Lizana Pierce:            Good afternoon  and welcome to the webinar. This informational webinar is for people interested in apply to the Department of Energy's Office of Indian Energy Funding Opportunity Announcement, or FOA, entitled Energy Infrastructure Deployment on Tribal Lands 2020, which was issued November 13, 2019. And I want to thank you all for your patience. We had a delayed start to allow people to join the webinar.

My name is Lizana Pierce and I'm a senior engineer with the Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy and deployment supervisor for the office, otherwise known as the Office of Indian Energy. I've been working in clean energy for the last 25 years and specifically in Indian energy since the late '90s. Under the Office of Indian Energy, I'm tasked with implementing the deployment program, specifically for financial assistance that entails issuing the funding opportunity announcements, managing the application review process, and administering the resultant grants and overseeing and funding tribal energy projects.

I also have with me Tweedie Doe, who is another project officer with the Office. And she is also duty stationed with me in Colorado. Tweedie, would you like to introduce yourself?

Tweedie Doe:              Yes, I would. Hello, everyone. This is Tweetie Doe. I met Lizana Pierce in about 2002 when I worked for the Council of Energy Resource Tribe, also known as CERT. So Lizana and I go a few years back. I have been with the Department of Energy for about ten and a half years and with the Office of Indian Energy for about three years. As a project officer, I get to work with our grant recipients from start to end of their projects. And I do hope to be able to work with some of you on the phone today. Thank you.

Lizana Pierce:            And Tweetie is one of the four federal employees with the Office of Indian Energy. We're a very small office, obviously. We have Kevin R. Frost, the director, a member of Southern Ute, and he is located in the Washington, D.C. Tweedie and myself are located, duty stationed, in Golden, Colorado. And in fact we're co-located with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, one of _____ 17 laboratories. And we also have Givey Kochanowski, who is duty stationed in Anchorage, Alaska.

And so as a brief introduction, I want to start this webinar. But because there's so much information, Tweedie and I may swap off and on throughout the presentation. I would like to say that I believe that this webinar will likely go two hours. And unfortunately we had only reflected it as an hour and a half, so be aware that we will likely run late. However, the entirety of the webinar and the audio will be posted. I believe Monica may have already posted the slides. If not, she'll sent a chat out to everybody.

So the intent of this webinar is to cover the basic aspects of the Funding Opportunity Announcement, otherwise known as the FO, and to highlight essential details about the application process, including the types of applications sought, who is eligible to apply, cost share, and other requirements, what the application needs to contain, and how to ask questions, and how applications will be reviewed and selected for funding.

Before we begin, I'd like to draw your attention to the email address in the lower right-hand side of the cover page. This is the official mailbox to direct all of your questions during the entire FOA process. Please do not contact DOE or DOE laboratory staff or contactors directly with any questions, including myself, as all questions must be in the form of writing.

The reason for only accepting questions in writing is to ensure you receive a formal response and so that everyone has the benefit of that same response, because typically if you have a question, other potential applicants likely have the same question.

As we will not have a question-and-answer session as part of this webinar, please capture your questions as they come up and send them via email to tribalgrant@hq.doe.gov. In the subject line of your email, please include the FOA number, DE-FOA-0002168. Unless a similar question has already been asked, responses to questions received at that mailbox will be posted to the Frequently Asked Questions, or the FAQ's webpage for this FOA on the EERE Exchange website.

Responses to your questions will typically be posted within three business days after receipt. And before submitting a question, please do check the FAQ webpage on the EERI Exchange website to see if a similar question has already been answered. In submitting the question, please be careful not to include any language that might be business sensitive, proprietary, or confidential.

I will add that your participation in this webinar is completely voluntary. There are no particular advantages or disadvantages to the application evaluation process with respect to your participation in this webinar today.

These slides and an audio recording of this webinar will be posted in the next week or so, and as an registrant of the webinar, you will be notified when this material is available on the Office of Indian Energy's website. The slides themselves will be posted later today, if they're not already there. And you may want to download the FOA document now for references. I'll be referencing specific pages as we go through the webinar. So let's get started. Next slide, please.

Before we get into the funding opportunity, I wanted to provide a brief overview at the Department – pardon me – Department of Energy and Office of Indian Energy. The overall mission of the Department is to ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing this energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. Next slide, please. Thank you.

The tribes advocated for an assistant secretarial office within the Department and through the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the office was authorized. As such, the Office of Indian Energy is one of about a dozen assisted secretarial level offices within the Department. Next slide, please.

The Department of Energy, or DOE's of Indian Energy assists in addressing the staggering gaps of barriers for Indian tribes, which for this FOA include Alaska native regional corporations and village corporations, intertribal organizations, and tribal energy development organizations interested in developing their vast energy resources.

Specifically, the Office has charged by Congress to promote Indian energy development, efficiency and use, reduce or stabilize energy costs,  enhance and strengthen Indian tribal energy and economic infrastructure and to bring electrical power and services to Indian land and homes. Next slide, please. And I guess I'll apologize. I'm feeling a little under the weather today, so if my voices comes and goes [laughs], please forgive me.

So the mission of the Office of Indian Energy is to maximize the development and deployment of strategic energy solutions that benefit tribal communities by providing American Indians and Alaska natives with knowledge, skills, and resources needed to implement successful strategic energy solutions.

You can see just a few of the projects the office has provided financial support for in the pictures on the right. And I'll give you just a moment to look at those project pictures. And now onto the Funding Opportunity. Next slide, please. Got it, thanks.

Before we discuss the Funding Opportunity Announcement itself, I wanted to walk you through the EERE Exchange site and where you can find the FOA document itself, as well as application forms and frequently asked questions. The EERE Exchange website is at EERE dash Exchange, which is spelled E-X-C-H-A-N-G-E, dot energy dot gov. Once on that page, you'll need to scroll down the list until you locate FOA number DE-FOA-0002168. Clicking on that FOA number in the FOA list will take you to the section of the webpage specifically for this FOA, as shown on the slide.

As you can see on the slide, the section specific to this FOA includes a brief summary and other key information. A direct link to this FOA summary is at the bottom of the slide. And my apologies for the legibility of the slide. The screenshot will be expanded in the next few slides. Next slide, please.

So as you can see from this screenshot, the EERE Exchange summary for this FOA includes the FOA document itself for download, required application documents, contact information for submitting questions regarding this FOA and for EERE support, and a link to the frequently asked questions or FAQ webpage. In the submission deadline of February 6, 2020 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Now, remember, this is Eastern Time, so please plan accordingly and adjust for whichever time zone you are located.

If the application documents are not shown, you'll need to click on the View Required Application Documents link under Required Application Documents. Once the View Required Application Documents link is clicked, a list of the required application documents will be revealed, which I'll show you on the next slide. Next slide, please.

So as you can see, once you click on the View Required Application Documents under the Required Application Documents, you'll see the various forms and templates that need to be included as part of your application. Note that these are not the entirety of forms and documents that compose the complete application. The form and templates on Exchange only comprise part of the application and in and of themselves do not make a complete application. Further into the presentation, we'll go through all the elements that comprise a complete application.

So the forms and templates included here are the application for federal assistance, the SF424 form, which is a fillable PDF form; a summary slide template, which is a PowerPoint slide intended to summarize your proposed project; work plan template, a Microsoft Word template and instructions to be used in preparing the work plan for your proposed project; project metrics data file, which is an Excel file to capture key information on your project; an options analysis template, which is a Microsoft Word template and instructions to be used in preparing the requisite options analysis.

There's also an eligibility statements and evidence, which is a Microsoft Word template for information relative to the applicant's eligibility and land status eligibility; the evidence required to support DOE's eligibility determination; and certification of the information by and authorized representative of the applicant.

List of forms also include a project justification workbook, i.e. 335. This is a multi-tab Microsoft Excel workbook for capturing budget details for the applicant, and if applicable, subrecipients who meet the threshold's requirements, which we'll discuss in the budget forms and the thresholds in more detail later in the presentation.

There's also a budget support template, which is a Microsoft Word template that includes additional information and documentation to support your proposed budget. [Coughs] Pardon me. Additionally, there's a registration certifications, which is a Microsoft Word document for certification of an authorized representative of the applicant, that the applicant has registered in the various systems needed to apply for and to receive an award under this FOA.

And lastly, there's a disclosure of lobbying activities, which is an SFLLL form, which is a Word document. And if this does not apply to you, please just indicate "not applicable," sign, date, and include as part of your application. We'll go into that in a little more detail in subsequent slides. All other composites comprising a complete application are self-generated. For a complete list of the application elements, see the table on Pages 6 and 7 of the FOA document. Next slide, please.

The answers to all FOA-related questions received in our email box, tribalgrants@headquarters.doe.gov, will be posted on the frequently asked questions or FAQ webpage specific to this FOA, which is on the EERE Exchange website. This slide shows an example of the FAQ webpage. Please check this page periodically, as questions and answers will continued to be posted throughout the entire time the FOA is open. Please also check this page before submitting a question, as similar questions may have already been answered. Next slide, please.

So on the cover page of FOA, you'll find key dates. The FOA has already been posted, and we are conducting the FOA information webinar now. All applications are due on the EERE Exchange website no later then 5:00 Eastern on February 6, 2020. [Coughs] Again, note that the closing time is 5:00 Eastern, so please plan accordingly and adjust for whichever time zone you are located. Also note that DOE will not extend the submission deadline for applicants that fail to submit required information due to server connection congestion. And also, EERE Exchange is designed to enforce the deadline specific to this FOA. Therefore, the Apply and Submit buttons may be disabled at the defined submission deadline. So please ensure you begin _____ your complete application at least 48 hours in advance of the submission deadline to ensure you meet that deadline and to allow at least an hour to submit an application.

Note that once the application is submitted in the EERE Exchange, you may revise or update your application up until the deadline. DOE anticipates notifying applicants selected for negotiation of award the summer of 2020 and then making award approximately 90 days after receipt of any requested supplemental information. [Coughs] Each and every applicant will receive a notification letter by email to the technical and administrative points of contact that you designate by the designate by the applicant in the EERE Exchange.

So notification letters will state whether the application is determined to be non-compliant, and incomplete or late application, ineligible, which means it does not mee the eligibility requirements that begin on Page 24 of the FOA document, the application is non-responsive as defined under Section 1C, applications specifically not of interest, which begins on the bottom of Page 31 of the FOA document.

The notification letter will also identify whether the application was not selected for funding, was selected for funding, a selection for funding was postponed, was designated as an alternate for selected for negotiation towards award. And each notification letter, which every applicant will receive, will also state the basis upon which those decisions were made. Next slide, please. [Coughs]

So even though we do plan on going through much of the information contained in the Funding Opportunity Announcement in this webinar, I would urge you to read the FOA, and then read it again. Next slide.

So to apply to the FOA, applicants must register with and submit applications through EERE Exchange at the URL shown here. As previously discussed, frequently asked questions, or FAQs, for this FOA can be found on the FAQ page specific to the FOA on Exchange. You will also need to register in grants.gov at www.grants.gov, so that you'll receive automatic updates when amendments to the FOA are posted, if any. Note that applications will only be accepted through EERE Exchange, not through grants.gov. Next slide, please.

Note that the EERE Exchange registration does not have a delay. However, the remaining registration requirements could take up to several weeks to process. All potential applicants lacking _____ number or not yet registered in Sam or Fed Connect must complete those registrations prior to submitting an application. And we'll go through those in more detail. Please also see – apologize – it is also really important you register in these other systems as soon as possible, as these registrations need to be complete to submitting an application.

Remember an authorized representative of the applicant will certify that these registrations have been completed and submit that certification as part of your application. See the registration certifications template under the required application documents that we just discussed under EERE Exchange. Next slide, please.

The applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully read the Funding Opportunity Announcement, DE-FOA-0002168, and to adhere to the stages submission requirements. This presentation summarizes the contents of the FOA. However, if there are any inconsistencies between the FOA and this presentation, or statements from DOE or other personnel, the FOA is the controlling document. An applicant should rely solely on the FOA language or seek clarification from at the mailbox provided. And if you believe there are inconsistencies, please contact us by sending an email to tribalgrants@hq.doe.gov. Next slide, please.

So the _____ webinar is as shown. First we'll provide a summary of the FOA requirements for the Office of Indian Energy FOA, and required application elements. We'll discuss applications specifically not of interest, we'll discuss award information, go over who's eligible to apply, _____ requirements. We'll discuss the content and form of complete application, application eligibility requirements. We'll also discuss _____ review a selection criterion process, the registration requirements in which we just mentioned, and how to submit the application in your points of contact, how to submit questions and best practices, and then the closing.

Just a reminder that we will not questions-and-answering session as part of this webinar. So please capture your questions as they come up and send them via email to tribalgrants@hq.doe.gov. Additionally, as I said before, these slides and audio recording of this webinar will be posted in the next week or so, and as a registrant of the webinar, you will be notified when this material is available. I also believe that Monica has also already posted or will shortly post the slides themselves up to the Office of Indian Energy's website. Next slide, please.

So we'll begin with the summary of the FOA, Funding Opportunity Announcement, the requirements and applications _____. Next slide, please. Thank you.

So the FOA executive summary beginning on Page 1 of the FOA document includes key information on the FOA. This information is summarized on this in the next few slides. We'll go over this information as part of this presentation, but it is provided here as a summary.

There are four topic areas under which you can submit an application, as described in the FOA summary. And we'll discuss each topic area in more detail later in the presentation. Note that like the last FOA our office has issued, this FOA is also fuel and technology neutral. Subject to Congressional appropriations, we expect to have $3.5 million to $15 million to be available and to make 5 to 15 awards as a result of this Funding Opportunity Announcement. And I'll give you just a moment to read through the slide.

Okay, Monica's too quick. [Laughs] So continued on this slide is the additional key information relative to the FOA. As indicated, depending on whether the proposed projects are facility scale or community scale, the FOA establishes minimum and maximum award thresholds.

For facility-scale projects – oh. Could you go back, Monica, one slide, please? There we go. Thanks. For facility-scale projects, DOE funding per individual award will be no less than $50,000.00 to a maximum of $1 million. This applies to topic area 1 and topic area 3A. And for community-scale projects, from no less than $250,000.00 to a maximum of $2 million DOE funds. And this will apply to topic area 2, topic area 3B, and topic area 4.

Awards under this FOA will be grants with a period of performance of each award of approximately one to two years, but no longer than three years. And it must include the mandatory 12-month verification period. Next slide, please.

So continued on this slide and the next few slides is additional key information relative to the Funding Opportunity Announcement. We will go over the eligible applicant requirements in detail on subsequent slides, so I'll forego the explanation here. Please note, however, that DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which the applications to this FOA are submitted.

You may ask clarifying questions relative to the FOA, but DOE will not determine whether an applicant or a specific project is eligible during the application preparation stage of the process. As such, the decision of whether to submit an application in response to this FOA lies solely with the applicant.

Note that per statute, there is a 50 percent cost-share requirement, meaning 50 percent of the total allowable cost of the projects must be provided as cost share. The total cost of the project is the sum of the DOE share and the recipient share of allowable costs. For instance, if a proposed project is estimated to cost a total of $500,000.00, the requested cost share would be $250,000.00, or 50 percent of the total project cost of $500,000.00. Next slide, please.

As included in the FOA summary on Page 2 of the FOA document, the following proposed projects may be given additional consideration in the selection of applications funding, through the application of program policy factors, which were under Section 5C of the FOA: Projects which serve tribal communities with high energy costs, projects proposed for tribal communities not connected to traditional centralized electric power grid, and applications who have not previously received a grant from the Office of Indian Energy.

Furthermore, the DOE Office of Indian Energy may, upon request, provide technical assistance to all eligible applications who apply under this FOA and whose applications are comprehensively reviewed, but not selected for negotiation. If the Office of Indian Energy determines it to be within scope of budget, such technical assistance will be provided on a priority basis over those who do not apply to the FOA. Also be aware that you may submit more than one application or more than one application to a particular topic area, provided each application is for a distinctly different project and addresses only one topic area. Each application must have a distinct title, unique control member, as assigned by EERE Exchange during the registration process, and be readily distinguishable. Next slide, please.

Also note that a concept paper is not required under this FOA. As mentioned previously, applications will only be accepted through EERE Exchange. As was also previously discussed, DOE will notify all applicants of this determination via notification letter by email. Notification letter will inform the applicants with eligible applications if its application was selected for award negotiations or not selected for award. Those applicants will also receive written feedback at the time of notification. Ineligible applications will not be reviewed or considered for award. If ineligible, a contracting officer will send a notification letter by email, stating the basis upon which the application is ineligible and not considered for future further review. Next slide, please.

So the requirements included on Pages 3 and 4 of the FOA document and listed on this slide are not all-inclusive and cannot exclusively be relied upon, as they do not reflect all the evaluation factors and requirements for the FOA. Applicants must read the entire FOA to determine the complete set of requirements under this FOA.

So pre-award cost, except for pre-award cost with prior DOE approval, only cost-share contributions during the period of performance of the grant, if awarded, can be considered. Any costs incurred prior to the award selection cannot considered as cost share or for reimbursing by DOE.

Registration requirements: The mandatory registration requirements were previously discussed and are summarized on Page 3 of the FOA. But there also includes under Section 6B.1 of the FOA document. Also remember that an authorized representative of the applicant will need to certify that these registrations have been complete and submit that certification as part of your application.

Eligibility statements and evidence: As previously mentioned, all applicants are required to submit eligibility statements and to provide evidence of the applicant and land status eligibility to support DOE's eligibility determination.

Statements of commitment and cost sharing: The statements of commitment and cost sharing will be discussed in greater detail later in the presentation. Just a reminder that an executed tribal council resolution from each participating Indian tribe, a declaration of resolution from each Alaskan Regional Corporation, Alaska native village corporation, intertribal organization, and tribal energy development organization are required. And a letter of commitment from all over project participants are required as part of the application. See the FOA for instances where a format _____ tribal council resolution will be accepted from a participating Indian tribe.

Letters of support: Letters of support by anyone not participating in the proposed project are not required or desired and should not be provided as part of the application.

Post-award payment: Payment will be made electronically on a reimbursement basis through the Automatic Clearing House, ACH, and provided – pardon me – and provided a requisite support is provided. I normally reimburse within seven to ten days.

Post-award reporting requirements: Selected applicants will be required to document progress in quarterly reports and the project results in a comprehensive final report, as well as present in an annual program review to be held each fall in Lakewood, Colorado. For planning purposes, applicants should plan to attend and present grant activities each year during the period of performance of the grant beginning in 2020 and to include those travel costs as part of your application budget.

Equipment title invested interest: Subject to the conditions provided in 2CFR200.313, title to equipment acquired under federal award will be conditionally vested upon acquisition with a non-federal entity. The non-federal entity cannot encumber this property or equipment without approval of the federal awarding agency and you must follow the requirements in 2CFR200.313 before disposing of the property.

Note that if the federal share of the financial assistance agreement is more than $1 million, pursuant to the requirements under 2CFR910.360 before for-profit recipients must properly record Uniform Commercial Code, or UCC, financial statements for all equipment with an acquisition cost of $5,000.00 or more, purchased in whole or in part with federal funds. [Coughs]

Cost share: So every cost share contribution must be allowable under the applicable federal cost principles as described in Section 4I.1 of the FOA. In addition, cost share must be verifiable upon submission of the application. Next slide, please. Thank you.

So the content and form of an application will be covered in detail later in the presentation. However, a summary of each of the required applications element is included here and on the next slide, as well as on Page 6 and 7 of the FOA document. I like to recommend you use this table as a checklist when preparing an application. Remember, forms and templates can be found on the EERE Exchange under the Required Application Documents link after clicking the View Required Application Documents under the FOA description. All of the required components will be self-generated by the applicant. Next slide, please.

Shown here are the remaining elements that comprise the complete application. Note that you may submit an application and any time before the due date and that you will be able to update, as needed, up until that deadline. Please allow sufficient time to ensure you have uploaded all required documents and that your application is complete prior to the due date and time. Next slide, please.

So this Funding Opportunity Announcement, for FOA, builds on efforts by DOE to accelerate the deployment of energy infrastructure on tribal land. Between 2010 and 2019, the DOE Office of Indian Energy has invested nearly $85 million in more than 180 tribal energy projects, implemented across contiguous 48 states and Alaska. These projects valued at over $180 million are leveraged by over $95 million in recipient cost share. Next slide, please.

So please remember that this FOA is fuel and technology neutral. Eligible applicants include an Indian tribe, which for this FOA includes Alaska native regional corporations and village corporations, intertribal organizations, as well as tribal energy development organization are eligible applicant and on whose tribal land the projects will be located.

Note that the applications may also be submitted on behalf of the Indian tribe or tribes by an authorized tribal organization, provided evidence of that authority is supplied as part of the application. Definitions and eligibility are included under Section 3B of the FOA. [Coughs]

So our funding opportunities are intended to promote energy independence and economic development with the ancillary benefit of providing deployment on tribal lands through the use of commercially warranted energy technologies that native Indians and Alaskan natives are best suited to meet their needs, their location, and their available energy resources.

As such, consistent with the principle of tribal sovereignty and self-determination and with an all-of-the-above energy strategy, projects sought under the planned FOA will be fuel and technology neutral. If you are familiar with past funding opportunities, you'll notice that Topic Area 1 is focused on facility scale energy generation and energy efficiency measures. Topic Area 2 is directed towards community scale energy generation projects. And Topic Area 3 for integrated energy systems to power essential tribal buildings during emergency situations or for community resiliency.

However, you also notice the addition of a community energy storage under Topic Area 2 and the addition of Topic Area 4, which is new, and is focused on electrifying tribal buildings. We'll discuss each topic area in more detail, however I would urge you to review the specific requirements under the topic area of interest. Next slide, please.

So this matrix, which provides key information on each of the topic areas, is also included on Page 8 of the FOA. Note that the requirements reflected in this matrix are not all inclusive and cannot exclusively be relied upon, as they do not reflect all the requirements for each topic area. Applicants must read the entire FOA to determine the complete requirements for each topic area, to see a more detected description of each topic area under Section 1B of the FOA and definitions are under Appendix A.

The matrix also identified which topic areas are intended for systems that are grid connected or not. Specifically, projects to be proposed under Topic Area 1A, Topic Area 1C, and Topic Area 2 are intended solely for energy generation systems that are grid connected.

Projects proposed under Topic Area 1B can be for tribal buildings that are either grid connected or not grid connected. Topic Area 3 can be for either integrated energy systems that are normally grid connected, but can disconnect and function autonomously or independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid or integrated systems that are normally operated autonomously, not connected to the traditional centralized electric power grid. Projects proposed under Topic Area 4 are intended for tribal buildings that are currently underelectrified will the fine grid connected and not grid connected on the next slide. You'll also notice that commercially proven warranty technology at the far right of the matrix is a requirement for all topic areas. Additionally, a 12-month verification period is also required as part of any project proposed under this FOA. We'll discuss the required application elements in more detail later in the presentations. However, per the matrix, an energy options analysis is required for all topic areas and a template provided on the EERE Exchange for that. And either a feasibility study or an energy audit or assessment is also required for all topic areas. Next slide, please.

So before we get into the topic areas, I wanted to provide a few definitions that will be key in deciding the topic area, which might apply to your specific situation. Grid connected for purposes of this FOA means connected to traditional centralized electric power grid. And the traditional centralized electric power grid refers to the main power grids in the continental United States, the eastern interconnected system, the western interconnected system, known as the Western Interconnect, and the Texas Interconnected System, as well as the interconnecting grid system in Alaska that connects Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the Kenai Peninsula. Next slide, please.

So projects proposed under Topic Area 4: Electrification of Tribal Buildings are intended for tribal buildings currently unelectrified, where unelectrified for purposes of this FOA means tribal buildings not connected to the traditional centralized electric power grid as we just defined, or an integrated energy system operated independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid and totally unelectrified. Next slide, please.

So now onto the topic areas. Under Topic Area 1, which is entitled Energy Generations in their Energy Generating Systems and/or Energy Efficiency Measures, DOE is soliciting applications for the deployment of energy generating systems and/or energy efficiency measures for tribal buildings. This can include energy-generating systems for facilities, tribal buildings, Topic Area 1A; multiple energy efficiency measures on a tribal building, Topic Area 1B; or energy generating systems and energy efficiency measures under Topic Area 1C. Note the projects are to be proposed under Topic Area 1A and Topic Area 1C are intended solely for energy generating system that are grid connected. Projects proposed under Topic Area 1B can be proposed for travel building that are either grid connected or not grid connected. Next slide, please.

So for Topic Area 1, energy-generating system and/or energy-efficiency measures for tribal buildings, energy-generating systems for purposes of this FOA can include combined heat and power systems, conventional distributed generation systems, and renewable energy systems. Energy-efficiency measures, for purposes of the FOA, means the implementation of either a building efficient measure or an industrial process efficiency measure. Next slide, please. Thank you. [Coughs]

So again, under Topic Area 1, all proposed installations must be for either an existing tribally-owned or controlled building or tribally-owned or controlled buildings that are currently being constructed or planned to be constructed during the proposed grant period. Note that the projects to be proposed under Topic Area 1A and 1C are _____ are intended for generating systems that are grid connected. And projects under Topic Area 1B can be proposed for tribal buildings that are either grid connected or not grid connected.

Costs associated with the construction of the building or buildings or structure, such as a carport, and less integral to the energy-generating systems being proposed will not be considered by DOE for reimbursement or as cost share. Only the incremental costs associated with the installation of the energy-generating system or energy-efficiency measure itself will be considered applicable to the proposed funded project. Remember that a 12-month verification period is required for all topic areas. Next slide, please.

So again, under Topic Area 1, for purposes of the FOA, tribal buildings may include single or multiple tribally-owned or controlled buildings located on tribal lands. Next slide, please.

Where a tribally-owned or controlled building for purposes of the FOA is a building or buildings where the eligible entity has the authority to augment or modify the building and where the building is either owned by the eligible entity or tribal members, or the eligible entity has a long-term lease, which is a minimum of the useful life of the proposed project.

Tribal buildings may include, but are not limited to, tribal member homes, schools, community buildings, clinics, hospitals, tribal government buildings, fire stations, police stations, radio stations, _____, utility facilities, such as water waste water treatment systems, tribal casinos, gaming operations, tribal businesses. Next slide, please.

So under each topic area we have what I called "must haves." So to be eligible under Topic Area 1A, which is energy-generating systems, [coughs] applications must provide an options analysis to demonstrate that other options were considered and that a proposed energy-generating system best meets the overall tribal objectives. It must be based on the feasibility study that demonstrates the availability of the resource and the viability of the proposed energy-generating system. And the feasibility system must be provided as part of the application.

It must also include an estimate of the energy displaced annually amount cost of percentage to either proposed energy-generating systems based on the actual energy use for the existing building or the projected savings for buildings currently being constructed or planned to be constructed during the proposed grant period and must use commercially proven warranty technology. Under Topic Area 1A again, either a single energy-generating system or multiple energy-generating systems may be proposed and either a single tribally-owned or controlled building or multiple tribally-owned or controlled buildings may be proposed.

Please note that energy displaced for purposes of this FOA needs to take the place of _____ the plan one type of energy source for another, such as when coal displaces wood as an energy source. [Coughs] Energy-generating systems, for purposes of this FOA, includes combined heat and power systems, conventional distributed generating systems and renewable energy systems.

Combined heat and power systems, for purposes of this FOA, include but are not limited to, integrated systems that simultaneously generate heat and power using energy-efficient turbines, reciprocating engages, microturbines, fuel cells, waste heat recovery systems, which is capturing heat discarded by an existing process and using that heat to directly to generate power using – pardon me – the existing process using that heat directly or to generate power. Eligible combined heat and power systems may be fueled by any fuel source – natural gas, landfill, or sewage gas fuel and gas oil, coal, _____ _____ biomass or biogas, solid waste, waste gasses, or waste process heat.

So energy-generating systems may also include conventional distributed generating systems, which for purposes of this FOA include but are not limited to combustion engines or combustion or steam engines. Energy-generating systems may also include renewable energy systems, which for purposes of this FOA, includes systems that for electric power generation and/or heating or cooling systems.

Renewable energy systems for electric power generation include but are not limited to _____ or solar electric, biomass including waste energy, wind power, hydro power, either diversion _____ rivers, small impoundment, or incremental hydro power, or other renewable energy hybrid systems or electricity-powered generation. Note that for purposes of this FOA, ground or air source heat pumps are considered an energy efficiency measure.

Heating and cooling systems include, but are not limited to, the use of biomass for high efficiency combustion systems, those boilers, active solar thermal systems for space or water heaters, wind energy for heating, direct-use hydrothermal or geothermal resources for water and space heating, or other renewable hybrid systems for heating and/or cooling.

Again, note the projects to be proposed under Topic Area 1A and 1C are in intended solely for energy-generating systems that are grid connected. Projects proposed under Topic Area 1B, which are for multiple energy-efficiency measures, can be proposed for tribal buildings that are either grid connected or not grid connected. And remember, a 12-month verification period if required for all topic areas. Next slide, please.

So under Topic Area 1B, which is multiple tribal energy measures, applicants must – again, the must have, as I call them – provide the energy options analysis to demonstrate that other options are considered and that the proposed energy efficiency measures best meets the overall tribal objectives. Based on industry audits or industrial energy assessments that demonstrate the technical and economic viability of the proposed EEMs and those energy audits and industrial energy assessments must also be provided as part of the application. 

Under Topic Area 1B, you must also include an estimate of the energy saved annually – the amount, the cost, percentage – through the proposed EEMs based on the actual energy used for existing buildings or projected savings for buildings currently being constructed or planned to be constructed during the proposed grant period. And again, for all topic areas, you must use commercially proven warranty technology.

Note that energy saved for purposes of this FOA means the amount of energy used is reduced by using energy efficiency measures to provide projects and services., Energy-efficiency measures, for purposes of this FOA, means the implementation of either building efficiency measures or industrial process efficiency measures.

Building efficiency measures may include, but are not limited to, building envelope improvements, improvements to the walls, roof, foundation, slab, ceiling, windows, door, installation, the installation of energy-efficiency equipment, high-efficiency lighting – [coughs] pardon me – efficiency appliances, air ceiling, moisture management, control ventilation, high R value, high thermal resistant installation, high efficiency windows, efficient heating system, furnishes, boilers, passive solar efficient cooling systems, such as air conditioners or evaporative coolers, ground or air source heat pumps, energy saving buildings, electrical equipment, and efficient mechanical systems and heat recovery ventilation units.

Industrial process efficiency measures may include, but are not limited to, installing piping tanks, walls, or rooves, the installation of higher efficiency equipment, such as heat exchangers, compressors, boilers, pumps, and fans, minimizing air leaks, optimizing air systems through the use of variable speed drives in adding or optimizing controls.

Note that for purposes of this FOA, waste heat recovery systems in conjunction with an existing power system are considered energy-generating systems. Waste heat recovered not in combination with a power system is classified, for purposes of this FOA, is a process efficiency measure. For purposes of this particular FOA, only energy efficient – pardon me – for purposes of this particular FOA only, energy efficiency is not the same as energy conservation, which is not eligible under the FOA. Specifically, energy conservation, for purposes of this FOA, means decreasing energy consumption by using less on energy service or going without an energy service to save energy. Energy conservation typically involve a behavioral change and mean meters or other indicators to induce that behavioral change. Again, energy conservation is not eligible. If energy conservation is proposed in response to Topic Area 1B, the application will be deemed non-responsive and will not be reviewed or considered.

Note that projects proposed under Topic Area 1A and 1C are intended solely for energy-generating systems that are grid connected, however projects proposed under Topic Area 1B can be proposed for tribal buildings that are either grid connected or not grid connected. And of course a 12-month verification period is required for all topic areas. [Coughs] Next slide, please.

So under Topic Area 1C, an energy-generated systems can be proposed in addition to a single or multiple EEMs, but must meet the requirements for both Topic Area 1A and Topic Area 1B. Specifically to be eligible for Topic Area 1C, energy-generating systems and energy efficiency measures, again, you must provide an options analysis to demonstrate the other options were considered and that the proposed energy generating systems and EEMs best meet the overall tribal objectives, must be based on an energy audit or industrial energy assignment that demonstrates the technical and economic viability of the EEMs, and those energy audits or industrial energy assessments must be provided as part of the application.

It also must be based on a feasibility study that identifies the need and demonstrates the availability of the resource and the technical and economic viability of the proposed energy-generating system. And that feasibility study must be provided as part of the application.

You must also include an estimate of the energy saved and displaced annually, amount, cost, and percentage – through the proposed EEMs and energy-generated systems, which is based on actual energy use for existing tribal buildings and the projected savings for buildings currently being constructed or plan to be constructed during the proposed grant period. And of course you must use commercially proven warranty technology. Note that projects proposed under Topic Area 1A and 1C are intended solely for energy-generated systems that are grid connected. And of course all topic areas require a 12-month verification period. [Coughs] Next slide, please. Next slide, please. There must be _____.

Okay, so under Topic Area 2: Community Scale Energy-Generating Systems, or Community Energy Storage Deployment, Department of Energy is seeking applications for the deployment of community scale energy-generating systems or community energy storage on tribal lands, which affect a substantial number of buildings for an entire tribal community. So again, we have community scale energy-generating systems, which is Topic Area 2A and a new topic area, Community Energy Storage, which is Topic Area 2B. And again, projects proposed under either Topic Area 2A or 2B are intended solely for energy-generated systems that are grid connected. Next slide, please.

So for purposes of Topic Area 2, a community scale project means the projects are _____ a substantial number of the total buildings within a community, although no less than three buildings and provides a substantial percentage of the total community energy load. Substantial percentage of the total community load, which must be at least a minimum of 100 kilowatts or BTU equivalent. Next slide, please.

For purposes of the FOA, substantial means of ample or considerable amount. And you can see Appendix A for the definition of "community." Note that as part of the technical volume, an explanation, a rationale as to how the proposed project meets the community scale requirement and specifically addresses the substantial element is required. Next slide, please.

So under Topic Area 2, again, community scale energy-generating systems or community energy storage deployment, all proposed projects or building zone which buildings on which systems are proposed must be on tribal lands, must be owned or controlled by the eligible entity, and must benefit the eligible entity, which could be an Indian tribe, intertribal organization, or tribal energy development organization, as well as benefit the tribal community. However, the substantial number of buildings within the community where the energy or heat is to be used do not need to be owned or controlled by the eligible entity. Next slide, please.

So again, under Topic Area 2, DOE is seeking applications for the deployment of community scale energy-generated systems to – Topic Area 2A, pardon me – community scale energy-generated systems to provide electricity and/or heating or cooling to a substantial number of buildings or to an entire community. Under Topic Area 2A, either a single energy-generating system or multiple energy-generating systems may be proposed. The minimum system size, 100 kilowatts rated capacity or BTU equivalent, may be for either a single individual energy-generated systems or the aggregate of multiple energy-generated systems.

As previously defined, and energy-generating system or systems, for purposes of this FOA, include combined heating power systems, conventional distributed generating systems, and renewable energy systems. And of course all topic areas require a 12-month verification period. Next slide, please. Thank you.

Okay, so the must have for Topic Area 2A is to provide an options analysis to demonstrate that other options were considered and that the proposed energy-generated systems best meet the overall tribal objectives, must also be based on feasibility study that identifies the need and demonstrates the availability of the resources and the technical economic viability of the proposed energy-generated system or systems, and that feasibility study must be proposed as part of the application.

Additionally, under Topic Area 2A, you must provide an estimate of the energy generated annually amount, cost, and percentage for the total community through the proposed system; must be a minimum of 100 kilowatt rated capacity or BTU equivalent; must affect the substantial number of buildings within the tribal community, which must not be less than three buildings; and of course use commercially proven warranty technology. Next slide, please.

So under Topic Area 2A, community scale energy-generating systems, applications under Topic Area 2A must demonstrate the availability of the conventional fuel supply or renewable energy resource for the life of the proposed project. And applications proposing geothermal or biomass systems must also demonstrate the sustainability of that resource. Applications for commercial or utility-scale projects intended solely for revenue generation through the export of electricity off tribal lands for commercial sale are not of interest.

However, on the condition that the proposed energy-gendered systems meets the requirements under Topic Area 2A, a portion of the electricity may be sold, provided that revenue benefits the eligible entity and the tribal community. And of course all topic areas require a 12-month verification period.

Okay, so under Topic Area 2B, which is Community Energy Storage, DOE is seeking applications for the deployment of community energy storage systems that affect a substantial number of buildings or an entire community. For purposes of this FOA, community energy storages intended to provide backup power during outages, increase electric distribution system reliability, which means reducing the frequency of both momentary and sustained outages, reducing the duration of outages, and reducing the operation and maintenance costs associated with outage management. [Coughs] Pardon me. Or provide energy time shifting, which is storing power when it is least expensive and using that stored power during peak demand when prices are highest. And of course Topic Area 2B, like all others, require a 12-month verification period.

Again, for Topic Area 2B, Community Energy Storage, community storage systems are not intended to be combined with an energy-generating system. I repeat, are not intended to be combined with an energy-generated system. If you're interested in that, you need to explore Topic Area 3.

Under Topic Area 2B, either single energy storage system or multiple energy storage systems may be proposed. And the minimum system size, 100 kilowatt-rated capacity, may be for either a single individual system or for the aggregate or multiple systems. Next slide, please.

Still on Topic Area 2B, Community Energy Storage, for purposes of this FOA, includes, but are not limited to, batteries, pumped hydro, flywheels, compressed air storage or thermal energy storage systems. Next slide, please.

And like all topic areas, they have must haves, as I call them. So to be eligible under Topic Area 2B, applications must, again, like all the topic areas, provide an options analysis to demonstrate that the options were considered and that the proposed community energy storage system best meets the overall tribal objective. And again, a template and instructions for that are included on the EERE Exchange under the Required Application Documents. You must also be based on feasibility study that identifies the need and demonstrates the technical and economic viability of the system, and that feasibility study must be provided as part of the application.

You also must include an estimate of the number of power outages mitigated, improvements in electrical distribution reliability _____ or energy time-shifting cost savings for the tribal community by the proposed system. Again, must be a minimum of 100 kilowatt-rated capacity and it must affect the substantial number of buildings within a tribal community no less than three. And of course, as with all the topic areas, use commercial proven warranted technology and have a 12-month verification period. Next slide, please. Thank you, Monica.

So under Topic Area 3: Integrated Energy System for Autonomous Operations, DOE is soliciting applications to install energy systems for autonomous operation to power, either a single or multiple essential tribal facilities during emergency situation, Topic Area 3A, or to power a substantial number of essential tribal facilities for tribal community resiliency, Topic Area 3B. Next slide, please.

Projects to be proposed under Topic Area 3 can be for either integrated energy systems that are normally grid connected, but can disconnect and function autonomously, which means independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid, or systems that integrates energy systems that normally operate autonomously, which are not connected to the traditional centralized electric power grid, where a grid connected, again, for purposes of this FOA, means connected to a traditional centralized electric power grid. The traditional centralized electric power grid again refers to the main power grids in the Continental United States, which includes [coughs] the eastern interconnect, the western interconnect, the Texas interconnect, as well as the interconnected grid system in Alaska that connects Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the Kenai Peninsula, and of course must have a 12-month verification period. Next slide, please. Thank you.

So a central tribal facility, for purposes of this FOA, are those facilities necessary for providing essential services where central services, for purposes of the FOA, means services that if interrupted would endanger the life, health, or personal safety of the whole or part of the tribal community. And I've included a picture here of a casino if they were often used as an emergency shelter.

So for Topic Area 3, again, integrated systems for automobile operation, essential services include, but are not limited to, emergency facilities or shelters, hospitals, or medical services, fire service, police services, waste water sewage, sewage communication, electricity, natural gas, telecommunication, including telephone, radio, or television broadcasting, Internet connectivity and broadband speeds, and transportation. Next slide, please.

So eligible integrated energy systems under Topic Area 3 must, as a minimum, provide power for essential tribal facilities and must, as a minimum, include an energy-generated systems, controls and management systems, and may or may not include energy storage systems. Next slide, please.

Again, although integrated systems must include energy-generating systems, controls, and management systems, and may include energy steward, some components may already exist and therefore not all of those components need to be proposed for DOE funding. However, the integrated energy system as a whole must meet the requirements under Topic Area 3. Next slide, please.

As indicated on the proceeding slide, the integrated energy systems under Topic Area 3, must, again, as a minimum, include energy-generating systems and controls and management systems and may include energy storage systems, where energy-generating systems, again for purposes of this FOA, include combining power systems, conventional distributed generation systems, and renewable systems as we previously defined. Energy storage systems, for purposes of this FOA, include, but are not limited to, batteries, pumped hydro, flywheels, compressed air storage, or thermal energy storage systems, and controls the management systems, for purposes of this FOA, include, but aren’t limited to, supervisory control, data acquisition, or scava systems, power and frequency controllers, wattage regulators, power protection system. Next slide, please. Thank you.

So under Topic Area 3A, which is Energy Systems for Automobile Operations, DOE is soliciting – I'm so sorry – under Topic Area 3A, Powering Essential Tribal Facilities, DOE is soliciting applications to install integrated energy systems for autonomous operation to power a single or multiple essential tribal facility during an emergency situation. For purposes of the FOA, emergency means a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment and requires urgent intervention to prevent worsening of the situation. Next slide, please.

And again, our must haves. So for Topic Area 3A, Powering Essential Tribal Facilities, must again, as with all of them, provide an options analysis that demonstrates that other options were considered and that the proposed integrated energy system best meets the overall tribal objectives. Again, a template is provided on EERE Exchange under Application Documents. You must also provide a feasibility study – again, this will be self-generated – that identifies the need and demonstrates the technical and economic viability of the proposed integrated energy system. And that feasibility study must be provided as part of the application.

You also must include an estimate of the number, frequency, and duration of emergency situations to be addressed with the proposed system. You must demonstrate the ability of the system to function autonomously, which means independent of the traditional centralized electric power grid during emergency systems. And of course with all the topic areas, you must use a commercial proven warranty technology. Next slide, please.

Under Topic Area 3B, Tribal Community Resilience, DOE is soliciting applications to install integrated energy systems for autonomous operation to power a substantial number of essential tribal facilities, no less than three, for tribal community resilience. Note this part of the technical volume an explanation and rationale as to how the proposed project meets the community scale requirement. Specifically addressing the substantial element will be required. Resilience, for purposes of this FOA, means the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and then adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from energy disruptions through adaptable _____ planning and technical solutions. Additionally, those integrated energy systems should include their reliability of the existing system and make that system more robust. Next slide, please.

So for purposes of Topic Area 3, community scale means serving a substantial number of essential tribal facilities, no less than three, within the tribal community or the entire tribal community. Note that as part of the technical volume, again, you must provide a rationale as to how it meets the substantial elements requirement. Next slide, please.

So sorry, I'm lost. [Laughs] Okay, so to be eligible on this Topic Area 3B, tribal community resilience, again, applications must – we have the must have for every topic area – they must have an options analysis; they must be based on a feasibility study that clearly identifies the need and demonstrates the technical and economic viability; and that feasibility study must be provided as part of the application. You also must include the estimate of the number frequency and duration of _____ situations and energy-generated annually, amount, cost, and percentage. You must have _____ a substantial number of essential buildings within the tribal community, no less than three; and demonstrate the ability of the proposed system to function autonomously and use commercially proven warranty technology. And of course, like with all the topic areas, it must have a 12-month verification period. Next slide, please. Next slide, please.

So for Topic Area 4, this is a new topic area, which is electrification of tribal buildings. DOE is seeking applications for the deployment of energy infrastructure to electrify tribal buildings. It is intended for the deployment of energy infrastructure or integrated energy systems to provide electricity to a substantial number of tribal buildings, no less than three, which otherwise would be unelectrified. And as part of the technical volume, an explanation and rationale as to how the proposed project meets the requirement of substantial number of tribal buildings will be required. Projects proposed under Topic Area 4 are intended for tribal buildings currently unelectrified. Next slide, please.

So for electrification, for purposes of this FOA, means the process of providing electricity to unelectrified tribal buildings by either employing energy infrastructure, to connect tribal buildings to traditional centralized electric power grid, or deploying integrated energy systems to operate independent of the tradition centralized electric power grid. Electrifying means the act of electrification. Unelectrified, for purposes of the FOA, means tribal buildings not connected to tradition centralized electric power grid or to an integrated energy system, which currently operates independent of the power grid. Next slide, please.

So under Topic Area 4, electrification of tribal building, energy infrastructure, for purposes of this FOA, means electric power distribution technology to transport electricity from the transmission system to individual consumers. It may include, but is not limited to, distribution substations, circuits, circuit breakers, switch gear, best bars, distribution lines, distribution transformers, capacitator _____ regulators, meters, and utility poles. Next slide, please.

So under Topic Area 4, integrated energy systems, must, as a minimum, provide power for unelectrified buildings and must, as a minimum, include energy-generated systems, controls and management systems, and may include energy storage. Again, under Topic Area 4, integrated energy systems must include energy-generated systems, controls, the management system, and may include storage. Some components may already exist and therefore not all the components need to be proposed for DOE funding. However, the integrated energy system as a whole must mee the requirements under Topic Area 4. And of course, like all topic areas, must include a 12-month verification period. [Coughs] Next slide, please. Oh, there you go.

Must haves. So under Topic Area 4, Electrification of Tribal Buildings, applications must, again, provide an options analysis, must be based on a feasibility study, must include an estimate of the amount of energy needed annually, amount, cost, and percentage to electrify those selected tribal buildings, effect a substantial number of tribal buildings, no less than three. If an integrated energy system is being proposed, demonstrate the ability of the proposed system to function autonomously. And of course, use commercially proven warranty technology.

All proposed energy infrastructure and tribal buildings being served must be on tribal land and the applications proposing integrated energy systems must demonstrate the availability of the conventional fuel supply or the renewable energy resource for the life of the project. And applications proposing geothermal or biomass systems must also demonstrate the sustainability of that resource and of course musts have the 12-month verification period. Next slide, please.

So now that we've discussed each topic area, I wanted to again include the matrix summarizing each topic area. And I'll give you a minute to review. And I'll remind you that we will not have a question-and-answer session as part of this webinar, so please capture your questions as they come up and send them via email to tribalgrants@hq.doe.gov. And in the subject line of your email include the FOA number DE-FOA-0002168. And unless a similar question has already been asked, responses to your questions received in the mailbox will be posted to the FAQ webpage for this FOA on EERE Exchange. Responses to your questions will typically be posted within three business days after receipt. However, before submitting the question, please check the FAQ's webpage to see if a similar question has already been answered. In submitting a question, please be careful not to include any language that might be considered business sensitive, proprietary, or confidential.

Additionally, as I said before, these slides in an audio recording of the webinar will be posted in the next week or so. And as a registrant, you will be notified when this material is available. I believe the slides may be available or will shortly be available on our website later today, if not already. Next slide, please.

Okay, so we're 2 of 10. [Laughs] Sorry. Oh, goodness, a lot of information. Again, I think we're at two hours at least here, so I apologize in advance. We're probably going to run late. Next we're going to talk about applications not of interest. So just a reminder, again, that we are not going to have a question-and-answer session, so please capture your questions as they come up. Send them to tribalgrants@hq.doe.gov. Slides and audio will be available. Next slide, please.

The types of applications on this and the next two slides [coughs] – sorry – are specifically not of interest and will be deemed non-responsive and will not be reviewed or considered. As the intent of this FOA is the deployment of energy infrastructure hardware, activities that do not meet the technical parameters specified will be deemed non-responsive. Additionally, applications proposing studies, design and engineering, except final design and engineering, development or pre-construction activities, or any other activity which does not directly result in the installation of equipment to generate electricity and/or heating or cooling, reduce energy use, or  enhance energy storage, and delivery infrastructure will be deemed non-responsive and will not be reviewed or considered.

Also, applications proposing the evaluation of product marketing opportunities, assessment of manufacturing opportunities, research, design and engineering, excluding final design and engineering, product development, or the construction of manufacturing facilities or buildings will not be considered. Next slide, please.

Applications proposing the construction of buildings or structures such as carports will not be considered. Only the incremental cost associated with the installation of energy-generating systems, integrated energy systems, or energy efficiency measures will be considered allocable to the proposed DOE-funded project, not the cost of constructing the building or structures, unless those structures are integral to the proposed project. Any application where the application has already taken irreversible actions regarding the proposed DOE-funded project are not of interest.

Note that the proposed DOE-funded project consists of only the installation of energy-generated systems, integrated energy systems, community storage, energy infrastructure, or the installation of energy efficiency measures, not the construction of buildings or structures, such as carports. Irreversible actions relative to the proposed DOE project only may include, but are not limited to, site clearing, groundbreaking, equipment, or systems purchased or installation, or building renovation or building retrofits.

Applications proposing energy conservations as we spoke about earlier are specifically not of interest. That's where energy conservation means decreasing energy consumption by the use of energy service or going without to save energy. Energy conservation typically includes a behavioral change and may include meters or other indicators to induce that behavior change. Neither are applications for commercial or utility-scale projects intended solely for revenue generation through the export of electricity off tribal lands for commercial sale. Again, all of these are not of interest. [Coughs]

Additionally, applications proposing the use of material, supply, or equipment, which are not commercially proven or warranty are not of interest. Remember, all hardware must be prove in warranty. See the definition under Appendix or more details on technology readiness levels. Next slide, please.

So now on to some award information. Next slide, please.

The award information included on this slide is also included as part of the executive summary slide on Page 1 and 2 of the FOA document. DOE expects to make approximately $3.5 to $15 million in federal funds available. The actual level of funding will depend on Congressional appropriations. DOE anticipates making approximately 5 to 15 awards under this FOA and may issue one, multiple, or none of the topic areas. Awards are anticipated to be between one to two years, but no longer than three, including the mandatory 12-month certification period.

Please note that there are different restrictions on the minimum and maximum allowance of DOE funding to be requested under each topic area. For facility scale projects, which is Topic Area 1 and Topic Area 3A, DOE funding per individual award varies from no less than $50,000.00 to a maximum of $1 million. This is for DOE funding. For community-scale projects, which include Topic Area 2, Topic Area 3A, and Topic Area 4, DOE funding for individual award varies from no less than $250,000.00 to a maximum of $2 million in DOE funding. Next slide, please.

So next we'll discuss eligibility. Now we'll go over the eligibility information. Remember, one of the files that comprise an application is the eligibility statements and evidence file. You will be required to complete the template provided and provide evidence to support DOE's eligibility determination. So please see the Microsoft Word template found under Required Application Documents on EERE Exchange. Additionally, DOE will not make sufficiency determinations prior to an application being submitted.

Eligibility for an award under this Funding Opportunity Announcement is restricted to an Indian tribe, intratribal organization, or tribal energy development organization, and on whose tribal land the projects will be located.

Other entities will be discussed on an upcoming slide may be able to submit an application on behalf of an Indian tribe or tribes, provided evidence of that authority is included as part of the application.

Okay, we're already there. The definition of Indian tribe is as shown on the slide. And I'll give you just a moment to review the definition. So note that an Indian tribe, which for purposes of this FOA, include Alaska, native regional corporations, and village corporation. For purposes of this FOA, Alaskan native regional corporations means one of the 13 Alaska native regional corporations as defined in and established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claim Settlement Act, or ANCSA. Alaska native village corporations, or village corporations, for purposes of this FOA, is as defined in and established pursuant to ANCSA.

Tribal consortium, which is the plural consortia, as defined for purposes of this FOA, means a group of Indian tribes that have chosen to submit a single application. And under this FOA, a tribal consortium – pardon me – is eligible to submit an application, provided the application is submitted by a single Indian tribe representing that consortium. Applications may also be submitted on behalf of an Indian tribe or tribes by an authorized tribal organization, provided evidence of that authority is included as part of the application.

Tribal organization per Public Law 115245 has the meaning given the term in Section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, 25USC 5304, specifically for 25USC5304, tribal organization means the recognized government body of any Indian tribe, and legally established organization of Indians, which is controlled, _____ or _____ by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organizations, which includes the maximum participation of Indians in all phases of its activities. Provided that in any case where a contract is led or a grant made to an organization to perform services benefitting more than one Indian tribe that approval of each such Indian tribe shall be a prerequisite to letting or making of such contractor grant. Next slide, please.

The second type of applicant eligible to apply under this FOA is an intertribal organization. Intertribal organization, as defined, for purposes of this FOA, means any organization comprised of two or more Indian tribes established under Congressional state or tribal law to act on behalf of the participating Indian tribes. Intertribal organizations may include, but are not limited to, intertribal councils, regional tribal organizations or associations, Alaska regional development organizations, and tribal federations. Next slide, please. In addition to Indian tribes and intertribal organizations, tribal energy development organizations are eligible applicants. And I'll give you just a minute or two to review that definition.

[Silence from 1:43:15 to 1:43:52]

Okay, so a project must also be on tribal lands to be eligible. And again, I realize we're running really late and I apologize for underestimating.

To be eligible, proposed projects must also be in tribal lands, as defined here. Specifically, tribal lands, for purposes of this FOA, include Indian land – and we'll go over that in more detail on the next slide – lands held in fee simple purchased or owned by the tribal energy developed an organization or other eligible applicant; lands held under a long-term land lease for the useful life of the proposed project. Note that this varies from previous FOA is that land held under long-term lease is eligible, whereas under previous FOAs, only land held under a federal land lease was eligible. And land that was conveyed to an ANCSA corporation pursuant to ANCSA, conveyed to a native corporation pursuant to ANCSA, and subsequently conveyed to another entity, provided that entity is either a native village or tribal governmental entity, or the land is held, invested, manage for, or on behalf of a native village or tribal governmental entity. Next slide, please.

And for purposes of this FOA, Indian land and Indian reservation are defined under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as shown here. And I'll just pause a minute and let you read through that.

And for purposes of – next slide, please – and for purposes of this FOA, Indian reservations are defined here and under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Next slide, please.

So questions regarding eligibility, DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which the applications to this FOA must be submitted. The decision of whether to submit an application in response to the FOA relies solely with the applicant. And I will want to remind you that as we will not be having the question-and-answer session as part of this webinar, please capture your questions as they come up and send them via email to trialgrants@hq.doe.gov. Also, these slides and audio or recording of this webinar will be posted the next week or two. And as a registrant, you'll be notified when that material is available. I believe the slides will be either on our website now or will be there later today. So going on, next slide.

Cost share requirements. Next will cover cost sharing, so just a reminder – next slide, please – so next onto cost share – do you want to go back? There you go, thanks. Per statute, the required cost share under this FOA must be at least 50 percent of the total allowable cost of the project, where the total allowable cost of the project is the sum of DOE share and _____ _____ cost share allowable cost.

For example, if the requested DOE costs are $250,000.00, a cost share would be $250,000.00, or 50 percent of the total proposed cost at $500,000.00. This is not 50 percent of the DOE-requested amount. Again, cost share is 50 percent of the total project cost, which in this example are $500,000.00

To assist the applicants in calculating proper cost share amounts, DOE has included additional cost share information in Appendix B to the FOA. Note that except under limited situations and only with prior DOE approval, all cost share must be made during the period and performance of the grant. Section 3B of the FOA provides additional information on cost share types, allowability, verification, and payment. Next slide, please.

So all cost share must come from non-federal sources, unless otherwise allowed by law. And we'll go over that here in the next slide or two. Note that except under limited situations and only with prior approval, all cost share must be made during the period of the grant. Next slide.

As previously stated, all cost share must come from non-federal sources, unless allowed by law. So _____ here and on Page 35 of the FOA are a few instances where federal funds can be used as non-federal cost share. Specifically, funding under Indian Self-Determination Act can be used as non-federal cost share, tribal government funding agreements can be used as non-federal cost share. Next slide, please.

Self-determination contract funding, compact funding, and _____ funding can also be used as non-federal cost share. These are just a few examples of federal funds that could be used as non-federal cost share. Whoops, could you go back, please? Yeah, sorry about that. Thank you.

So with funds from a federal source are being proposed either as additional federal funds against the total project cost or as non-federal cost share. As allowed by law, the applicant must provide a commitment letter from the federal letter as part of the application that specifically commits those funds and identifies the statutory authority that allows those funds to be used for the project being proposed.

Additionally, if those funds are to be used as non-federal cost share, the commitment letter must also include the excerpt from the statutory authority that allows them to be used as non-federal cost share. These commitment letters will be reviewed to determine allowability by DOE Legal and the contracting officer prior to accepting funds as either additional federal project funds or non-federal cost share from other federal sources. Next slide, please. Thank you.

The total budget included in the application must include both federal and non-federal cost share, which combined, reflect the total project cost. All cost must be verifiable from the recipient's records and be necessary and reasonable for the accomplishment of the proposed project _____. And that's all sources of cost share are considered part of total project cost. If selected for funding, those cost share dollars will be scrutinized under the same federal regulations as federal dollars. I call federalized. [Laughs] All funds are federalized. They will be scrutinized to the same level and they all must be allowed by allocable unreasonable. Next slide, please.

_____ _____ _____ segue. So cost share contributions, every cost share contribution must be allowable under the applicable federal cost principles. In addition, cost share must be verifiable at the time of submission of the application. Although cost share requirements apply to the project as a whole, including work performed by members of the project team, other than the recipient, the recipient is ultimately the legally responsible for contributing the entire amount of the cost share. Next slide, please.

Again, cost share must be allowable and must be verifiable at the time of submission of the application. Please refer to this chart for your entity's applicable cost principle. It is imperative that you follow the applicable cost principles when creating your budget for the application. Next slide, please.

Cost share can be provided in cash, or as in-kind contribution. It can be provided by the recipient, the subawardees, which are subrecipients or vendors or third party. Allowable in-kind contributions may include, but are not limited to, contribution of time, unrecoverable indirect costs, unrecoverable facilities and administrative cost, rental value of buildings, rental value of land or equipment – not the purchase price, only the rental value for the period of the grant – and value of a service or other resource or a third party in-kind contribution. Again, only the rental or lease value of the building's land or equipment and only for the period of the grant is allowable, not the purchase price. Next slide, please.

So be aware that there are items that are considered unallowable cost share. If a cost is considered unallowable, it cannot be requested from DOE or counted as cost share. This slide provides some examples of cost shares that's unallowable. Also see Page 36 and 37 of the FOA document for additional examples. And I'll give you a moment to read through those slides.

Please take note of that generally any cost before or after the DOE grant period cannot be considered as cost share, unless previously approved by DOE. Next slide, please.

If an award is made, cost share must be provided on an invoice-by-invoice basis at, as a minimum, the percentage negotiated. As an example of cost share on an invoice-by-invoice basis, if an award is executed an entity is requesting reimbursement of, say, $50,000.00 and the cost share is 50 percent, then the cost share reflected on that invoice must be at least $50,000.00 or 50 percent of the total expenditures of $100,000.00.

So if you spend $100,000.00, your requesting $50,000.00 from DOE, you need to be able to provide cost share of $50,000.00. However, if you are not able to provide the cost share on the invoice-by-invoice basis, which sometimes happens if you're contributing time or equipment use, you may request a waiver from the DOE contracting officer. Such a request would be made after notification of selection and if selected and prior to award. Next slide, please.

So content and form of application – again, this is going to be a long section, I'm just going to warn you. [Laughs] Next on the content and form of an application, we'll go over each file as shown on this slide. Remember, each of the files show on this slide and the next are required to complete an application. A similar table is included as part of the executive summary on Pages 6 and 7, and on Pages 41 and 42 of the FOA document. I would urge you to use this list as a checklist when preparing and uploading your application, to ensure that all relevant documents comprising a complete application are submitted. And please bear with me, as I'll be covering a lot of information.

Applications must include an Application for Federal Assistance, which is Form SF424. The Application for Federal Assistance is a formal application form for funding. The form must be signed by and authorized representative of the applicant. And by signing, that authorized representative is making certain certifications and assurances, and therefore the form must either be digitally signed or printed, signed, and scanned before being uploaded as part of your application.

Note that all forms can be obtained from the EERE Exchange webpage under the Required Application Documents. And by clicking that, hyperlinks to the DOE forms and templates will be revealed and then can be downloaded, completed, and then uploaded as part of your application.

The next document is a summary or abstract for public release. Applicants are required to submit a one-page summary of the proposed project for public release. This is not a specific format. However, Page 36 of the FOA document provides a list of information that should be included.

A summary slide: A single PowerPoint slide that provides quick facts about the proposed project. Slide content requirements are provided in the FOA as a template is provided as part of the required applications documents on the EERE Exchange. The technical volume is the key submission describing the proposed project and addressing the merit review criteria. The technical volume must not exceed 15 pages, excluding the cover page and table of contents, as DOE will only review the first 15 pages. See the table beginning on Pages 45 of the FOA document for specific content and format of the technical volume.

This table provides details on the contents for each section of the technical volume. However, briefly, the technical volume should include a cover page. See instructions on Page 45. The cover page is not counted against the 15-page limit. Table of contents, again, not counted against the page limit. Another element of the technical volume is the executive summary, the project description and outcomes, and roles and responsibilities, capabilities, and commitments. Again, the table provided detailed instructions on what each of those sections should contain.

The fifth element is the work plan. The work plan is not part of the technical volume, but is included as a separate file. The work plan should describe the work to be accomplished and how the applicant will achieve project milestones. The work plan must not exceed five pages, excluding the milestone table. See Page 57 and 58 of the FOA for specific content. Also, be aware that the work plan template, which includes instructions and an example has been provided on EERE Exchange webpage, again under the Required Application Documents.

A template is also included as Appendix C of the FOA. The project metrics data file is a required file. This file needs to include specific project-related data, including the type of technology, payback period, the project, _____ cost saving, type of building, number of buildings, _____ capacity, cost per installed lot, square foot of building space affected, electricity, reliability data, electricity access information, environmental impacts, possible jobs created, and other questions. A Microsoft Excel template has been provided on the EERE Exchange webpage under Required Application Documents. You can download that, completed, and upload it with your application.

Options analysis: All applicants are required to submit an options analysis to demonstrate that other options were considered and that the proposed system or infrastructure best meets the overall tribal objectives. An options analysis, for purposes of this FOA, is a systematic assessment and evaluation of possible alternative approaches available for achieving specific energy objectives and determining which of the options are most effective and provide the best solution to achieve those objectives.

Such an analysis is intended to explore all feasible technology alternatives, conventional technologies, renewable technologies, energy efficiency measures, energy storage systems, integrated energy systems, energy infrastructure, and provide evidence that the proposed project choice can actually be implemented and is the best option available among those feasible alternatives. See Appendix A for sample options analysis format. [Coughs] Pardon me. A Microsoft Word template has also been provided and this template is available under the FOA Required Application Documents on the EERE Exchange. The use of the options analysis template is not required, but the information included within the options analysis template is required.

The studies and plans file should include those studies and plans as required for each topic area. As specifically required under each topic area to include either energy audits and/or energy assessment for Topic Area 1A and Topic Area 1C and a feasibility study for Topic Area 1B, Topic Area 1C, Topic Area 2, 3, and 4. All other relevant background or supplement data may be included under the site and resource map and geographics file.

Eligibility statements and evidence file: All applicants are required to submit eligibility statements that document and provide evidence of applicant and land status eligibility to support DOE's eligibility determination. A Microsoft Word template has been provided. This template is available under the FOA Required Application Documents, again, on the EERE Exchange. The use of the eligibility statements and evidence template is not required, but the information being requested is required.

All applicants are also required to submit a statement of commitment and cost sharing file. Statement of commitment by the applicant and all of the project participants, excluding vendors, is required as part of the application. All tribal council resolutions declarations, resolutions, and letters of commitment must be specific to this FOA and include a statement of the level and type of cost share being committed.

For Indian tribes, that statement of commitment must be in the form of an executed tribal council resolution, unless an Indian tribe provides a commitment in the form of other _____ tribal council resolution and evidence of the statutory or other legal authority authorizing that form in lieu of a tribal council resolution accompanies that commitment. Such evidence must establish as a commitment submit it carries the same level of tribal leadership commitment as a tribal council resolution.

For Alaskan native regional corporations or village corporations in a tribal organizations or tribal energy development organizations, a statement of commitment may be in the form of a declaration or resolution signed by an authorized representative able to commit the entity. For all other project participants, a letter of commitment must be provided as part of the application.

Statements of commitments by applicants must authorize the submittal of the application, commit to the proposed project, identify the total amount and type of cost share being committed, regardless of source, and include a statement of commitment for the specific amount of cost share. Note that the applicant must commit to the entire amount of the requisite cost share regardless of source and it must be verifiable at the time of submission of the application. I want to stress here that all cost share must be verifiable at the time of submission of the application. Additionally, although the cost share requirement applies to the project as a whole, including work performed by members of the project team, other than the recipient, the recipient is ultimately and legally responsible for paying the entire amount of cost share.

The letters of support by anyone not participating in the proposed project are not required or desired. It should not be provided as part of the application. Failure to submit the appropriate tribal council resolution declarations, resolutions, and letters of commitment with your application may result in your application not being reviewed or considered. For more on statements of commitment and cost sharing, see Pages 60, 61, 62 of the FOA document.

So under the résumé file, a résumé is required for each key personnel proposed, including the applicant's technical content, business content, tribal staff, _____ recipients, vendors, or other key people. A key person is any individual who contributes in a substantive measurable way to the execution of the project. Each résumé must not exceed two pages. Save all résumés into a single file for uploading with your application. Remember the table of required applications elements beginning on Pages 41 and 42 of the FOA can be used as a checklist of the components to be included as part of your application.

Okay. [Laughs] Next slide. Okay, so now we're going to briefly go through each of the remaining components of the application. And I'm so sorry, I totally underestimated the time it would take here. So there's a lot of information to cover.

In addition to the components covered on the preceding slide, an application must also include the following files: The budget justification workbook, Work Form IE335, is required form and must include both the funds being requested from DOE, as well as those proposed as cost share. So let me repeat: The budget and budget justification must reflect all project cost, regardless of whether those funds are being requested from DOE or provided as cost share.

The form itself is a multi-tab Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. In addition to the proposed cost, the form request the basis of estimate for the cost being proposed. A form can be downloaded from EERE Exchange website under, again, the Required Application Documents. The applicants must also provide a separate budget justification on Form IE335 for each sub-recipient and is expected to perform work estimated to be more than $250,000.00 or 25 percent of the total work effort, whichever is less.

A sub-recipient is the sub-awardee with a vested interest in the proposed project beyond providing goods and services to the project. If none of the proposed sub-recipients meet the threshold above, a sub-recipient justification is not required and instead a file stating no sub-recipients being proposed meets the threshold requirements and therefore sub-recipient budget justification form is not provided. Here is an attachment.

Vendor budget information should not be included as part of the sub-recipient budget justification, but rather included as part of the applicant's budget support file. A vendor is an entity contracted to provide goods and services within normal business operations. Someone who provides similar services or goods to many different purchases and operates in a competitive environment.

In the budget support file, all applicants are required to submit support for their proposed budget to include indirect rate agreements, breakdown of fringe cost, basis of cost estimate documentation, budget support for vendors, request for DOE approval of sub-awarded selected non-competitively, and other relevant supplemental information.

A Microsoft Word template has been provided. The budget support template is available under the FOA Required Application Documents, again, on the EERE Exchange. So the use of this budget support template is not required, but the information included within the budget support template is required.

Financial audit: All applicants must provide a copy of the most recent A133 audit, which is for non-profit state and local governments and educational institutions or for for-profit entities, a copy of the most recent independent audit.

Site and resource maps and graphics file: All applicants must provide a site and resource and graphics file and include any graphics or supplemental to the technical volume, including maps, photographs, or other visuals of the project location or buildings affected by the proposed project. Any other relevant background or supplemental data may also be included here, excluding the options analysis and studies and plans, which are submitted separated.

If you choose not to provide any graphics, relevant background, or supplemental data beyond which is in the technical volume, submit a file stating "No additional resource maps or graphic information is being provided as an attachment," and note that this information may actually be necessary to complete your application and to fully address the merit review criteria.

Design and engineering file: All applicants must provide a design and engineering file and include copies of any hardware performance specifications, warranties, engineering drawings, and any other design or engineering data to supplement the technical volume. The requisite material and/or equipment list for any proposed EMS should also be included here. Note that this information will supplement the technical volume and be used to review technical viability. And again, if you choose not to provide any design and engineering information beyond which is included in the technical volume, submit a file stating, "No additional design and engineering information to be provided as an attachment." However, note that this information may actually be necessary to complete your application and to fully address the merit review criteria.

Economics file: Provide supplemental data to support the economic analysis, including, as a minimum, a cash flow analysis, _____ or includes this part of your technical volume. And again, as with the others, if you choose not to provide an economic information file, beyond which is included in the technical volume, submit a file saying, "No additional economic information is being provided as an attachment." However, note this information may really be necessary to complete your application and to fully address the merit review criteria.

A couple more. Subcontract plans: Subcontract plan is required only is sub-recipients or vendors have not been selected. Subcontract plan should include the description of the selection process to be employed, statement of work, and criteria to be used for selection.

A subcontract plan may be supplemented by excerpts of the applicant's procurement policy and procedure documents. Any project participants not competitively accepted must be approved by DOE. You can see the budget support file for instructions on the content of the request to DOE for approval of any non-competitive selections. If you have selected your sub-recipients or vendors, please submit a file stating that a subcontract plan is not applicable, as sub-awardees proposed under the application have been selected non-competitively, and as such, a request for DOE approval is being submitted as part of the budget support file.

Registration certifications: As we discussed previously, all applicants must certify that all systems registrations have been completed and certify that those registrations as part of the registration certification file. A Microsoft Word template has been provided. A registration certification template is available under the FOA required application documents, again, on the EERE Exchange.

The use of the registration certification template is not required, but all that information and signatures is required. Disclosure of lobby inactivities form is required to be submitted regardless of whether the funds are being paid or will be paid for influence or attempting to influence persons in conjunction with this application.

Recipients or sub-recipients may not use any federal funds to influence or attempt to influence directly or indirectly Congressional action on any legislative or appropriation matters. All applicants are required to complete and submit the SSLLL, Disclosure of Lobby Inactivities and disclose if any non-federal funds have been paid or will be paid to any person who are influencing or attempting to influence any of the following: An officer or employee of any federal agency; a member of Congress or an officer employee of Congress; an employee of a member of Congress.

If no non-federal funds have been paid or will be paid to any person influencing or attempting to influence any of the above in connection with your application, indicate "none" and sign and date the form. This form is available, again, as with all the other forms, under the Funding Opportunity Announcement Required Application Documents on EERE Exchange.

All work under the DOE funding agreements must be performed in the United States. This requirement does not apply to the purchase of supplies and equipment. I repeat: All work under DOE funding agreements must be performed under the United States. However, this requirement does not apply to the purchase of supplies and equipment. So a waiver would not be required for foreign purchases of these items. However, the recipients, if an award is made, to make every effort to purchase supplies and equipment within the United States. If work is to be performed outside the U.S., a waiver must be requested. For more information on the content, you can see Section 4H3 of the FOA document.

If work will not be conducted outside of the United States or you don't need a waiver, submit a file stating a waiver to perform work outside of the United States is not being requested under this application and submit.

To ensure you are submitting all required elements of an application, I would again urge you to use the table beginning on Page 41 of the FOA document as a checklist. Note that you may submit an application at any time before the due date and that you will be able to update as needed up until the deadline. And please, please, allow sufficient time to ensure you have uploaded all requirement documents and that your application is complete prior to the due date and time. Next slide, please.

Application eligibility requirements – my gosh. I'm so sorry. [Laughs] I really underestimated. As we previously pointed out, the applicants must submit applications no later than 5:00 Eastern Time on February 6. Note that the deadline is 5:00 Eastern, so please plan accordingly. Once submitted, DOE will conduct an eligibility review. An application will be deemed eligible only if the applicant is an eligible entity and located on tribal lands. Refer to Section 3 of the FOA. Another eligibility requirement is cost share. The required cost share must be at least 50 percent of the total allowable project cost. Remember the sum about the DOE share and the recipient share of allowable cost equals the total allowable cost.

The application is eligible if it complies with the content and form requirements, meaning it has all the elements we just spoke about and the applicant successfully uploaded all the required documents _____ submit prior to the deadline. In other words, a complete application submitted by the time deadline.

And for an application is eligible if the proposed project is responsive to the intent of the FOA. So see Section 1 and Section 3B of the FOA specifically. Any applications not responsive to the intent of the FOA as described in Section 1A and 1B or identified as specifically of not of interest in Section 1C will be deemed non-responsive and not reviewed or considered. And the application is eligible if it meets the eligibility requirements in Section 3 of the FOA.

Please be aware the DOE will not make eligibility requirements prior to the date that the applications are due and the decision on whether to submit an application lies solely with the applicant. In other words, DOE will not advise you or make a determination on whether your entity or your proposed project are eligible prior to an application being submitted. So please, do not seek advice from any DOE employee, DOE contractor, or laboratory staff. You have clarifying questions, submit them to tribalgrants@hq.doe.gov. Next slide, please. We're gonna go really quick. [Snaps fingers]I'm gonna talk really quick. [Laughs]

Merit review and selection criteria process: Just a reminder, we are not going to have questions and answers as part of this webinar. [Laughs] Otherwise it'll go till _____. So capture your questions and send them to tribalgrants@hq.doe.gov.

Merit review and selection process: The merit review and selection process consists of a series of reviews, including the initial eligibility review, which we just spoke; a rigorous technical review and programmatic review. The rigorous technical reviews are conducted by reviewers that are experts in the subject matter of the FOA. Ultimately the selection official considers the recommendation of the reviewers, along with other considerations, such as program policy factors to make a selection decision. Next slide, please.

This slide reflects the multi-tier review process, which begins with an eligibility review and if an application and applicant is determined eligible, the application undergoes a comprehensive technical review, consisting of independent reviewers by subject matter experts, who provide ratings and documents strengths and weaknesses of each application relative to the merit review criteria that's published in the FOA.

After the independent review meeting concludes, the Federal Consensus Board begins its review. The Federal Consensus Board's primary responsibilities determine the technical merit of each application, which is an inherently government or federal duty, and makes its selection recommendations based on technical merit. In other words, determines the selection range.

Following the Federal Consensus Board, the merit review advisory report is to produce, which describes all the merit review process that was conducted, set forth in the Federal Consensus Board technical ratings, addresses the FOA specific program policy factors, and any other selection factors set forth in the FOA.

Finally, the selection official reviews the merit review advisory board considers the recommendations of the Federal Consensus Board and applies program policy factors, if applicable, and makes selection decisions for negotiation and award. Next slide, please. [Coughs]

Technical merit review criteria: This is what the application will be reviewed against. The four criterion and their weights are goals and objectives weighted at ten percent; the options analysis, which is required, again, by every topic area, is also weighted at ten percent; project description and outcome, this is the technical economic viability and outcome of the proposed project, it's weighted at 45 percent. Rules and responsibilities, capabilities, and commitments and weighted at 25 percent. And then the work plan, of which the template is provided for you, is weighted at ten percent. Next slide, please.

You'll see on this slide and on Page 72 of the FOA document Criteria 1 goals and objectives in the three sub-criterion that will be relative to that criterion. So please see Pages 72 through 74 of the FOA document for the technical merit review criteria if you are following along. Also note that the content of the technical volume is described in the table, as we spoke, beginning on 45 of the FOA document and the content of the work plan described in the table beginning on Page 57. These tables follow the same order and described the required content on which this criteria will be applied. Next slide, please.

So criterion 2, options analysis, is weighted at ten percent. The rating will be based on the credibility of the options analysis that demonstrates that other options were considered and that proposed project best meets the overall tribal objectives. As indicated previously, all applicants are required to submit and options analysis to demonstrate that other options were considered and that proposed energy-generated systems best meet the overall tribal objectives.

An options analysis for purposes of this FOA is a systematic assessment and evaluation of possible alternative approaches available for achieving specific energy objectives and determining which of the options are the most effective and provides the best solution to achieve those objectives.

Section analysis is intended to explore all feasible technology alternatives, conventional technologies, renewable technologies, energy efficiency measures, energy storage systems, integrated energy systems, energy infrastructure, and to provide evidence that the proposed project choice can actually be implemented and is the best option available among those feasible alternatives. You can see Appendix C for a sample options analysis format or download it from EERE Exchange. Next slide, please.

Criterion 3 are the project description and outcomes is weighted at 45 percent. This includes four sub-criteria: Clarity and completeness of the detail project description; technical viability of the proposed project; economic viability of the proposed project; and outcomes. This is the meat of your technical volume. Note that the last three sub-criteria include multiple elements, and that that criterion will be reviewed against. And I'll give you a moment to read through the sub-criteria on this slide and the next. Next slide, please.

And here are the last two sub-criterion that comprise Criteria 3. And I'll give you just a moment to look through those. Again, economic viability and outcomes. Next slide, please.

So the fourth criterion, rules, responsibilities, capabilities, and commitments, is weighted at 25 percent. And this includes the soundness of the project management approach. And we describe that in the sub-bullets here. And the demonstrated level of commitment of the applicant in each participating organization. And that would be evidenced by past energy-related efforts, where the commitments of the proposed project is evidenced by letters of commitment. Again, I'll give you just a moment to look through those. Next slide, please.

The fifth and final criterion is the work plan, and this weighs at 20 percent. Work plans will be reviewed based on clarity and completeness of the narrative description, the narrative description of each activity necessary to complete the project, and the likelihood of achieving project objectives through logical task structure. Remember, a work plan template is included on EERE Exchange under the Required Application Documents and is shown as Appendix C of the FOA document. Next slide, please.

Selection factors. [Coughs] Pardon me. The selection official may consider the merit review recommendations, the program policy factors, and the amount of funds available in arriving at a selection decision. Next slide, please.

After the technical merit review, the selection official may consider program policy factors shown here to come to a final selection decision. The program policy factors are included here and on Page 74 and 75 of the FOA. The selection official can consider, in no particular order, geographic distribution, technology diversity, degree to which the proposed project optimizes the use of available funds, whether the proposed project serves tribal communities with high energy cost, tribal communities not connected to the traditional centralized electric power grid, and applicants who have not previously received a grant from the Office of Indian Energy. Next slide, please.

Registration requirements – oh, mandatory registration requirements. Next slide.

So to apply to this FOA, applicants must register with and submit application materials through EERE Exchange. If you haven't guessed yet [laughs], the control number will be assigned while you're registering in the EERE Exchange. You need to retain this control number. It will be put on every file as part of your application. It's going to be used as an identifier.

Failure to complete the registration requirements below prior to submitting an application could result in DOE determining that the application is not qualified to receive federal funds. [Coughs] So again, if you are at all interested, I would urge you to go through these registration processes as soon as possible. There are several one-time actions required before submitting the application in response to the FOA. It is vital that applicants address these items as soon as possible, as some actions may take several weeks. And failure to complete them prior to submitting an application could result a DOE determining that the applicant is not qualified to receive federal award and use that determination as a basis for not considering their application.

The applicant will be required to certify that these registrations have been completed and to include that certification as part of their application. Therefore, it is essential that these registrations, again, be completed as soon as possible, as they may take several weeks to process. See Section 6.B of the FOA, Pages 78, 79 for more information on required registration. Next slide, please.

Application submission and points of contact: Moving on, we're not to have a question-and-answer session as part of this. Submit all your questions to tribalgrants@headquarters.doe.gov. Audio recording and slides will be made available, and you'll be notified of such. I think the slides are already on the webpage. Next slide, please.

Means of submission: All required submissions must come through EERE Exchange system. Oh, you want to go back one, Monica. Thank you. DOE will not review or consider applications submitted through any other means. So please see the user's guide for applying to Department of Energy Funding Opportunities, found on the EERE Exchange under Manual – it's going to be a step-by-step guide, includes screenshots on how to register and how to submit applications into the system.

Please note that for this FOA there are no pre-application documents, such as concept papers or letters of intent, nor will you be able to reply to reviewer comments, as reviewer comments will not be provided to applicants and after selections are made. So disregard those sections of the user guide. But the user guide is very helpful in submitting your application. Next slide, please.

Key submission points: So please check all your entries in EERE Exchange. Submissions could be deemed ineligible due to an incorrect entry. DOE strongly encourages applicants to apply. Submit applications one or two days prior to the deadline. Again, you don't want to have difficulties at the last minute. This will allow for full upload of application documents and avoid potential technical glitches. Make sure you push the Submit button. You must push the Submit button before the deadline.

Any changes made, if you submit early, you have the ability to change or re-upload application elements if you need to prior to that due date. And then resubmit, push the button again. For your records, I would recommend that if you have difficulties, print out all of your EERE Exchange confirmation pages at each step. If you experience issues prior to the deadline, you should contact the Exchange help desk for assistance.

The Exchange help desk and/or the EERE Exchange system administrators may be able to assist applicants in resolving those issues. The Office of Indian Energy is not able to assist with technical systems issues associated with EERE Exchange or submittal of an application. Applicants that experience issues with submissions that result in late submissions should contact, again, the EERE Exchange help desk. And they may be able to assist. So I would strongly encourage you to keep records and/or documentation, including screenshots. If you have any issues or experience in submitting your application and document any efforts you may to resolve those issues, and then contact us at tribalgrants@headquarters.doe.gov with that documentation. Next slide, please.

So in addition, per Page 87 of the FOA, please keep in mind that all information provided by the applicant must, to the greatest extent possible, exclude personally identifiable information. And that includes résumés. So by way of example, applicants must screen résumés to ensure they do not include PII, such as personal addresses, phone and cell numbers, personal email, Social Security numbers. In short, a PII is not essential to the application. It should not be in the application. Next slide, please.

Applicants must designate a primary and backup point of contact in the EERE Exchange with whom DOE will communicate during the process. Remember that these are the contacts that will be used to notify applicants of whether their applications are deemed non-responsive, non-compliant, unsuccessful, or selected for negotiation of award. It's imperative that the applicant selected to be responsive during the award negotiations and to meet negotiation deadlines. And failure to do that could result in cancellation of further award negotiations and/or rescission of a selection. So again, if you are selected, you need to be responsive. Next slide, please.

All questions. Next slide. Guess. Where do you submit questions? Tribalgrants@headquarters.doe.gov. However, before submitting the question, check the frequently asked questions, the FAQs page on the EERE Exchange. Some of your questions may have already been answered. We will attempt to answer questions within three business days and you will be notified when a response to that question is posted. Next slide, please.

Contact EERE Exchange support at headquarters@doe.gov for problems logging into EERE Exchange or uploading submitting applications documents. Specific questions regarding the FOA itself, again, should be sent to tribalgrants@headquarters.doe.gov. And then please include the phone number on the subject line in those emails. Next slide, please.

Best practices. Next slide. In closing, a few recommendations: Please download the Funding Opportunity Announcement and read it thoroughly, and then read it again, so you understand all the steps and requirements needed if you're interested in submitting an application. Do not rely solely on this webinar. If you are considering submitting an application, please register at EERE Exchange as soon as possible. You need that control. That control number must be included on all application documents. Also check the frequently asked questions on the EERE Exchange periodically for any supplemental information or amendments to the FOA. Next slide, please.

In closing, next slide. A few final comments. Hey, we're almost there. Last stretch. Hot dog for the 60 people that are still with us. [Laughs] Okay, hopefully we've answered some of your questions and provide and overview of the FOA and the provide. And again, I cannot apologize enough for how poorly I estimated the time _____ [inaudible due to laughter]. However, if you have any questions, send them to us via email at tribalgrants@headquarters.doe.gov. Those come to the Indian Energy team. Please don't ask any questions of me, of any other Office of Indian Energy staff, contractors, or laboratory personnel about eligibility of your project or any other questions related to the FOA, as only formal responses posted under the FAQ webpage will be honored.

The purpose of accepting only written questions is that typically if you have a question, someone else has the same question. And it also ensures that everyone has the same information relative to this competitive opportunity. Remember registering at grants.gov means you will receive email notices of any amendments to the FOA, but applications will not be accepted through grants.gov.

Consider submitting an application early. You could always revise or update the file up until the application deadline. [Coughs] I'd also like to invite you to join the Office of Indian Energy email list. To join, see the main page of our website at  www.energy.gov/indianenergy or Google Office of Indian Energy. By subscribing, you'll receive any information on this funding opportunity announcement, funding opportunities through other agencies, training opportunities, webinars, and other upcoming events. In fact, we have a webinar on microgroups tomorrow if you're interested.

For information on previously funded tribal energy projects, see Projects on our website. We have a list of other open funding opportunities. See Funding. The Office of Indian Energy also offers technical assistance at no cost to tribes and tribal entities. So if you're interested, please check out the technical assistance section of the website to submit a request. These slides and audio recording of this webinar will be posted in the next week or so. As a registrant, you'll receive an email when that material is available.

Note that if there any inconsistencies between the funding opportunity announcement, this presentation or statements from DOE or other personnel, the FOA document is the controlling document. And applicants should rely solely on the FOA language or seek clarification by sending a question. Next slide, please.

[Laughs] And thank you for your attention and have a wonderful afternoon. This concludes today's webinar. Goodbye.

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