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["INSTRUCTIONS"]
[1,"All questions pertaining to this funding opportunity announcement should be emailed under the DE-FOA-0002946 - FY23 Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Conversion R&D submit questions link at FY23conversionFOA@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."]
[3,"Applicants who are unable to open pdf documents are advised that it could be due to an error with the user's web browser or the user's Adobe software.  We recommend closing your web browser and then opening a different web browser to navigate to the Exchange website to open/download the document.\" If that doesn't work, please contact the Exchange Help Desk at the web address provided on the FOA in Exchange. "]

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["ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTION AND ANSWER LOG"]
["DE-FOA-0003126 - Grid Development Office (GDO) Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagements"]
["Question #","Date Submitted","Topic","Question","Answer"]
[1,"2023-09-30","Other","I am having a hard time completing the application online through grants.gov. Can I submit it through the mail or email? ","The Funding Opportunity Announcement and application process are published on https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/.  Per FOA section IV.A.  \"All submissions must conform to the following form and content requirements, including maximum page lengths (described below) and must be submitted via Infrastructure eXCHANGE at https://infrastructureexchange.energy.gov unless specifically stated otherwise.\""]
[2,"2023-10-16","Eligibility","The call indicates that only ISO/RTO and States are eligible as prime recipients.  There's no ISO/RTO that covers large portions of the Western U.S., there is an emerging entity, the Western Power Pool.","Pursuant to Section III.A. of the Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagements, DE-FOA-0003126,  individuals or domestic entities that are nonprofits are eligible to apply as prime recipients, provided they include a State or RTO/ISO as a partner on the application/project team."]
[3,"2023-10-20","Eligibility","Can a university be the prime recipient for DE-FOA-0003126 if an ISO is an unpaid partner in an advisory role? If not, what level of effort/funding is recommended for the ISO team members?","Pursuant to Section III.A. of the Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagements, DE-FOA-0003126,  individuals or domestic entities that are nonprofits are eligible to apply as prime recipients, provided they include a State or RTO/ISO as a partner on the application/project team."]
[4,"2023-10-24","Other","What is the Opportunity Package ID associated with \nFunding Opportunity Number:\tDE-FOA-0003126","The Funding Opportunity Announcement and application process are published on https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/. "]
[5,"2023-10-25","Application Content/Format","For the topic selection, we have the following questions:\n(1) For one proposal, does an application need to specificy a single subtopic under the Topic Area 1. \n(2) For the subtopic area 5, Integrated regional planning approaches, there are three problems identified, can a single application address all three? ","(1) See FOA Section I.A.a. Topic Areas, Applications for Topic Area 1. “If submitting an application that covers multiple topic areas, separate applications must be submitted [to] each area.”\n\n(2) See FOA Section I.A.a. Topic Areas, Applications for Topic Area 1 concept 5, Integrated Regional Planning Approaches. An application submitted to this concept may address all three of the identified linkages or a combination of these linkages. "]
[6,"2023-10-25","Eligibility","This question has been edited to remove reference to a specific entity in the interest of confidentiality: Can you clarify if [an organization that is an instrumentality of states] is considered a State for the purposes of the Markets FOA (Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagements, Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE-FOA-0003126), either as a prime recipient or as a State Partner?","Consistent with Section III.G of the FOA, GDO will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date November 3, 2023 when concept papers are due.  Notwithstanding, for clarification, to qualify as a State, either at the Prime or partner level, you must meet the definition of State in 2 CFR 200.1, which reads, “State means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any agency or instrumentality thereof exclusive of local governments.”  If an entity organization does not meet this definition, it may still submit a concept paper and/or application as the prime recipient , but they include a State(s)  as a partner(s) on the application/project team.  "]
[6,"2023-10-27","Application Content/Format","1)\tCan a University/academic apply if partnered with one or more RTOs?\n2)\tIf Yes, can the PI (me) submit the Concept Paper directly on eXCHANGE?\nOr does this have to be submitted by the research office at the university?   ","1) See FOA Section III.A.ii. Domestic Entities for eligibility requirements. Educational Institutions are eligible to apply provided they include a State or RTO/ISO as a partner. \n\n2) The Prime Applicant should be the entity submitting the application. \n"]
[7,"2023-10-28","Due Dates"," Has there been any considering around extending that date?  Alternatively, is it acceptable to indicate that state entities have been invited to participate, even if they have not committed?  ","See the title page of the FOA, GDO will publish several rounds of this opportunity. In order to be eligible to submit a full application for DE-FO1-0003126, Applicants must submit an eligible concept paper by the documented deadline."]
[8,"2023-10-31","Eligibility","We have a question about the required involvement of a state agency that may NOT apply as the prime applicant for this program. Is the expectation that the state agency must be named as a subrecipient, or could the state agency support the program with a letter of commitment or memorandum of understanding (and not accept program funds)?","See FOA Section III. Eligibility Information. States and/or RTO/ISOs must be the Prime Applicant or a partner on the project. See FOA Section I.B. Application Specifically Not of Interest.  Applications by domestic entities that do not include States and/or RTOs/ISOs as a partner will be deemed noncompliant."]
[9,"2023-10-31","Other","The applicant or entity submitting the application may not necessarily be the same entity receiving or utilizing the funds. To what extent should we specify who will be receiving the funds? Would we need to define which entity will receive and administer the funds?","See FOA Section IV.C. Content and Form of the Concept Paper for concept paper requirements. The Project Description should include \"[the] funding being requested, in US dollars ($) and the impact that GDO funding would have on the proposed project.\" "]
[10,"2023-10-31","Concept Paper","What is the appropriate mechanism for an entity to indicate support for a concept/proposal at this stage? Can Letters of Support be uploaded/included with Concept Papers?","See FOA Section IV.C. Content and Form of the Concept Paper for content requirements. Concept Papers must conform to the content requirements specified in that section. InfrastructureExchange.energy.gov allows for only the submission of a Concept Paper for the Concept Paper submission deadline. "]
[11,"2023-11-02","Due Dates",null,"The Concept Paper submission deadline for DE-FO1-0003126 has been extended from November 3, 2023 to November 17, 2023. "]
[12,"2023-11-14","Other","Where can a State agency find private industries or national labs who would be interested in collaborating with a state or regional system operator WEMSE grant opportunity? \nIs there an interested participant list?","GDO does not have a Teaming List for this FOA. "]
[13,"2023-11-15","Concept Paper","Can the main applicant change between the concept paper submission and the full application? ","Yes, the composition of the project team can change between the Concept Paper submission and the Full Application submission. "]
[14,"2023-11-17","Eligibility","Must all partners be included at the concept paper stage, or is it possible to add additional partners after the concept paper stage, in the full application? If so, would you recommend noting potential partners as well as confirmed partners in the concept paper?","Yes, the composition of the project team can change between the Concept Paper submission and the Full Application submission. "]
[15,"2023-11-17","Concept Paper","I submitted a concept paper for Topic Area 2: Education and Convenings. There was a requirement to indicate a technology readiness level (TRL). This question seems more geared towards Topic 1. I could not find guidance for this section under the FOA or Q&A. \n\nI chose TRL 1 for the current state and TRL 2 for the estimated state after the work. I want to make sure this will not impact our submission.\n\nCan you provide guidance on how to approach this in the submission?","The Technology Readiness Level designation requirement has been removed from the FOA entry in Infrastructure-Exchange. "]
[16,"2023-11-27","Concept Paper","Are you able to share when applicants can expect to hear back on their concept papers on DE-FOA-0003126 Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagements?  I see that the full application deadline is January 19, 2024 and am hoping to develop a project timeline for our application. ","Applicants have been notified of Concept Paper Decisions. "]
[17,"2023-11-29","Eligibility","Can you confirm that State PUCs are eligible as a partner for this FOA and fulfills the requirement to \"include a State or RTO/ISO as a partner\"?"," For purposes of DE-FOA-0003126, State is defined as “all 50 States, U.S. Territories, the District of Columbia, and any agency or instrumentality of a State exclusive of local governments.”  Per FOA Section III. G. Questions Regarding Eligibility of Applications, GDO will not make eligibility determinations prior to the submission of a full application."]
[18,"2023-12-01","Due Dates","Could you please inform me when you plan to announce awards for the WEMSE grant program?  ","Per the table on page one of the FOA, GDO anticipates a selection notification for the first round of this opportunity in March of 2024. "]
[19,"2023-12-07","Application Content/Format","I am looking for the SOPO template referenced in the following section of the FOA:\n\ni.\t                        Statement of Project Objectives (SOPO)\nApplicants are required to complete a SOPO. A SOPO template is available on Infrastructure eXCHANGE at https://infrastructure-eXCHANGE.energy.gov/. The SOPO, including the Milestone Table, must not exceed 4 pages when printed using standard 8.5 x 11 paper with 1” margins (top, bottom, left, and right) with font not smaller than 12 point (except in figures or tables, which may be 10 point font). Save the SOPO in a single Microsoft Word file using the following convention for the title “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Topic_SOPO”.\n\nI do not see the referenced SOPO template among the links to Full Application documents for DE FOA 0003126. See screenshot below.  Is the SOPO template located on some other portion of the infrastructure-exchange website?","A DRAFT copy of the SOPO has been uploaded to Infrastructure-Exchange in Full Application Attachments for this Funding Opportunity Annoucement. "]
[20,"2023-12-11","Eligibility","Assuming a State or RTO/ISO is not the Prime Applicant, must they be named as a subrecipient to be considered a “partner” in the context of FOA Section III?","Per FOA Section III.A.ii.,   For-profit Tribal, Educational Institutions, and Nonprofit entities are eligible to apply as prime recipients, provided they include a State or RTO/ISO as a partner on the application/project team. 2CFR200.331 Subrecipient and Contractor determinations provides guidance for the characteristics of a Subrecipient on a Federal Award.  Participation by States/State agencies and RTOs/ISOs on a proposed project should be detailed in the Technical Volume and Letters of Commitment for an application. "]
[21,"2023-12-11","Eligibility","Can an organzation with 501(c)3 status be eligible to be a Prime Applicant for this Funding Opportunity? ","Please see FOA section III. A Eligible Applicants for the types of entities eligible to apply to this Funding Opportunity Announcement.  Nonprofits are eligible to apply as a prime recipient provided they include a State or RTO/ISO as a partner on the application.  Per FOA Section III. G. Questions Regarding Eligibility of Applications, GDO will not make eligibility determinations prior to the submission of a full application. "]
[22,"2023-12-13","Application Content/Format","Is there a SOPO template available for Applicants to use?  ","A template SOPO has been uploaded to Infrastructure-Exchange under this Funding Opportunity Announcement."]
[23,"2023-12-17","Eligibility","Can GDO speak with me about the concept if we think we can expand on and improve the application for a future round? Or is that not allowed?","Per FOA Section VII. Questions/Agency Contacts, \"...GDO personnel are prohibited from communicating (in writing or otherwise) with applicants regarding the FOA except through the established question and answer process…\""]
[24,"2023-12-18","Application Content/Format","For the submission of resumes, are publications are required, optional, or not wanted?","Per FOA Section Iv.D.iii., Resumes do not need to include publications. Applicants may elect to include a list of publications, however, there is a two-page limit on resumes for the PI and all Senior/Key Personnel. "]
[25,"2023-12-20","Application Content/Format","Can you please confirm and validate the requirements listed on page 44 in reference to a SAMS MPIN?","Please see FOA Section IV.G. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) for SAM registration requirements."]
[26,"2023-12-20","Application Content/Format","Just to be clear, “team members” do not have to be Prime or Sub-Recipients, correct? ","Team Members do not have to be Prime or Subrecipients. 2CFR200.331 Subrecipient and Contractor determinations provides guidance for the characteristics of a Subrecipient on a Federal Award. "]
[27,"2023-12-20","Application Content/Format","Can a team member be considered a “key personnel”?  ","Senior/key personnel are persons involved in the performance, direction, and definition of scope of work in the project. The roles and responsibilities of senior/key personnel should be elaborated on in the Technical Volume. See FOA Section IV.D.ii. Technical Volume."]
[28,"2023-12-20","Application Content/Format","Please confirm, the Application needs to include Letters of Commitment to demonstrate cost share and this should include letters from team members who are contributing in-kind? ","Please see FOA Section IV.D.iv. Letters of Commitment. Letters of commitment are required for all subrecipient and third-party cost share providers. Additionally, please see FOA Section III.B.iii. Cost Share Types and Allowability. "]
[29,"2023-12-20","Application Content/Format","The deadline for the Application is January 19, correct? ","Please see page one of the FOA, the Submission Deadline for Full Applications to the first round of this FOA is January 19, 2024. "]
[30,"2023-12-20","Application Content/Format","Can Applications for this DE FOA 0003126 include letters of support from other stakeholders who are not listed in the Project team?","Please see FOA Section IV.D.iv. Letters of Commitment. Letters of support from partners/end users are allowable and are subject to a one-page maximum per letter."]
[31,"2023-12-23","Application Content/Format","I need help making sure that I am understanding the FOA’s requirements on document naming conventions.  Here are the FOA instructions:\n\nAll Full Application documents must be marked with the Control Number issued to the applicant. Applicants will receive a control number upon clicking the “Create Concept Paper” button in Infrastructure eXCHANGE and should include that control number in the file name of their Full Application submission (i.e., Control number_Applicant Name_Topic_Full Application). \n\nHere is a specific instruction for naming the technical volume: \n\nControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Topic_TechnicalVolume","Per FOA Section IV.D. Content and Form of the Full Application, application titles should be formated in the following manner, ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Topic_File. Here is an example of the format 3126-XXXX_ABC_Corp_Topic_Area_1_TechnicalVolume."]
[32,"2023-12-23","Application Content/Format","Can you help with the SF-424 form posted for this FOA under Full Application forms and templates? I keep getting the following error notice every time I try to download it (even though I have confirmed I have Adobe 8 or higher):","Please try downloading the document from your browser and opening the document on your desktop.  The SF424 is a live form that can be filled by the user. "]
[33,"2023-12-26","Application Content/Format","The FOA for this funding opportunity references a SOPO template that can be found on the infrastructure exchange site. I went to the correct funding opportunity, clicked on “view application forms and templates” and no such document was available. Can you please provide the SOPO template that the FOA is referring to?","A DRAFT copy of the SOPO has been uploaded to Infrastructure-Exchange in  ApplicationForms and Templates for this specific Funding Opportunity Annoucement. "]
[34,"2024-01-12","Application Content/Format","Can the Project Title change from the Concept Paper to the Full Application, or must the\nConcept Paper Title be kept?","The proposed project title can change from the Concept Paper submission. "]
[35,"2023-12-26","Application Content/Format","The FOA for this funding opportunity references a SOPO template that can be found on the infrastructure exchange site. I went to the correct funding opportunity, clicked on “view application forms and templates” and no such document was available. Can you please provide the SOPO template that the FOA is referring to?","A DRAFT copy of the SOPO has been uploaded to Infrastructure-Exchange in  ApplicationForms and Templates for this specific Funding Opportunity Annoucement. "]
[36,"2024-01-10","Eligibility","Are Foreign Entities Eligible to participate in this FOA? ","Per FOA Section IV.D.iv., Letters of Commitment, letters of support from any partners/end users are allowable and are subject to a one-page maximum per letter. Please see Section VI. B. iii. Foreign National Access for discussion of involving foreign nationals in the performance of an award."]
[37,"2024-01-11","Application Content/Format","Page 26 of the FOA (PDF page 31) states that we must “save the Summary Memo in a single Microsoft Word file”; however, page 19 of the FOA (PDF page 24) states that the summary must be in a PDF format. Should we submit it as an MS Word document or a PDF?","Infrastructure-Exchange has been updated to allow for the submission of the document in either MS Word or PDF.  Either format will be accepted. "]
[38,"2024-01-12","Application Content/Format","A completed SF-LLL is required to apply for DE-FOA-0003126. The SF-LLL instructions state that the “Name and Address of Lobbying Registrant” (Box 10) is required. How should an applicant complete Box 10 if they do not have any registered lobbyists?","The Applicant may type in N/A for any fields that are not applicable to their organization.  Additional instructions for the SF-LLL can be viewed on Grants.gov. https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/instructions/SFLLL_1_2-V1.2-Instructions.pdf"]
[39,"2024-01-12","Application Content/Format","Applicants for DE-FOA-0003126 must complete Form SF-424. Box 18 of Form SF-424 asks for estimated funding, including funding from the Applicant and funding from a State. If the Applicant is a State, should funding be listed under Applicant or under State?","The cost share proposed by the Prime Applicant should be reflected under Applicant, even if the Applicant is a State. "]
[40,"2024-01-12","Due Dates","Will GDO please provide a two-week extension of the Full Application due date?","GDO will not extend the Full Application due date for this Funding Opportunity Announcement. "]
[41,"2024-01-16","Application Content/Format","I’m reaching out about the subject-referenced FOA: DE-FOA-0003126, because we’ve run into a problem uploading the required subawardee budgets/justifications. The instructions state that the budget justifications need to use a Microsoft Excel file format, but the format required by the website is pdf and no excel files can be uploaded. ","Infrastructure-Exchange has been updated to allow for the submission of the document in either xls or xlsx.  Either format will be accepted. "]
[42,"2024-01-16","Application Content/Format","In light if this information, it would appear the reference to MPIN requirement in the FOA is no longer valid. Can you please confirm the requirement for a SAMS MPIN identified on page 44 (Section VI.B. i.2) is no longer necessary or valid?","Per the Federal Service Desk chat feature, MPINs can no longer be generated or seen in SAM.gov registration as of March 31st, 2023. "]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[43,"2024-01-17","Application Content/Format","The chart on page number 19 (PDF page 24) says to name the file for the SF-424 as “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Topic_App424” but instruction vi on page number 25 (PDF page 30) says to name the file “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Topic_424”. Which naming convention should we use?","Please use “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Topic_424”. This was an oversight and this naming convention is consistent with the convention populated in Infrastructure-Exchange for this opportunity. "]
[44,"2024-01-17","Application Content/Format","Likewise, the chart on page number 19 (PDF page 24) says to name the file for the summary memo as “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Topic_Summary” but instruction viii on page number 26 (PDF page 31) says to name the file “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Topic_Memo”. Which naming convention should we use?","Please use “ControlNumber_LeadOrganization_Topic_Memo”. This was an oversight and this naming convention is consistent with the convention populated in Infrastructure-Exchange for this opportunity. "]
[45,"2024-01-17","Application Content/Format","How should the control number and page numbers be displayed in the budget justification workbook, which is a MS Excel file?","In the Budget Justification Workbook, the Control Number can be populated on the Instructions and Summary tab in cell B3 which is titled Award Number. "]

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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"]