Yes. To apply for some projects, you need to submit proposals separately for each project. If you plan to apply for some projects, you must establish a scheme which enables you to complete the projects within the project duration even though you would implement some projects simultaneously.

Yes, any overseas companies are eligible for application independently as long as they satisfy the application requirements set forth in article 5, Application requirements of the Guidelines for applying to the “Validation of technologies for contaminated water management project”, 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 disclose the contents of proposals submitted by applicants to anyone during and after the evaluation/review. Because conclusion of the non-disclosure agreement is one of the conditions of appointment of the members of the review committee, they won’t release the information obtained through the evaluation/review process as well.
Nevertheless, you have to be noted that the information which has not been classified as confidential might be subject to disclosure as a response to the request for disclosure.
For the details of the private policy of this RFP, please refer to the “Private Policy” on the website below.
[URL]
https://en.dccc-program.jp/files/20150623PMSE.pdf

No, we will not compensate for any costs for the application.

If you need supplemental information, please contact us. We cannot assure we can release all of the information you need; and we will release the information if it is available. The following page shows a sample of the information released by us.
https://dccc-program.jp/files/20140711/en/index.html

Furthermore, you can consult the “Plan of technical strategy for decommissioning of TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station – toward Mid-and-Long-Term Roadmap 2015” by NDF, which shows where fuel debris and FP lie and the activities steps in the case of submerged approach, etc.
https://www.dd.ndf.go.jp/english/strategic-plan/index2016.html

An organization is also eligible as long as it satisfies the application requirements of stipulated in Item 5 in the Guidelines.

We can accept proposals submitted by JVs. If you would like to apply for this project as a JV, please describe the leading company and the implementation scheme on the designated form.

We will not accept any proposals not using the stipulated submission forms. Any other media you may use will NOT be taken into account for the paper screening.

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

The leading organization takes charge of establishment of the implementation plan, preparation and submission of the accomplishment report. All of the organizations composing the JV must be investigated for the settlement of the subsidy amount. As a general rule, the subsidy will be paid to the leading organization.

The application documents shall firstly be evaluated by PMO in the paper examination; and applicants’ oral presentations (in case it is necessary) shall be evaluated by the review committee consisting of experts.

We are going to release the adopted projects and the name of the adopted entities (or the name of the leading company of the adopted JV) on our dedicated website. To ensure the fairness, the names of the review committee members will not be disclosed.

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.

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.

The number of proposal(s) scheduled to be adopted is as follows:
Comprehensive proposal: One
Partial proposal: More than 1

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 other than for the purpose of their evaluation.

5 points are allocated for every basic point; and the remaining points are allocated for the additional points.

Because of the nature of this project, that is, it is not a commercial transaction but subsidized project, no contracts will be concluded between PMO and the implementing entities; “decision on the grant of subsidies” can be compared to the contract. The grant of subsidies is scheduled to be decided within 1 through 2 months after the deadline of the application.

The subsidy is going to be paid after completion of the project and the settlement of amount procedure.

PMO and implementing entities will have meetings, interim report and final report as well as progress report of the project as necessary. The frequency of meetings depends on the necessity of these meetings and reports.

You can watch the videos of the session in our dedicated website.

The upper limits are different in each project and a comprehensive proposal or a partial proposal. The subsidy amount is fixed and the upper limits are as follows:

Project of Development of Fundamental Technologies for Retrieval of Fuel Debris and Internal Structures
  Comprehensive proposal：4,000,000,000 JPY
  Partial proposal：500,000,000 JPY

Project of Upgrading Approach and System for Retrieval of Fuel Debris and Internal Structures
  Comprehensive proposal：1,500,000,000 JPY
  Partial proposal：500,000,000 JPY

In principle, 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.
However, there are some exemptions; for example, division of the project period into some steps and payment at times when each step is completed and the completion is confirmed. In any case, details of the project, subsidy amount etc. will be decided only after the grant decision and coordination with the PMO and with METI. Therefore, in application, please clearly describe your specific request to the payment method, etc.

Please find the latest information in the “Health Insurance Grade Rate” uploaded to our website (Japanese text only).

Please divide the necessary expenses into (1) labor costs and (2) operating costs (raw materials, consumables, design/fabrication/processing, facility/equipment, goods purchase, research, outsourcing, travel, remunerations, rent/depreciation and other necessities) as described in Exhibit 2 of the Grand Policy for Subsidy.

The proposal should include the contents after the interim results. If you are adopted, you will be required to submit the grant application which includes the contents until the interim results.

It is supposed that information will be shared among the entity of comprehensive proposal and the entity of partial proposal at the timing of commencement of the project and other appropriate timings by organizing the in-put/out-put information. PMO will support the coordination of the information sharing, etc., if needed.

For the exchange rate, each subsidized entity’s standard rate will be applied if the entity has its own company rule stipulating it. Otherwise, we use the “basic exchange rate” stipulated by Bank of Japan. Please note that payments shall be made exclusively in Japanese yen.

At this time, the meetings are supposed to be held at the timing of plan establishment and production of the final results; however, it is possible that meetings will be held at the other necessary timings.

The TRL required to be set at “[3] Clarification of tests conditions and specifications for development” must be set before commencement of the elements tests and equipment design and it must be shared with the concerned parties. The TRL required to be set at “[4] Definition of criterion for judgment of degree of objective achievement” must be set at the timing of the proposal.

It is possible that you will be forced to reconsider the input/output information; therefore, please estimate the costs and man-hours in consideration of this possibility. Furthermore, it is possible that you have to amend the project plan if it must be changed drastically.

The “concerned parties” indicate ANRE, NDF, the adopted entity and PMO.

The timing of the compilation of the interim results should be supposed to be done at the end of March, 2016 for your reference.
Please be noted that it is possible that the timing or contents of the interim results could be altered in accordance with the comprehensive coordination with the entity of comprehensive proposal and as a result of the evaluation and confirmation by the concerning organizations.

One of the twelve elements tests is supposed to be a unit of a proposal.

PMO is going to support cooperation between the entity of comprehensive proposal and the entity of partial proposal; however, sensitive information must be protected by the entities themselves properly.

If the method has an experience of cutting blended material which simulates fuel debris, it can be a target of the elements tests.

The dust collection tests must be conducted after evaluation and confirmation of the cutting tests as stipulated.

One of the three approaches must be deemed as a unit of a proposal.

You can focus on one of the three units; however, it is desirable that all of the units will be the subject of your consideration.

You can make a proposal deploying combination of some approaches as a partial proposal as long as it is feasible.