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["TCF Base CLIMR Commercialization Enabling Lab Call - Questions/Answers (DE-LC-000L129)"]
["Updated: June-15-2026"]
["#","Date Asked","Topic","Question","Answer"]
[1,"2026-02-24","Partnerships","In the TCF Lab Call it states, \"Non-DOE Federal laboratories and entities may partner with a DOE lab; however, they are not eligible to receive TCF funding or contribute cost share.\" Can you please clarify what this means?","This sentence indicates that other Federal laboratories and agencies, apart from DOE, are allowed to partner on projects with DOE laboratories, but they are not eligible to receive funding or provide cost-share. "]
[2,"2026-02-24","Subcontracting","Are subcontracts allowable?","Subcontracts are allowed as long as they follow both DOE and their respective lab, plant, or site policies and procedures. Please refer to Appendix A for additional information."]
[3,"2026-03-05","Eligibility","If a lab submits a concept paper with several other labs listed and participating in the project (but not funded), does this count as a single lab only concept paper submission?  ","No, it does not count as a single lab proposal. If there are any partner labs listed on the project, then it is considered a multi-lab proposal, regardless of funds distribution. Per the Eligibility section of the lab call, \"There are no limits on the number of concept papers each National Laboratory can submit.\""]
[4,"2026-03-11","Webinar","Will the Q&A webinar be recorded","No, but the slides will be posted on Exchange."]
[5,"2026-03-11","Cost-share","Where can we find the waiver for cost-share if proposing less than 50% cost-share?","The cost-share waiver applies to the lab call to allow proposals with less than 50% cost-share. There is not a letter for the applicants to see or to submit. "]
[6,"2026-03-11","Application","Regarding the new AI statement in the lab call (\"Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application Use\" section): are applicants expected to use AI or discouraged to use it in application/project? ","The \"Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application Use\" section in the lab call is not encouraging or discouraging the use of AI. The purpose is so that DOE may be aware if AI was used in the development of the proposal materials."]
[7,"2026-03-11","Letters of Support","Are letters of support required at the concept paper stage for all project partners, including those not providing cost-share? Are letters of support needed from partner laboratories?","Letters of support are required from cost-share partners at the concept paper stage. Letters of support from partner laboratories and those not providing cost-share are not required at the concept paper stage, but they are helpful to provide."]
[8,"2026-03-11","Budget","For the budget template: is \"Low Budget column\" just Optimal Budget minus 20%?","Yes, the low budget column should be a budget that is at least 20% less than the optimal budget. In the notes, it should be explained what the scope impact is for both the low budget and the high budget. "]
[9,"2026-03-11","Genesis Mission","Is there a preference for Genesis related proposals?","There is not a preference for Genesis Mission-related proposals. It is called out in the lab call because it is something that the administration is interested in receiving proposals on. The proposal will not be scored differently if it includes or does not include a Genesis Mission tie-in."]
[10,"2026-03-11","AOI 3","Is a letter from the field office or process owner required for AOI 3 proposals for both concept paper and full application stage? ","The requirements for applying to AOI 3 have been modified from the original lab call. A letter from the field office or process owner is no longer required for the concept paper or full application. Any proposals selected for funding must receive contracting officer approval prior to receiving funds and commencing work. Please see Mod 1 of the lab call in Exchange for updated lab call language related to this."]
[11,"2026-03-24","Letters of Support","Is there a particular format for letters of support for DOE Lab Call DE-LC-000L129?","There is no template or required format. However, partner letter(s) must include an explanation of why they are partnering on the proposal, and should be no more than 1 page."]
[12,"2026-04-08","Eligibility","Can non-labs apply to the lab call after the concept paper deadline?","No, per section V.i of the lab call, only the DOE National Labs, Plants, and Sites are eligible to apply to the lab call and must follow the deadlines in the lab call. Non-labs who wish to participate in potential proposals may add themselves to the teaming partner list on Exchange. See the External Teaming Partners section III.iii in the lab call for more information. "]
[13,"2026-05-19","Cost-share","How would the cost-share requirements change for the low, optimal, and high budgets? Would the cost-share support letter need to reflect the different amounts of cost-share for low, optimal, and high budgets?  ","The cost-share for the low, optimal, and high budget scenarios should comply with the cost-share subtopic requirements listed in the lab call. The cost-share amounts and percentages can change based on the scope changes for the low, optimal, and high budgets. The letters of commitment are not required to reflect the different cost-share amounts."]
[14,"2026-05-19","Cost-share","How is the total project cost-share defined/calculated? Is it based on the total federal funds requested plus cost share amount or just based on the total federal funds requested? ","Cost-share percentage is calculated based on the total project budget (federal funds requested AND cost-share). For example, if $500,000 of federal funds are requested, and $500,000 of cost-share is provided, that amounts to a total project budget of $1,000,000 with 50% cost-share. Please see section III.iv of the lab call for additional information including an example with less than 50% cost-share."]
[15,"2026-06-12","Full Application","Please clarify the Appendix D instructions for Modalities and TRLs. Are we required to add Modality weights? ","Exchange may require TRL information for the full application stage, both Current TRL and TRL at end of project. However, since TRLs are not applicable for Commercialization Enabling proposals, please enter any value between 1-9 and 2-9 for current and end boxes respectively. Modality information is not required for the proposals, but if Exchange requires it, please enter any information, it will not be reviewed during the merit review."]