[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18392-18393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9955]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Intent to Solicit Inventions and Innovation Program Grants

AGENCY: The Department of Energy (DOE), Golden Field Office.

ACTION: Notice of intent to issue a solicitation.

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SUMMARY: The DOE's Office of Industrial Technologies (DOE) is funding a 
competitive grant program entitled the Inventions and Innovation (I&I) 
Program. The goals of the I&I Program are to improve energy efficiency 
through the promotion of innovative ideas and inventions that have a 
significant potential energy impact and a potential future commercial 
market. These goals are consistent with the mission of the Office of 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which is to develop and promote 
the adoption of cost-effective renewable energy and energy efficiency 
technologies within the building, industrial, transportation, and 
utility sectors for the benefit of economic competitiveness, energy 
security, and environmental quality of the nation. The following focus 
industries, which are the dominant energy users and waste generators in 
the U.S. manufacturing sector, are of particular interest to the DOE 
program: Aluminum, Chemicals, Forest Products, Glass, Metal-Casting, 
and Steel.

DATES: DOE expects to issue the solicitation on or about May 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the solicitation, eligible parties may 
write to the U.S. Department of Energy Golden Field Office, Attention: 
Jennifer Squire, 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 May 1, 1998.
    Only written request for the solicitation will be honored. For 
convenience, requests for the solicitation may be faxed to Ms. Squire 
at (303) 275-4788.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE has revised the process of financial 
assistance under the I&I Program. Formerly the program had two distinct 
programs: The Energy-Related Inventions Program (ERIP) and the 
Innovative Concepts Program (InnCon). Proposals for each program were 
submitted through an unsolicited application process to DOE through the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, formerly the National 
Bureau of Standards for ERIP and directly to DOE/OIT for InnCon. DOE is 
now combining these two programs under one competitive solicitation 
process. DOE intends to issue a new solicitation annually. The Golden 
Field Office has been assigned the responsibility to issue the 
solicitation and administer the awards for OIT. Ideas that have a 
significant energy savings impact and future commercial market 
potential are chosen for financial support through the competitive 
solicitation process. The new I&I Program will provide financial 
assistance at two levels, up to $40,000 or up to $100,000 depending on 
the stage of development of an idea. In addition to financial 
assistance this program offers technical guidance and commercialization 
support to successful applicants.
    Some former selected projects that the I&I Program has funded are:
    (1) Thermefficient 100r--a high efficiency fired heater 
that extracts heat from exhaust gases to raise the temperature of 
incoming water to be heated. The thermal efficiency of the technology 
is nearly 100% and reduces fossil fuel use.
    (2) Brandon Rings--prevent damage and energy loss that occur over 
time with start-up, thermal distortion, and shaft vibration in 
turbines. These have been used in commercial turbine systems in the 
U.S. saving over 110 trillion BTU since 1986.
    (3) Electro-Optic Inspection of Heat Exchangers--is a laser based, 
nondestructive evaluation system for

[[Page 18393]]

inspecting heat exchanger tubing for internal corrosion, erosion, scale 
buildup, and deformation. The benefits are reduced downtime and 
increased efficiency for fossil and nuclear power plants, pulp and 
paper, and petro-chemical plants.

Solicitation Specifics

    There are no restrictions, however, small businesses, individual 
inventors, and entrepreneurs are especially encouraged to participate. 
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number assigned to this 
program is 81.036. Cost sharing is not required but encouraged by 
applicants and/or cooperating participants. 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.

Availability of Funds in Fy 1999

    With publication, DOE is announcing the availability of up to $3 
million dollars in grant agreement funds for fiscal year 1999. The 
awards will be made through a competitive process. Each award may cover 
a project period of up to two (2) years. DOE anticipates awarding 
grants at two levels. The first level will fund up to $40,000 for 
Category 1 proposals, which fall within the first two stages of 
development. The second level will fund up to $100,000 for Category 2 
proposals, which fall within the last three stages of development. 
Refer to Appendix 1 of the Solicitation for definitions. DOE reserves 
the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the 
proposals submitted in response to this notice.

    Issued in Golden, CO, on April 8, 1998.
John W. Meeker,
Chief, Procurement, Golden Field.
[FR Doc. 98-9955 Filed 4-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P