Frequently asked questions
General
What is ARCHES?
ARCHES is a public-private partnership to create a sustainable, statewide, clean hydrogen hub in California and beyond. For more information, see https://archesh2.org/about/.
How do I join ARCHES?
There are three ways to engage with ARCHES:
- Submitting a Memorandum of Commitment to contributor@archesh2.org will enable you to participate in ARCHES working groups and other opportunities shared to the MOC signatory mailing list.
- If you sign a Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA) with ARCHES, you will gain all privileges of an MOC signatory. The NDA is necessary to protect the confidential business information shared as part of the Hydrogen Hub funding opportunity.
- Submitting the ARCHES contact form will add you to a general mailing list for public ARCHES events and announcements. If your organization has already signed an MOC or NDA, you will be added to those mailing lists unless ARCHES is otherwise instructed by your organization.
May we modify the Memorandum of Commitment (MOC) or Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA)?
The NDA can be modified and discussed with ARCHES. We will rarely accept modifications to the MOC and recommend parties sign an NDA instead of a modified MOC.
What happens once I join?
ARCHES will first review the agreement you signed. We aim to process Memoranda of Commitment within a week of their submission. Nondisclosure Agreements may take longer to process. The duration of these processes will depend on the number of submissions we receive. Once your agreement is approved, you will receive a confirmation from ARCHES and be added to the appropriate ARCHES email lists. Please add info@archesh2.org to your email client’s safe sender list to avoid messages being filtered as spam. You will receive an email from info@archesh2.org to catch you up on current events and inform you of future messages.
May I add additional members of my organization to the ARCHES mailing lists?
Please give us their email addresses when we confirm approval of your submitted MOC or NDA, or by emailing info@archesh2.org.
I signed up but am not getting any emails from ARCHES.
Check your spam folder; this is the primary reason people do not see ARCHES emails. If there are no ARCHES emails in your spam folder, please contact info@archesh2.org and we will troubleshoot with you.
What steps will ARCHES take to ensure public transparency with the application process and the potential development of hubs?
Maximizing transparency within the limitations of state and federal law and a competitive environment is a top priority for ARCHES. To that end, we have hosted and will continue to host public meetings and discussions to share as much information as we can about ARCHES governance, plans, and processes. Our team is also meeting directly with community members to answer questions.
That said, many entities are competing for the $8 billion in hydrogen hub funding. Disclosing proposal contents would give our competition an advantage. In addition, the Procurement Integrity Act prohibits sharing contents of proposals for federal grant competitions. If and when it is feasible to reveal proposal information, ARCHES will do so in support of public transparency.
Will community members and representatives of community groups be compensated? If so, how will compensation be evaluated and paid?
ARCHES recognizes this need and is exploring the best way to compensate and/or otherwise support the participation of community members and groups. This may take the form of reimbursement for lost wages, child support, transportation costs, etc.
How does ARCHES plan to create and maintain meaningful partnerships with community, EJ, and environmental advocates?
ARCHES is committed to establishing and sustaining productive partnerships with community, EJ, and environmental advocates.
ARCHES is creating positions for community representatives at multiple levels of the organization to represent the interests of California communities at all aspects and phases of its operation, from project selection to governance. Community interests will be represented on the ARCHES Board and nominated by Advisory Committees representing all aspects of California communities, including organized labor, environmental NGOs, EJ and other representatives of impacted communities, cities and local governments, and tribal nations.
ARCHES is engaging community groups including labor leaders, environmental advocates, EJ leaders, and tribal nations to clarify questions about ARCHES and obtain inputs to inform planning.
ARCHES is creating a Community Benefits and Engagement Plan that will be a required component of all funded ARCHES projects. It will include significant community engagement and partnership components and is continuously evolving with input from diverse community stakeholders.
Additionally, ARCHES has components such as Workforce Development that include outreach and community engagement and support throughout the state. These activities will inform the ARCHES Board and actions.
How will the ARCHES decision-making process work?
ARCHES is a limited liability corporation with a management team and a Board of Directors. Ultimate decision-making authority rests with the Board. Project selection will be decided by the ARCHES Board, based on recommendations from a team of independent technical merit reviewers and ARCHES management. Decisions about project funding will be based on the ARCHES vetting process, which lays out a set of criteria for selecting projects. These criteria are based on a combination of the DOE requirements, California priorities, and ARCHES principles. ARCHES staff will vet applicants based on these criteria, and the ARCHES Board will make final decisions about which projects will apply for matching funds from the DOE and the State of California.
What role will community, EJ, and environmental advocates have in those decisions and in the governance of ARCHES?
Community representatives will have seats on the ARCHES Board. Board members will be nominated by Advisory Committees representing different aspects of California communities, including organized labor, environmental NGOs, EJ and other representatives of impacted communities, cities and local governments, and tribal nations.
Additionally, ARCHES has components such as Workforce Development that include outreach and community engagement and support throughout the state. These activities will inform the ARCHES Board and actions.
Will ARCHES meetings be conducted under Bagley-Keene, Brown Act, or other open meeting requirements/provisions?
The Bagley-Keene and Brown Acts do not apply to ARCHES since it is a private entity. However, ARCHES is committed to openness and transparency in all its proceedings.
Who will have access to ARCHES information, and how will ARCHES balance the need for transparency and confidential business information?
ARCHES will be as open and transparent as possible about all its proceedings, while maintaining strict confidentiality where necessary to protect personal, proposal, and business information.
What does the commitment to green hydrogen mean? Will all projects use only electrolytic hydrogen generated from additional or excess sustainable and renewable sources from day one, and retire the Renewable Energy Credits associated with the electricity?
It is the intention of ARCHES to only fund the production and use of hydrogen 1) produced with renewable resources, as defined by the state of California, and 2) that meet or exceed federal carbon intensity requirements on a life cycle emission basis. Beyond that, ARCHES also will consider other emissions criteria from pollutants, water resources, etc. to be “green” hydrogen production.
All electrolytic hydrogen projects that receive funding support will have to meet ARCHES criteria. Proposals will be evaluated based on ARCHES vetting criteria and overall GHG, local air quality, state environmental goals, and community impacts. To be accepted as part of the state hydrogen hub, such projects will have to undergo rigorous analysis to show they do not emit criteria emissions, toxics, or noxious odors that harm local communities. In addition, DOE-funded hub projects must comply with DOE requirements and definitions.
What will be the project selection criteria, and how will projects get selected and prioritized?
ARCHES has developed a set of project selection criteria. A draft informed by conversations with EJ leaders throughout the state was shared with EJ groups and others who attended the October ARCHES Launch workshop in Long Beach. We refined the criteria in consultation with ARCHES partners who signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
What guarantees will there be in the Community Benefits Plan, and how will they be enforced?
ARCHES is still developing its Community Benefits Plan. As a start, we are referencing guidance documents such as the DOE Community Benefits Plan Toolkit.
However, ARCHES is prepared to make the following set of commitments to the community:
ARCHES Commitments to Community, Energy and Environmental Equity and Justice:
- ARCHES will only fund production, distribution, storage, and use of clean renewable hydrogen.
- ARCHES will not fund blending of hydrogen in natural gas distribution pipelines.
- ARCHES will include organized labor, cities and local governments, tribal nations, communities and environmental justice organizations in its governance and decision-making.
- ARCHES will involve local communities in decision-making about projects in their communities.
- ARCHES will ensure that training programs, career development support, and high-road career opportunities are available to California's disadvantaged communities.
- ARCHES will require that all projects advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
- ARCHES will require at least 40% of the benefits from its projects to flow to California’s disadvantaged communities.
How will potential hydrogen leaks be mitigated, monitored, and rectified?
ARCHES will only support state-of-the-art new technologies. We will also perform extensive modeling and analyses to inform project selection. ARCHES will conduct safety, codes, and standards work to determine appropriate mechanisms for monitoring and rectifying any potential hydrogen leaks. ARCHES projects will be required to monitor and repair leaks. The use of hydrogen fuel for many decades in industrial settings, including pipelines in Long Beach and Los Angeles Basin, has led to continuing improvements in technologies for repairing hydrogen leaks.
Would ARCHES potentially fund the replacement of existing turbines with turbines that can operate on hydrogen-methane blends, but that cannot operate on pure hydrogen?
It is the intention of ARCHES to only fund power plants capable of using 100% hydrogen feedstock by the end of the DOE federal funding timeframe.
Hub Project Proposal
Is a recording of the December 6 Q&A session available?
View the recording here
Are there length restrictions and formatting requirements to project submissions?
There are maximum page limits for each section, as outlined in the project submission template. It is ok to summarize your project in fewer pages. Font must be 11 point, Calibri. Margins must be 1 inch around.
What are the ARCHES Hub project vetting criteria?
ARCHES Hub project vetting criteria are available at this link.
Can the submission deadline be extended to the end of January?
Due to the April 7 DOE deadline, it is not feasible to extend project submissions to the end of January. ARCHES requires sufficient project information to begin vetting by Dec. 23, 2022, even if Board approval, etc. is still pending. Project negotiations are expected to begin in January, and we expect some back-and-forth discussion. While all projects are interesting and very many may be meritorious, not all aspects of every project will be able to be included in the DOE Hydrogen Hub proposal.
Are projects focused on H2 production, power plants, and heavy transport the only types of submissions that will be accepted by the December 23, 2022 deadline?
Analysis shows those sectors are the most important for California and thus have priority. However, if a compelling project meets the various vetting criteria, it will be considered. We especially encourage projects that will serve as demonstrations or provide key infrastructure for other emerging hydrogen sectors and markets.
Must a company or consortium propose its own stand-alone project?
Any entity, whether single or a team, can propose a project.
What kind of preliminary carbon intensity evaluation do you require?
Any preliminary life-cycle or similar assessment that quantifies the carbon emissions of the proposed project is acceptable.
We are a small startup company at the early revenue stage. Is this a limitation?
While being a startup is not a limitation, experience and readiness to perform the proposal work are critiera. Additionally, business plans with dedicated cost-share and higher TRL technology will receive preference, per the FOA and the vetting criteria.
Does ARCHES adhere to DOE’s Technology Readiness Level (TRL) definitions as described in their “Technology Readiness Assessment Guide”?
ARCHES follows the TRL definitions in the DOE Technology Readiness Assessment Guide. In general, a TRL > 6 means a project has progressed past the pilot and demonstration stages and toward deployment of proven technologies.
We have an innovative novel sub-system to monitor H2 quality. Does this project qualify for an ARCHES grant?
Monitoring will be critical, but at this stage ARCHES seeks projects for producers, consumers, and/or infrastructure. However, we ask that you inform us about this innovation since understanding supporting technologies will be important during the rollout phase and we may seek to match you with other project providers.
I have a project that involves R&D. As R&D projects are not allowed in the December 23, 2022 submission, will ARCHES offer additional opportunities to submit projects like this?
R&D project cannot be funded with DOE Hydrogen Hub funds. However, ARCHES plans to work with interested parties, including private and public sources, to secure funding for R&D outside of this federal funding opportunity.
Will awards be made as grants? Contracts? Subawards?
Award formats will depend on DOE guidelines but will likely be Subawards or CRADAs.
If selected projects will be sub-awards that flow from DOE through ARCHES, will ARCHES take an administrative fee off that funding? If so, how much do you anticipate the fee being? Will it be a flat fee, percentage, or other?
Individual projects need not budget for ARCHES support. ARCHES is planning to take a minimal fee from the total award for administration and management including DOE interactions, etc. In addition, there will be crosscut activities that will also be financially held at the ARCHES level.
How will international partner participation be viewed by DOE?
ARCHES must submit a foreign waiver request, so you must include this participation in your project submission.
Does the international parent company of a participating American company need to sign the NDA alongside the participant?
As the NDA is to protect both the project submission and ARCHES information deemed confidential, the signature of the American company is sufficient.
Does ARCHES require full review/sign-off by a UC campus Office of Contracts & Grants for December 23, 2022 proposals? Internal administrative deadlines make this very difficult.
ARCHES does not require full sign-off by a campus’s Office of Contracts and Grants prior to submission. The proposal can be marked pending sign off with an expected date of completion. However, the information provided must be as accurate as possible.
Do you offer more information on how to provide project information?
Additional information on how to provide project information to ARCHES is available at this link.
What regulatory permits are required to put in a single site H2 fuel cell refueling site?
Please refer to GO-Biz’s Hydrogen Station Permitting Guidebook here: Hydrogen Station Permitting Guidebook (ca.gov).
Does ARCHES prefer organizations use their own letterhead for the proposal with the template as a guide, or to stick directly to the template?
Either format works if the page requirements and font (11 point, Calibri) and margins (1 in around) are followed.
What is the best way to discuss our services with ARCHES partners? Is there a directory we should register with that others can note?
ARCHES plans to establish a statewide registry to facilitate matchmaking among companies working in the California hydrogen ecosystem.
Is ARCHES a for-profit or non-profit entity? This is relevant to the Buy America requirements.
While ARCHES is not registered as a non-profit, it is operating as one as all members are non-profits.
Regarding the buy America provisions in the Hubs FOA (§ J(vi) and Appendix F) and § 70914 the BIL: Is ARCHES a “non-federal entity” for the purposes of Buy America? If ARCHES is subject to buy America, a) will those requirements flow through to sub-recipients who are organized as for-profit corporations, to which the Buy America requirements would not otherwise apply? b) Does ARCHES have (or plan to have) a process for requesting waivers to Buy America from the DOE?
ARCHES is acting as a non-profit LLC and is a non-federal entity. However, we expect that Buy America provisions will still apply to all grant subrecipients. ARCHES plans to establish a process for requesting waivers once the project vetting has been completed. Part of the vetting criteria addresses whether there is a commitment and opportunity to Buy America and manufacture preferentially in California, and if not then in the United States, especially as it impacts jobs and careers.
If DOE Hub funding becomes available while a production project is under construction, will the funding still be granted?
Yes, Phase 3 and 4 funding can still be granted if the project is selected for the hub proposal, ARCHES receives 100% of the DOE funding it requests for Phases 3 and 4, and DOE agrees. Note that funding received prior to Phase 3 project funding would not be available for this use, as the project would already be in Phase 3. Any private funds used for the project after the award and before DOE funds become available could be considered cost-share contingent on DOE approval.
What is the difference between "Cost share amount" and "Funding requested amount," terms mentioned in the Project Metrics section?
“Funding requested” is the amount of funding each project requests from ARCHES (which can include federal, state, or other funds). Cost share amount refers to an organization’s contributions as cost share, which could come from multiple sources.
What are the date ranges of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter as mentioned in the Project Metrics section?
Spring: March 1 to May 31. Summer: June 1 to August 31. Fall: September 1-November 30. Winter: December 1-February 28 or 29.
What is the maximum funding allowable per project?
There is no set maximum, as each project will be unique in terms of ARCHES participation, cost share amounts, team composition, and scope. The funding will be divided across many sectors because ARCHES is envisioned as a cross-cutting statewide initiative.
Can the proposals due on Dec. 23, 2022 include attachments? If so, are the attachments excluded from the page limit?
No attachments are allowed. All information must be included in the proposal and will count toward the page limit. For example, if you want to include an image, it must be in the proposal and not attached as a separate file. Selected projects eventually will need to provide attachments required by the FOA in future steps.
Can we request funding for opex costs as well as capex?
Yes. As stated by the FOA, Phase 4 will be project operation and monitoring.
Should our project costs consider the DOE mandated contingency reserve for phases 3 and 4?
Yes, please include your proposed contingency reserve in your total budget and detail it in your financial plan.
Is the responding party to the ARCHES concept paper the financial partner of the project? If not, can this be determined by the April 7 final submission deadline? We have parties to this project who would be responsible for development that are contemplating a JV partnership. We want to ensure potential funds to be awarded could be allocated to the developing party regardless if they are the submitting entity of the concept paper.
Yes, if a new JV is formed but materially composed on those who submitted the project then the JV could be awarded the funding and be included in the DOE proposal after vetting.