The Department of Energy is Offering a Grant to Advance Plug-and-Play Photovoltaic Systems

DOE has determined that it is necessary to limit eligibility under this FOA to domestic entities in order to meet the objectives of DOE?s Mission, the SunShot Mission and the particular needs and objectives of this FOA.

II. The areas which have changed are highlighted within the Funding Opportunity Announcement in yellow.

III. All other parts of the FOA remain unchanged.

Through the Plug and Play Photovoltaics Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the Department of Energy will invest up to $25 million over five years to advance the development of a commercial plug-and-play photovoltaic system, which is envisioned as an off-the-shelf product that is fully inclusive with little need for individual customization. Homeowners can install the system without special training or tools. The homeowner simply plugs the system into a PV-ready circuit and an automatic PV discovery process initiates communication between the system and the utility.

The plug-and-play concept has been implemented very successfully in the computer and automotive industries. The Department of Energy believes that these same innovations can be applied to the PV industry to reduce costs and simplify installations. This funding opportunity seeks to fundamentally change the design and installation of residential PV systems and help automate utility interconnection and permitting processes.

Universities, industry, utilities, local authorities having jurisdiction, national laboratories, and other stakeholders are encouraged to submit full applications by June 18, 2012.

The full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is posted on the EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. Applications must be submitted through the EERE Exchange website to be considered for award. The applicant must first register and create an account on the EERE Exchange website. A User Guide for EERE Exchange can be found on the EERE website http://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx after logging in to the system.

Information on where to submit questions regarding the content of the announcement and where to submit questions regarding submission of applications is found in the full FOA posted on the EERE Exchange website.

A)Replace Section III.A, Eligible Applicants, with the following language:
The following domestic entities are eligible to apply as prime recipients or sub-recipients for this announcement: (1) institutions of higher education; (2) nonprofit and for-profit entities; (3) State and local governments; (4) DOE/NNSA National Laboratory Contractors and non-DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) Contractors, and (5) consortia of entities (1) through (4). Foreign entities, Federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are not eligible to apply either as a prime or sub-recipient. The term domestic entity is defined as a legal entity established pursuant to the United States Federal or State laws.

B)Insert the following requirement as Item 11 of Section IV.C, Content and Form of Applications:
Applicants must provide a Word or PDF document describing the extent of the prime recipient and any sub-recipient/project partner?s current operations within the U.S. (e.g. number of locations, type of facilities, number of employees at each location, etc.), and how the project approach would benefit the U.S. solar energy industry. This document shall not exceed 2 pages when printed using standard 8.5 by 11 paper with 1 inch margins (top, bottom, left and right), single spaced. The font must not be smaller than 11 point. Do not include any Internet addresses (URLs) that provide information necessary to review the application.

C)Insert the following language in Section V.A.3, Other Selection Factors:
Potential benefit to the U.S. solar energy industry (e.g. current and anticipated use or enhancement of U.S. domestic solar supply chain, current and anticipated use or enhancement of U.S. domestic solar energy technologies, or commitments to base component production/supply facilities in the U.S.).

D)Insert the following definitions in Appendix A, Definitions:
1) Domestic Entity is defined as a legal entity established pursuant to the United States Federal or State Laws; and
2) Foreign Entity is defined as any entity that is not a domestic entity.

The areas which have changed are highlighted within the Funding Opportunity Announcement in yellow.

All other parts of the FOA remain unchanged.

Through the Plug and Play Photovoltaics Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the Department of Energy will invest up to $25 million over five years to advance the development of a commercial plug-and-play photovoltaic system, which is envisioned as an off-the-shelf product that is fully inclusive with little need for individual customization. Homeowners can install the system without special training or tools. The homeowner simply plugs the system into a PV-ready circuit and an automatic PV discovery process initiates communication between the system and the utility.

The plug-and-play concept has been implemented very successfully in the computer and automotive industries. The Department of Energy believes that these same innovations can be applied to the PV industry to reduce costs and simplify installations. This funding opportunity seeks to fundamentally change the design and installation of residential PV systems and help automate utility interconnection and permitting processes.

Universities, industry, utilities, local authorities having jurisdiction, national laboratories, and other stakeholders are encouraged to submit full applications by June 18, 2012.

The full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is posted on the EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. Applications must be submitted through the EERE Exchange website to be considered for award. The applicant must first register and create an account on the EERE Exchange website. A User Guide for EERE Exchange can be found on the EERE website http://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx after logging in to the system.

Information on where to submit questions regarding the content of the announcement and where to submit questions regarding submission of applications is found in the full FOA posted on the EERE Exchange website.

The plug-and-play concept has been implemented very successfully in the computer and automotive industries. The Department of Energy believes that these same innovations can be applied to the PV industry to reduce costs and simplify installations. This funding opportunity seeks to fundamentally change the design and installation of residential PV systems and help automate utility interconnection and permitting processes.

Universities, industry, utilities, local authorities having jurisdiction, national laboratories, and other stakeholders are encouraged to submit full applications by June 18, 2012.

The full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is posted on the EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. Applications must be submitted through the EERE Exchange website to be considered for award. The applicant must first register and create an account on the EERE Exchange website. A User Guide for EERE Exchange can be found on the EERE website http://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx after logging in to the system.

Information on where to submit questions regarding the content of the announcement and where to submit questions regarding submission of applications is found in the full FOA posted on the EERE Exchange website.