar Challenge II be a program the fit a community development project? if not, would you suggest other sources I might try.
Answer 18:

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Energy programs. The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) posted at the EERE eXCHANGE website is comprehensive and designed to allow prospective applicants to assess their proposed projects versus the requirements and criteria of the FOA. We cannot predetermine the suitability or viability of a proposal in advance of the merit review process. It is up to prospective applicants to review the requirements of the FOA and assess the merits of their proposed project to determine whether to submit an application. The Department of Energy posts FOA’s on FedConnect at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://www.fedconnect.net, on Grants.gov at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/http://www.grants.gov, and on EERE eXCHANGE at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/. Not all FOAs are available in both the EERE eXCHANGE website and Fedconnect, however all FOAs are posted in Grants.gov.

Question 19: 1. After submitting the Concept Paper, when will applicants receive the notification letter from DOE with their Concept Paper score? 2. As a Rooftop Solar Challenge I awardee, we have already completed Market Maturity Indicator Scorecards for our partnering jurisdictions. However, for RSC II, we plan to add jurisdictions to our team. Will we need to complete Scorecards for the new jurisdictions as well as update the Scorecards for the existing jurisdictions? 3. When will we have access to the Solar Metrics online portal?
Answer 19:

1. Applicants will be promptly notified of DOE’s determination to encourage or discourage the submission of a Full Application. DOE sends a notification letter by email to the technical and administrative points of contact designated by the Applicant in EERE eXCHANGE. DOE provides Applicants with feedback in the notification letter in order to guide the further development of the proposed project.

2. DOE will host a webinar for Applicants to detail the process for inputting Solar Market Maturity Indicators following the concept paper phase of the application (Date TBD – will be posted on EERE eXCHANGE website).

3. Applicants will have access to the Solar Metrics online portal following the concept paper stage.

Question 20: Can a local government be a part of two separate applications under this FOA where it is not the lead applicant in either one?
Answer 20:

Yes, a local government can be part of two separate applications as long as they’re not the lead on both applications. Prime Applicants are not able to submit more than one application to this FOA.

Question 21: On page 33 of the FOA, it states that applicants should plan on a start date near May 13, 2012. Can you please indicate the correct date?
Answer 21:

Assume a project start date near May 13, 2013.

Question 22: On page 31, it states that resumes can be two pages in length, but on page 32, it states that resumes must be one page. Are two-page resumes permitted in the final application?
Answer 22:

Resumes should not exceed one (1) page.

Question 23: I was just made aware of the Rooftop Challenge and have not submitted a LOI by the deadline. Am I excluded because I missed this date?
Answer 23:

The first step to apply for funding under this FOA is to submit a Concept Paper. The Concept Paper describes the success the Applicant has had in fostering soft cost reductions at the local level, as well as the a concise description of the proposed project/solution and its novelty. Applicants must submit a Concept Paper by the Concept Paper due date to be eligible to submit a Full Application. As the Concept Paper due date was January 25, 2013, no additional Concept Papers will be accepted under this FOA.

Please check the websites below periodically for new Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs).

The Department of Energy’s Golden Service Center posts FOA’s on FedConnect at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://www.fedconnect.net, on Grants.gov at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/http://www.grants.gov, and on EERE eXCHANGE at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/. Not all FOA’s are available in both the EERE eXCHANGE website and Fedconnect, however all FOA’s are posted in Grants.gov.

Question 24: Our Phase II team includes several Rooftop Solar Challenge Phase I participants. The FOA explains that applicants will be able to access their existing accounts, and will be able to add indicators for the “future” Market Snapshot score following the concept paper stage. Is there be a way to automatically merge all of our indicators from different Phase I teams into the Market Maturity Model when we apply in Phase II?
Answer 24:

The Solar Metrics portal will allow for merging of existing teams and data. Additional details on this process and entering Solar Market Maturity Indicators into the Solar Metrics portal will be provided in the upcoming Full Application webinar, currently scheduled for 2/26/2013. See below for registration details:

Rooftop Solar Challenge II FOA: Full Application Webinar

Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST

This webinar will focus on the Full Application stage of the Rooftop Solar Challenge II FOA application process. Applicants will be able to submit questions on any topic related to the FOA up to three (3) business days prior to the webinar. Relevant questions submitted prior to the deadline will be answered during the webinar and in writing, and will be posted to the Exchange website. Questions may be submitted to RooftopChallenge@go.doe.gov with the subject line “Full Application Webinar Question.”

If you wish to attend, you must register for the webinar at:

https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/880300145

Question 25: Would like to find application for grant for solar energy rooftop grant.
Answer 25:

The full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is posted on the EERE eXCHANGE website at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. Applications must be submitted through the EERE eXCHANGE website to be considered for award. The applicant must first register and create an account on the EERE eXCHANGE website. A User Guide for the EERE eXCHANGE can be found on the EERE website https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130216062552/http://eere.energy.gov/financing/exchangeExchange/Manuals.aspx after logging in to the system. Information on how to locate and submit documents is provided in the full FOA.

Question 26: To my knowledge, the feedback for the concept paper has not been released. When can we expect this information and will it affect the date of the full application webinar tentatively scheduled for February 15?
Answer 26:

Only Applicants that submitted a compliant and responsive Concept Paper are eligible to submit a Full Application. The DOE is currently reviewing all submitted Concept Papers against the criteria posted in the FOA. DOE anticipates notifying the applicants, that submitted a compliant Concept Paper, of DOE’s determination to encourage or discourage the submission of a Full Application prior to the Webinar for Full Applications, which is currently scheduled for February 26, 2013 at 3:00pm EST.

Applicants may submit a Full Application even if they receive a notification discouraging them from doing so. By discouraging the submission of a Full Application, DOE intends to convey its lack of programmatic interest in the proposed project. Such assessments do not necessarily reflect judgments on the merits of the proposed project. The purpose of the Concept Paper phase is to save Applicants the considerable time and expense of preparing a Full Application that is unlikely to be selected for award negotiations.

A notification letter encouraging the submission of a Full Application does not authorize the Applicant to commence performance of the project.

Question 27: Where should Letters of Support be addressed?
Answer 27:

Letters of Support can be addressed to the Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Service Center. However, all Letters of Support should be submitted with the Full Application in EERE Exchange by the deadline for Full Applications.

Frequently Asked Questions