[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36053-36054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17346]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Notice of Intent to Solicit National Industrial Competitiveness 
Through Energy, Environment and Economics (NICE \3\) Grants

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Issue a Solicitation.

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

SUMMARY: The Office of Industrial Technologies of the Department of 
Energy is funding a State Grant Program entitled National Industrial 
Competitiveness through Energy, Environment and Economics (NICE \3\). 
The goals of the NICE \3\ Program are to improve energy efficiency, 
promote cleaner production, and to improve competitiveness in industry. 
The intent of the NICE \3\ program is to fund innovative projects that 
have completed the research and development stage and are ready to 
demonstrate a fully integrated commercial unit. Some industrial 
technologies that the NICE \3\ program has funded follow: 
SO3 Cleaning Process in the Manufacture of Semiconductors; 
Innovative Design of a Brick Kiln Using Low Thermal Mass Technology; 
Continuously Reform Electroless Nickel Plating Solutions; Fiber Loading 
for Paper Manufacture; and HCl Acid Recovery System. For the past seven 
years the NICE \3\ program has offered 78 grants (approximately $25.3 
million) to fund innovative industrial technologies. In 1997 the 
Department of Energy offered $4.8 million in grants to 13 U.S. 
companies in 11 states.
    Restricted Eligibility: Eligible applicants for purposes of funding 
under the program include any authorized agency of the 50 States, the 
District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States. For 
convenience, the term State in this notice refers to all eligible State 
agency applicants. Local governments, State and private universities, 
private non-profits, private businesses and individuals, who are not 
eligible as direct applicants, must work with the appropriate State 
agencies in developing projects and forming participation arrangements. 
DOE requires these types of cooperative arrangements in support of 
program goals. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 
assigned to this program is 81.105. Cost sharing is required by all 
participants. The Federal Government will provide up to 45 percent of 
the funds for the project. The

[[Page 36054]]

remaining funds must be provided by the eligible applicants and/or 
cooperating project participants. Cost sharing, by industry/State 
partners, beyond the 55 percent required match is desirable. In 
addition to direct financial contributions, cost sharing can include 
beneficial services or items, such as manpower, equipment, consultants 
and computer time that are allowable in accordance with applicable cost 
principles. The inclusion of industrial partners is required for a 
proposal to be considered responsive to the solicitation to be eligible 
for grant consideration. A State agency application signed by an 
authorized State official is required for a proposal to be responsive.
    Availability of Funds in FY 1998: With this publication, DOE is 
announcing the availability of up to $6 million dollars in grant/
cooperative agreement funds for fiscal year 1998. The awards will be 
made through a competitive process. In response to the solicitation, a 
State agency may include up to 10 percent, not to exceed $25,000 per 
project, for State agency program support. The Federal share of grants 
including State agency program support may range up to $425,000. 
Projects may cover a period of up to 3 years. DOE reserves the right to 
fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the proposals submitted 
in response to this notice.
    Availability of the Solicitation: DOE expects to issue the 
solicitation on August 1, 1997. To obtain a copy of the solicitation, 
eligible parties may write to the U.S. Department of Energy Golden 
Field Office, Attention: Amy Johnson, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, 
Colorado 80401, or obtain an electronic copy through the Golden Field 
Office Home Page at http://www.eren.doe.gov/golden/solicit.htm 
beginning August 1, 1997. Only written requests for the solicitation 
will be honored. For convenience, requests for the solicitation and 
referrals to the appropriate state agency may be faxed to Ms. Johnson 
at (303) 275-4788.

    Issued in Golden, Colorado, on June 25, 1997.
John W. Meeker,
Chief, Procurement, GO.
[FR Doc. 97-17346 Filed 7-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P