[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10072-10074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4429]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Nuclear Energy


Nuclear Energy Financial Assistance Program for University 
Reactor Sharing

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), U.S. Department of Energy 
(DOE), hereby announces that invitations have been sent to all U.S. 
colleges and universities with a licensed, operating nuclear reactor 
that have an interest in making their reactor facility available to 
other educational institutions.
    The objectives of the program are to provide opportunities needed 
by educational institutions, without these facilities, for research, 
education and training of their faculty and students in the nuclear 
sciences and technology. The grants are used to offset costs of 
[[Page 10073]] materials, irradiation services, technical services, 
etc., incurred by the host university. Each grantee is responsible for 
announcing the availability of the reactor sharing program to other 
educational institutions in their geographical region.

DATES: The deadline date for applications is March 24, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Four copies of the application should be submitted to: U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Policy and 
Management, Information and Contract Management Branch, NE-133, 
Washington, D.C. 20585.
    The application should be signed on the cover sheet by the person 
initiating the application and by the authenticating university 
official.
    Telephone inquiries requesting information concerning this 
solicitation should be directed to Mr. E. G. Tourigny (301) 903-3679.
    Completed applications delivered by U.S. Postal Service Express 
Mail, any commercial mail delivery service, or when handcarried by the 
applicant must be submitted to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of 
Nuclear Energy, Office of Policy and Management, Information and 
Contract Management Branch, NE-133, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, 
Maryland 20874.
    Anyone interested in more detailed information may write to the 
address below:

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Facilities 
Division, Technical Support Branch, NE-443, Washington, D.C. 20585 or 
call Area Code 301-903-3679.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Reactor Sharing Program derives its 
statutory authority from the Department of Energy Organization Act, 
Public Law 95-91, which was enacted to provide for the development of 
technologies and processes to reduce total energy consumption and 
enhance energy production. The purpose of this program is to increase 
the availability of university nuclear reactor facilities to nonreactor 
owning colleges or universities and other educational institutions--
(user institutions). This is accomplished by providing grants to 
reactor-owning universities (host institutions). These grants provide 
funds against which reactor operating costs may be charged when the 
facilities are utilized by regionally affiliated user institutions for 
student instruction or for student or faculty research. Under this 
program, allowable reactor operating costs are restricted to the 
categories delineated below under the heading, Financial Arrangements.
    The objectives of the program are to strengthen nuclear science and 
engineering instruction in the curricula of the nonreactor owning 
colleges and universities, as well as to provide research opportunities 
and to enable the application of nuclear analytical techniques by 
faculty and students in the sciences. University reactors are extremely 
versatile neutron sources and research facilities; thus the 
availability of a nuclear reactor contributes particularly and 
significantly to research and educational opportunities at both the 
graduate, undergraduate and precollege levels. DOE anticipates that 
approximately $500,000 will be available from the Office of Nuclear 
Energy for support of these activities during Fiscal Year 1995.
    In accordance with 10 CFR-600.7(b)(1), eligibility for these grants 
is restricted to U.S. colleges and universities with nuclear reactor 
facilities because they have a unique opportunity to enable other 
institutions to participate in important aspects of the Nation's 
nuclear science and engineering educational programs.
    Individual award amounts will be determined by a DOE proposal 
review panel and will be based on (1) availability of the reactor to 
outside users, (2) the type of reactor sharing activities and the 
number of students and/or faculty traditionally served by the proposer, 
and (3) evidence of interest on the part of potential user institutions 
to utilize the proposer's facility during the proposed grant period. 
DOE reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none 
of the applications submitted in response to this invitation. 
Negotiation, award, and administration will be in accordance with the 
DOE Financial Assistance Policy.

General Information

Institutional Eligibility

    Any educational institution within the United States which operates 
a research or training reactor is eligible to submit a new award or 
renewal application to participate in the University Reactor Sharing 
Program. In evaluating applications, preference is given to 
institutions that can show an affiliation with a substantial number of 
regional educational institutions who have indicated interest in using 
the applicant's reactor facility, or who have used the facilities 
during the previous grant year.

User Institutions

    User institutions eligible for participation in the program are 
primarily educational institutions such as universities and colleges, 
junior colleges, technical and community colleges, high schools and 
junior high schools. User groups or individuals affiliated with the 
host institution are not eligible for assistance under this program. 
Also excluded are research activities undertaken by an educational 
institution for which grant or contract funding is provided by other 
sources. The selection and scheduling of user institution participants 
is the responsibility of the host institution.

Scope of Program Projects

    The projects may range from tours/demonstrations, experiments, 
workshops and seminars for middle and high school groups to faculty 
research projects and M.S./Ph.D. thesis or dissertation research. 
Reactor utilization may range from simple service irradiations and 
analytical support to basic research studies requiring the facilities' 
most sophisticated equipment.

Financial Arrangements

Duration of Grants

    Funds for the University Reactor Sharing Program will be provided 
through an assistance grant with host institutions. Charges may be made 
against grant funds for services rendered to user institutions. The 
terms of a grant normally will be one year, subject to modifications 
and renewals.

Reimbursable Costs

    Costs for reimbursement are limited to: (1) Payments for 
irradiation services not to exceed the established, published schedule 
of the host institution, (2) payments for use of the reactor and 
related facilities based upon established rates of the host 
institution, (3) costs of technical assistance furnished by the host 
institution for conduct of studies by a user institution, and (4) costs 
of materials and supplies consumed in user institution projects. 
Charges should not be made to the grant for costs that are already 
incurred as part of the normal operating expenses of the facility. 
Laboratory apparatus and instrumentation are not eligible items for 
reimbursement. Indirect or overhead costs are not allowed. Costs for 
individual or group travel or subsistence are normally not allowed or 
encouraged; exceptions are permitted, under unusual circumstances, with 
the approval of the project director.

Reports

    An annual report summarizing activities supported under the grant 
is required from the host institution. This report is due within 90 
days after the [[Page 10074]] end of the grant period. The report 
should contain specific information in the format shown below.

University:------------------------------------------------------------
Project Director:------------------------------------------------------
Grant Number:----------------------------------------------------------
Location:--------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone Number:------------------------------------------------------
Reactor Type:----------------------------------------------------------
Power Level:-----------------------------------------------------------

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                                                                                                        Reactor 
Participating    Principal     No. of student/faculty involved      Description of project/program      sharing 
 institution   investigator                                                                             support 
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XXXXX........  XXXXX.......  (Indicate Academic Level)..........  (Thirty words or less)............  XXXX      
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    It is requested that standard size (8 \1/2\ x 11) paper be used.

Application Preparation

    An application should include at least the following items.
    1. A statement of the relative availability of the reactor to 
outside users.
    2. An assessment on a regional basis of the colleges, universities 
or precollege institutions that can be served by the proposing 
institution's reactor facility.
    3. Evidence of interest on the part of potential or former user 
institutions which contain brief statements of interest and plans for 
utilizing the applicant's reactor facility during the proposed grant 
period.
    4. Applications must include a completed Standard Form 424, 
``Application for Federal Assistance''; a 424A, ``Budget Information''; 
and 424B, ``Assurances,'' as well as the Drug-Free Workplace, Debarred, 
and Lobbying Certifications.
Terry R. Lash,
Director, Office of Nuclear Energy.
[FR Doc. 95-4429 Filed 2-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P