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Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Research, Development, and Demonstrations FOA Webinar
Fuel Cell Technologies Office

Below is the text version of the webinar titled "Overview of Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0001224: Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Research, Development, and Demonstrations," originally presented on March 10, 2015. In addition to this text version of the audio, you can access the presentation slides.

Presenter: Jim Alkire

OK, good morning, everyone, and welcome to our webinar. Today's webinar is being recorded, so a recording, along with the slides, will be posted to the Fuel Cell Technologies Office website in about 10 days. We will send out an email once those are posted to our website and we encourage you to please check back with our website for future webinars. We have webinars on various topics every month. And finally, I also encourage everyone to sign up for the Fuel Cell Technologies Office newsletter that we sent out monthly, and you can subscribe to that also on our website.

Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Department of Energy's efforts in renewable energy and energy efficiency. You are joining us for the informational webinar for applicants and other interested parties for the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Research, Development, and Demonstrations Funding Opportunity Announcement, or FOA, which was issued on March 2, 2015.

My name is Jim Alkire and I'm a project manager in the Fuel Cell Technologies Office within the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Today I'll be covering the basic aspects of the Funding Opportunity Announcement, or FOA, during this webinar, primarily by reading excerpts from the FOA document.

We will not be answering any questions today. I'd like to draw your attention to the email address on the lower left, which is also listed throughout the FOA documents. This is the official mailbox to direct all of your questions during the entire FOA process. And it is the only way to get your questions answered. Please do not contact any DOE individuals directly with questions.

Questions received through this mailbox are posted publicly, but anonymously, at the Q&A section of the FOA page on EERE Exchange. The official answers to your questions will also be posted typically within three business days. Please be careful not to submit any language that might be business sensitive, proprietary, or confidential when you submit your questions.

Also, there are no particular advantages or disadvantages to the application evaluation process with respect to participating in this webinar today. Your participation is completely voluntary. So let's get started.

[Slide 2]

This slide shows the anticipated schedule for the FOA. The FOA has already been issued and we are conducting the FOA informational webinar now. Concept papers are due April 2, 2015, and full applications are due June 4, 2015. You must submit a concept paper in order to be eligible to submit a full application.

[Slide 3]

All applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully read the Funding Opportunity Announcement and adhere to the stated submission requirements. This presentation summarizes the contents of the FOA. If there are any inconsistencies between the FOA and this presentation or statements from DOE personnel, the FOA is the controlling document and applicants should rely on the FOA language and seek clarification only through the FOA mailbox.

If you believe there is an inconsistency, please contact us through the mailbox at FY15FCTOofficewideFOA@ee.doe.gov.

[Slide 4]

The agenda for this webinar is as follows: we're going to talk about the FOA description, award information, applicant eligibility, topic areas, non-responsive applications, statement of substantial involvement, cost sharing requirements, means of submission and multiple applications, concept papers, full applications, replies to reviewer comments, program policy factors, registration requirements, and questions.

Again, please read the FOA document carefully for the full requirements and details. Today's content is a collection of relevant excerpts only and is not intended to be comprehensive.

[Slide 5]

The FOA description—this Funding Opportunity Announcement covers a broad spectrum of the FCTO portfolio with areas of interest ranging from research and development, or R&D, to demonstration and deployment projects. In particular, the R&D areas of interest for this FOA include hydrogen production via microbial biomass conversion; low platinum group metals, or PGM, catalyst development for polymer electrolyte membrane, or PEM, fuel cell applications; the development of an integrated intelligent hydrogen dispenser; and fuel cell and hydrogen manufacturing R&D, focusing on hydrogen delivery pipeline manufacturing.

This FOA also includes demonstration subtopics that will help to accelerate adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies with specific interest in mobile hydrogen refuelers, fuel cell powered range extenders for light-duty hybrid electric vehicles, and a Communities of Excellence subtopic featuring hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

[Slide 6]

EERE expects to make up to $35 million of federal funding available for new awards under this FOA, as always subject to the availability of appropriated funds. EERE anticipates making approximately 8 to 16 awards under this FOA. EERE may issue one, multiple, or no awards.

Looking at the table then, the first subtopic, 1a, is microbial biomass conversion. We're looking for technology readiness levels three and four. We expect to make one to three awards, with the maximum federal funding of $1.5 million per award. These projects should be three years in length at the most. And this subtopic requires 20 percent non-federal cost sharing.

Subtopic 1b is catalysts and supports. In technology readiness levels, or TRL, two and three, we expect to make two to five awards with a max federal funding of $3 million per award. And these projects, again, should be three years in duration, with 20 percent non-federal cost sharing.

Subtopic 1c is integrated intelligent hydrogen dispensers for 700 bar gaseous refueling of fuel cell vehicles. TRL levels five and six. We expect to make one to two awards in this subtopic, with a maximum federal share of $2 million. These projects should be no longer than two years in duration. And again, 20 percent non-federal sharing is required.

Subtopic 1d is innovative hydrogen delivery pipeline manufacturing. TRL levels three to five. And we expect to make one award at $1.5 million. And these projects should be three years maximum duration. Again, with 20 percent non-federal cost sharing.

So you'll notice an asterisk there by the four R&D subtopics about the cost sharing and the relevant note there below the table. A special cost share reduction determination is available for domestic institutions of higher education, domestic nonprofit entities, FFRDCs, and U.S. state, local, and tribal government entities. And we'll talk a little bit more about that cost share reduction determination a little later on.

Moving on to the demonstration and deployment subtopics, subtopic 2a is design, deployment, and validation of advanced, low-cost mobile hydrogen refuelers at technology readiness level six. We expect to make one award at $1.5 million. The project should be a duration of three years. And for this subtopic a 50 percent non-federal cost sharing is required.

Subtopic 2b is demonstration and deployment of battery fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles. At TRL levels seven to nine. And we expect to make one to three awards in this subtopic with a max federal funding of $3 million per award. And these projects can be up to four years in duration. And again, 50 percent cost sharing is required for this subtopic.

And finally, subtopic 2c is America's Climate Communities of Excellence, at TRL seven. We're looking for one award at $250,000. And this resulting project should be two years long, with 50 percent cost sharing is required for this subtopic as well.

[Slide 7]

All right, eligibility for all subtopics except subtopic 2c. Eligible applicants for all subtopics in this FOA, except subtopic 2c, America's Climate Communities of Excellence, include individuals, domestic entities, foreign entities, incorporated consortia, and unincorporated consortia. FFRDCs will not be allowed to apply as the prime recipient.

Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are not eligible to apply for funding. Also, note that all prime recipients receiving funding under this FOA must be incorporated or otherwise formed under the laws of a state or territory of the United States. If a foreign entity applies for funding as a prime recipient, it must designate in the full application a subsidiary or affiliate incorporated, or otherwise formed, under the laws of a state or territory of the United States to be the prime recipient. The full application must state the nature of the corporate relationship between the foreign entity and domestic subsidiary or affiliate.

[Slide 8]

For subtopic 2c only, America's Climate Communities of Excellence, the following restricted eligibility determination applies. The Fuel Cell Technologies Office intends to restrict eligibility for subtopic 2C, America's Climate Communities of Excellence, to U.S. local and tribal governments, or consortia thereof. For the purposes of this FOA, local governments may include a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, including any public and Indian housing agency, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments, any other regional or interstate government entity, or any agency or instrumentality of a local government.

To be considered as a tribal government for the purposes of this FOA, the entity must be any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claim Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

[Slide 9]

OK, on to the topic area descriptions. Subtopic 1a is microbial biomass conversion. Applications are invited for the R&D of hydrogen production technologies in the area of microbial biomass conversion demonstrating the potential of the pathway to meet the FCTO cost goals for hydrogen production. That is excluding delivery, compression, storage, and dispensing.

Technologies for hydrogen production using biomass through microbial processes such as fermentation or microbially aided electrolysis systems or hybrid processes that integrate multiple systems are of interest. Areas of emphasis could include but are not limited to development of microbial strains or co-cultures with improved hydrogen yields; reactor designs to improve hydrogen production yields or reduced costs, for example, designs that improve the hydraulic retention time or use lower-cost materials; hybrid systems to maximum the hydrogen produced per unit of biomass, for example, integrating systems where the waste product of one process is utilized as the feedstock of the next; and/or technologies that reduce external energy inputs, for example, by removing or reducing the need for feedstock heat treatments or external electricity inputs.

[Slide 10]

Subtopic 1b.1, which is a subset of 1b—there's two—1b.1 is low PGM cathode catalysts. FCTO seeks approaches that show the potential to decrease PGM loadings below the 2020 target, while increasing durability, especially in the higher power density region. Applicants should clearly state the status of their current catalyst technology and provide sufficient justification that the approach can reduce total PGM content below 0.125 grams per kilowatt. Rare or precious metals other than platinum group metals can be part of the strategy, but prices of these materials can increase dramatically with demand. Therefore, minimizing loading of rare or precious metals is desired. If other rare or precious metals are included, expected loadings of these materials should also be provided.

Catalyst performance under high power conditions in real world operating environments is critical to meet fuel cell cost targets. Applicants should discuss performance issues at current densities of 1.5 amps per centimeter squared and above, and strategies for overcoming transport and durability issues for performance at high current density. Performance degradation at high current density has been correlated to a loss in electrochemical surface area. Applicants should outline strategies to decrease ECSA losses with potential cycling as well as strategies to deal with other degradation losses their approach may incur, such as decreased ionomer conductivity due to ion exchange of proton conducting sites with leached metal ions.

[Slide 11]

Subtopic 1b.2 is catalyst supports. Catalyst support composition and structure changes are known to affect electrode performance and durability. FCTO seeks approaches that address support performance and chemical and structural stability by development of novel carbon-based or non-carbon support compositions and/or structures. Concepts should possess appropriate properties such as high surface area, high protonic electronic conductivities, and facile reactant/product transport. Catalyst deposition and stable anchoring of the catalyst on the support should be discussed. Possible effects of the support on the catalytic activity through modified dispersion or through catalyst support interactions should be described.

Long-term compatibility with other cell components in real-world environments, including accelerated stress test cycling described in Table E2 of Appendix E of the FOA, must be demonstrated in MEAs greater or equal to 50 centimeters squared. Proposals should address durability during fuel starvation, cell reversal, and stop/start events.

Again, applicants should clearly state the status of their current technology—their current catalyst support technology as it relates to the state of the art and provide sufficient justification that the approach has the potential to meet or exceed relevant DOE targets, including performance at high power density in air, durability, and cost.

[Slide 12]

Subtopic 1c is integrated intelligent hydrogen dispensers for 700 bar gaseous refueling of fuel cell electric vehicles. This subtopic addresses the development of the next generation of integrated intelligent hydrogen dispensers for 700 bar refueling. The integrated intelligent dispenser includes the hose, meter, and control system necessary to deliver hydrogen safely per SAE J20601 using a Type A dispenser for fast-fill capability. Intelligent controls should allow the dispenser to adapt to other fill methods as necessary. Capability to perform communication fills is required. Proposals which include the development of innovative, low-cost components for robust communication to replace the current IR technology are encouraged.

The dispensing accuracy must reach at least four percent over the full range of operation. The conditions range from −40 degrees C to 85 degrees C, at flow rates between 2 and 60 grams per second, and at service pressures up to 875 bar. Designs are encouraged which exceed the four percent target and move the technology toward meeting the 1.5 percent system accuracy and other requirements as defined in NIST Handbook 44. Applicants must define the current status of their proposed technology and the expected status at the end of the project in the metrics table—in a metrics table, I should say.

Innovative, low-cost designs must be developed to be compliant with SAE J2600, SAE J2799, and other applicable refueling and dispenser standards. The dispenser must also be capable of refueling vehicles to the J2601 Type A fills and able to maintain the fuel quality to meet the SAE J2719 standard.

[Slide 13]

Subtopic 1d is innovative hydrogen delivery pipeline manufacturing. FCTO seeks applications to develop innovative, low-cost processes for manufacturing fiber-reinforced composite pipe, or FRP, that eliminates O-ring failure and is capable of carrying hydrogen at 100 bar, is durable for 50 years, and has a reasonable leak rate. The proposed solution should lead to installed FRP costs that are equivalent to or lower than the cost of installing a natural gas pipeline of the same size—about $320,000 per inch ID of pipe mile excluding the cost of right-of-way—and be scalable to high-volume manufacturing. Examples of approaches include continuous on-site manufacturing of fiber-reinforced pipeline with no pipe-to-pipe joints and improved joining techniques for FRP such as fusion-bonded or welded FRP joints. 

Applicants must clearly define the current status of their proposed technology and the expected status at the end of the project in a metrics table. Applicants must provide details illustrating how their proposed manufacturing process will advance the state of the art and meet the DOE target of hydrogen delivery at less than $2.00 per gallon gasoline equivalent from the point of production to the point of use.

[Slide 14]

On to the demonstration and deployment subtopics. Subtopic 2a is design, deployment, and validation of advanced, low-cost mobile hydrogen refuelers. FCTO seeks applications to design, develop, deploy, and validate economically viable mobile hydrogen refuelers that are flexible in meeting customer's needs. The basic concept of a mobile refueling unit involves a truck or trailer with hydrogen storage vessels, control and metering equipment, pump or compressor, dispenser with hose and nozzle, and safety systems.

Mobile refuelers can support evolving markets by providing service to new station locations with the aim to fill in gaps in both existing station capacity versus demand and in station coverage. Mobile units may also be used as temporary fueling devices while constructing full-scale hydrogen fueling stations for when an established station is down for maintenance or other reasons. These refuelers may also serve special events, such as student competitions or education and outreach events.

Projects resulting from this subtopic must submit performance data for independent analysis by NREL's National Fuel Cell Technology Evaluation Center.

[Slide 15]

Subtopic 2b is demonstration and deployment of battery-fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle. Subtopic 2b will accelerate the development and deployment of battery-fuel cell hybrid powered electric vehicles that substantially increase the zero emission driving range, thereby increasing the viability of these electric vehicles and reducing petroleum consumption and related emissions. FCTO seeks projects to demonstrate and deploy battery-fuel cell hybrid all electric vehicles—Class 1, 2, or 3—for parcel delivery or freight distribution, or corporate utility transportation such as service call vehicles. The vehicle fleet applications of interest are commercially available vehicles that would be retrofitted with a battery dominant power train and a fuel cell to extend vehicle range.

Costs of the base electric vehicles and costs of hydrogen infrastructure are considered out of scope for this subtopic. Projects resulting from this subtopic must submit performance data for independent analysis by NREL's National Fuel Cell Technology Evaluation Center.

[Slide 16]

Subtopic 2c is America's Climate Communities of Excellence. FCTO seeks proposals for projects from local, regional, and tribal government entities that are leading emissions reductions and climate resilience and are in need of technical and financial assistance to further implement hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to reduce greenhouse gases and prepare their communities for the impacts of climate change. In particular, there will be a focus on dual-purpose actions that address both of those goals, where possible.

Examples include the following: expanding installation of distributed energy sources using fuel cells for combined heat and power; supporting the deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles through the installation of hydrogen infrastructure and applications, such as for vehicle fleets; supporting the deployment of transportation technologies with zero emissions such as fuel cell-powered lift trucks, ground support equipment for airports, zero emission heavy-duty vehicles such as drayage trucks at ports, and medium-duty vehicles such as parcel delivery vans; converting landfill and sewage treatment plant waste into usable fuel such as hydrogen for power generation or transportation applications.

[Slide 17]

OK, non-responsive applications. The following types of applications will be deemed non-responsive and will not be reviewed or considered. See also Section III.D of the FOA. Applications that fall outside the technical parameters specified in Section I.B of the FOA—those are the topic descriptions—including, but not limited to hydrogen production technologies other than microbial biomass conversion (see Subtopic 1a); non-PGM catalyst R&D; hydrogen storage projects; mobile refuelers that include on-board generation or production of hydrogen; and basic science and proof of principle R&D projects. Those are all non-responsive. Also, applications for proposed technologies that are not based on sound scientific principles, for example, that violate the law of thermodynamics—laws, I should say.

[Slide 18]

OK, for all awards made to all entities except federally-funded research and development centers and government owned, government operated laboratories, the preferred funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. For cooperative agreements, there will be what is known as substantial involvement between EERE and the recipient during the performance of the project.

EERE has substantial involvement and work performed under awards made following this FOA. EERE does not limit its involvement to the administrative requirements of the award. Instead, EERE has substantial involvement in the direction and redirection of the technical aspects of the project as a whole. Substantial involvement includes, but is not limited to the following. EERE shares responsibility with the recipient for the management, control, direction, and performance of the project. EERE may intervene in the conduct or performance of work under this award for programmatic reasons. Intervention includes the interruption or modification of the conduct or performance of project activities. EERE may redirect or discontinue funding the project based on the outcome of EERE's evaluation of the project at the Go/No Go decision point. EERE participates in major project decision-making processes.

[Slide 19]

Cost sharing requirements. The cost share must be at least 20 percent of total project cost for research and development projects. So that's subtopics 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, with one special exception. EERE has issued a cost share reduction determination pursuant to Section 988(b)(3) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that is applicable to certain entities applying under this FOA. Specifically, recipient cost share requirement for applied research and development projects is reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent where both of the following apply. Number one, the prime recipient is a domestic institution of higher education, domestic nonprofit entity, FFRDC, or U.S. state, local, or tribal government entity. And number two, the prime recipient performs more than 50 percent of the project work as measured by the total project cost. So, both of those two qualifications have to be met to apply for the cost share reduction. And again, that's only for the R&D subtopics.

The cost share must be at least 50 percent of total project costs for demonstration projects—subtopics 2a, 2b, and 2c. A cost share reduction is not available for those subtopics. Please review Section III.B and Appendix B of the FOA for more information on cost sharing.

[Slide 20]

Means of submission and multiple applications. Means of submission—concept papers, full applications, and replies to reviewer comments must be submitted through EERE Exchange at eere-exchange.energy.gov. EERE will not review or consider applications submitted through other means. The Users' Guide for Applying to the DOE EERE Funding Opportunity Announcements can be found at eere-exchange.energy.gov/manuals.aspx.

Multiple applications—applicants may submit more than one application to this FOA, provided that each application describes a unique, scientifically distinct project.

[Slide 21]

OK, concept papers. Applicants must submit a concept paper. If an applicant fails to submit an eligible concept paper, the applicant is not eligible to submit a full application. Each concept paper must be limited to a single concept or technology. The concept paper must include a technology description; see Section IV.C of the FOA. The technology description is limited to three pages. The concept paper can also include graphs, charts, or other data, limited to one additional page.

Concept papers must be submitted by April 2, 2015, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, through EERE Exchange and must comply with the content and form requirements in Section IV.C of the FOA.

EERE provides applicants with either an encouraged or discouraged notification and general comments. A discouraged notification conveys EERE's lack of programmatic interest in a proposed project. An applicant who receives a discouraged notification may still submit a full application. Please note that regardless of the date applicants receive the encouraged or discouraged notification, the submission deadline for the full application remains the date stated on the FOA cover page.

[Slide 22]

Concept paper review criteria. For all subtopics except subtopic 2c, America's Climate Communities of Excellence, concept papers are evaluated based on the following criteria. Criterion 1 is the impact of the proposed technology relative to the state of the art. And that's worth 50 percent. And that includes the method used to identify current state-of-the-art technology. And if technical success is achieved, the proposed idea would significantly improve technical and economic performance relative to the state of the art.

Criterion 2 is overall scientific and technical merit. Also it's 50 percent. The proposed technology is unique and innovative. And the proposed technology is without major technical flaws.

[Slide 23]

For subtopic 2c, America's Climate Communities of Excellence, concept papers are evaluated based on the following criteria. Criterion 1—impact of the Community of Excellence proposal. That's worth 50 percent of the score. Clear identification of the benefits of implementation of proposed hydrogen and fuel cell technologies within the community. And if success is achieved, the proposed project would promote early adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Criterion 2 is overall technical merit, also worth 50 percent. And that includes the proposal is innovative, and the proposed approach is without major technical or economic flaws.

[Slide 24]

OK, moving on to full applications now. The full application includes the following components. Technical volume, which is the key technical submission—information relating to the technical content, project team members, et cetera. Form SF424, the Application for Federal Assistance—the formal application signed by the authorized representative of the applicant.  SF424A, Budget and Budget Justification—this is a detailed budget for the project. Summary for public release. The summary slide. And various administrative documents, for example, a U.S. manufacturing plan, an FFRDC authorization if applicable, disclosure of lobbying activities, and waiver requests for foreign entities and work outside the U.S., et cetera. All these requirements are in more detail in the FOA document.

[Slide 25]

Full application eligibility requirements. Applicants must submit a full application by June 4, 2015. Full applications are eligible for review if the applicant is an eligible entity; the applicant submitted an eligible concept paper; the cost share requirement is satisfied; the full application is compliant; the proposed project is responsive to the FOA; and the full application meets any other eligibility requirements listed in Section III of the FOA.

[Slide 26]

Now the merit review and selection process for full applications. The merit review process consists of multiple phases that each include an initial eligibility review and a thorough technical review. Rigorous technical reviews are conducted by reviewers that are experts in the subject matter of the FOA. Ultimately the selection official considers the recommendations of the reviewers, along with other considerations such as program policy factors, to make the selection decisions. We'll go over the policy factors in just a few slides.

[Slide 27]

Technical merit review criteria. For all subtopics except subtopic 2c, America's Climate Communities of Excellence, applications will be evaluated against the following merit review criteria. Criterion 1 is the technical merit, innovation, and impact. That's worth 50 percent of the score. The extent to which the proposed technology and process is innovative and has the potential to advance the state of the art; the degree to which the current state of the technology and the proposed advancement are clearly described; the extent to which the application specifically and convincingly demonstrates how the applicant will move the state of the art to the proposed advancement; sufficiency of technical detail in the application to assess whether the proposed work is scientifically meritorious and revolutionary, including relevant data, calculations, and discussion of prior work in the literature with analyses that support the viability of the proposed work; how the project supports the subtopic objectives and target specifications and metrics; and the potential impact of the project on advancing the state of the art.

[Slide 28]

Criterion 2 is project research and market transformation plan. That's worth 30 percent. And that includes the degree to which the approach and critical path have been clearly described and thoughtfully considered; the degree to which the task descriptions are clear, detailed, timely, and reasonable, resulting in a high likelihood that the proposed work plan will succeed in meeting the project goals; a discussion and demonstrated understanding of the key technical risk areas involved in the proposed work and the quality of the mitigation strategies to address them; the level of clarity and the definition of the baseline metrics and milestones; relative to a clearly defined experimental baseline, the strength of the quantifiable metrics, milestones, and mid-point deliverables defined in the application, such that meaningful interim progress will be made; identification of target market, competitors, and distribution channels for proposed technology along with known or perceived barriers to market penetration, including mitigation plan; and the comprehensiveness of commercialization plan, including but not limited to product development and/or service plan, commercialization timeframe, financing, product marketing, legal or regulatory considerations including intellectual property, infrastructure requirements, U.S. manufacturing plan, et cetera, and product distribution.

[Slide 29]

Criterion 3 is the team and resources, and that's worth 20 percent. The capability of the principal investigator and the proposed team to address all aspects of the proposed work with a good chance of success; qualifications, relevant expertise, and time commitment of the individuals on the team; the sufficiency of the facilities to support the work; the degree to which the proposed consortia or team demonstrates the ability to facilitate and expedite further development and commercial deployment of the proposed technologies; the level of participation by project participants as evidenced by letters of commitment and how well they are integrated into the work plan; and the reasonableness of budget and spend plan for proposed project and objectives.

[Slide 30]

Now, only for subtopic 2c, America's Climate Communities of Excellence, applications will be evaluated against the following merit review criteria. Criterion 1 is technical and economic merit, innovation, and impact. It's worth 50 percent. The extent to which the proposal is innovative and has the potential to advance early adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies; the degree to which the current community adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and other green technologies are clearly described; the extent to which the application specifically and convincingly demonstrates how the proposal will reduce energy cost and/or reduce greenhouse gas emissions through early adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies; the sufficiency of technical detail in the application to assess whether the proposed work is economically and scientifically meritorious, including relevant data, calculations, and discussion of prior work with hydrogen and fuel cell technology with analysis that supports the viability of the proposed Community of Excellence project; how the project supports the subtopic objectives and target specifications and metrics; and the potential impact of the project with respect to promoting energy efficiency, reducing energy cost, and/or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

[Slide 31]

Criterion 2 is project research. That's worth 30 percent. And that includes the degree to which the approach and critical path have been clearly described and thoughtfully considered; the degree to which the task descriptions are clear, detailed, timely, and reasonable, resulting in a high likelihood that the proposed work plan will succeed in meeting the project goals; discussion and demonstrated understanding of the key technical and economic risk areas involved in the proposed work, and the quality of the mitigation strategies to address them; the level of clarity in the definition of the baseline, metrics, and milestones; and relative to a clearly defined baseline, the strength of the quantifiable metrics, milestones, and mid-point deliverables defined in the application such that meaningful interim progress will be made.

[Slide 32]

Criterion 3 is the team and resources, and it is worth 20 percent. The capability of the principal investigator and the proposed team to address all aspects of the proposed work with a good chance of success; qualifications, relevant expertise, and time commitment of the individuals on the team; the sufficiency of the facilities to support the work; the degree to which the proposed consortia or team demonstrates the ability to facilitate and expedite further development and commercial deployment of the proposed technologies; level of participation by project participants as evidenced by letters of commitment and how well they're integrated into the work plan; and the reasonableness of budget and spend plan for proposed project and objectives.

[Slide 33]

OK, moving on now to replies to reviewer comments. Full applications are reviewed by experts in the FOA topic areas. After those experts review the applications, EERE will provide applicants with reviewer comments. Applicants will have a brief opportunity to review the comments and prepare a short reply to reviewer comments, responding to comments however they desire.

Applicants are not required to submit a reply; it is optional. To be considered by EERE, a reply must be submitted by July 17, 2015, and submitted through EERE Exchange. Content and form requirements for the replies to reviewer comments—you can have two pages maximum of text where applicants may respond to one or more reviewer comments, or supplement their full application.

And then you can also include one additional optional page, where you can use that page however you wish for additional text or graphs, charts, or other data to respond to reviewer comments or supplement their full application. All those things are acceptable.

An important note: please save the reviewer comments you receive in the Exchange system. EERE does not have a formal debrief process and will not resend these comments after the reviewer comment reply period ends.

[Slide 34]

OK, program policy factors. The selection official may consider the merit review recommendations, available funding, and program policy factors in making his or her selection decisions. For all subtopics except subtopic 2c, America's Climate Communities of Excellence, the following program policy factors will be used: the degree to which the proposed project optimizes the use of available EERE funding to achieve programmatic objectives; the level of industry involvement and demonstrated ability to commercialize energy or related technologies; technical, market, organizational, and environmental risks associated with the project; whether the proposed project is likely to lead to increased employment and manufacturing in the United States based on the proposed U.S. manufacturing plan; whether the proposed project will accelerate transformational technological advances in areas that industry by itself is not likely to undertake because of technical and financial uncertainty; and the degree to which the proposed project directly addresses EERE's statutory mission and strategic goals.

[Slide 35]

Now for subtopic 2c only, America's Climate Communities of Excellence, the following program policy factors will be used: the degree to which the proposed project optimizes the use of available EERE funding to achieve programmatic objectives; technical, market, organizational, and environmental risks associated with the project; whether the proposed project is likely to lead to increased employment and manufacturing in the United States based; whether the proposed project will accelerate transformational technological advances in areas that industry by itself is not likely to undertake because of technical and financial uncertainty; the degree to which the proposed project directly addresses EERE's statutory mission and strategic goals; the degree to which the proposed project is complementary to other DOE and government projects which promote early adoption of green energy technologies; and whether the proposed projects will advance goals of the Climate Action Champion Initiative as committed to by the designated Champion pursuant to its designation agreement. The Climate Action Champion Initiative goals include improving climate resilience and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

[Slide 36]

Registration requirements. To apply to this FOA, applicants must register with and submit application materials through EERE Exchange at eere-exchange.energy.gov. Obtain a control number at least 24 hours before the first submission deadline. And although not required to submit an application, the following registrations must be complete to receive an award under this FOA.

There are several one-time actions before submitting an application in response to this FOA and it is vital that applicants address these items as soon as possible.

DUNS number—obtain a Dun & Bradstreet data universal numbering system, or DUNS, number.

System for award management—register with the system for award management, or SAM. Designating an electronic business point of contact, or E-Biz POC, and obtaining a special password called an MPIN are important steps in SAM registration. Please update your SAM registration annually.

FedConnect—register in Fed Connect to create an organization account. Your organization's SAM MPIN is required. For more information about the SAM MPIN or other registration requirements, review the FedConnect "Ready, Set, Go" guide at the FedConnect website.

Grants.gov—register in grants.gov to receive automatic updates when amendments to this FOA are posted. We did post an amendment the other day; hopefully you all saw that. If you were registered in Grants.gov, you should have also been notified automatically. However, please note that concept papers and full applications will not be accepted through Grants.gov.

[Slide 37]

And finally, questions. If you have questions about this FOA, you must email FY15FCTOofficewideFOA@ee.doe.gov. All questions and answers related to this FOA will be posted on EERE Exchange. Again, in an anonymous fashion. You must select this specific FOA number in order to view the Q&As. EERE will attempt to respond to a question within three business days, unless a similar question and answer has already been posted on the website.

If you have problems logging into EERE Exchange or uploading and submitting application documents, please don't use the FOA mailbox. Instead, please email exchangesupport@hq.doe.gov. And be sure to include the FOA name and number in the subject line.

That's all for today's webinar. Again, please read the FOA document carefully for the full requirements and details. And please submit any questions only through the FOA mailbox listed here. And again, we will post these slides and a recording of this webinar to our website in a few days. Thank you so much.