Request for Information - Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Other Pollutants Associated with U.S. LNG Exports | DE FOA 0003052

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is this opportunity (DE-FOA-0003052) actually asking for?

This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). It is asking stakeholders to share input, ideas, data, and perspectives on practical ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other air pollutants associated with U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.

2. Is this a funding opportunity or a grant program?

No. This posting is an RFI only. It is not a funding solicitation, it does not invite project proposals, and DOE is not accepting grant applications under this announcement.

3. Will DOE make awards based on responses to this RFI?

No. The expected number of awards is listed as 0, and the notice explains that submitted responses will not result in awards.

4. If it is not funding, why does the listing mention grants and cooperative agreements?

The listing includes potential funding instruments (cooperative agreements and grants), but those are standard fields that can appear in federal opportunity records. They do not change the central point for this notice: this is an information-gathering RFI and it will not result in awards or funded projects.

5. What is the purpose of DOE/NETL collecting this information?

The purpose is to gather stakeholder input that can help DOE understand realistic pathways to reduce emissions across parts of the LNG export value chain. The information collected may help shape future DOE actions, research priorities, policy considerations, or potential later funding opportunities, but this RFI itself does not provide funding.

6. Who can respond to this RFI?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may respond (subject to any additional clarifications that may exist in the full RFI text).

7. What kinds of stakeholders are typically interested in responding?

Because the goal is broad technical and operational input, RFIs like this commonly attract responses from LNG developers and operators, midstream companies, technology vendors, engineering firms, researchers, universities, national labs, state and local agencies, non-profits, and other interested parties.

8. What topics or types of content is DOE looking for in responses?

The RFI is intended to capture practical, experience-based input. Responses often include technology options, operational best practices, monitoring and measurement approaches, barriers to implementation, cost and performance considerations, data gaps, and suggestions for where federal involvement could be most effective.

9. Which parts of the LNG export value chain are relevant to this RFI?

The focus is on emissions and air pollutants linked to U.S. LNG exports and can span multiple segments, including upstream supply, gathering and processing, pipeline transport, liquefaction, storage, loading/shipping, and related equipment and systems.

10. What equipment or emission sources are specifically mentioned as being in scope?

The notice highlights associated equipment and systems such as compressors, turbines, flares, and methane control systems as examples of areas where emissions-reduction opportunities may exist.

11. What pollutants are being targeted?

The RFI is focused on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other air pollutants associated with LNG exports.

12. When was this RFI created?

The RFI was created on May 17, 2023.

13. What was the response deadline, and was it changed?

Yes, the deadline was changed by Modification 000001. The close date moved from June 21, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern to June 26, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

14. How were responses required to be submitted?

Responses were required to be submitted electronically by email.

15. What email address was used for submitting responses?

Responses were to be emailed to ReduceGHGELNGRFI@NETL.DOE.GOV.

16. Was there a required email subject line?

Yes. The subject line was required to be: DE-FOA-0003052RFI.

17. What was the cutoff time for receipt of responses?

Responses had to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 26, 2023.

18. What does the Funding Opportunity Number mean for this notice?

The Funding Opportunity Number for this RFI is DE-FOA-0003052. It is used to identify the notice and was also required in the email subject line for submissions.

19. What does CFDA 81.089 indicate?

The notice is associated with CFDA number 81.089. This reflects its placement within DOE program cataloging and is consistent with the Energy and Natural Resources activity category and NETL's mission space.

20. The posting shows fields like "AwardCeiling: 2" - does that apply here?

No. That kind of field should not be interpreted as a real cap on awards for this notice because this is an RFI and does not make awards. Some RFIs inherit template fields in federal listings even when those fields are not operationally meaningful.

21. What is the main takeaway for organizations looking for funding?

The practical takeaway is that there is no funding available through this RFI, no applications will be reviewed for award, and participation consists solely of providing written input for DOE consideration.

22. How might DOE use the information provided in responses?

The information may help DOE/NETL understand what solutions exist now, what solutions need development or demonstration, what measurement and verification methods are credible, and what regulatory, economic, or operational constraints affect real-world deployment. It can help inform future actions or priorities, but not awards under this specific notice.