[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 46 (Monday, March 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10830-10831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5830]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Research


Energy Research Financial Assistance Program Notice 97-08: 
Innovations in Fusion Energy Confinement Systems

AGENCY: Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES) of the Office of 
Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its interest 
in receiving grant applications for innovative experiments in fusion 
energy confinement systems. Organizations with research projects funded 
under previous Notice 95-10 which are now due for continuation funding 
need not submit; however, those seeking renewal funding should submit a 
renewal application under this Notice. Successful applications will be 
funded early in FY 1998.
    The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences is interested in applications 
for innovative experimental research that has the possibility of 
leading to improved fusion energy power plants (this includes tokamak 
based power plants with qualitatively improved performance). The 
research should be aimed at experimentally elucidating the physics 
principles involved. Research projects are sought which are unique, 
first of a kind and which provide new scientific insights. Although the 
main thrust of this initiative is experimental, consideration will be 
given to applications which are directed at scientific assessment of 
new concepts which are not ready for experimental investigation. 
Applications for research on existing large tokamaks, separate theory 
investigations, or initiatives in Inertial Fusion Energy should not be 
submitted in response to this notice. Collaborative applications 
submitted from different institutions which are directed at a single 
proposed experiment will be ``bundled'' and reviewed collectively.

DATES: To permit timely consideration for awards in Fiscal Year 1998 , 
applications submitted in response to this notice must be received no 
later than 4:30 p.m., May 15, 1997. No electronic submissions of formal 
applications will be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Completed formal applications referencing Program Notice 97-
08 should be forwarded to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Research, Grants and Contracts Division, ER-64, 19901 Germantown Road, 
Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290, ATTN: Program Notice 97-08.

[[Page 10831]]

The above address must also be used when submitting applications by 
U.S. Postal Service Express, any commercial mail delivery service, or 
when hand carried by the applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ronald A. Blanken, Science 
Division, ER-55, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of 
Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, Telephone: 
(301) 903-3306 or 3287, or by Internet address, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In selecting applications for funding, the 
DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences will give priority to applications 
that can produce experimental results within three to five years after 
grant initiation. Theoretical research will be accepted for 
consideration under this Notice when ``bundled'' with and in support of 
an experimental application. The detailed description of the proposed 
project should contain the following items: (1) A detailed experimental 
research plan, (2) The specific results or deliverable expected at the 
end of the project period, (3) Goal of the experiment, (4) Synopsis of 
the experimental program plan, (5) Adequacy of the facilities and 
budget, (6) Discussion of why this research would have an important 
impact on the prospects for fusion energy power plants, and (7) 
Discussion of how the experiment would elucidate the physics principles 
of the innovation.
    Applications concerned with scientific assessment of new concepts 
which are not ready for experimental investigation should have a well 
defined scope and a duration of no more than two years. These 
applications will be considered non-renewable. The product of such 
assessment would be a clear scientific description of the concept and 
its operation, its physics and engineering basis, critical analysis of 
major difficulties to be overcome in developing the concept as a net 
producer of energy through the fusion process, and an analysis of what 
would be achieved by moving to experimental research.
    It is anticipated that up to $3,000,000 in FY 1998 will be 
available to start new projects from applications received in response 
to this Notice. The number of awards and range of funding will depend 
on the number of applications received and selected for award. Future 
year funding is anticipated to be greater but will depend on the nature 
of the applications, suitable experimental progress and the 
availability of funds. Because of the total amount of anticipated 
available funding and because of the intent to have a broadly based 
program, experimental applications with an annual requirement in any 
year in excess of $1,500,000 are unlikely to be funded. The cost-
effectiveness of the application will be considered when comparing 
applications with differing funding requirements. Applications for 
scientific assessment of new concepts will be limited to a maximum of 
$150,000 in any year. Applications requiring annual funding as low as 
$50,000 are welcome and encouraged. To enable all reviewers to read all 
applications, the application must be limited to a maximum of twenty 
(20) pages (including text and figures) plus not more than one page 
each of biographical information and publications of the principal 
investigator, plus any additional forms required as a part of the 
standard grant application. An original and seven copies of each 
application must be submitted. Due to the anticipated number of 
reviewers, it would be helpful for each applicant to submit an 
additional seven copies of each application. In lieu of the seven 
additional copies, applicants may provide a 3.5-inch diskette 
containing the application in Portable Document Format (PDF). The label 
on the diskette must clearly identify the institution, principal 
investigator, and title of the application. (If the applicant elects to 
submit a diskette, an original and seven copies of the application must 
still be submitted.) Applications will be subjected to formal merit 
review and will be evaluated against the following criteria, which are 
listed in descending order of importance as set forth in 10 CFR Part 
605:
    1. Scientific and/or technical merit of the project;
    2. Appropriateness of the proposed method or approach;
    3. Competency of the applicant's personnel and adequacy of the 
proposed resources; and
    4. Reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget.
    The evaluation will include program policy factors such as the 
relevance of the proposed research to the terms of the announcement and 
the agency's programmatic needs. General information about development 
and submission of applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluations 
and selection processes, and other policies and procedures may be found 
in the Application Guide for the Office of Energy Research Financial 
Assistance Program and 10 CFR Part 605. Electronic access to the 
Application Guide is possible via the Internet using the following Web 
site address: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html.

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this 
program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 
CFR Part 605.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 27, 1997.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director for Resource Management, Office of Energy Research.
[FR Doc. 97-5830 Filed 3-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P