CHIPS Program Office Releases Additional Funding Application Guidance

The CHIPS Program Office (CPO) released the following materials to provide additional guidance for CHIPS Act funding applicants.

• Pre-Application – The pre-application is optional but strongly recommended because it will enable the CPO to start a dialogue with applicants and provide feedback prior to the submission of full applications. Leading-edge project applicants may submit pre-applications starting March 31, while current-generation, mature-node, and back-end applicants may do so starting May 1. Pre-application materials include the following:
  • Pre-Application Instructions (PDF)
  • Pre-Application Sources and Uses Template (Excel file)
  • Pre-Application Example Financial Model White Paper (PDF) – A how-to guide for applicants preparing to submit a pre-application.
  • Pre-Application Example Financial Model (Excel file) – This workbook serves as an example and/or template for completing the Summary Financials for Each Project section of the pre-application. The model is an example and not required as part of the submission.
  • Environmental Questionnaire (PDF) – The questionnaire is optional for the pre-application but required for a full application. Responses to the questionnaire will enable the Department to assess the likely level of application review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) early in the process.

• Full Application – The full application will be merit reviewed and include comprehensive project proposals. The earliest submission date for leading-edge applicants is March 31 while current-generation, mature-node, and back-end applications may be submitted starting June 26. Materials include the following:
  • Cover Page Instructions (PDF)
  • Incentives Request Instructions (PDF)
  • Guiding Principles for Full Application Financial Model(PDF) – A set of guiding principles on financial model structure, level of granularity, metrics, and scenario analysis for projects included in the application. This paper provides details and direction beyond those outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
  • Sources and Uses of Funds Instructions (PDF)
  • Full Application Offline Template Sources and Uses (Excel file)
  • Full Application Offline Incentives Request (Excel file)
  • Environmental Questionnaire (PDF) – The questionnaire is optional for the pre-application but required for a full application. Responses to the questionnaire will enable the U.S. Department of Commerce to assess the likely level of pre-application review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) early in the process.

• Workforce Development – Applications must include a workforce development plan aligned with the Biden Administration’s Good Jobs Principles for recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining a diverse and skilled manufacturing and construction workforce. The plan must include provisions to proactively include women and economically disadvantaged individuals and to engage with community partners, including leading labor unions, other workforce development organizations, and educational institutions. The plan must also provide for access to affordable, accessible, reliable, and high-quality childcare for facility and construction workers. The CHIPS Program Office has released a Workforce Development Planning Guide as a resource for NOFO applicants.

The CHIPS Program Office also has announced a series of webinars in which prospective applicants will be able to ask CPO officials questions about the topics outlined above.

Please contact SEMI Global Advocacy and Public Policy with any questions at advocacy@semi.org.

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John Cooney is Vice President of Global Advocacy and Public Policy at SEMI.