[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 221 (Thursday, November 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58392-58395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29167]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Research


Continuation of Solicitation for Financial Assistance Program 
Notice 97-01

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Annual Notice of Continuation of Availability of Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Energy Research (ER) of the Department of Energy 
hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving applications for 
grants and cooperative agreements supporting work in the following 
programs: Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, 
Fusion Energy, Computational and Technology Research, Multi-Program 
Energy Laboratories--Facilities Support, High Energy and Nuclear 
Physics, and Energy Research Analysis activities. On September 3, 1992, 
DOE published in the Federal Register a Solicitation for this program 
which contained information about submission of applications, 
eligibility, limitations, evaluation and selection processes and other 
policies and procedures which are specified in 10 CFR Part 605.

DATES: Applications may be submitted at any time in response to this 
Notice of Availability. This annual Notice remains in effect until it 
is superseded by another issuance by the Office of Energy Research.

ADDRESSES: Applicants may obtain forms and additional information from: 
Director, Grants and Contracts Division, Office of Energy Research, ER-
64, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 
20874-1290, (301) 903-5212. Completed applications must be sent to this 
same address. Electronic access to the latest version of ER's Financial 
Assistance Guide is possible via the Internet using the following Web 
site address: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Solicitation for the Office of Energy 
Research Financial Assistance Program was published in the Federal 
Register September 3, 1992, (57FR40582). That Solicitation specifies 
the policies and procedures which govern the application, evaluation, 
and selection processes for grants and cooperative agreements. It is 
anticipated that approximately $400 million will be available for award 
in FY 1997. The DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs 
associated with the preparation or submission of an application. DOE 
reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of 
the applications submitted in response to this Notice.
    In addition, the following program descriptions are offered to 
provide more indepth information on scientific and technical areas of 
interest to the Office of Energy Research:

[[Page 58393]]

1. Basic Energy Sciences

    This program supports basic science research efforts in a variety 
of disciplines to broaden the energy supply and technological base 
knowledge. The major science division and its objectives are as 
follows:

(a) Materials Sciences

    The objective of this program is to increase the understanding of 
phenomena and properties important to materials behavior that will 
contribute to meeting the needs of present and future energy 
technologies. It is comprised of the subfields metallurgy, ceramics, 
solid state physics, materials chemistry, and related disciplines where 
the emphasis is on the science of materials.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3427.

(b) Chemical Sciences

    The objective of this program is to expand, through support of 
basic research, knowledge of various areas of chemistry, chemical 
engineering and atomic physics with a goal of contributing to new or 
improved processes for developing and using domestic energy resources 
in an efficient and environmentally sound manner. Disciplinary areas 
where research is supported include physical, inorganic and organic 
chemistry; chemical physics; photochemistry; radiation chemistry; 
analytical chemistry; separations science; actinide chemistry; and 
chemical engineering.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5804.

(c) Engineering Research

    This program's objectives are: (1) To extend the body of knowledge 
underlying current engineering practice in order to open new ways for 
enhancing energy savings and production, prolonging useful equipment 
life, and reducing costs while maintaining output and performance 
quality; and (2) to broaden the technical and conceptual base for 
solving future engineering problems in the energy technologies. Long-
term research topics of current interest include: foundations of 
bioprocessing of fuels and energy related wastes, fracture mechanics, 
experimental and theoretical studies of multiphase flows, intelligent 
machines, and diagnostics and control for plasma processing of 
materials.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5822.

(d) Geosciences

    The goal of this program is to develop a quantitative and 
predictive understanding of the energy-related aspects of processes in 
the earth. The emphasis is on the upper levels of the earth's crust and 
the focus is on geophysics and geochemistry of rock-fluid systems and 
interactions emphasizing processes taking place at the atomic and 
molecular scale. Specific topical areas receiving emphasis include: 
high resolution geophysical imaging; rock physics, fundamental 
properties and interactions of rocks, minerals, and fluids; and 
sedimentary basin systems. The resulting improved understanding and 
knowledge base are needed to assist efforts in the utilization of the 
Nation's energy resources in an environmentally acceptable fashion.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5822.

(e) Energy Biosciences

    The primary objective of this program is to generate the 
fundamental understanding of biological mechanisms in the areas of 
botanical and microbiological sciences that will support 
biotechnological developments related to DOE's mission. The research 
serves as the basic information foundation with respect to an 
environmentally responsible renewable resource production for fuels and 
chemicals, microbial conversions of renewable materials and biological 
systems for the conservation of energy. This office has special 
requirements on the submission of preapplications, when to submit, and 
the length of the preapplications; applicants are encouraged to contact 
the office regarding these requirements.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-2873.

2. High Energy and Nuclear Physics

    This program supports about 90% of the U.S. efforts in high energy 
and nuclear physics. The objectives of these programs are indicated 
below:

(a) High Energy Physics

    The primary objectives of this program are to understand the nature 
and relationships among fundamental forces of nature and to understand 
the ultimate structure of matter in terms of the properties and 
interrelations of its basic constituents.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3624.

(b) Nuclear Physics (Including Nuclear Data Program)

    The primary objectives of this program are an understanding of the 
interactions and structures of atomic nuclei and nuclear matter at the 
most elementary level possible, and an understanding of the fundamental 
forces of nature as manifested in nuclear matter.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3613.

3. Computational and Technology Research

    The goal of this program is to conduct an integrated program in 
applied mathematical sciences, high performance computing and 
communications, information infrastructure, advanced energy projects 
research, and technology research, to address complex problems. 
Research in forefront and diverse programs is becoming more 
multidisciplinary and requires new approaches to the solution of these 
complex problems. The program exploits the capabilities and research 
skills at universities, national laboratories, and industrial research 
laboratories. The program provides technical, analytical, and 
management direction for development, implementation, and evaluation of 
research programs that include activities from fundamental research to 
technology development. The goal of the program is accomplished through 
the effort of the following two divisions:

(a) Mathematical, Information, and Computational Sciences

    This is a diverse research program in applied mathematical 
sciences, high performance computing, communications and information 
infrastructure technologies that spans the spectrum of activities from 
strategic fundamental research to technology development and 
demonstration. The diverse activities supported by this program are 
integrated to support two major strategic directions that support the 
underlying mathematical concepts and information technology needs of 
all Department of Energy (DOE) mission areas. These two strategic 
directions are:
     National Collaboratories--developing a set of tools and 
capabilities to permit scientists and engineers to access facilities 
and collaborate on experiments system-wide, as easily as if they were 
in the same building.
     Advanced Computational Testing and Simulation--developing 
an integrated set of algorithms, software frameworks, and network 
infrastructures to enable simulation to complement experimentation when 
actual experiments would be dangerous, expensive, or infeasible.
    Program Contact: (301)-903-5800.

(b) Advanced Energy Projects/Laboratory Technology Research

    Advanced Energy Projects--This activity funds research to establish 
the feasibility of novel, energy-related concepts. These concepts are 
usually derived from recent advances in basic research, but require 
additional research

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to establish their feasibility. A common theme for each concept is the 
initial linkage of new, or previously neglected, research results to a 
practical energy payoff for the Nation.
    Laboratory Technology Research--This activity conducts technology 
research projects to reduce technical risk associated with a technology 
or process development. The program couples basic research advances at 
ER national laboratories into the advanced energy technology arena 
through leveraged collaborations with industry. The program is focused 
on critical technology research areas, i.e., tailored materials, 
intelligent manufacturing, and sustainable environments, to contribute 
technological innovations that will stimulate national economic growth, 
and to increase the return on the government investment in basic 
research.
    Program Contact: (301)-903-5995.

4. Fusion Energy Sciences

    The mission of the Fusion Energy Sciences program is to advance 
plasma science, fusion science, and fusion technology - the knowledge 
base needed for an economically and environmentally attractive fusion 
energy source. This program is supported by the Office of Fusion Energy 
Sciences (OFES), which fosters both applied and basic research and 
emphasizes international collaboration to accomplish this mission.

(a) Science Division

    This Division seeks to develop the physics knowledge base needed to 
advance the Fusion Energy Sciences program toward its goals. Basic and 
applied research is carried out in the following areas: (1) Basic 
plasma science research directed at furthering the understanding of 
fundamental processes in plasmas; (2) improving the theoretical 
understanding of fusion plasmas necessary for interpreting results from 
present experiments and the planning and design of future confinement 
devices, (3) obtaining the critical data on plasma properties, atomic 
physics and new diagnostic techniques for support of confinement 
experiments, (4) supporting exploratory research into concepts that are 
alternatives to the tokamak, and (5) carrying out research on issues 
that support the development of Inertial Fusion Energy, for which 
target development is carried out by the Department of Energy's Defense 
Programs.
    Research into basic physics issues associated with medium to large 
scale confinement devices is essential to studying conditions relevant 
to the production of fusion energy. Experiments on these scale of 
devices are used to explore the limits of specific confinement 
concepts, as well as study associated physical phenomena. Specific 
areas of interest include: (1) The production of increased plasma 
densities and temperatures, (2) the understanding of the physical laws 
governing plasma energy of high plasma pressure, (4) the investigation 
of plasma interaction with radio frequency waves, and (5) the study and 
control of particle transport and exhaust in plasmas.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-4095.

(b) Technology Division

    This Division seeks to develop the technology knowledge base needed 
to advance the Fusion Energy Sciences program toward its goals. The 
Division's science-oriented goal is to provide the technologies that 
are required to successfully design, build, and operate near-term 
experiments aimed at producing, understanding, and optimizing the 
fusion energy process. The Division's energy-oriented goal is to 
develop the technologies that will be needed in the long-term for an 
economically and environmentally attractive fusion energy source. These 
goals are pursued through multi-institutional domestic programs and 
international collaboration partnerships that are centered around U.S. 
participation in the Engineering Design Activities for a long-pulse 
burning plasma experiment - the International Thermonuclear 
Experimental Reactor (ITER).
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5378.

5. Health and Environmental Research (Biological and Environmental 
Research Program)

    The goals of the Biological and Environmental Research Program are 
as follows: (1) To provide, through basic and applied research, the 
scientific information required to identify, understand and anticipate 
the long-term health and environmental consequences of energy use and 
development; and (2) to utilize the Department's unique resources to 
solve major scientific problems in medicine, biology and the 
environment. Goals of the program are accomplished through the effort 
of its divisions, which are:

(a) Health Effects and Life Sciences Research

    This is a broad program of basic and applied biological research. 
The objectives are: (1) To understand and characterize the risks to 
human health from exposures to low levels of radiation and chemicals 
both at home and at work; (2) to integrate information and technologies 
from genome, structural biology, and cellular/molecular biology 
research with human health research to understand the relationships 
between gene expression, structure, and function; (3) to develop 
applications of new biotechnologies, including microbial genome 
research; (4) to develop and support DOE national user facilities for 
use in fundamental research in structural biology; (5) to combine 
computer science, structural biology, and genome research to predict 
the three dimensional structure of proteins from the DNA sequence of 
the encoding genes; (6) to create and apply new technologies and 
resources in mapping, sequencing, and information management for 
characterizing the molecular nature of the human genome; and (7) to 
anticipate and address ethical, legal, and social implications arising 
from genome research.
    Increasing emphasis will be placed on: new models for mitigating 
potential adverse human health effects from energy activities and 
cleanup operations by understanding the complex relationships between 
genes, the proteins they encode, and the biological functions of these 
proteins; development and application of technologies and information 
management resources for cost- effective, integrated approaches to 
high-throughput DNA sequencing and analysis.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5468.

(b) Medical Applications and Measurement Science

    The objectives of this program comprise the following areas: (1) to 
develop new concepts and techniques for detecting and measuring 
hazardous physical and chemical agents related to energy production; 
(2) to develop new instrumentation and technology for biological and 
biomedical research; and; (3) to enhance the beneficial applications of 
radiation and radionuclides in the diagnosis, study, and treatment of 
human diseases.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3213.

(c) Environmental Remediation

    The objectives of the program relate to environmental processes 
affected by energy production and use. For example, the program 
develops information on the physical, chemical and biological processes 
that cycle and transport energy-related material, particularly 
contaminates, through the Earth's surface and subsurface. Emphasis is 
put on the development of a strong basis for understanding and

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implementing the appropriate and efficient use of bioremediation, 
particularly at the Department's sites.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3281.

(d) Environmental Processes

    This program also addresses global environmental change from 
increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The 
scope of the global change program encompasses the carbon cycle, 
climate modeling and diagnostics, atmospheric sciences and meteorology, 
ecosystem responses, the role of the ocean in global change, and 
impacts on resources. The role of clouds and radiation in climate 
prediction is a particular emphasis.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3281.

6. Planning and Analysis

    The Office of Planning and Analysis assists the Director of Energy 
Research in fulfilling the statutory responsibility to advise the 
Secretary of Energy on matters regarding the research programs within 
the Office of Energy Research's purview, including advice regarding 
undesirable duplication or gaps in such programs and the basic and 
applied research activities of the Department. The Office also performs 
independent cost/benefit analyses and provides the Director with 
impartial and independent scientific and technical evaluations and 
recommendations.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3122.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 28, 1996.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director for Resource Management, Office of Energy Research.
[FR Doc. 96-29167 Filed 11-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P