Frequently Asked Questions

The Funding Opportunity Anonuncement (FOA) does not require the curriculum be for a degree seeking program.

Only Tribal Colleges and Universities as that term is defined in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) may apply for funding. However, the FOA does not specify the entities the Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) may include as part of their project team and therefore, the FOA does not preclude a non-TCU University from participating as a project team member, provided the project is on the TCU campus and the eligible TCU is the applicant.

Per Section I.A.2 and Appendix A:

“Clean Energy Technology” for purposes of this FOA, may include, but is not limited to: (1) Clean Energy Generating System(s); (2) Energy Efficiency Measure(s); or (3) Integrated Clean Energy System(s).

1. “Clean Energy Generating System(s)” for the purposes of this FOA include: (1) renewable energy system(s), or (2) combined heat and power system(s) using renewable fuels such as biomass, biogas, renewable natural gas, or renewable hydrogen. See definitions under Appendix A.

2. “Energy Efficiency Measure(s),” for the purposes of this FOA, means the implementation of a (1) building efficiency measure(s), or an (2) industrial process efficiency measure(s). For the purposes of this FOA, “energy efficiency” is not the same as “energy conservation”, which is not eligible under this FOA. See definitions under Appendix A.

3. “Integrated Clean Energy System(s)” under Topic Area 2 must, as a minimum, provide power to building(s) that make up, in part or the whole of, a TCU campus and include: (1) clean energy generating system(s); (2) controls and management system(s); and (3) energy storage system(s). Such systems may also include (4) conventional energy generation device(s); however, conventional energy generation device(s) are eligible only if used solely as a dispatchable stand-by power source. Note that some components of the proposed integrated clean energy system(s) may already exist and, therefore, not all of the components must be proposed for DOE funding; however, the integrated clean energy system(s) as a whole must meet the requirements under Topic Area 2.”

Therefore, if the technology does not meet the definitions above, then it would not be an eligible technology.  

Per Section III.A. of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), “The DOE Office of Indian Energy will only consider applications from: (1) Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs); and (2) on whose campus(es) the proposed project(s) will be located.” [Emphasis added] Therefore, hydrokinetic power not generated on the TCU campus, would not meet the eligibility requirements of this FOA.   

As stated in Section III.F. Questions Regarding Eligibility (page 31) of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), “DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential Applicants prior to the date on which applications to this FOA must be submitted. The decision of whether to submit an application in response to this FOA lies solely with the Applicant.”

However, for your purposes in making that decision, we offer the following based on the limited information provided in your question:

The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) specifically allows “[c]osts associated with the implementation of a clean energy curriculum, such as supplies, kits, and materials, may be included in the proposed budget.” Therefore, if the simulated rooftop is associated with the implementation of the clean energy curriculum, then those costs may be eligible for reimbursement by DOE or as cost share and should be included in the proposed budget.   

As stated in Section III.F. Questions Regarding Eligibility (page 31) of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), “DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential Applicants prior to the date on which applications to this FOA must be submitted. The decision of whether to submit an application in response to this FOA lies solely with the Applicant.”

However, for your purposes in making that decision, we offer the following:

Section I.B.2. (page 10) of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) states, “Under Topic Area 2, the DOE Office of Indian Energy is seeking applications for the (1) deployment of clean energy technology(ies) to transition the Tribal College or University to a clean energy campus, and (2) implementation of a related clean energy curriculum. The clean energy technology deployment must result in the installation of clean energy technology on the TCU campus, including the implementation of a related clean energy curriculum.” [Emphasis added]

Based on the limited information provided in your question, it does not appear that the proposed renewable energy plus storage unit (trailer) would be installed on the TCU campus. If the unit is not installed on the TCU campus, it would not meet the requirements of the FOA.

Budgets should be for the full project period of performance, not by year. Additionally, per Section IV.C.9., applicants “must complete the summary and each tab of the Budget Justification Workbook form (IE 540.132-01) for the project as a whole (all project costs regardless of whether requested from DOE or proposed as cost share and regardless of who plans to incur those costs), including all work to be performed by the Recipient (if an award is made), its Subrecipients, and Vendors”.

As stated in Section III.F. Questions Regarding Eligibility (page 31) of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), “DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential Applicants prior to the date on which applications to this FOA must be submitted. The decision of whether to submit an application in response to this FOA lies solely with the Applicant.”

However, for your purposes in making that decision, we offer the following based on the limited information provided in your question:

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the requirements specified under Section III.A. of the FOA as ammended (0001) which states, “The DOE Office of Indian Energy will only consider applications from: (1) Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs); and (2) on whose campus(es) the proposed project(s) will be located.”

The section further states, “Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)” for purposes of this FOA, are (1) institutions of higher education located in the 48 contiguous United States or Alaska and (2) defined and eligible based on the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. § 1801(a)(4)), and the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1059), respectively, as follows:

“Tribal Colleges and Universities," for purposes of the FOA, mean institutions of higher education which are formally controlled, or have been formally sanctioned, or chartered, by the governing body of an Indian tribe or tribes, except that no more than one such institution shall be recognized with respect to any such tribe;

including:

Those institutions citedand eligible for funding under section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Diné College, authorized in the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law 95-471, title II (25 U.S.C. 640a note).^[1]

A waiver to the cost share requirement of less than 10 percent cannot be considered for the subject funding opportunity announcement.

Thank you for your interest. The curriculum is not required be degree seeking; it may be a part of an existing curriculum; and it does not need to be stand-alone. The curriculum should be designed to best meet the needs of the TCU and its students and must complement the planned clean energy project (Topic Area 1) and be related to the planned clean energy project (Topic Area 2). Per the Funding Opportunity Announcement, “[u]nder Topic Area 1, the Applicant must develop clean energy curriculum, or modify an existing curriculum, to complement the planned clean energy project” and “[a]pplications under Topic Area 2 must include the implementation of a related clean energy curriculum”.

Because this is a competitive financial assistance opportunity, questions may only be accepted in writing through the email box identified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Specifically, per Section VII of the FOA, “[u]pon the issuance of a FOA, DOE personnel are prohibited from communicating (in writing or otherwise) with Applicants regarding the FOA except through the established question and answer process as described below. Specifically, questions regarding the content of this FOA must be submitted to: TribalGrants@hq.doe.gov not later than three (3) business days prior to the application due date.”

Please submit any questions by email to TribalGrants@hq.doe.gov. The recorded informational webinar may also answer some of your questions.

An applicant selected for negotiation of award will be asked to complete an environmental questionnaire and based on that DOE will make a decision on whether the proposed scope can be Categorically Excluded (CX), require an EA or an environmental Impact Statement. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, generally these small projects can be Categorically Excluded. However, if the proposed project cannot be CX’d, an EA may be needed in which case, the Recipient would contract for the assessment and DOE would be the decision maker and signatory on any decision resulting from the EA. Cost associated with NEPA would be an allowable cost if incurred after an award is made or with prior to award if approved by the Contracting Officer

Even though the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) states on page 1 and page 15 that “DOE anticipates making awards with a period of performance of approximately two (2) to four (4) years, which for Topic Area 2 must include a mandatory 12-month verification period”, please include any anticipated lead time items in the proposed period of performance and the Workplan Milestone Table. If, however, additional delays occur, a no cost time extension may be accommodated.

1. As stated in Section III.F. Questions Regarding Eligibility (page 31) of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), “DOE will not make eligibility determinations for potential Applicants prior to the date on which applications to this FOA must be submitted. The decision of whether to submit an application in response to this FOA lies solely with the Applicant.” Additionally, per Section III.A. of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), "All Applicants will be required to provide eligibility statements and evidence (see Section IV.C.5.) to support DOE’s eligibility determination. DOE will not make sufficiency determinations prior to an application being submitted."

However, for your purposes in making that decision, we offer the following:

1. The requirements to qualify as an eligible applicant are defined in Section III.A. of FOA, which specifically states, “Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)” for purposes of this FOA, are (1) institutions of higher education located in the 48 contiguous United States or Alaska and (2) defined and eligible based on the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. § 1801(a)(4)), and the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1001, et seq.), respectively, as follows:

“Tribal Colleges and Universities," for purposes of the FOA, mean institutions of higher education which are formally controlled, or have been formally sanctioned, or chartered, by the governing body of an Indian tribe or tribes, except that no more than one such institution shall be recognized with respect to any such tribe;

including:

Those institutions cited and eligible for funding undersection 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. § 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq.), and Diné College, authorized in the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law 95-471, title II (25 U.S.C. § 640a note).”

Therefore, only institutions that meet the above requirements are eligible Applicants under this FOA. The type of documentation required to support DOE’s eligibility determination would depend on the authority under which the TCU was designated and how the institution was sanctioned or chartered, and that documentation could therefore take various forms.

2. For eligible clean energy technologies, please refer to Appendix A of the FOA, beginning on page 67.

For Topic Area 2 (Clean Energy Technology and Curriculum Deployment), “either a single clean energy system and/or energy efficiency measure or multiple clean energy systems and/or energy efficiency measures may be proposed for either a single building or multiple buildings”, provided those buildings are on a TCU campus. Therefore, a single TCU may submit one application for buildings located at different sites, provided the buildings and the sites meet the definitions in the FOA.

Due to the competitive nature of the funding opportunity, we are unable to review and advise on draft application documents. Please review the funding opportunity announcement requirements and template instructions.