H2 Refuel H-Prize Final Guidelines Update, 53286-53293 [2015-21733]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53286-53293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21733]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


H2 Refuel H-Prize Final Guidelines Update

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of Updates to the H2 Refuel H-Prize Competition 
Guidelines.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On October 28, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced 
in the Federal Register the $1 million H2 Refuel H-Prize competition, 
allowing teams from across the United States to compete to develop 
systems that generate and dispense hydrogen from resources commonly 
available to residences (electricity or natural gas) for use in homes, 
community centers, businesses or similar locations, to supplement the 
current infrastructure roll-out and reduce barriers to using hydrogen 
fuel cell electric vehicles. The Federal Register notice announcing the 
competition included the H2 Refuel H-Prize Competition Guidelines. The 
purpose of today's notice is to update the H2 Refuel H-Prize 
Competition Guidelines. Substantive changes in this update provide 
additional information on communication expectations for finalists, 
expand the process used to resolve ties, correct a typographical error 
in the dispensing time criteria table, define how availability will be 
calculated, and provide a method to determine a winner in the event 
that no entry receives at least a minimum score of one for each of the 
scoring criteria (not including bonus criteria). In addition, language 
is added for clarification where necessary. The section on the draft 
guideline public comments and responses is deleted. Finally, minor 
errors are corrected and contact information is updated.

DATES: 
--Competition opened--October 29, 2014.
--Competition ends--October 31, 2016: Data will be analyzed to 
determine winner Award of $1 million prize, if the Panel of Judges 
determines that there is a winning entry.

    For more information regarding the dates relating to this 
competition, see, section III. Competition requirements and process, 
Key Dates, in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: The H-Prize Web site is https://hydrogenprize.org, where 
updates and announcements will be posted throughout the competition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions may be directed to--
    Technical information: Katie Randolph at 240-562-1759 or by email 
at HPrize@ee.doe.gov.
    Prize contest: Emanuel Wagner, Contest Manager, Hydrogen Education 
Foundation, at 202-457-0868 x360 or by email at EWAGNER@ttcorp.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    Fuel cells powered by hydrogen from renewable or low-carbon 
resources can lead to substantial energy savings and reductions in 
imported petroleum and carbon emissions. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles 
(FCEVs) are much more efficient than today's gasoline vehicles, and 
when fueled with hydrogen, produce only water vapor at the tailpipe. 
The hydrogen fuel can be generated from a range of domestic sources. 
While the commercial sale of FCEVs is rapidly approaching, 
infrastructure remains a major challenge, with only approximately 50 
fueling stations in the United States, only 10 of which are operating 
as public stations.
    The H-Prize was authorized under section 654 of the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-140). As efforts to 
build a hydrogen fueling station infrastructure are getting underway, 
the H2 Refuel H-Prize is intended to incentivize the development of 
small-scale systems for non-commercial fueling to supplement the 
larger-scale infrastructure development.
    The H2 Refuel H-Prize anticipates award of a $1 million prize to 
the top refueler system entry that can produce hydrogen using 
electricity and/or natural gas, energy sources commonly available to 
residential locations, and dispense the hydrogen to a vehicle, 
providing at least 1 kg per refueling. Systems considered would be at 
the home scale and able to generate and dispense 1-5 kg H2/
day for use at residences, or the medium scale, generating and 
dispensing 5-50 kg H2/day. Medium scale systems would serve 
a larger community with multiple users daily, such as a large apartment 
complex or retail centers to fuel small fleets of vehicles (e.g., light 
duty automobiles, forklifts or tractors).
    Interested parties can register and find more information, updates 
and pages where teams can discuss the prize at the H-Prize Web site: 
https://hydrogenprize.org. The Hydrogen Education Foundation (HEF) is 
currently administering the prize for the U.S. Department of Energy 
(DOE), and DOE will coordinate prize activities with HEF.

[[Page 53287]]

    Teams will have a year to design a system that generates and 
dispenses hydrogen fuel that meets the criteria and identify a location 
where it can be installed and used. Twelve months after the competition 
opens, teams will be required to complete registration and submit 
system designs and blue prints, plans for installation, and preliminary 
data to demonstrate that the system satisfies the minimum criteria (see 
Criteria section). Teams will also need to provide documented evidence 
of cooperation from the installation site. Of the teams that meet all 
of the minimum criteria, the top entries will be selected as finalists 
to enter the testing phase. The selected teams will then have seven 
months to install and begin operating their systems. The systems must 
be compatible with remote monitoring equipment to allow remote 
monitoring for the testing period; compatibility requirements will be 
posted on the H-Prize Web site. Starting 21 months after the 
competition opens, the finalist systems will be remotely monitored and 
tested, and approximately two months of data will be collected. At 
least one on-site visit will be performed to verify data and perform 
tests that cannot be done remotely. Teams must also provide requested 
information to a DOE designated entity for independent verification of 
the cost of the system and the cost of the generated hydrogen. The 
scoring criteria will be ranked and weighted.

                            Proposed Timeline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Current tentative date                      Activity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 2014........................  Draft Guidelines posted for public
                                     comment.
April 2014........................  Comment period closes.
October 2014......................  Competition opens.
                                    H-Prize Website opens, including an
                                     online system to facilitate teaming
                                     and partnerships.
                                    Teams design systems, collect data,
                                     identify installation location, and
                                     registers for the prize ahead of
                                     data submission deadline.
September 2015....................  Rules and Guidelines updated.
October 2015......................  Preliminary data submission
                                     deadline.
                                    Teams will submit data, provide
                                     designs and blueprints and
                                     information about installation
                                     site, to indicate that the system
                                     is capable of meeting the base
                                     criteria.
December 2015.....................  Finalist teams are announced--go to
                                     testing stage.
                                    Finalist Teams install systems and
                                     get them up and running.
July 2016.........................  Remote monitoring equipment will be
                                     installed by the designated data
                                     analysis team to begin system
                                     testing.
October 2016......................  Competition ends--data is analyzed
                                     to determine winner.
December 2016 (tentative).........  Anticipated winner announcement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Prize Criteria and Testing

Finalist Selection Phase

    Twelve months after the competition opens, teams interested in 
competing must have completed registering for the competition and 
submit all required information. To be considered, an entry must meet 
the initial selection criteria defined below. Teams will be required to 
submit data that demonstrates the system's ability to meet the 
indicated criteria. The top teams to provide convincing evidence that 
the entry could satisfy the minimum criteria will be selected as 
finalists for testing. Specific instructions will be posted on the H-
Prize Web site detailing the required information. In addition to the 
required technical criteria data, teams will submit system descriptions 
and preliminary designs and installation concepts which will be 
evaluated by an expert panel to determine if the entries are likely to 
meet reasonable usability, cost and safety criteria. Usability refers 
to the ability of the system to be installed and used at the intended 
locations (e.g., considering footprint and noise), and to be easily 
operated by the average user (e.g., with minimum training and time). 
Because a goal of the H-Prize is to advance commercial applications of 
hydrogen energy technologies, the potential of the systems to 
ultimately be commercialized will also be evaluated, and a description 
of a pathway to commercial production of the systems, including 
manufacturing, will be requested. To evaluate the potential safety of 
the system, certain information will be requested, including a safety 
plan and a hazard analysis; specific instructions will be available at 
the H-Prize Web site. A safety page on the H-Prize Web site will 
provide updated information on safety issues and requirements for the 
safety plan and hazard analysis. To be selected as a finalist, 
contestant designs, installation details and safety plans must be 
judged adequately safe by a panel of safety professionals.

                     Minimum/Maximum Criteria Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Criteria                     Home              Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum dispensing pressure.....                 350 bar.
                                 ---------------------------------------
Maximum dispensing time           10 hours..........  60 minutes.
 (standard fill).
Min. hydrogen dispensed per day.  1 kg..............  5 kg.
                                 ---------------------------------------
Hydrogen purity.................  Meets SAE J2719 (Hydrogen Fuel Quality
                                          for Fuel Cell Vehicles).
Fill method.....................    Compliant with relevant codes (for
                                       automobiles, SAE J2601 Fueling
                                      Protocols for Light Duty Gaseous
                                       Hydrogen Surface Vehicles) and
                                    ensures that delivered hydrogen does
                                        not exceed the pressure and
                                     temperature limits of the vehicle
                                               storage tank.
Safety..........................      Meets relevant safety codes and
                                    standards for installation in target
                                                 location.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 53288]]

Finalist Competition

    The finalist teams will have seven months to install their systems 
at a location of their choosing before testing begins. Among other 
considerations, entries must meet the safety codes and standards in 
effect at the installation location appropriate to the system. Further, 
all required permits and approvals must be received prior to system 
operations.
    Each entry will be scored in six different technical and cost 
criteria:

--Dispensing pressure
--Dispensing time
--Number of standard fills per day
--Tested availability
--Total installed system cost (capital + installation)
--Direct user cost per kg
    The criteria and scoring ranges are listed in more detail below.
    Testing for the technical criteria will be performed remotely over 
a period of 2 to 3 months, with at least one on-site inspection to 
verify data and perform testing that cannot be done remotely. Summary 
level testing results will be published. The base criteria listed in 
Minimum/Maximum Criteria Table will be tested to ensure that all 
entries meet those requirements. A standard fill is defined as the 
delivery of 1 kg of hydrogen to a vehicle tank.
    The cost criteria will be evaluated by an independent auditing 
entity. Teams will be required to submit cost information for the 
system entered into the competition, such as the bill of materials for 
the system, required parts for installation and system operating costs 
during the testing period, including information such as invoices and 
receipts for the equipment and other purchases. Specific details on 
required information will be provided to finalist teams after 
selection.
    Entries will receive scores for the tested criteria as described 
below, with different multipliers for each of the criteria. When 
testing is complete, the data will be analyzed to determine scores. 
Once all results have been analyzed, judges will evaluate the results 
and determine the scores based on the published scoring criteria, and 
confirm entry eligibility based on the base criteria and eligibility 
requirements. After resolving any ties (see tie resolution process 
below), the eligible team with the highest score will be the winner.
    Once selected, finalists are expected to communicate with HEF and 
DOE throughout the competition about any events that impact ability of 
the system to be completed and installed, and meet eligibility 
requirements by the beginning of testing (e.g., major delays in 
installation, safety events); and/or complete the testing by the 
October 31, 2016 deadline.

Installation Site Criteria

    Any site in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia can 
be used for the installation of the refueler, as long as there is 
access for installing equipment for remote monitoring, at least one on-
site visit for in-depth testing, and at least one visit by the press 
and public.
    To meet testing requirements, the fueling system should be used at 
an average of at least 50% planned capacity per week (e.g., for a home 
system designed to dispense 1 kg/day, at least four 1-kg ``fills'' per 
week; for a community system designed to produce 20 kg/day, it should 
dispense at least 70 1-kg ``fills'' per week). If on-site hydrogen use 
is below this level, simulated fills can be used for testing. Simulated 
fill protocols will be posted on the H-Prize Web site before testing 
begins.
    Entries must meet the safety codes and standards in effect at the 
installation location. Teams are encouraged to consider the relevant 
SAE, ASME and NFPA codes and standards.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Codes and standards to consider include but are not limited 
to SAE J2719, ASME B31-12, ASME B31-3, ASME BPV Code, NFPA 2 and 
NFPA 70. Depending on the system, some codes and standards may not 
apply.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prize Criteria

    The criteria were developed through discussion with experts in the 
field, including members of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory 
Committee, other DOE offices, and federal agencies, and from responses 
to a Request for Information (DE-FOA-0000907: RFI--Home Hydrogen 
Refueler H-Prize Topic, https://www1.eere.energy.gov/financing/solicitations_detail.html?sol_id=600) and public comments on the draft 
criteria (79 FR 15737).
    Each of the criteria is assigned a 1-5 point scale connected to 
different ranges. The initial evaluation for winner selection will only 
consider entries that receive at least the minimum score for each 
category (not including bonus criteria). In the event that no entry 
receives at least the minimum score for each category, the process used 
to determine the winner is defined in the Addendum to the Guidelines 
below. If any entry receives at least the minimum score for all 
categories, the Addendum will not be used and the winner will be 
determined as described below. For some criteria, the ranges for home 
and community systems may be different. A score multiplying factor will 
be used to weight the different criteria.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Dispensing pressure
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Score                      Home              Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................            350 bar or higher.
2...............................            400 bar or higher.
3...............................            500 bar or higher.
4...............................            600 bar or higher.
5...............................    700 bar or higher (ultimate goal).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dispensing Pressure refers to the pressure of the hydrogen 
dispensed to the vehicle. Intermediate pressures are listed to 
incentivize advancements towards low-cost systems that can meet the 
ultimate target of 700 bar.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Dispensing time
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Score                      Home              Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................  10 hours/kg or      60 minutes/kg or
                                   less.               less.
2...............................  8 hours/kg or less  30 minutes/kg or
                                                       less.
3...............................  5 hours/kg or less  15 minutes/kg or
                                                       less.
4...............................  2 hours/kg or less  10 minutes/kg or
                                                       less.
5...............................  30 minutes/kg or    3 minutes/kg or
                                   less.               less.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dispensing time is the time required to dispense a standard fill of 
hydrogen to a vehicle, including time required to connect the system to 
the vehicle and begin the hydrogen flow. Home systems may have longer 
fueling times, up to overnight, while multi-user systems are expected 
to have shorter fueling times.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Number of standard fills per day
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Score                      Home              Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................  1 or more.........  5 or more.
2...............................  2 or more.........  10 or more.
3...............................  3 or more.........  20 or more.
4...............................  4 or more.........  40 or more.
5...............................  5 or more.........  up to 50.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The standard fills per day will be based on the highest number of 
actual or simulated fills completed in a 24 hour period.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Tested availability
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Score                      Home              Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................              80% or higher.
2...............................              85% or higher.
3...............................              90% or higher.
4...............................              95% or higher.
5...............................              98% or higher.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Availability will be tested over a period of two to three months, 
during

[[Page 53289]]

which time system usage will need to be at least 50% of the planned 
capacity per week. Any time spent on repairs or non-routine maintenance 
during the testing period will count as non-available, even if 
compensated for (e.g., repairs done during scheduled down-time, or 
using stored hydrogen). The following equation will be used to 
calculate availability:
A = (168-Tr-Td-Te)/168
(for weekly calculations; 24hours/day x 7 days = 168 hours)
Tr = repair time (time (h) between when a repair or non-planned 
maintenance intervention is initiated and the system is returned to 
operational status).
Td = delay time (time (h) between when a failure occurs [system can no 
longer fill or generate hydrogen] and a repair is initiated).
Te= Maintenance time in excessive of original planned maintenance time
    Finalists will be required to collect detailed maintenance logs. A 
template will be provided at a future date. Contestants must provide a 
preventative/planned maintenance schedule including anticipated 
downtime and cost (labor and materials) for each planned maintenance 
event during the submission phase. Planned maintenance cannot exceed 50 
hours over the two months. Any maintenance exceeding the original 
planned amount will be counted against availability in the equation 
above as Te.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total installed system cost (capital + installation)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Score                      Home              Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................  $25k/kg/day or      $15k/kg/day or
                                   less.               less.
2...............................  $20k/kg/day or      $12.5k/kg/day or
                                   less.               less.
3...............................  $15k/kg/day or      $10k/kg/day or
                                   less.               less.
4...............................  $10k/kg/day or      $7.5k/kg/day or
                                   less.               less.
5...............................  $5k/kg/day or less  $5k/kg/day or
                                                       less.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Installed System Cost will be based on the actual cost for 
the system equipment (including balance of plant to the nozzle 
interface) as well as the installation costs. To eliminate installation 
cost variations based on geographic location or demonstration site type 
(e.g., actual home or community site vs. lab installation), DOE will 
have installation costs estimated by an independent entity based on the 
system feedstock (i.e., natural gas or electricity), capacity, fuel 
pressure, type (community vs. home), etc. The total cost for scoring 
will be based on the amount of hydrogen dispensed per day, up to the 
upper range for the system category (5 kg/day for the home system, 50 
kg/day for the community system)--for example, a home system designed 
and demonstrated to dispense 1 kg/day with a total installed system 
cost of $24,000 would score 1 point, while a system designed to 
dispense 2 kg/day at the same cost would receive a score of 3. Teams 
will be expected to provide information such as the bill of materials 
for all components. Details of the specific information requested will 
be provided to the teams selected for testing. If the system proposed 
provides heat and/or power in addition to hydrogen for refueling, the 
total installed system cost of the entire system will be considered 
when scoring this criterion. Integrated systems that provide heat and/
or power in addition to hydrogen for refueling will be awarded bonus 
points (see bonus points below).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Direct user cost per kg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Score                      Home              Community
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................               $20 or less.
2...............................               $17 or less.
3...............................               $14 or less.
4...............................               $11 or less.
5...............................                $8 or less.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Direct user cost per kg will be based on feedstock inputs and 
actual operations and maintenance costs during the testing period, 
divided by the amount of hydrogen that is produced and used. The direct 
user cost per kg excludes the capital and installation costs, which are 
included in the total installed system cost category. Feedstock cost 
inputs will be based on actual usage, using a single price for all 
entries for each input to eliminate regional variation, based on the 
EIA 2014 projections for average price to all users: $0.098/kWh for 
electricity and $6.60/million BTU for natural gas. A single price for 
water will also be set and used to calculate the direct user costs. All 
generated and used hydrogen is counted in determining the $/kg--for 
example, a system that generates 10 kg/day, where 4 kg is used to fuel 
vehicles and 5 kg is used in a fuel cell to produce power would divide 
the daily user costs by 9.

Scoring

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Score
                 Scoring criteria category                    multiplier
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dispensing pressure........................................            3
Dispensing time............................................            1
Standard fills per day.....................................            1
Tested Availability........................................            2
Total installed system cost................................            2
Direct user cost per kg....................................            1
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A bonus score of up to 3 points will be awarded for integrated 
systems in order to offset the additional costs associated with adding 
heat and/or power, based on how much heat or power is provided.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Bonus points
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Points                       Heat or power supplied
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1......................................  Supply at least 35 gallons of
                                          hot water per day.
1......................................  Supply at least 25,000 BTU/hr
                                          of space heating.
1......................................  Supply at least 10 kWh
                                          electricity per day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scoring Example

                                     Example A--Makes All the Lowest Scores
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Score
           Criteria category                     Result           Category score    multiplier     Total scores
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dispensing pressure...................  360 bar.................               1               3               3
Dispensing time.......................  8 hours.................               1               1               1
Standard fills per day................  1.......................               1               1               1
Tested Availability...................  81%.....................               1               2               2
Total Installed System Cost...........  $23k/kg.................               1               2               2
Direct user cost per kg...............  $19/kg..................               1               1               1
Bonus categories......................  None....................               0               0               0
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.............................  ........................  ..............  ..............              10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 53290]]


                                      Example B--Mixture of Scoring Levels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Score
           Criteria category                     Result           Category score    multiplier     Total scores
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dispensing pressure...................  475 bar.................               2               3               6
Dispensing time.......................  3 hours.................               3               1               3
Standard fills per day................  3.......................               3               1               3
Tested Availability...................  88%.....................               2               2               4
Total Installed System Cost...........  $18k/kg.................               2               2               4
Direct user cost per kg...............  $11/kg..................               4               1               4
Bonus categories......................  Supplies hot water......               1  ..............               1
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.............................  ........................  ..............  ..............              25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Judging and Testing

    A panel of independent judges will be assembled from experts in 
relevant fields, selected by DOE in consultation with HEF. Judges may 
be selected from organizations such as the Hydrogen Safety Panel, the 
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technical Advisory Committee, National Labs, 
and relevant federal agencies. An independent testing entity will be 
selected to perform remote and on-site technical data collection, and 
an independent auditing oversight entity will collect and analyze the 
cost data.

Tie Resolution Process

    If the results for any of the technical criteria for different 
entries differ by less than the measurement error range, then those 
systems will be considered tied for that category and given the higher 
of the two scores (for example, if the pressure measurement error range 
is 5%, and Entry A has a dispensing pressure of 499 bar and Entry B has 
a pressure of 500 bar, both will be given 3 points for the category).
    If the top entries' total scores are tied, the entry with the 
highest measured pressure will win; if the pressure measurements are 
within the measurement error, the entry with the highest measured 
availability will be selected as the winner. If the availabilities 
measurements are within the measurement error, the system with the most 
standard fills per day will be selected as the winner. If the number of 
standard fills per day is the same, the system with the shortest 
dispensing time will be selected as a winner. Otherwise, the entry with 
the highest score will win.

III. Competition Requirements and Process

Eligibility

    This H-Prize Competition is open to contestants, defined as 
individuals, entities, or teams that meet the following requirements:
    1. Comply with all Registration and H-Prize Competition Rules and 
Requirements as listed in this document and in any updates posted on 
the H-Prize Web site and/or the Federal Register;
    2. In the case of an entity: be organized or incorporated in the 
United States, and maintain for the duration of the H-Prize Competition 
a primary place of business in the United States;
    3. In the case of all individuals (whether participating singly or 
as part of an entity or team): Be a citizen of, or an alien lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence into, the United States as of the date 
of Registration in the H-Prize Competition and maintain that status for 
the duration of the H-Prize Competition;
    4. A team may consist of two or more individuals, entities, or any 
combination of both. All team members listed on the contestant roster 
must meet the requirements of individuals or entities.
    5. Provide the following documentation:
    a. In the case of U.S. Citizens: provide proof of U.S. Citizenship 
with Registration, as follows:
    i. Notarized copy of U.S. Passport, or
    ii. Notarized copies of both a current state-issued photo ID issued 
from one of the 50 States or a U.S. Territory and a birth certificate;
    b. In the case of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence 
in the United States: Provide notarized copy of Permanent Resident Card 
(Form 1-551)(green card) with Registration;
    c. In the case of entities: Provide a copy of the entity formation 
documentation (e.g. Articles of Incorporation) showing the place of 
formation, as well as a self-certification of the primary place of 
business;
    6. The contestant, or any member of a contestant, shall not be a 
Federal entity, a Federal employee acting within the scope of his or 
her employment, or an employee of a National Laboratory acting within 
the scope of his or her employment;
    7. Sign a waiver of claims against the Federal Government and the 
HEF. See 42 U.S.C. 16396(f)(5)(A);
    8. Obtain liability insurance, or satisfactorily demonstrate 
financial responsibility, during the period of the H-Prize Competition. 
See 42 U.S.C. 16396(f)(5)(B)(i);
    9. Name the Federal Government as an additional insured under the 
registered participants' insurance policy and agree to indemnify the 
Federal Government against third party claims. See 42 U.S.C. 
16396(f)(5)(B)(ii);
    10. Teams and Entities:
    a. Each team or entity will designate a team leader as the sole 
point of contact with H-Prize Competition officials.
    b. Team or entity members will be identified at the time of 
Registration on the contestant roster. Members participating on 
multiple teams will be required to disclose participation to each team.
    c. Changes to contestant rosters will be allowed up to 72 hours 
prior to the award presentation, provided citizenship and immigration 
requirements are met.

Registration Process

    After announcement in the Federal Register, registration and all 
required eligibility documentation must be completed through the Web 
site https://hydrogenprize.org no later than one week before the initial 
data submission deadline. Early registration is encouraged.

H-Prize Competition Schedule

    Once registered, teams will receive all notices and rules updates, 
including answers to questions asked by the contestants. The public Web 
site, https://hydrogenprize.org, will also post this same information, 
including publicity about various teams and sponsors. Contestants are 
encouraged to utilize the Web site as a means of highlighting any 
information they would like to convey to the public or potential 
sponsors. There are no entry fees.

[[Page 53291]]

    On October 29, 2015 contestants will be required to submit initial 
data (including information on how the data was gathered and measured) 
and requested financial information for evaluation by a designated 
panel of judges. Instructions for the initial data submission will be 
posted on the Web site and sent electronically to the designated 
contact person for each contestant.
    Testing and evaluations are planned to be completed in October 
2016. The winner will be determined after all testing data has been 
analyzed to determine scoring and any ties resolved as described above. 
DOE plans to select and announce a winner within three months after the 
close of the competition.

Intellectual Property

    Intellectual property rights developed by the contestant for H-
Prize technology are set forth in 42 U.S.C. 16396(f)(4). No parties 
managing the contest, including the U.S. Government, their testing 
laboratories, judges or H-Prize administrators will claim rights to the 
intellectual property derived by a registered contestant as a 
consequence of, or in direct relation to, their participation in this 
H-Prize Competition. The Government and the contestant may negotiate a 
license for the Government to use the intellectual property developed 
by the contestant.

Cancellation and Team Disqualification

    A contestant may be disqualified for the following reasons:
     At the request of the registered individual or team 
leader;
     Failure to meet or maintain eligibility requirements (note 
that at the time of the prize award, if it is determined that a 
contestant has not met or maintained all eligibility requirements, they 
shall be disqualified without regard to H-Prize Competition 
performance);
     Failure to submit required documents or materials on time;
     Fraudulent acts, statements or misrepresentations 
involving any H-Prize participation or documentation; or,
     Violation of any federal, state or local law or 
regulation.
    DOE reserves the right to cancel this prize program at any time 
prior to the completion of system testing.

Liability and Competition Costs

    The Department of Energy, H-Prize, the Hydrogen Education 
Foundation and any sponsoring or supporting organization assume no 
liability or responsibility for accidents or injury related to the 
Prize.
    The entrants are responsible for costs associated with 
participating in the competition including but not limited to 
designing, installing and operating their systems.

Key Dates

--October 29, 2014: Competition opens
--October 29, 2015: Preliminary data submission date
--July 2016: Finalist system testing begins
--October 31, 2016: Competition ends, data will be analyzed to 
determine winner
--December 2016: Anticipated award of $1 million prize, if the Panel of 
Judges determines that there is a winning entry

Addendum

    Since opening the competition, feedback has been received that two 
of the criteria may be overly ambitious and not achievable given 
technology status and competition timeline. As a result, DOE reassessed 
the criteria and determined that the total installed system cost and 
the availability criteria for both home systems and community system 
are very ambitious. Therefore, the following decision tree is provided 
to determine a winner in the event that no finalist receives at least a 
minimum score in each scoring category (scoring criteria does not 
include bonus criteria). In that scenario, the following decision tree 
will be used to determine the winner. If any entry receives at least 
the minimum score for all scoring criteria, the Addendum will not be 
used and the winner will be determined as previously described.
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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    Issued in Washington, DC on August 27, 2015.
Sunita Satyapal,
Fuel Cell Technology Office Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-21733 Filed 9-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-C