Yes, any overseas companies are eligible for application independently as long as they satisfy the requirements set forth in article 6. Application Requirements in the Guidelines of the Subsidy Program, such as “(The entities) ensure organizations for properly conducting the relevant subsidized project.”, “(The entities) have the capacity, knowledge and experience required for conducting the relevant subsidized project”, etc.

METI and PMO will NOT use all the application documents submitted for any purposes other than the evaluation/review. And we’ve made a non-disclosure agreement with all the members of the review committee. Nevertheless, you have to be noted that the information which has not been classified as confidential will be subject to disclosure as a response to the legal request for disclosure.
For the details of the private policy of this RFP, please refer to the “About Privacy Policy” on the website below.
[URL]
https://en.dccc-program.jp/files/20230224PMSE.pdf

No, any costs for the application are not compensated.

If you need supplemental information, please contact us. We cannot assure we can provide all of the information you need; and if we provide the information, we will release this information on the website.

Any organizations satisfying all of requirements in Item 6 in the Guidelines are qualified to apply for the subsidies.

Applications from consortia are also acceptable. In that case, a managing legal entity must be appointed out of each consortium and submit the project proposal application form.

Paper screening will be implemented for applicants who use application documents stipulated in the Guidelines. It will not be accepted the applications which do not follow our Application Procedure (Item 8 in the Guidelines).

There is no limit of the number of pages for Application Form1 and From2.

No. Applicants must find suitable partners and establish the implementation scheme by yourself.

A managing entity (or managing organization) appointed out of each consortium arranges and submits the implementation plan and the project results. And the inspection will be implemented to the company (or organization) each.

Yes, It is acceptable.

If the proposal has been adopted, grant decision and the commencement of the project will have been implemented after the submission of the grant application and the consultation with PMO have been completed. Please assume the commencement date of the project with the considering for the schedule of the review committee described in the Guideline.

Please describe the financial basis of the applicant. It is not necessary to refer to the outsourcing company.

Please write name of contact person for this proposal in Form 1. And then please write representative telephone number and e-mail address of your organization in Form 2 (Annex 2) Outline of your organization.

Please declare meeting qualification requirements etc. in Form 3. Please write what information you would like to obtain from other subsidized projects etc. and you can provide to other subsidized projects etc. during the implementation of the project in Form 4.

If you have an approval of Export administration regulations from METI, please submit the documents to be able to recognize the approval.

Please mark “〇” to the item “Not Required” and also fill in the reasons to “state reasons” too.

After the end of the project, please attach the document of the project implementation scheme in “7. Requirement Conditions for Grant Decision (5)” to the results report. It doesn’t need to include it in the application documents.

Regarding outsourcing costs, please describe the breakdown for each work item scheduled for each subcontractor.

When applying, it is not necessary to describe TEPCO in this chart.

If the subcontractors has not been determined, you may state that it is undetermined. If the subcontractors has been determined, please enter the name of the company or organization. There is no problem that the subcontractor is changed after the application.

Regarding the project implementation organization, it doesn’t need to describe all project members. And it is okay to describe only a career profile of project leader. However, you can describe career profiles of other project members in the case when you find it your advantage to do so considering “3. Project implementation organization” in “Criteria for reviewing proposals and allocation of points for items to be reviewed”.

The application documents shall be evaluated by the review committee consisting of the external experts. If necessary, paper screening and presentation evaluation shall be also implemented.

Yes. You can add supporting explanation at the presentation evaluation.

Regarding the presentation evaluation, remote online presentation evaluation using web conference system is considered as COVID-19 countermeasures. Details will be informed after the paper screening.

Usually, 20 minutes for the presentation and then 30 minutes for Q&A will be allocated for each applicant. However, the allocated time may be changed due to the number of the applicants.

This project is financed by Japanese governmental budget and is implemented in accordance with Japanese scheme and in compliance with Japanese laws. However, any Japanese companies will not be treated preferentially in the review process.

The “basic point” refers to the conditions which must absolutely be met; and the “additional points” refer to the items which give additional points if the contents of the proposal are excellent. Please note that if you fail to meet a “basic points” condition, you will be disqualified.

Because conclusion of the non-disclosure agreement is one of the conditions of appointment of the members of the review committee, they won’t make use of the application documents for any other purpose other than for evaluation.

We will inform the applicant who has passed the paper screening as soon as possible. The review committee is planned to be held in late March, 2023.
Please refer to the following URL.
[URL]
https://en.dccc-program.jp/4827
Detailed schedule will be informed after the paper screening.

Regarding the project “Development of Analysis and Estimation Technology for Characterization of Fuel Debris” and “Research and Development of Processing and Disposal of Solid Waste (Preliminary Investigation of Technological Option to Establish Flexible and Reasonable Waste Management)”, the number of planned adoption is one or more, including partial proposals. Regarding the project “Research and Development of Processing and Disposal of Solid Waste (Research and Development of Solidification of Slurry with Cement and Alkali Activated Material)”, the number of planned adoption is one or more.
Regarding the project “Development of Technologies for Work Environmental Improvement in Reactor Building (Development of Exposure Reduction Technologies by Improved Functional Digitalization of Environment and Radioactive Source Distribution)”, “Development of Investigation Technologies of Inside of RPV (Advancement of Processing Technologies in Access-from-Top Investigation Method and Development of Access-from-Bottom Investigation Method)”, and “Development of Safety System (Acquisition of Dust Dispersion Data)”, the number of planned adoption is one.

Universities and research institutes in Fukushima-Prefecture are subject to the additional points if they are assumed to contribute to the revitalizing the local economy in Fukushima-Prefecture or Hamadori area and other region in Fukushima prefecture. However, it is judged at the presentation evaluation by the review committee whether or not they are corresponding to criteria for reviewing proposals. In addition, it is not subject to the additional points if the applicant’s office and that related facilities etc. just have the address in Fukushima-Prefecture or Hamadori area and other region in Fukushima prefecture.

It is acceptable to describe it in the proposal documents if it is assumed to utilize the local companies which run business in Fukushima-Prefecture or Hamadori area and other region in Fukushima prefecture.

Specific names of companies and organizations are not absolute necessity. However, it may not be subject to the additional points if it is unknown that the companies and organizations run business in Fukushima-Prefecture or Hamadori area and other region in Fukushima prefecture.

Basically, the payment will be made after the subsidy project has been completed and then final inspection has been conducted. However, the payment by estimate may be permitted depending on the situation.

In principle, the subsidies are paid after the project is completed. Depends on the situation, the payment by estimate before the completion of the project is also possible. If you would like to arrange the payment by estimate, please contact PMO after the proposal has been adopted.

Please see the latest list of the health insurance costs which is posted on our web site.

The paid amount will be settled after expiration of the project period, confirmation of the project result, and inspection for settlement of the amount by PMO. This procedure is formulated by Japanese accounting rules.

As described in Exhibit 2 of the Grant Policy for Subsidy, the expenses covered by the subsidy have to classify (1) labor costs and (2) operating costs. The specific items of (2) operating costs are raw materials, consumables, design/fabrication/processing, facility/equipment, goods purchase, research, outsourcing, travel, remuneration, rent/depreciation and other necessities.

It is not necessary to divide the budget by year. And, it is possible to make an order with a contract period that exceeds over fiscal year.

Currently, the date of Grant Decision is not yet fixed. After the decision of adoption, Grant Decision will be made promptly once submission of the grant application and the consultation with PMO have been completed.

No, this subsidized project doesn’t fall under the “large-scale subsidy program designated in public solicitation guideline, etc.” in Subsidized Project Administration Manual.

The subsidized entity may decide whether to contain the clause “Payment based on Settlement” in the commission fee/outsourcing cost according to the contents of the work to be ordered.

The “project administration” described in “1. Purpose of Project” refers to the project management by TEPCO for the decommissioning works of the Fukushima Daiichi NPS. On the other hand, “project management” in “3. Operation of Research and Development (7)” refers to the project management by TEPCO to implement this subsidy project.

Please hold the discussion promptly about the project implementation plan with related parties after the grant decision. And please proceed the project with discussions appropriately with related parties.

We assume that the subsidized entity and the concerned organizations will share the information by the compilation of input and output information. If necessary, PMO will cooperate in coordinating between them, etc.

At the proposal, tentative plans of Input/Output Information are available to submit. And also requests of sharing Input/Output Information is possible even though the information which has not included in the input information at the time of the proposal.

For the proposal, the tentative plan is available to submit.

As a designated competitive bidding or a free contract, it is able to order the project related outsourcing works to the local companies in Hamadori area and other specific region in Fukushima.

For the exchange rate, if the subsidized entity has an internal rule of exchange rate, it can be applied. Otherwise, the basic exchange rate of Japanese currency specified by the Bank of Japan will be used for the project. Please be noted that the subsidies are paid in JPY after the amount of the subsidy has ultimately been settled.

If the subsidized entity sets foreign exchange rate by internal rule, please use the rate. Forward foreign exchange contract can also be allowed.

PMO may request to share the necessary information for the project implementation and consultation. The information sharing in a timely and appropriate manner will be very appreciated for our further positive cooperation and collaboration of the project.

As it is described in “3. Operation of research and development (8) Progress report “, the subsidized entity must arrange and submit the reports of progress situation and final report, etc. to PMO on request.

For reasons of financial efficiency, in principle, subcontractor shall be subject to general competition or it is necessary to prepare a statement for selection stating clearly the reasons for selection. So, sole-source procurement cannot be accepted only by specifying the subcontractor’s name.

Please set the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) by yourself considering the technical details of your proposal.

The entities are the Agency for National Resources and Energy, and Tokyo Electric Power Company.

For information exchange between the operating entities, one-side or mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement need to be concluded. PMO will conduct the necessary coordination to arrange the agreement.

The applicant doesn’t need to consult with TEPCO for the submission of the application. PMO will introduce TEPCO contact person for grant application. After the grant decision has been adopted, the adopted entities can make coordination with TEPCO.

Regarding the procedure for grant application for the subsidy, the contact entity is Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. (MRI). MRI proceeds the procedure of grant decision in consultation with Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation (NDF). For more details, please refer to “Grant Policy for Subsidy for the Project of Decommissioning, Contaminated water and Treated Water Management”.

It is planed to hold the interim or final report meeting around once every six months. The frequency of concerned organization meeting and project review meeting would be fixed based on the consultation with PMO after the grant decision.

Each meeting would be held separately. The contents reported at the each meeting would be fixed based on the consultation with PMO after the grant decision.

For other options, please prepare them at the planning stage as necessary at your discretion.

In “11. (1) Classification of Expenses Covered by Subsidy”, the cost eligible for the subsidy is as follows.
Expenses for raw materials, consumables, design/fabrication/processing, facility/equipment(except for items corresponding to equipment expenses and rental and hire fees), research, outsourcing, other necessities (except for items corresponding to meeting expenses and assistant personnel costs).

If you plan to work with the local company in the Hamadori area and other region in Fukushima prefecture but the subcontractor is under consideration as of the submission of grant application, please describe in the application form about the contents of order work and the candidate which plans to order.

Yes, the presentations and report materials in English is available.

Yes, it is possible. Please inform it to PMO in advance as possible.

As a general rule, please specify in the contract when placing an order that you will cooperate to the survey and not consider an entity which is subject to suspension of grant as the other party of the contract.

The Grant Decision may be cancelled based to the conclusion of the investigation and hearing by METI and other concerned organization in case the default meets Article 20 (3) in Grant Policy for Subsidy, “the Subsidized Project Operating Entity has engaged in fraudulence, negligence, or any other inappropriate conduct with respect to the Subsidized Project”. If there are some changes in the project plan and the granted subsidy amount due to extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the subsidized entity, please consult with PMO as soon as possible.

If there are some changes in the project plan due to extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the subsidized entity, please consult promptly with PMO to discuss how to respond to the change of plan and the accident report.

Applicant can submit the application form and the other related documents by email without seal and signature. In that case, “Name of manager (responsible person)”, “Name of contact person in charge” and “Contact number of person in charge” have to be mentioned in the application documents. PMO may contact you for confirmation if necessary.

Utilities cost could be covered as expenses if it is judged to be used for the implementation contents of the subsidized project and also the amount used only for the subsidized project is clearly classified. Please consult with PMO about the evidence for the judgment.

The labor costs of student part-time workers and secretary at commissioned contractor could be covered if they are necessary for implementing the project or summarizing the project result.

Please set the ratio after comparing with the standard of relevant business categories and adjusting between subsidized project operating entity and its contractor.

Yes. It could be covered by the subsidies.

None

It could be covered as the expenses if it is judged as necessary to implement the subsidized project.

The project result will be made public as soon as possible after the project is completed at the end of March 2023. The progress status as of the end of February 2023 has been made public. Please refer to the following URL(Japanese text only).
[URL]
https://www.tepco.co.jp/decommission/information/committee/roadmap_progress/pdf/2023/d230222_13-j.pdf

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