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["INSTRUCTIONS"]
[1,"All questions pertaining to this funding opportunity announcement should be emailed to FOA2987@netl.doe.gov "]
[2,"All questions pertaining to Infrastructure Exchange should be emailed to InfrastructureExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include FOA name and number in subject line."]
[3,"All questions and answers pertaining to this FOA will be posted on Infrastructure 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-0002987 - DOE Heat Pump Defense Production Act Program - Round 2 - Updated Through 04/24/2024"]
["Question #","Date Submitted","Topic","Question","Answer"]
[1,"2024-02-15","Eligibility","Can I still submit an application under Topic Area 1 and 2?  ","No, Topic Areas 1 and 2 are now closed. Applications will only be accepted for new Topic Areas 3, 4, and 5. "]
[2,"2024-02-15","Other","Why is the funding opportunity being reopened?","The Funding Opportunity Announcement was reopened to solicit applications for new Topic Areas: Topic Area 3 - Residential Heat Pump Production Capability, Topic Area 4 - Heat Pump Water Heater Production Capability, Topic Area 5 - All Other Heat Pump and Component Production Capability. "]
[3,"2024-02-15","Eligibility","If I submitted an application previously, can I submit an application to this amendment?","Yes, applicants may submit an application as long as it aligns with one of the new topic areas.  However, applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review the FOA requirements to ensure compliance with the necessary criteria, including the required submission of a Concept Paper."]
[4,"2024-02-15","Webinar","When will a webinar will be held?","An informational webinar for DE-FOA-0002987 Round 2 is scheduled for 2/21/2024 at 2pm ET. Register at the following link: https://doe.webex.com/weblink/register/rb5394bd69016430c4b4b4cfbf971b5a3 "]
[5,"2024-02-16","Other","Will this funding opportunity be re-released for a third round in the future? ","DOE does not anticipate reopening this Funding Opportunity for a third round."]
[6,"2024-02-20","Other","Can an applicant switch the facility location between the Concept Paper and the Full Proposal? Some applicants may find themselves in a situation where they have two or more desirable locations, and specific milestones will have to be met in the near future to determine the final location.","The FOA does not prohibit a change in location from what is identified in the concept paper phase to the full application phase. Location is not a factor in the merit review criterion for concept papers.  "]
[7,"2024-02-21","Eligibility","If I was selected for the first round of DPA funding, can I apply this round to get additional funds to go toward my previously selected project? ","Although previous applicants are allowed to apply to this funding announcement, it must be a new project and not a continuation of a project that was already selected."]
[8,"2024-02-21","Eligibility","On page 4, Section C of the FOA, can you please describe what you mean by “applications based on research, development, or pilot-scale activities”?","Per section I.C, applications that include research, development, or pilot-scale activities are not of interest."]
[9,"2024-02-21","Eligibility","We are developing a solar-assisted, water source heat pump system used to heat domestic water in homes. We are in full scale development and will install our first twelve systems by August 1st of this year. We are seeking capital to scale up production of the product in 2025.  Based on my description above, would you encourage me to pursue funding under this program?  If not, can you refer me to other funding sources?","See Section III.G of the FOA for questions regarding eligibility. Due to the competitive nature of this funding opportunity announcement, it is up to the applicant to review the FOA requirements and make their own determination on how their approach or solution aligns with the topic area and whether or not to apply."]
[10,"2024-02-21","Application Content/Format","What types of categories of costs are allowable under this FOA? ","See Section IV.I.i., \"Allowable Costs\". All expenditures must be allowable, allocable, and reasonable in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles. Pursuant to 2 CFR 910.352, the cost principles in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (48 CFR 31.2) apply to for-profit entities. The cost principles contained in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E apply to all entities other than for-profits."]
[11,"2024-02-22","Technical Topics","The stated objective of Topic Areas 3 and 5 is “to create new or additional domestic production capability for heat pumps and components.” How does DOE define “components”? Would a refrigerant used in a heat pump be viewed as a component?","The DOE did not provide or limit the definition of electric heat pump components.  Per section III.G of the FOA, DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which applications to this FOA must be submitted. Applicants are encouraged to review the FOA document sections IV.C Content and Form of the Concept Paper and IV.D Content and Form of the Full Application for content requirements and market segment that the project will fulfill."]
[12,"2024-02-22","Webinar","Is a recording of the informational webinar available?","https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5dwh103NiQ"]
[13,"2024-02-26","Eligibility","I am working with a client who has an existing facility that could be upgraded through machine investments and workforce training to reach capacity of 2,500 units a year. However, our projected budget for this investment falls short of the Anticipated Minimum Award Size of $5M (maybe $4M total ($2M share each)). Do you evaluate projects that request less than $5M match? Will you evaluate them on a \"incremental capacity for investment\" basis (where this project would look very strong)? Additionally, can an investment in inventory and raw materials be part of the project plan?","See section II.A.i in the FOA.  The “anticipated” minimum Federal award size is $5M. The FOA does not limit the minimum award size. Concept Papers and Full Applications are evaluated based on the section V. of the FOA, Application Review Information. Costs for materials used in validating the production capability are allowable, however inventory or raw materials for use in current or future product sales are unallowable costs for the project."]
[14,"2024-02-27","Cost Sharing","If my client already owns the land and building and they make it available for the capacity extension project, would that be counted toward the cost share as an \"in-kind contribution\"?\n\nPage 11 of the FOA says on one hand:\n\"An applicant selected under this FOA cannot propose the value of previously acquired equipment, buildings, or land as cost share.\" but also, \"In-kind contributions are those where a value of the contribution can be readily determined, verified and justified but where no actual cash is transacted in securing the good or service comprising the contribution. Allowable in-kind contributions include but are not limited to: the donation of volunteer time or the donation of space or use of equipment.\"\n\nIf the land and building are donated to the project, would that be \"a contribution ... where no actual cash is transacted in securing the good\"?","As stated in Section III.B.iii of the FOA, the value of previously acquired equipment, buildings, or land as cost share is unallowable. See 2 CFR § 200.465 regarding the allowability of rental costs for real property and equipment."]
[15,"2024-02-28","Concept Paper","FOA page 15 – Item F – We wish to submit a concept paper for topic areas 3 and 5. Please clarify that a unique concept paper is required for each topic area. Also, please outline the steps to submit two separate concept papers to the portal.","As stated in Section III.F of the FOA, an entity may submit more than one Concept Paper and Full Application to this FOA, provided that each application describes a unique, scientifically distinct project; provided that each application is only submitted to one topic area; and provided that an eligible Concept Paper was submitted for each Full Application. See Section IV.C of the FOA for the content and form of the Concept Paper. For directions on how to submit a Concept Paper, see the “Infrastructure xCHANGE Applicant User Guide” contained under the User Guides menu. Each Concept Paper will be a separate entry with its own submission number."]
[16,"2024-03-01","Concept Paper","Is there a template to use for the concept paper?  I have seen them for other programs, but don't see one for this program. ","No, a Concept Paper template is not available. See Section IV.C of the FOA for the content and form of the Concept Paper."]
[17,"2024-03-01","Other","Client is currently leasing their building. To make the necessary renovations and investments for capacity increase, client needs to buy the building - is that an allowable project cost?","DOE will not make determinations regarding cost allowability absent review of the full application. See Section IV.I.i., \"Allowable Costs\". All expenditures must be allowable, allocable, and reasonable in accordance with the applicable federal cost principles. Pursuant to 2 CFR 910.352, the cost principles in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (48 CFR 31.2) apply to for-profit entities. The cost principles contained in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E apply to all entities other than for-profits."]
[18,"2024-03-11","Eligibility","Can an organization change the primary applicant entity between the concept paper and a full application?","Yes, however the updated prime applicant must have been a member of the applicant team on the original concept paper submission."]
[19,"2024-03-11","Concept Paper","We have identified a project that is applicable to two of our U.S. domestic production facilities. It was my understanding that a Concept Paper would need to be submitted for each facility but the information is not absolutely clear. Can you please confirm if separate Concept Papers and Applications are necessary or can both be combined? It is the same project but it would impact 2 of our production facilities.","Multiple project locations may be submitted in one application, provided that all locations are part of the same project. Applicants are reminded to see section IV.C of the FOA for content and form for Concept Paper submissions and section IV.D of the FOA for content and form for Full Application submissions. Per the FOA section IV.D.xix, the applicant must identify each project location for the Full Application."]
[20,"2024-03-11","Foreign Entities/Work","Is the foreign waiver required in the Concept Paper or should organizations submit it with the Full Application?","As stated in Appendix C of the FOA, an applicant must submit an explicit waiver request in the Full Application. "]
[21,"2024-03-18","Cost Sharing","Can we adjust the cost share per budget period as long as the final cost share is 50/50 for the total project cost?\n\nFor example:\n\nBudget Period # 1 – federal share 90%, applicant cost share 10%.\nBudget Period # 2 – 50/50\nBudget Period # 3 – 50/50\nBudget Period #4 – federal share 10%, applicant cost share 90%.","DOE will not consider front loading Federal share. As stated in Section III.B.vi of the FOA, DOE requires prime recipients to contribute the cost share amount incrementally over the life of the award. Specifically, the prime recipient’s cost share for each billing period must always reflect the overall cost share ratio negotiated by the parties (i.e., the total amount of cost sharing on each invoice when considered cumulatively with previous invoices must reflect, at a minimum, the cost sharing percentage negotiated)."]
[22,"2024-03-20","Due Dates","Will DOE extend the Full Application submission deadline? ","DOE does not anticipate extending the Full Application submission deadline."]
[23,"2024-03-20","Application Content/Format","Can you please confirm that there is NO CBP requirement for a full application? I saw that the most recent amendment says \"N/A\" for the CBP, but the appendix still includes CBP instructions.","As stated in Section IV.D.i of the FOA, a Community Benefits Plan is required as part of the Full Application. The blue highlighted \"N/A\" on page 21 of the FOA references the page limitation for the Community Benefits Plan which was revised with Amendment 00002. Applicants are encouraged to review the FOA document sections IV.D.xvii and Appendix E for form and content requirements of the Community Benefits Plan."]
[24,"2024-03-26","Cost Sharing","Can applicants use tax credits (specifically, 45C) as match funding in the application? Are tax credits provided by the IRS considered a federal source?","As stated in Section III.B.iii of the FOA, deferred or avoided costs such as tax credits may be considered in the overall project business case but cannot be counted towards the cost share requirements."]
[25,"2024-03-26","Application Content/Format","What format are we supposed to use for the Current and Pending Support requirement?","As stated in Section IV.D.xviii of the FOA, the information may be provided in the approved common disclosure format available at Common Form for Current and Pending (Other) Support (nsf.gov). The Common Form can be found here: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/researchprotection/commonform_cps.pdf"]
[26,"2024-03-27","Application Content/Format","Why was Amendment 000003 issued?","The purpose of Amendment 000003 is to update the Community Benefits Plan page limitation (Section IV.D.i)."]
[27,"2024-04-03","Cost Sharing","Our project considers the in-kind contributions of a building and land. What are the requirements to establish a \"readily determined, verified and justified\" value of the contribution? Would an independent appraisal of the property be considered appropriate? Several appraisals and an average?","As stated in Section III.B.iii of the FOA, the value of previously acquired equipment, buildings, or land as cost share is unallowable. Applicants are encouraged to review the FOA document sections III.B and Appendix A for cost share information. "]
[28,"2024-04-04","Eligibility","On your webinar, it stated that if you received a denial of a concept paper it does not preclude you from applying.  Yet later on it said if you didn’t submit a concept paper, you can’t submit an application. Can you please clarify the official policy in the original notice?","As stated in Section IV.A of the FOA, only applicants who have submitted an eligible Concept Paper will be eligible to submit a Full Application. Per Section VI.A.ii of the FOA, 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."]
[29,"2024-04-05","Other","Do you anticipate having a round 3 for this FOA?","DOE does not anticipate reopening this Funding Opportunity for a third round."]
[30,"2024-04-05","Other","The FOA states: \"expected to perform work estimated to be more than $250,000 or 25 percent of the total work effort (whichever is less), which is available on Exchange at https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/. The budget justification must include the same justification information described in the “Budget Justification” section above. Save each subrecipient budget justification in a Microsoft Excel file using the following convention for the title “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Subrecipient_Budget_Justification”.\"\n\nIf the proposal includes a piece of equipment that costs more than $250,000, is this supplier of such equipment automatically a subrecipient?","The prime applicant is the responsible party for making the determination as to whether each award it makes should be a subaward (subrecipient) or procurement contract (contractor). Section 200.331 of 2 CFR 200 explains the roles of subrecipients and contractors so the prime recipient can determine the relationship. In addition to this section, 2 CFR 200 provides further guidance for making this determination with the definitions in sections 2 CFR § 200.1 for the terms contract, contractor, subaward, and subrecipient."]
[31,"2024-04-05","Application Content/Format","Can the scope of the proposed project change from the concept paper to the full proposal? The topic area and technology are unchanged. ","The FOA does not prohibit this type of change. However, applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review the FOA requirements to ensure compliance with the necessary criteria. "]
[32,"2024-04-05","Intellectual Property","\tIs there an opportunity to have a direct discussion with DOE prior to submitting a Full Application regarding rights thereof during the process to implement the project (upon approval) and intellectual property associated with the project?","Due to the competitive nature of this FOA, it is up to the applicant to make their own determination on their approach and whether or not to apply.  The federal government is unable to discuss considerations, requirements, or guidance that is not specifically identified in the FOA."]
[33,"2024-04-05","Intellectual Property","In review of the FOA Amendment information it is our understanding DOE has “March-In” rights if they think we are not doing a good enough job at commercializing the inventions. What is the probability of this?","As stated in Section VIII.K of the FOA, any determination that march-in rights are warranted must follow a fact-finding process in which the recipient has certain rights to present evidence and witnesses, confront witnesses and appear with counsel and appeal any adverse decision. To date, DOE has never exercised its march-in rights to any subject inventions."]
[34,"2024-04-05","Intellectual Property","What is the likelihood that DOE would waive its rights to the inventions and data produced by us under this project?","DOE will not make determinations regarding Intellectual Property absent review of the full application."]
[35,"2024-04-05","Intellectual Property","The FOA also indicates we would need to pledge to have products made in the US that embody the inventions unless we obtain a waiver. What is the likelihood of approval of such a waiver?","DOE will not make determinations regarding Intellectual Property absent review of the full application."]
[36,"2024-04-10","Application Content/Format","I have a question regarding the Statement of Project Objectives (SOPO). Should the applicant modify languages in “D. Deliverables” and “E. Briefings and Technical Presentations” or should we keep as it is written in the format provided at Exchange website?","The language contained in “D. Deliverables” may be modified to include additional significant deliverables but “E. Briefings and Technical Presentations” should not be modified."]
[37,"2024-04-10","Other","Can the funding amount in the full application be higher than initially submitted in the concept paper but within the anticipated award size? ","The FOA does not prohibit this type of change. However, applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review Section II.A.i of the FOA to ensure compliance with the minimum/maximum award size for any one individual award. "]
[38,"2024-04-11","Eligibility","We have unfortunately missed the deadline for the Concept Paper. May we submit a late CP so that we may submit a full application?","No. As stated in Section III.C of the FOA, DOE will not review or consider submissions submitted through means other than Exchange, submissions submitted after the applicable deadline, or incomplete submissions."]
[39,"2024-04-12","Application Content/Format","I have a question on required documents by FOA, Section D xiv. SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities and viii.SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance.\n\nSince this FOA is not accepting the application from Grant.gov, I cannot open Workspace to generate required forms above. DE-FOA-0002987 says “There are currently no Opportunity Packages available for submission through Grants.gov.” and there is no “Apply” button.\n\nIs there any offline format we can use for this application?","As stated in Section IV.B of the FOA, the application forms and instructions are available on Exchange. To access these materials, go to https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/ and select the appropriate funding opportunity number."]
[40,"2024-04-15","Concept Paper","In the notification letter for concept paper feedback, there are 12 line items under \"Discouraged from Submitting a Full Application\". If only one was checked, does that mean this is the only area of concern for the concept paper? Or would DOE have selected all areas of concern?","The letter comprises the sole debriefing that DOE will provide.  The DOE will not respond to additional questions regarding the concept paper notification. Per the notification,  receipt of a discouragement notification regarding your concept paper does not prohibit your organization from submitting a full application in accordance with the instructions and requirements contained within the FOA."]
[41,"2024-04-22","Application Content/Format","This section is clear that the form SF-LLL must be filled out and is required.  \n\nHowever, it is not clear how to fill out this form if we do not have a Lobby registrant (there is no place to say “not applicable”). Should we just leave the registrant blank?","Submittal of the SF-LLL is required.  Applicants with nothing to disclose can submit a negative declaration, either noting “not applicable” or leaving the form uncompleted."]

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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"]