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["INSTRUCTIONS"]
[1,"All questions pertaining to this funding opportunity announcement should be emailed to WETOFOA@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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["ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTION AND ANSWER LOG"]
["DE-FOA-00002954 - WETO Offshore Wind 2023 Centers of Excellence FOA"]
["Question #","Date Submitted","Topic","Question","Answer"]
[1,"2023-05-11",null,"What is Community Partnership Documentation mentioned in the FOA? I see it in the table on page 22, along with that it has a page limit of 5,  but then there is no further description later of what it entails.","The Community Partnership Documentation requirement has been removed from modification 0001 of the FOA as inapplicable. "]
[2,"2023-05-11",null,"Would you be able to clarify if this opportunity is open for community colleges? Or is it only four-year institutions that can apply?","The lead partner is required to be a university, however, we allow for, and encourage, community colleges and other institutions of higher education to be included as part of a partnership."]
[3,"2023-05-11",null,"Are minority serving institutions eligible for reduced or forgiven cost sharing? Do you have advice for academic institutions with no source of cost-sharing funds how they may proceed?","All applicants are required to have 20% cost share. We encourage applicants to leverage partnerships with industry, other universities and other non-federal sources of funding (e.g. state government) to share this cost."]
[4,"2023-05-14",null,"We would like to clarify if our entity qualifies as a domestic entity for the purpose of this funding opportunity?  If not, we understand that a waiver may be sought to enable a foreign entity to participate as a sub-recipient.  What is this process?","Please see Section III Eligibility Information, A. Eligible Applicants, where it states \"Eligibility is restricted to domestic institutions of higher education or university-led consortia.\".  In the same section under A.i. Domestic Entities, it states \"To qualify as a domestic entity, the entity must be organized, chartered or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States; have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States.\"  If these qualification for a domestic entity are not met, a foreign enetity may be considered as a sub-receipient in limited circumstances.  Please the process for submitting a waiver under Section III.A.ii Foreign Entities."]
[5,"2023-05-14",null,"Should the FFRDC’s cost be included in the overall project budget (e.g., some portion of the $4.75M)? Or will WETO send funds to the FFRDCs outside of the $4.75M available?","FFRDC costs are to be included in the overall project budget as Federal share as some portion of the $4.75M. Funds to be distributed to FFDRC's do not flow through the prime recipient and are instead funded directly through the DOE field work proposal (WP) process."]
[6,"2023-05-14",null,"If a university partners with an FFRDC (understanding that the FFRDC funding is excluded from the award), will the university be responsible for covering a 20% cost share requirement for the FFRDC funds?  ","Please see Appendix A- Cost Share Information.  It states \"Cost sharing is calculated as a percentage of the Total Project Cost. FFRDC costs must be included in Total Project Costs.\""]
[7,"2023-05-14",null,"Under Section II.A.ii. Period of Performance, Does the text mean we should anticipate two potential funding increments? Or should we stretch the $2.875M to 4.75M for 40-60 months?\n","As stated in Section II.A.ii, Period of Performance, there should be two budget periods. The sum of funds for all budget periods is equal to the total award amount, including cost share. Project continuation to Budget Period 2 will be contingent upon several elements, including satisfactory performance and Go/No-Go decision. "]
[8,"2023-05-24",null,"In FOA Section IV.A, DOE states that applicants must “Use Calibri typeface, a black font color, and a font size of 12 point or larger (except on the cover page and in figures or tables, which may be 10 point font).” Assuming we are using Calibri 12 pt black font for our application text, we pose three clarifying questions: (1) are applicants permitted to use other than Calibri typeface in figures and tables?; (2) can applicants use other than black font color for headings, figures, and tables?; and (3) are colors, logos, and 10pt font size permitted in headers and footers?\nIn FOA Section IV.A, DOE states that applicants must “Use Calibri typeface, a black font color, and a font size of 12 point or larger (except on the cover page and in figures or tables, which may be 10 point font).” Assuming we are using Calibri 12 pt black font for our application text, we pose three clarifying questions: (1) are applicants permitted to use other than Calibri typeface in figures and tables?; (2) can applicants use other than black font color for headings, figures, and tables?; and (3) are colors, logos, and 10pt font size permitted in headers and footers?\n","(1) Yes, other fonts are acceptable for figures and tables. (2) All text must be black for heading. Color font is acceptable for figures and tables. (3) Colors, logos, and 10pt font is permitted in headers and footers as long as it does not contain supplemental application information. "]
[9,"2023-05-26",null,"I am hoping for clarification on FOA language around “more Centers may be funded as appropriations allow” (pg. 2).  If an entity is a non-funded partner on successful Center in this first round, will they still be eligible for consideration/funding as a future Center? ","Yes. An unfunded partner on a selected application under this FOA could be eligible for selection under this FOA or designated as an alternate, provided it submits a separate, unique application. An unfunded entity under this FOA would also be eligible to receive funding under a future FOA, provided they meet the eligibility criteria defined in that FOA."]
[10,"2023-06-03",null,"I was wondering whether there will be any extensions provided for the Offshore Wind Center of Excellence concept papers?","No, extensions will not be granted. Concept Papers must be submitted through EERE Exchange by 6/8/23 at 5PM ET. "]
[11,"2023-06-03",null,"I am not able to open some documents under \"Full Application,\" such as the SF424 and SFLLL.","Try using a different internet browser. If that is unsuccessful, please contact the EERE Exchange help desk. "]
[12,"2023-06-04",null,"Is the concept paper for DE-FOA-0002954 to be submitted via the EERE-eXCHANGE or should it be emailed?","All Concept Papers must be submitted through EERE Exchange by the deadline listed on the cover page of the FOA. Submission via any other means will not be accepted. "]
[13,"2023-06-07",null,"FOA section VIII.D, page 69 states” If an applicant chooses to submit trade secrets or business-sensitive, proprietary, or otherwise confidential information, the applicant must provide two copies of the submission (e.g., Concept Paper, Full Application). The first copy should be marked “non-confidential,” with the information believed to be confidential deleted. The second copy should be marked “confidential” and must clearly and conspicuously identify the trade secrets or business-sensitive, proprietary, or otherwise confidential information and must be marked as described below.”\n\nQuestion: In the upload process, it only allows us to upload one file. How are we to provide the second copy?","The first copy should be sent via email to WETOFOA@ee.doe.gov. The first copy should be marked “non-confidential,” with the information believed to be confidential deleted.\n\nThe second copy must be uploaded to EERE Exchange by the deadline. The second copy should be marked “confidential” and must clearly and conspicuously identify the trade secrets or business-sensitive, proprietary, or otherwise confidential information and must be marked…"]
[14,"2023-07-05",null,"The Exchange website says this file was last updated at 5/1/2023 but the link opens a form that is dated 7/1997 and is not a fillable PDF? Is it acceptable to use the current version of the fillable form as found on the Grants.gov website?","The SF-LLL dated 7/1997 is the correct version to use. We have replaced the version for this FOA with a fillable form. It is also acceptable to use the fillable form found on Grants.gov."]
[15,"2023-07-12",null,"In the table on page 22, it lists the SOPO has a 10 page limit. However, on page 27 in the SOPO section it says that the document must not exceed 8 pages. ","The SOPO limit is 10 pages, not 8. This has been corrected in Modification 0002 of the FOA. "]
[16,"2023-07-12",null,"Is it possible to get the email contact info to the consortium leads that are allowed to the full application stage, for us to explore if [our complay] could potentially be participating in one of them.","This information is confidential and cannot be shared. "]
[17,"2023-07-14",null,"Can we only provide letters of commitment from entities that are contributing cost share? If so, how can we document other partners or collaborators (e.g. industry collaborators) that will have no cost share contributions?","Please see Section IV.D.iv, Letters of Commitment.  It states \"Letters of support or endorsement for the project from entities that do not have a substantive role in the project will not be accepted.\"                                                                     "]
[18,"2023-07-22",null,"It seems from the guidelines that unrecovered F&A costs calculated on cost share are also eligible to use as cost share…would you please let us know if our interpretation is correct?","That is correct. "]
[19,"2023-07-27",null,"How does DOE define a substantive role in the project when the entity is neither a subrecipient or cost share contributor?","Please see Section IV.D.iv, Letters of Commitment.  It states \" An \nentity is considered substantial if its involvement is necessary for Center success.\"                                                      "]
[20,"2023-07-27",null,"Please confirm Letters of Commitment can be included from key industry/utility Center partners who are neither a subrecipient or cost share contributor yet serve a substantive role in the project.","Please see Section IV.D.iv, Letters of Commitment. It states \"Submit letters of commitment from all entities substantially contributing to the proposed Center, all subrecipients, and all third-party cost share providers.\""]
[21,"2023-07-28",null,"Can you confirm that specific to this FOA submission, we are able to represent third party cost share providers by only providing a Letter of Commitment from their organization that states the following: : (1) the name of the organization; (2) the proposed dollar amount to be provided; and (3) the proposed cost sharing type – (cash or in-kind contributions)?","Please see Section IV.D.iv, Letters of Commitment. It states \" If contributing cost share, the letter must state that the party is committed to providing a specific minimum dollar amount or value of in-kind contributions allocated to cost sharing. The following information for each third party \ncontributing to cost sharing should be identified: (1) the name of the organization; (2) the proposed dollar amount to be provided; and (3) the proposed cost sharing type – (cash or in-kind contributions). Each letter must not exceed 1 page.\" "]
[22,"2023-08-01",null,"Can you please provide some insight into what the DOE EERE is looking for as far as documentation of the Community Partnerships? Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.","The Community Partnership Documentation requirement has been removed from modification 0001 of the FOA as inapplicable. "]
[23,"2023-08-15",null,"Given that there are two budget periods (and it doesn't make sense to have a Go/No-Go at the end of the last budget period for the project), our initial interpretation is that there should be a single Go/No-Go decision point at the end of the first budget period. However, we note the language indicating that Go/No-Go reviews should occur approximately every 12 to 18 months. Can you clarify if a single Go/No-Go decision point during the first budget period is the correct interpretation? ","A minimum of one Go/No Go decision point and review will be held between Budget Period 1 and Budget Period 2. If selected for award negotiations, additional Go/No Go decisions may be added at that time. "]
[24,"2023-08-20",null,"As the first budget period is a maximum of 6 months, and awardees are required to submit a continuation of funding request at least 90 days before the end of the budget period (as per Footnote 7, which begins on p.62 of the FOA), should we plan for this Go/No-Go to include only the first 90 days of project activity? And if so, is it reasonable to carry out the Budget Period 1 Go/No-Go review prior to completing a full draft of the Center of Excellence implementation plan (and its associated subtasks), as development of this plan could easily encompass much of the first budget period? Or is the expectation that the Center of Excellence implementation plan will be completed within the first 90 days of project activity during Budget Period 1?","The continuation application for the first Go/No-Go decision at the end of Budget Period 1 can contain incomplete BP1 tasks and deliverables to initiate the review process. The progress and eventual completion of these items will be required to for the project continue onto the next budget period (BP2)."]
[25,"2023-08-28",null,"Can you confirm that SF 424 does NOT need to be pre-signed and that it will be automatically signed by our AOR upon hitting the submit button? ","If you are not able to sign prior to submission in EERE Exchange, it is acceptable to leave the signature blank. If selected for award negotiations, a signed copy will be required.  "]
[26,"2023-12-06",null,"I was writing to check in on our University of New Orleans led Wind COE submission to WETO that I understand is still pending. I wanted to see if there was any update or timeframe for a decision. ","Announcements are now planned for late February 2024. "]
[27,"2023-12-20",null,"I am working with a university that has applied to the WETO Offshore Wind COE program and we were wondering about the expected award date. Please let me know if you have any information about this. ","See Q&A #26."]
[28,"2024-01-10",null,"FOA mentions selection of winners in October 2023. It’s several months beyond that timeframe now. When will winners be selected and announced publicly?","See Q&A #26."]

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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"]