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["INSTRUCTIONS"]
[1,"All questions pertaining to this funding opportunity announcement should be emailed to AMOMultitopicFOA@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."]

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["QUESTION AND ANSWER LOG"]
["DE-FOA-0002573, Technical Partnerships FOA"]
["Question #","Date Submitted","Topic","Question","Answer"]
[1,"2022-01-26","Eligibility","Does a proposed project have to be part of a District Energy System?  Can it be for a CHP system for a single manufacturing plant where the fuel source is a syngas developed from processing MSW, food waste or waste plastic?","Only projects that are an integral part of a district energy system that is supplied by renewable fuels are eligible for this solicitation."]
[2,"2022-01-26","Application Content/Format","Would blends of renewable fuels with conventional/fossil fuels be considered eligible for this FOA?","Per Section I.B of the FOA, “AMO seeks to fund projects that would design, construct, and demonstrate the use/operation of advanced district energy systems supplied by renewable resources.”  Projects that propose blends of renewable fuels with conventional/fossil fuels will not be considered responsive to this FOA. "]
[3,"2022-01-27","Cost Sharing","Is there a way of getting a waiver from the COST SHARE percentage for groups of small businesses? ","Per Section III.B, Cost Share waivers are not allowed as part of DE-FOA-0002573.  "]
[4,"2022-01-27","Application Content/Format","Is there a fast lane in getting a sight to locate the solution? \na.) Do we have to secure our own Regional Market or will the DOE/EERE find us or supply us with test loadings? \nb.) If DOE/EERE has a test site, is it set up with the interconnections, metering and instrumentation?  ","DOE does not have a specific site in mind.\na)  DOE wlll not provide assistance in this area\nb)  No."]
[5,"2022-01-31","Application Content/Format","There is no Concept Paper due date. Can you confirm whether a Concept Paper is required or not?","There is no Concept Paper phase for DE-FOA-0002573.  The only phase of the application process is the Full Application phase."]
[6,"2022-02-02","Technical Topics","Is the funding for Topic 2 meant to be used for capital projects, just for training or a mix of both?","Funding for Topic 2 is not intended for capital projects. It is intended for education, training, and engagement activities. "]
[7,"2022-02-02","Cost Sharing","For Topic 2, would the funding cover for 50% of project costs – what’s the cost sharing breakdown for this particular topic?","Per Section III.B, no cost share is required for an Education and Outreach activity under Topic 2."]
[8,"2022-02-02","Application Content/Format","May I ask you if Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology is qualified and can be considered in a proposal for this FOA?","Yes, ORC technologies can be proposed, so long as the other requirements of the FOA are met."]
[9,"2022-02-04","Technical Topics","Is the FOA for existing renewable District energy system or proposed renewable district energy system (TEA study for a proposed system) allowed for this FOA?","Topic 1 of the FOA explicitly calls for the demonstration of advanced technologies in a district energy system that is supplied by renewable resources. The host district energy system could either be an existing or new system."]
[10,"2022-02-11","Technical Topics","In the section \"B. Topic Areas,\" under the \"Candidate Targets and Metrics\" subsection, the following paragraph reads: \"Applications must clearly identify the starting and ending Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs – see Appendix E for definitions) for the project and justify the TRLs assigned. Proposed targets and measurement of progress toward meeting targets must be substantiated. Metrics should be specific to the proposed technology and must define appropriate benchmarks or baselines, minimum targets, and stretch targets. Applicants are encouraged to consider the following metrics as examples.\" We understand that the numbers provided in the example table (columns 3 and 4) are for illustrative purposes. However, are columns 1 (Objective/Goals) and 2 (Metrics) in the table examples, or are those objectives and metrics the categories by which the applicant should evaluate its proposed technology?","It is expected that the information listed in columns 1 and 2 of the subject table will be addressed by the  applicant.  The applicant’s response will be evaluated as part of the review process."]
[11,"2022-02-11","Technical Topics","What is the definition of the following metrics: \"Reduction in the temperature threshold at which heat can reliably be reused, in ⁰F.\" If the system already produces high-quality heat and, thus, increases heat recovery compared to current systems, does it still need to reduce the temperature threshold at which heat can be reused?","It is expected that the subject district energy system will be such that there will be a cascade of thermal energy supplied across the system.  As such, there will be a temperature at which no further useful heat transfer can occur and the heat transfer fluid will need to be returned to the thermal source.  It is desirable for the temperature at which this occurs to be as low as possible to maximize the overall efficiency of the district energy system"]
[12,"2022-02-11","Technical Topics","What is the definition of the following metrics: \"Overall CHP system performance at all loads.\" Could a clarification of how the overall system performance is defined be provided?","The overall CHP system performance means the overall efficiency of the system, that is, the ratio between the total useful output of the system (both thermal and electric) and the total energy input."]
[13,"2022-02-11","Technical Topics","What is the definition of useful heat (used in overall efficiency calculation) and does the DOE use to determine and/or confirm overall efficiency?","DOE expects the applicant to define useful heat (and other aspects of the system being proposed) in a technically credible manner.  "]
[14,"2022-02-11","Technical Topics","What are the specific and differentiating requirements for Budget Period 3 \"Installation and Demonstration\" compared to Budget Period 2 \"Design and Testing?\" Are there any requirements in regards to the demonstration? Can the demonstration take place on the same site as the earlier testing?","Phase 3 (Budget Period 3) of the project is for installation and demonstration of the proposed district energy system as stated in the FOA.  In their application, applicants are to propose the scope of work and objectives of each phase of the project, including the installation and demonstration phase.  The site of the demonstration may be at the same site as earlier testing."]
[15,"2022-02-11","Application Content/Format","Can you tell me when is the concept paper due?","The FOA does not require concept papers."]
[16,"2022-02-11","Technical Topics","Can the proposal include geographically distributed elements of the District Energy Systems (DES); i.e., DES geographically distributed while including (digitally connected) a collocated DES Emulator, with renewable energy, and energy storge subsystems. and validate the collocated systems with District energy systems? ","As stated in the FOA, a District Energy System comprises a central plant (or plants) that produces steam, hot water, or chilled water which is distributed through a network of insulated pipes to provide nearby buildings with space conditioning, domestic hot water and/or process heating.  Only systems that satisfy this definition would be responsive to the FOA."]
[17,"2022-02-11","Eligibility","Of the two topic areas stated above, which would WHP best fit into? ","Topic 1 calls for the demonstration of advanced technologies in a renewably supplied district energy system.  Topic 2 is seeking the development of a new regional technical assistance program to serve manufacturers directly and indirectly by providing assistance to existing energy efficiency program serving the industrial sector.  Section III.G of the FOA that states “EERE 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.”  "]
[18,"2022-02-11","Eligibility","Would blends of renewable fuels with conventional/fossil fuels be considered eligible for this FOA?","See the second question above."]
[19,"2022-02-11","Technical Topics","If Topic Area 1, is the best option for WHP projects, for the submission process would we need to follow address the metrics/targets that are specifically outlined for CHP (given how similar WHP and CHP are) on page 15/16?","From an engineering perspective, WHP is a bottoming cycle CHP system.  The metrics/targets should be addressed as indicated in the FOA."]
[20,"2022-02-16","Eligibility","Our proposed CHP would be capable of using multiple fuels (natural gas, syngas, biogas, & diesel fuel) with advanced district energy system using the waste-heat to displace current fossil fuel use (fuel oil) of large energy users.  The syngas would be produced from local coal and biomass resources.\nPlease let me know if our project would qualify for consideration under this FOA.","Section III.G of the FOA that states “EERE 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.”  "]
[21,"2022-02-19","Application Content/Format","There seems to be a couple of contradictions in the maximum number of pages for sections of the application for Topic Area 2:\n1.\tResumes: p.37: 1 page per resume ; p.47: 2 pages per resume\n2.\tSOPO: p.37: 5 pages; top of p.49: 20 pages\nCould you advise which numbers are correct, please?","The correct page limit for resumes is 2 pages and the SOPO document is 20 pages.  The FOA has been updated to reflect this information.  "]
[22,"2022-02-22","Eligibility","Is the topic of electric vehicle conversion (i.e., converting existing internal combustion engine vehicles to electric to improve a city’s carbon footprint and decrease fuel usage) an eligible topic for this FOA?","Please see answer to Question #17"]
[23,"2022-02-16","Eligibility","Concerning the eligibility of a CHP system installed in a manufacturing plant using syngas, has the following answer: \"Only projects that are an integral part of a district energy system that is supplied by renewable fuels are eligible for this solicitation.\" However, the \"Topic Area 1 Technology Focus\" section on page 12 of the Funding Opportunity Announcement reads: \"Fuel flexible systems and systems incorporating Flexible CHP, thermal or electric energy storage, or other renewable sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar PV, solar thermal, wind, etc.) are further encouraged and will receive additional consideration.\" Additionally, the same FOA section clearly states that converting fossil-fueled CHP systems into renewably-fueled systems is of interest. Therefore, we understand from the previously mentioned answer and texts that renewable-fueled CHP systems are eligible. However, the place/location where the CHP system is installed for the demonstration is unclear. In other words, does the CHP system need to be installed in a District Energy System as \"an integral\" part of it, or can it be designed and demonstrated in a laboratory setting but intended to be used as an integral part of a DE system?","As stated in the answer to question 1, only projects that are an integral part of a district energy system that is supplied by renewable fuels are eligible for this solicitation.  Section III.G of the FOA that states “EERE 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.”"]
[24,"2022-02-16","Eligibility","Also from the Question and Answer Log, the answer to question 2, concerning the possibility of utilizing blends of fossil and renewable fuels, clearly states that only renewable fuels will be considered. Thus, the question that remains is: is Hydrogen eligible for this solicitation since it can be produced utilizing renewable resources such as biomass, solar, and wind?","Section III.G of the FOA that states “EERE 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.”   "]
[25,"2022-03-02","Registration Requirements","Is there a deadline associated with the Letter of Intent/Concept paper for DE-FOA-0002573? The only deadline I saw on the site is for the full application on 3/18/22.","Please see answer to Question #5"]
[26,"2022-03-08","Application Content/Format","Do we need to attach written estimates from potential vendors to justify our construction budget?","For the purposes of submitting an application to this FOA, exact vendor quotes are not required but may be beneficial.  However, if selected for negotiations vendor quotes will be required."]

{"sheet":"Admin Pick List","index":2,"n_rows":15,"n_cols":1,"rows_kept":15,"cut":false,"hidden":true,"merged":[]}
["Pick List"]
[]
["Registration Requirements"]
["Webinar"]
["Eligibility"]
["Labs/FFRDCs"]
["Foreign Entities/Work"]
["Cost Sharing"]
["Due Dates"]
["Application Content/Format"]
["Intellectual Property"]
["Data Management"]
["U.S. Manufacturing Plan"]
["Application Reviews"]
["Technical Topics"]