Application Notes:

Mandatory concept papers must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on November 16, 2023.

The due date for the concept paper has been extended to 5:00 p.m. ET on December 13, 2023. Additional information is included in the NOFA file.

Concept papers must be submitted online at oced-exchange.energy.gov.

Concept papers must include:

• Cover page
• Project overview and objectives
• Demonstration plan
• Management and organization
• Community benefits plan

Concept papers are limited to 11 pages.

Concept papers will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Clearly describe the proposed scope of the demonstration project including the key technologies and systems, control and operational approach, total cost of the project and nonfederal cost share amount, grid services and value provided, proposed timeline, and other applicant-proposed metrics
• Clearly identify how the proposed approach could be replicated and/or extended to similar systems with moderate variability in grid topology and assets
• Where appropriate, demonstrate how applicant plans to leverage other federal and/or state funding and/or incentive programs, including rebates and tax credits, and partnerships
• Preliminary project development plan and timeline shows a clear path to rapid execution of the proposed project, including a finance plan, any key risks, challenges, and possible mitigation strategies, and has shown the impact that program funding and the proposed project would have on supporting decarbonization goals
• Applicant and proposed team have qualifications, experience, capabilities, and other resources necessary to design, develop, build, and operate proposed project
• Description of strategies to ensure meaningful community and labor engagement; quality jobs and workforce development; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); benefits to the surrounding community; the Justice40 Initiative; and methods to ensure accountability for all strategies
• Proposed work, if successfully accomplished, would meet the objectives as stated in the solicitation, including achieving market liftoff and attracting follow-on investments from the private sector

Following receipt of the concept paper, the funding agency will notify applicants of its determination to encourage or discourage the submission of a full application. Applicants may submit a full application even if they receive a notification discouraging them from doing so.

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on February 29, 2024.

The due date for the application has been extended to 5:00 p.m. ET on April 15, 2024. Additional information is included in the NOFA file.

Applications must be submitted online at oced-exchange.energy.gov.

Applications must include:

• SF 424
• SL LLL
• Technical volume (26 pages max)
• Techno-economic analysis workbook
• Community benefits plan: job quality and equity (5 pages max)
• Community partnership documentation (3 pages max each)
• Resumes (2 pages max each)
• Letters of commitment (1 page max each)
• Budget justification
• Subrecipient budget justification
• Summary for public release (1 page max)
• Summary slide (1 page max)
• Transparency of foreign connections
• Current and pending support disclosures
• Potentially duplicative funding notice
• Written waiver request (if applicable)
• Federal agency authorization (if applicable)

The techno-economic analysis workbook and budget justification must be submitted in Excel format. The summary slide must be submitted in MS PowerPoint.

Concept papers and applications must be in .pdf format, unless stated otherwise, and must be formatted on standard-sized pages with at least one-inch margins in a black Calibri font of at least 12-point, except in figures and tables and footnotes or endnotes, which must be at least 10-point font. The maximum file size is 50 MB. Refer to page 24 of the NOFA file for additional concept paper and application formatting information.

The following are required in order to submit an application:

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• SAM (System for Award Management) registration

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.

Applicants may be invited to participate in pre-selection interviews, where they will meet with funding agency representatives to provide clarification on the application contents and provide the funding agency with an opportunity to ask questions regarding the proposed project.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Technical approach and impact (20 percent)
• Financial and market viability (25 percent)
• Management and organization (20 percent)
• Workplan (20 percent)
• Community benefits plan (15 percent)

Refer to the NOFA, TEAWorkbook, and Budget files for additional application information.

Match Notes:

Applicants must provide at least 50 percent of the total project cost via nonfederal cash, cash equivalents, and/or in-kind contributions.

Matching contributions must come from sources otherwise allowed by law, such as project participants, state or local governments, or third-party financing.

A contingency reserve will also be required for all phase 3 and phase 4 activities.

In general, deferred or avoided costs such as tax credits may not be used as matching contributions.

Federal financing, such as funding agency loan guarantees, may not be leveraged to provide the required match. Contingency funds may not be included as cost share in the applicant's budget.

The prime recipient is legally responsible for paying the entire cost share.

Funding Notes:

Up to approximately $50 million is available to support two to four cooperative agreements ranging from approximately $10 million to $25 million through this program.

Award notifications are expected to be made in fall or winter 2024.

Project periods are limited to eight years. Upon award, the initial phase of the project, or otherwise less than all four project phases, will be funded. Ongoing funding is dependent on go/no-go determinations and award recipient performance.

Applicants must request prior written approval to charge pre-award costs.

Capital expenditures for purchase and installation of generation, storage, and load assets are limited to 15 percent of total project costs.

Recruitment and enrollment activities for consumer and commercially owned distributed energy resources (DERs) are limited to 10 percent of total project costs.

Direct payment of participation incentives to asset owners may not exceed 15 percent of total project costs, excluding program income.

Funds may not be used for:

• Expenses related to pre-selection interviews or pre-selection clarifications
• Activities involving human subjects
• Procuring or obtaining, extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, or entering into a contract or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, equipment, services, or systems that use covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system

April 5, 2024
An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file.

March 22, 2024
An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file.

February 14, 2024
An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file.

January 15, 2024
An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file.

December 14, 2023
A revised solicitation for this program has been released and attached as the NOFA file.

November 27, 2023
An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has been released and attached as the Q&A file. In addition, an updated list of organizations that may wish to partner on an application has been released and attached as the TeamingPartner file.

November 14, 2023
A revised solicitation containing an updated due date for the concept paper and application has been released and attached as the NOFA file. An updated list of questions and answers regarding this program has also been released and attached as the Q&A file. The Application and Financial sections have been updated accordingly.