Application Notes:

Mandatory concept papers must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on May 20, 2024.

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

Concept papers must include:

• Cover page (1 page max)
• Technical description and impacts (3 pages max)
• Community benefits plan (2 pages max)

Concept papers must be submitted in .pdf format and must be formatted on standard-sized pages with margins no smaller than one inch on every side. Concept papers must be formatted in black Calibri font no smaller than 12-point, although figures and tables may be 10-point. References must be included as footnotes or endnotes, which will count toward the maximum page requirements, in a font no smaller than 10-point. Page numbers must be included in the footer of every page. The control number must be prominently displayed on the upper right corner of the header of every page and included in the file name.

Concept papers will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• The applicant clearly describes the problem being addressed by the project, the project goal, and what project approach will be used within the scope of the project
• The applicant demonstrates adequate involvement from intended partnerships
• The applicant has the qualifications, experience, capabilities, and other resources necessary to complete the proposed project
• The proposed project clearly meets the requirements of the topic area
• The proposed work, if successfully accomplished, would have a meaningful impact on the problem targeted by the topic area

The funding agency is expected to issue responses to concept papers on June 13, 2024. The funding agency will encourage a subset of applicants to submit full applications; other applicants will be discouraged from submitting a full application. An applicant that receives a discouraged notification may still submit a full application; however, by discouraging the submission of a full application, the funding agency intends to convey its lack of programmatic interest in the proposed project in an effort to save the applicant the time and expense of preparing a full application that is unlikely to be selected for award negotiations.

Full applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on July 16, 2024.

Full applications must be submitted online at eere-exchange.energy.gov.

Full applications must include:

• SF 424
• Technical volume (30 pages max)
• Resumes (3 pages max per resume)
• Letters of commitment (1 page max per letter)
• Community partnership documentation (10 pages max)
• Statement of project objectives (7 pages max)
• Budget justification workbook
• Summary for public release (1 page max)
• Summary slide (1 page max)
• Subrecipient budget justification (if applicable)
• DOE work proposal for FFRDC (if applicable)
• Authorization from cognizant contracting officer for FFRDC (if applicable)
• SF LLL
• Foreign entity waiver requests and foreign work waiver requests (if applicable)
• Open-source software distribution plan (if applicable)
• Data management plan (if applicable)
• Community benefits plan: job quality and equity (12 pages max)
• Community benefits plan budget justification workbook
• Current and pending support
• Locations of work
• Transparency of foreign connections
• Potentially duplicative funding notice (if applicable)

Full applications must be formatted on standard-sized pages with margins no smaller than one inch on every side, and must be formatted in black Calibri font no smaller than 12-point, although figures and tables may be 10-point. References must be included as footnotes or endnotes, which will count toward the maximum page requirements, in a font no smaller than 10-point. Page numbers must be included in the footer of every page. The control number must be prominently displayed on the upper right corner of the header of every page and included in the file name. The maximum file size that may be uploaded is 50 MB. If a file exceeds 50 MB but is still within the maximum page limit, it must be broken into parts and denoted to that effect. Files must be formatted and named according to the specifications detailed on pages 42-43 of the NOFA file.

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.

As part of the evaluation and selection process, the funding agency may determine that pre-selection clarifications are necessary from one or more applicants. The expected submission deadline for replies to reviewer comments is 5:00 p.m. ET on August 30, 2024.

Full applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Project approach and impact (30 percent)
• Project plan (25 percent)
• Project team and qualifications (25 percent)
• Community benefits plan (20 percent)

Refer to the NOFA file and Application folder for additional application information.

Match Notes:

Matching requirements will vary according to activity type, as follows:

• Planning: applicants must provide at least 20 percent of the total project costs via cash or in-kind contributions
• Demonstration/deployment: applicants must provide at least 50 percent of the total project costs via cash or in-kind contributions

Matching contributions may be provided by the prime recipient, subrecipients, or third parties. Vendors/contractors may not provide matching contributions, and any partial donations of goods or services is considered a discount and is not allowable.

Unless otherwise allowed by law, matching contributions may not come from federal sources.

Matching contributions may not include the same cash or in-kind contributions used to meet the matching requirements of another project or program.

Funding Notes:

Approximately $54 million is available to support approximately 14 to 41 cooperative agreements for this program overall, with approximately $11 million available to support an anticipated 3 to 6 cooperative agreements expected to range from $1 million to $4 million through this component.

Funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis.

Award notifications are expected to be made in December 2024, and award negotiations are expected to take place from December 2024 to April 2025.

The project period is anticipated to be up to 24 months and will be comprised of one or more budget periods. Budget periods are typically 12 months. Project continuation will be contingent upon several elements, including satisfactory performance and a go/no-go decision by the funding agency.

Applicants must plan and budget for participation in the funding agency's annual meeting.

Applicants selected for award negotiations must request prior written approval to charge pre-award costs. In addition, award recipients must obtain written authorization from their contracting officer before incurring any major construction costs.

Funds may not be used for:

• Projects that fall outside the technical parameters of this program
• Technologies that are not based on sound scientific principles
• Foreign travel costs
• Lobbying