{"text_format":"2","workbook":"xlsx","n_sheets":3,"sheets":["INSTRUCTIONS & TIPS","NOFO CONTENT QUESTIONS","Admin Pick List"],"not_rendered":{"charts":0,"images":0,"macros":0,"external_links":0,"defined_names":4,"comments":0,"pivot_tables":0},"unopened":[],"bounds":{"document_bytes":16777216,"sheet_cells":100000,"run_cost":"one","rows_first":2000,"rows_last":500,"rows_between":2000,"halvings":0,"cell_chars":16384,"cell_head_chars":4096},"cells_cut":0,"cells_raw":0,"read":"whole","date_system":"1900"}

{"sheet":"INSTRUCTIONS & TIPS","index":0,"n_rows":11,"n_cols":2,"rows_kept":11,"cut":false,"hidden":false,"merged":[[0,0,0,1],[7,0,7,1]]}
["INSTRUCTIONS"]
[1,"All questions pertaining to this funding opportunity should be emailed under the DE-FOA-0003587 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Rare Earth Elements Demonstration Facility submit questions link at DE-FOA-0003587@netl.doe.gov. "]
[2,"All questions pertaining to Clean Energy Infrastructure Exchange should be emailed to InfrastructureExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov. Include NOFO name and number in subject line."]
[3,"All questions and answers pertaining to this NOFO will be posted on Clean Energy 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 no later than 3 business days prior to the application due date. Questions submitted after this date will not be answered."]
[]
["TIPS"]
[1,"Applicants may sort questions and answers in the question tabs of this spreadsheet 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 NOFO in Exchange. "]

{"sheet":"NOFO CONTENT QUESTIONS","index":1,"n_rows":58,"n_cols":3,"rows_kept":58,"cut":false,"hidden":false,"merged":[[0,0,0,2],[2,0,2,2],[1,0,1,2]]}
["ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTION AND ANSWER LOG"]
["DE-FOA-0003587 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Rare Earth Elements Demonstration Facility "]
["Updated 01/20/2026"]
["Number","Question","Answer"]
[1,"Is a letter of intent submission required in order to submit an application?","Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit a letter of intent by the specified due date and time. The submission should not contain any proprietary or sensitive business information. Letters of intent will not be used for down-selection purposes, and do not commit an applicant to apply. Applicants are not bound to the statements made in the letter of intent; it is reasonable for project partners, locations, or other factors to change during the application development process. DOE will not provide feedback on the Letters of Intent. "]
[2,"We are writing to request clarification regarding the FFRDC Authorization requirement described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (DE-FOA-0003587, Section II.D.1).\n\nAs an Office of Science National Laboratory, in accordance with the Memorandum on Streamlining SPP and CRADA, dated June 3, 2025, the Office of Science no longer requires Contracting Officer approval at the time of proposal submission for responses to DOE Notices of Funding Opportunity:  \"National Laboratory proposals in response to a DOE NOFO no longer require contracting officer approval at submission. National Laboratories must ensure proposals are aligned to the scope of the M&O contract. Contracting Officer approval will be required if the proposal is subsequently approved for funding.\"\n\nWe respectfully request confirmation that Office of Science FFRDCs may rely on this guidance and are not required to submit a separate FFRDC Authorization letter at the full application stage, unless and until an award is made.","If your organization is an Office of Science National Laboratory, Contracting Officer approval at the time of application submittal is no longer required.  If selected for negotiations leading to award, Contracting Officer approval will be required."]
[3,"On March 21, 2025, the Secretary issued the memorandum titled \"Strengthening National Laboratory Efficiency and Mission Execution.\" In response the Office of Science issued a memo that stipulated National Laboratory proposals in response to a DOE NOFO no longer require Contracting Officer approval at submission. Does MESC still want national labs to submit Contracting Officer approval? ","If your organization is an Office of Science National Laboratory, Contracting Officer approval at the time of application submittal is no longer required.  If selected for negotiations leading to award, Contracting Officer approval will be required."]
[4,"When trying to download files, my PC keeps telling me the file is \"damaged.\" Is there any remedy for this issue?","NOFO files have been tested in various configurations with no issues arising.  Applicants who encounter this problem should consult their IT staff for assistance.  "]
[5,"Can you please provide more details regarding what are considered incorporated consortia and unincorporated consortia listed as eligible entities and specify the difference between them? Can a for-profit business lead with an academic partner as the subrecipient?","A consortia is a collaborative effort between two or more entities. When incorporated, the consortia exists as a legal entity of its own. For either type of consortium, the academic partner must have a role as outlined in the NOFO Part 1, Section II.A.1."]
[6,"I have  a question and need a clarification, if we are eligible to apply for the DE-FOA-0003587 grant. I work for a company that recycles Li-Ion batteries and extracts critical minerals like Lithium, Cobalt, Manganese, and Nickel etc., and just wanted to understand if we are eligible and can apply for this grant. Thank you for the consideration.","DOE will not comment on the applicability of a specific proposed project.  Applicants must thoroughly review NOFO Part 1, Section III, Program Description, and NOFO Part 1, Section II, Eligibility, to determine if they should apply.  "]
[7,"I'm writing you today, to find out if I'd be eligible for any grants or loans?","DOE will not comment on the applicability of a specific proposed project.  Applicants must thoroughly review NOFO Part 1, Section III, Program Description, and NOFO Part 1, Section II, Eligibility, to determine if they should apply.  "]
[8,"If the applicant already has a facility built, does that disqualify them from this opportunity? For instance, could we replace the \"construction\" of a new facility with \"retrofitting\" or \"equipment purchasing\" in developing the facility into a demo plant? We would like clarity on if the facility has to be new construction as part of the award.","Existing infrastructure will not disqualify any applicant. It is the applicants responsibility to propose how it will meet the objective criteria outlined in the NOFO which may include retrofitting existing infrastructure. "]
[9,"The Restricted Eligibility section states that “the Secretary shall fund, through an agreement with an academic partner,” and the examples provided appear to require an academic institution to serve as the prime recipient (either directly or as part of a consortia). Could you please clarify whether there is any flexibility for a for-profit organization to serve as the prime recipient, provided that a domestic academic institution is a major participant or subrecipient? Or is it the Department’s intent that all prime recipients, in every eligible structure, must be academic institutions or consortia that formally include an academic institution in a prime-level role?","A For-Profit entity is not eligible as a stand alone prime recipient; however, the For-Profit may participate in either an incorporated or unincorporated consortia. For either type of consortium, the academic partner must have a role as outlined in the NOFO Part 1, Section II.A.1."]
[10,"Could DOE please clarify whether FFRDCs, including DOE national laboratories, can be considered “academic institutions” for the purposes of meeting the academic partner requirement?","FFRDCs including DOE National Labs, are not considered academic institutions. "]
[11,"Regarding the requirement to “fund the design, construction, and operation of one (or more) demonstration processing line(s) … that will supply 150–1000 metric tons per year of REEs,” could DOE clarify whether the facility is expected to achieve 150 metric tons per year at the start of operations, or whether a phased ramp-up to that output is acceptable as long as the facility ultimately reaches the required capacity?","The goal of the demonstration facility should be to produce 150-1000 TPY. It is up to the applicant to outline the method and timeline by which they will arrive to that goal tonnage."]
[12,"The NOFO states that “the facility must process, separate, and refine rare earth oxides into rare earth metals … at a single site.” Given that metallization capability is currently limited within the U.S., could DOE clarify whether full metallization at a single site is a mandatory requirement, or whether applicants may propose an alternative approach or phased value-stream build-out that still meets the program’s objectives?","Separation and refining are at a single site per the statute 40205 of IIJA. Advancing to metallization or beyond refining operations may occur at a separate domestic site."]
[13,"In reference to Eligibility as a Prime Recipient: Is a small, early-stage technology company—currently at TRL 1–3 and without an existing large-scale processing facility—eligible to apply as a prime recipient under DE-FOA-0003587, provided we assemble a consortium with an academic partner and industrial site owner?","As per Section II of the NOFO Part 1, DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the application submittal date.  Please refer to NOFO, Part 1, Section III, Program Description, and NOFO Part 1, Section II, Eligibility for more information. "]
[14,"If our stage of development is not suitable for a prime role, would it be appropriate to participate as a subrecipient or technology provider within a larger team that is prepared to design, construct, and operate the integrated demonstration facility?","DOE will not comment on the applicability of a specific proposed project. Applicants must thoroughly review NOFO Part 1, Section III, Program Description, and NOFO Part 1, Section II, Eligibility, to determine if they should apply."]
[15,"If DE-FOA-0003587 is intended only for projects that are already at pilot or pre-commercial demonstration scale, are there other current or upcoming DOE opportunities (within the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation or related programs) that may be better aligned with early-stage materials platforms aimed at enabling future REE demonstration facilities?","Any future DOE Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) will be publicized via DOE Infrastructure eXCHANGE and/or Grants.gov"]
[16,"If a company's stage of development is not suitable for a Prime Recipient role, would it be appropriate for the company to participate as a subrecipient or technology provider within a larger team that is prepared to design, construct, and operate the integrated demonstration facility?","DOE will not comment on the appropriateness or applicability of the proposed roles of participants in an application.  Applicants must thoroughly review the NOFO to determine if, based on their specific scenario, the applicant should apply."]
[17,"Can you please clarify whether the indirect limit listed in the requirements applies to each partner individually, or as a total for all partners on the team? For example, if an FFRDC is participating as a subrecipient on a team led by an organization to which the cap applies, would the requirement be waived for the FFRDC portion or would the other team members have to absorb a higher FFRDC rate to meet a total limit?","The indirect cost cap applies to each partner individually."]
[18,"We are interested in contributing our expertise on centrifugation in response to the NOFO on Rare Earth Element (REE) separation. Unfortunately, we are only eligible to participate as a subrecipient on another entity’s application. Is DOE able to provide us with guidance to contact other entities that intend to apply for this NOFO? We would like to discuss potential collaborations.","DOE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of project teams for this NOFO. The Teaming Partner List allows organizations that may wish to participate on a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships. The Teaming Partner List, TPL-0000011, is available on eXCHANGE and will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who provide their organization’s information.\nYou may view the Teaming Partner List by visiting the eXCHANGE homepage and clicking on “Teaming Partners” within the left-hand navigation pane."]
[19,"Would DOE MESC consider extending the application deadline beyond January 5, 2026 to allow for academic institutions that close for winter holidays to have ample time and opportunity to complete all internal approvals for the application package?","There are no plans to extend the application submission deadline.  However, should this change, any future modifications to the NOFO, including the application submission deadline, will be communicated via eXCHANGE."]
[20,"I would be grateful for the chance to discuss the next steps or any initial requirements with the Department of Energy. Is there a convenient time we can schedule, or if there is any additional information I should provide?","DOE will not comment on individual projects or application submissions. Individuals must thoroughly review the NOFO to determine if, based on their specific scenario, they should apply."]
[21,"Does the DOE have a metric you are using to assess if the academic partner is participating materially or not? Absent any quantitative measure, is ensuring the academic partner's work scope is necessary for the team to hit the final success targets sufficient to comply with this requirement?","There is not a quantitative metric to assess the participation of an academic partner, the expectation for material participation is that the academic partner is involved on a regular, continuous and substantial basis."]
[22,"Is this call limited to projects focused on designing, constructing, commissioning, and operating a full-scale REE Demonstration Facility, or are laboratory-scale research projects also eligible for consideration?","Typically no, laboratory-scale (bench scale or small scale pilot)  projects would not be eligible for consideration, as a research project would not achieve the goal of producing 150-1000 metric tons per year of rare earth elements (REEs) for domestic use.  As listed under section I.A. Key Facts, “The objective of this program is to: Fund the design, construction and operation of one (or more) cost effective, innovative, demonstration processing line(s) at a new or existing facility that will supply 150 to 1000 metric tons per year of rare earth elements (REEs) for domestic use”. Section I. D. Related DOE Efforts mentions other DOE programs that may be of interest for research projects."]
[23,"What information is required to prove participation an unincorporated consortia? Will a contract or agreement be required in the full application?","DOE will need to have proof of the consortia, if formed, in the manner of Letters of Commitment and inclusion of subrecipient budget justification documents from each member. "]
[24,"Is DOE expecting recipients to have the full 50% cost share liquid at the time of award, or are binding financial commitments (with staged contributions aligned to budget periods and invoicing) acceptable?","See NOFO Part 1, Section 4 of the Technical Volume for required information to be submitted to support the applicants financial plan for the project.   "]
[25,"Please clarify whether it is required for mixed rare earth oxides to be refined into pure oxides of each rare earth element. Under D. Expected Performance Goals, the NOFO states that projects selected will separate mixed rare earth oxides into pure oxides of each rare earth element and refine rare earth oxides into rare earth metals at a single site. However, Under 3. Technical Volume, the NOFO states that the applicant should specify the tonnes and/or concentrations of mixed rare earth oxides, heavy and light REEs, and metals obtained from the proposed effort. Are high concentrations of mixed rare earth oxides from e-waste and other secondary sources eligible under this NOFO?","Per Section III.D. the facility shall separate mixed rare earth oxides into pure oxides. The facility is not limited to producing only pure oxides, a mixed rare earth stream should also be an output of the facility. Section IV.D.3 Technical Volume is asking for more specific information on tonnage and concentration. Applicants should provide the concentration and production volume of each output of the facility. "]
[26,"I was unable to access or view the webinar despite having the Teams app installed. Could you please share the presentation slides or is a recording available online?","The full webinar will be posted via eXCHANGE as soon as it is available."]
[27,"The term \"Rare Earth Elements (REE)\" entails a variety of substances/elements. Can you clarify more what does the DOE classify as \"Rare Earth Elements\"?","DOE defines rare earth elements (REE) as the 17 metallic elements which include the 15 lanthanides on the periodic table plus scandium and yttrium. Please refer to NOFO Section III. Program Description for further clarification on feedstock requirements and preferred products outlined in this NOFO. Additionally, per Section III.D. the facility shall separate mixed rare earth oxides "]
[28,"I have a question regarding the word/character limit for the Project Description section of the LOI. The NOFO guidelines read that the section is limited to 200 words. However, when the project team logged in to eXCHANGE, a note stated that the Project Description was limited to 6,000 characters. Additionally, during the Informational Webinar, the presenter mentioned that the section was limited to 600 characters. Could you please provide clarification on the correct word/character limit for a Letter of Intent? ","Please refer to Section IV Part C of the NOFO Part 1 document concerning the requirements for the LOI which states that the Project Description should not be more than 200 words. "]
[29,"Can DOE provide the appropriate point of contact within Strategic Materials to receive technical documentation?","DOE can only comment on inquiries concerning this Notice of Funding Opportunity and unfortunately is unable to provide contact information for another agency. "]
[30,"I would like to re-pose the below question for NNSA FFRDCs specifically, as I only see this question addressed for Office of Science laboratories in the Q&A. The referenced memo is specific to NNSA labs though it does seem that other agencies received similar guidance:\nWe received guidance per a June 27, 2025 memo that the NNSA M&O Contractor no longer requires Contracting Officer approval prior to a NOFO submission, only if the proposal is selected for funding. However, I see that this is still listed as a requirement in the NOFO. Would a proposal with a NNSA lab’s participation submitted without CO authorization be considered nonresponsive?","If updated guidance is that NNSA M&O Contracting Officer approval is no longer required at the time of application submittal, that will be honored.  As noted in the answer for Office of Science laboratories, if selected for negotiations leading to award, Contracting Officer approval will be required at that time."]
[31,"I am pleased to submit via email this Letter of Intent for the Department of Energy’s Notice of Funding Opportunity DE-FOA-0003587: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Rare Earth Elements Demonstration Facility. Please find the attached Letter of Intent. ","DOE will not accept Letters of Intent received via email.  Please submit through exchange as directed in the NOFO. DE-FOA-0003587@netl.doe.gov is strictly for submission of questions relating to this specific NOFO.  "]
[32,"Would using “other deleterious material” from a well be considered eligible for this NOFO?","Please refer to Section III Program Description, Part B,  of the NOFO Part 1 document for examples of deleterious materials. The applicant must provide a description of the selected materials within their proposal in the Technical Volume. "]
[33,"The financing documentation requires the prime applicant to submit its 2024 or most recent financial report.  Is this required if the prime applicant is a public university?  Do the for-profit subrecipient(s) also need to provide financials?","Please refer to Section IV. Application Content and Form (Subsection D. 8.Financing Documentation) of the NOFO Part 1 document for language related to private and publicly traded entities in regard to SEC filing documentation and financial reports. If the prime or subrecipient is not a publicly traded or private entity, the documentation is not required. "]
[34,"As outlined in one of the key objectives is the recovery of rare earth elements from unconventional feedstocks, including mine tailings, e-waste, and other waste-derived materials. Our company is currently advancing a separation process to refine mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) from our primary ionic clay deposits, producing high-purity Dy, Tb, and NdPr oxides. This process also results in several waste carbonate streams that contain a broad suite of additional elements, including yttrium. We would appreciate the Department’s guidance on whether a project focused on recovering and separating yttrium from these waste streams would fall within the scope of DE-FOA-0003587.","DOE will not comment on the applicability of a specific proposed project. Individuals must thoroughly review the NOFO to determine if, based on their specific scenario, they should apply."]
[35,"Does DOE MESC permit post award changes to the project team, assuming eligibility requirements and NOFO terms are met? ","MESC is willing to discuss post-award recipient requests for changes to the project team. However, approval is not automatically guaranteed."]
[36,"Would you please indicate what content we are to address/provide regarding the ownership structure for the Commercial Plan and the Technical Volume? \n\na. Regarding the Technical Volume required section, ‘Commercial Plan and Financial Plan’, and regarding the information desired from applicants related to the  ‘Ownership Structure’ in the Commercial Plan, the NOFO, Part I, page 29, indicates that a “description may be found in the table of the NOFO Part 2, Funding Restrictions”.  \ni. However, there is no table in the ‘Funding Restrictions’ section in the NOFO, Part 2 (Funding Restrictions section is on page 27 of the NOFO, Part 2)\nii. There is a table in the ‘Funding Restrictions’ section of the NOFO, Part 1 (pages 36-37 of the NOFO Part 1)—but there is no description or mention of the ownership structure in that table","Ownership structure must be addressed within the Technical Volume.  See NOFO Part 1, Section IV.D.3. Technical Volume subsection 4 Commercial Plan and Financial Plan.  While reference to a table in the NOFO Part 2 is in error, information on Funding Restrictions is described by category in NOFO Part 2 Section IV.D. Funding Restrictions. Please also refer to NOFO Part 2, Section II.B.2 concerning ownership structure, for example, if transparency is required for a Parent Organization, etc.  "]
[37,"Please direct us to any information regarding the contents for, and location in the proposal of, the required Business Plan.  \na. In the Technical Volume, in the required  section ‘Commercial Plan and Financial Plan’, in the  ‘Project Level Financial Plan’ subsection, for the required subsections ‘Feedstock and Supply Arrangements’ and ‘Offtake Agreements’, the guidance mentions a Business Plan (“the business plan must include the operational cost estimates…..” and “the business plan should indicate the percentage of annual material processing….”; page 28 of the NOFO, Part 1).  However, it is unclear where the Business Plan should be in the proposal.  Is it part of the Technical Volume, or is it intended to be a stand-alone document?  Also, is there a description of the content that is required for the Business Plan?  ","Please refer to NOFO Part I, Section IV.D.3. Technical Volume subsection 4 Commercial Plan and Financial Plan. The business plan should support and inform these sections within the Technical Volume. "]
[38,"The FOA states:\n⦁\tApproximate individual award amounts of $67M–$134M, and\n⦁\tA minimum cost share of 50% of total project costs.\n\nTo ensure we are understanding this correctly, we would like to confirm whether the following understanding is accurate:\n⦁\tThe $67M–$134M range refers to the federal (DOE) share only; and\n⦁\tBecause the DOE share may not exceed 50% of total project costs, the minimum allowable total project cost would be $134M (i.e., $67M DOE share and $67M non-federal cost share).\n\nAccordingly, a proposed total project cost below $134M would not meet both the minimum federal award and cost share requirements.\nWe would appreciate your confirmation or any clarification you can provide.","The dollar amount of individual awards outlined in NOFO Part I, Section I.A.1. Funding Details is approximate and is referring to the federal award amount.  The required cost share is 50% of the total project costs so a $67M federal award would require ≥$67M cost share."]
[39,"Does the Indirect Percentage (%) Cap Against Total Award Fact Sheet (Revision Pub. November 2025) pertain to this NOFO, and can unrecovered indirect costs be used as cost share?","The DOE Financial Assistance Letter (FAL 2025-05) on Implementation of Indirect and Fringe Benefits Cost Reimbursement Limits on Financial Assistance Awards and the associated Indirect Percentage (%) Cap Against Total Award Fact Sheet include guidance that applies to all DOE notice of funding opportunities (NOFOs) and financial assistance actions where funds are appropriated or otherwise made available and used for financial assistance awards to For-Profit Organizations and/or Nonprofit Organizations.\n\nAs outlined in the Fact Sheet, unrecovered costs are described under 2 CFR § 200.306(c) as the difference between the amount charged to the Federal award and the amount which could have been charged.  Any indirect costs above the cap are not amounts which ‘could have been charged’ to the DOE award; therefore, they are not unrecovered and not allowed as cost share."]
[40,"The NOFO states all documents should be prepared using Calibri font 12 point.  However, when using the templates the documents are set to Arial 12 point.  Should we change this to the required font or continue to use the template fonts? ","Please refer to NOFO Part 2, Section IV, Application Content and Form in the Format Requirements Table: \n\"The use of Calibri does not apply to templates provided in Infrastructure eXCHANGE.\""]
[41,"Can you please clarify when the facility needs to meet the minimum production target of 150 metric tons per year?","The NOFO states “During Phase 4, the recipient should ensure that the facility is able to operate as designed and is able to appropriately meet production targets as defined from application and through project planning and execution.” DOE will need verification of the production target during that phase. It is at the discretion of the Applicant to detail the timeframe and activities of each phase.  "]
[42,"Can clarification please be provided on a couple questions with the Financial Model, which is part of the application components? \n1. Is the financial model specific to just the proposed facility (i.e., on a project finance basis) or can it include financials from other operations?\n2. Sale prices: should the assumed sale prices be the DOD/DOW floor pricing, or should negotiated offtake prices / or other prices be used?","(1) Applicants should refer to NOFO section IV under Financial Model. The application must include a financial model in support of the entity’s ability to support the project construction. The description of financial health should include: revenue assumptions, working capital assumptions, historical financials, income statement 10+ years into the future after construction is complete, scenario and sensitivity analysis based on key business and project risks, supporting schedules for debt, working capital, capex etc. Applicants must provide sufficient financial sources and other resources to justify the claims and approaches made in the Technical Volume. (2) Applicants should refer to Part IV under Section 3: Market Analysis for details on sales prices. "]
[43,"Can applicants with a federal share less than $67M submit a full application?","The dollar amount of individual awards outlined in NOFO Part I, Section I.A.1. Funding Details is approximate.  There is no required minimum award amount for application purposes."]
[44,"Hello, I am reaching out to ask about Funding Opportunity DE-FOA-0003587, I was on Grants.gov but I couldn't find the specific NOFO documents to see eligibility requirements for the specific opportunity. If you could please reach back with the relevant information that would be greatly appreciated.","Application information for DE-FOA-0003587 is available on Infrastructure eXCHANGE at https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/. "]
[45,"Given that DOE anticipates budget periods to be 9-18 months, and performance periods to be up to 36 months, it appears as though 4 budget periods are acceptable. However, the template provided does not allow for adding a fourth BP.\n\nIs another template available that includes 4 budget periods? If not, can applicants create their own template, or do projects need to be completed in 3 or fewer BPs? ","While there is no available template, there is nothing prohibiting an applicant from adding a 4th budget period.  However, the objectives of this initiative were laid out as 4 phases across 3 budget periods.  Any applicant who thinks an alternate approach is appropriate should present that in a logical and justifiable manner and the approach must still adhere to the anticipated phases.  Adding a 4th budget period should be done with caution, however, as progression between budget periods requires a continuation application to be submitted 90 days prior to the end of the current budget period."]
[46,"My question is around who is eligible to be listed as a participant, and thus covered individual, on the project. Are there any eligibility requirements related to permanent residency or country of origin for individuals listed on the grant, or is a valid visa sufficient for participation?","There are no eligibility requirements related to permanent residency or country of origin for covered individuals. However, all covered individuals must submit the required information outlined in Section IV.D.2. Please refer to Section II, Parts A2-A5 for eligibility clarification. In general, foreign entities are not eligible to apply as either a recipient or subrecipient. In limited circumstances, DOE may approve a waiver to allow a foreign entity to participate as a subrecipient. A foreign entity may submit an application to this NOFO, but the application must be accompanied by an explicit written waiver request. Likewise, if the applicant seeks to include a foreign entity as a subrecipient, the applicant must submit a separate explicit written waiver request in the application for each proposed foreign subrecipient. "]
[47,"Can the requirement for a work proposal for DOE FFRDCs be not applicable since the funding is coming through the recipient (i.e. lead applicant) for the full application? DOE FFRDCs are not funded directly through a work authorization (field work proposal) according to page 13 of the NOFO: \"The DOE funding office will provide funding for the DOE FFRDC or non-DOE FFRDC, participating as a sub awardee under the DOE financial assistance award to the recipient.\"","While DOE does intend to fund FFRDC's as a subawardee under the prime, the FFRDC must still submit their budget on the field work proposal form."]
[48,"\"In the “Summary of Application Requirements” table, Letters of Commitment have a 1-page limit. However, within the Technical Volume instructions, full offtake and feedstock agreements or contracts are requested. \n\nPlease advise if DOE would prefer applicants to:\n•\tSubmit a one-page summary of the key agreements, with the understanding that full contracts may be reviewed during award negotiations; or\n•\tSubmit full executed agreements or term sheets as attachments, notwithstanding the one-page limit?\"","The Applicant should supply a Letter of Commitment for all fully executed or pending offtake and feedstock agreements or contracts with the understanding that full contracts may be requested for review during award negotiations."]
[49,"We would like to participate in the DE-FOA-0003587 Rare Earth Elements Demonstration Facility Grant. Please kindly advise if you are still receiving applications. Thank you so much. ","The application submission deadline is 1/20/2026 at 5:00 PM ET.  Additional information and requirements for DE-FOA-0003587 is available on Infrastructure eXCHANGE at https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/. "]
[50,"Is submission of a Letter of Intent mandatory for submitting a full application to DE-FOA-0003587? \nIf so, are there any remaining pathways for late consideration or waiver for exceptional circumstances? \nWhat is the current deadline? \nAre there any key requirements we should prioritize?","Letters of Intent were not mandatory and failure to submit will not impact selection considerations. \n\nThe application submission deadline is 1/20/2026 at 5:00 PM ET.  Additional information and requirements for DE-FOA-0003587 is available on Infrastructure eXCHANGE at https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/. "]
[51,"There are application components listed on eXCHANGE in the Full Application Submission Files that do not apply to our organization.  Will I be able to submit my application without uploading the non-applicable files?","Only application components marked as required will necessitate a document upload when submitting an application via Infrastructure eXCHANGE.  If an application component does not apply to your organization and is not marked as required, you do not have to upload a file in order to submit an application.  "]
[52,"For the Summary Slide under DE-FOA-0003587 please clarify whether the requested information is related to the upstream supply chain, downstream supply chain, or both for (please address each section individually):\n1.\tStatement of Supply Chain Supported and Targeted Impact\n2.\tSupply Chain Table","When completing the Summary Slide, information related to both upstream and downstream supply chain(s) should be provided if applicable to your proposed efforts and as requested in NOFO Part 1, Section IV., D.3. Technical Volume (Supply Chain Impact and Viability)."]
[53,"The requirements within the Technical Volume indicate that a project schedule should be attached to the application: “Integrated Project Schedule: The applicant should provide detailed legible integrated project schedule (IPS) for facility construction/modification (as applicable) and include operations and production to be conducted prior to project completion as an attachment…”\n\nHowever, there is not a place for uploading a schedule in the portal. Where should this information be provided?","The Integrated Project Schedule can be included within or as a referenced page at the end of  the Technical Volume."]
[54,"I am writing to request an extension until February 15th for the application submission date. At this point we will be unable to submit a completed application on January 20th.\nIf additional time can be granted then we can submit a strong and coordinated application.","The application submission deadline is 1/20/2026 at 5:00 PM ET.  There will be no extension."]

{"sheet":"Admin Pick List","index":2,"n_rows":17,"n_cols":1,"rows_kept":17,"cut":false,"hidden":true,"merged":[]}
["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"]