[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26587-26589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12677]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Notice of Solicitation for Research and Development for Fuel 
Cells, Direct Injection Engines, and Fuels: Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy Technology for Transportation and Buildings

AGENCY: Chicago Operations Office, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation availability.

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SUMMARY: The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy announces its interest in receiving 
financial assistance applications for research and development (R&D) on 
automotive fuel cells, direct injection engines, and fuels in support 
of the Government/automotive industry Partnership for a New Generation 
of Vehicles (PNGV). The Partnership is

[[Page 26588]]

developing light-duty vehicles that achieve up to 3 times the fuel 
economy of comparable conventional vehicles, meet emissions standards, 
and offer the same level of performance and cost as today's vehicles. 
Direct injection engines and fuel cells have been selected for their 
potential for attaining the goal of 80-mpg fuel economy in a six-
passenger sedan. In support of the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy fuel cell cross-cutting technologies, the Office of 
Building Technologies also plans to acquire research and development 
(R&D) of fuel cell technologies for building applications.

DATES and ADDRESSES: The complete solicitation document will be 
available on or about July 1, 1998 on the DOE Chicago Internet Home 
Page at http://www.ch.doe.gov/business/ACQ.htm under the heading 
``Current Acquisition Activities,'' Solicitation No. DE-SC02-98EE50526 
with applications due August 17, 1998. Any amendments to this 
solicitation will be posted on the Internet. Please note that users 
will not be alerted when the solicitation is issued on the Internet or 
when amendments are posted on the Internet. Prospective applicants are 
therefore advised to check the above Internet address on a daily basis. 
The cooperative agreements are expected to be awarded on or about March 
1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John O'Keefe, at (630) 252-2125, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 9800 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439-4899; 
by fax at (630) 252-5045; or by e-mail at john.o'[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Topic 1 includes research on proton-
exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cells for transportation and buildings. 
Proposals for light-duty transportation applications are sought in 
three areas and building applications in another area: (1) Fuel cell 
system integration issues, including delivery of complete sub-scale 
fuel cell power systems; one to DOE for experiments to validate fuel 
cell system models, another for use at the contractor(s) laboratory 
facilities to develop engineering solutions for operation at extreme 
conditions while ensuring water balance and demonstrating freeze-thaw 
capability. DOE also seeks to update existing cost analyses 
incorporating the principles of design for manufacturability. (2) Fuel 
cell component R&D, including development of CO tolerant anodes, higher 
activity cathodes, manufacturing technologies, air compressor/
expanders, controls and sensors, coolants, stack sealants, gaskets, and 
adhesives for stack durability. (3) Fuel processing R&D, including CO 
clean-up and design for manufacturability of preferential oxidation 
system(s), start-up and transient response, durability, and innovative 
ideas for reducing size, weight, and cost of the fuel processing 
system. (4) The Fuel Cell for Buildings Program seeks advanced 
components for PEM fuel cell cogeneration systems which are simple in 
construction with no heavily loaded mechanical subsystems that limit 
life and reliability; operate at a pressure of 1.5 atm or below; have 
heat rejection temperatures in excess of 100 deg.C to provide access to 
a broad range of applications for cogeneration systems and reduce the 
cost of heat rejection when operating in a power only mode; and are 
highly reliable during long-term operation on natural gas reformate 
from low-cost fuel processors. PEM fuel cell technologies based on 
NafionTM or similar materials as an electrolyte are unlikely 
to meet these system requirements. In an activity which cross-cuts with 
the needs of the transportation fuel cell program, the Fuel Cell for 
Buildings Program seeks to acquire research and development of advanced 
high temperature membrane(s) with performance equal to or better than 
that of NafionTM.
    Topic 2 includes research in three areas: (1) Compression-ignition 
direct injection engines (CIDI), (2) spark-ignition direct injection 
engines (SIDI), and (3) innovative concepts. The primary technical 
barrier facing automotive DI engines is the development of combustion 
and emission control technology able to reliably meet stringent 
emission regulations. (1) The focus of the CIDI engine research is on 
NOX and particulate matter (PM) emissions control technology 
for light-duty vehicle applications. Emission control component 
development includes research on advanced after-treatment technologies 
that will enable PNGV-candidate CIDI engines (operating on low-sulfur 
diesel fuel) and SIDI engines (operating on reformulated gasoline) to 
meet NOX and PM emissions targets (0.2 g/mi NOX 
and 0.01 g/mi PM) as well as other requirements (e.g., cost and 
efficiency). Examples of components being sought are advanced fuel 
injection systems (high-pressure, rate shaping) and exhaust gas 
recirculation in combination with after-treatment approaches such as 
lean NOX catalysts, non-thermal plasma, and regenerative 
particulate traps. (2) The focus of the SIDI efforts will be the 
development of durable fuel injectors and associated equipment for 
light-duty vehicles. After treatment devices and associated sensors for 
SIDI engines are needed as well. (3) In addition, proposals are sought 
for innovative, high-risk research into novel means of reducing 
emissions or improving the efficiency of SIDI, CIDI or conventional 
gasoline-fueled, spark-ignition engines. New, forward thinking devices 
and systems that make significant improvements in engine performance 
and are practical to implement are sought.
    Topic 3 includes research on fuels and lubricants. Proposals are 
sought in four areas: (1) Optimized CIDI fuels, including research on 
advanced fuel formulations, fuel characterization test development, and 
lubricity additive performance mechanisms. Advanced CIDI fuel 
formulations including but not limited to oxygenate additives and 
cetane enhancers which facilitate meeting future passenger car emission 
standards are being sought. Recommendations for fuel characterization 
test methods may include, among others, means for determining 
compatibility with CIDI after-treatment systems, storage stability, 
thermal stability, fuel system and engine deposit forming potential, 
compatibility with engine and fuel system materials, blending 
compatibility with petroleum fuels, combustion particulate forming 
potential, cold start, and low-temperature operation. Determination of 
CIDI fuel lubricity additive performance will include evaluation of 
additive mechanisms such as surface adsorption at the temperature and 
pressure of operation. (2) CIDI engine lubrication research, including 
advanced lubricant formulations to help meet vehicle fuel economy and 
exhaust emission targets, demonstrated through lubricant bench test 
characterization methods. (3) Research to identify, characterize, and 
test fuels specifically optimized for automotive fuel cells. The work 
may include an analysis and/or formulation of fuels that offer 
advantages for on-board reforming processes (e.g., less coking, ease of 
operation at extreme ambient conditions, greater hydrogen yield, and 
emissions reductions) and a determination of the cost of producing 
these fuels and the impact of these fuels on the fueling infrastructure 
and oil imports. Offerors should assess candidate fuels using current 
automotive-type partial oxidation reformers as the fuel processing 
baseline. (4) Research on innovative natural gas compressors to reduce 
the size, noise, and cost of the compressor island, significantly lower 
energy

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consumption for compression, and reduce maintenance requirements. 
Innovative concepts for gas storage, gas dispensing, operating 
strategies for the storage capacity, and providing the small amount of 
highest-pressure gas needed to complete vehicle fueling are desired. 
Research is also sought in the area of truly conformable tank 
technology (i.e., storage devices that are integral to the vehicle), 
either with or without storage density enhancement techniques. The 
objective is to develop storage vessels in non-cylindrical shapes that 
are conducive to incorporation into automobiles and light trucks.
    A major DOE program objective is to increase the involvement of the 
automotive industry supplier base in key engine-related R&D programs.
    The Department of Energy anticipates that approximately twenty-five 
cooperative agreements will result from this solicitation. Under Topic 
1 there will be approximately twelve awards, with periods of 
performance ranging from eighteen to thirty months and total estimated 
DOE funding of $10,000,000.00 to $30,000,000.00. Under Topic 2 there 
will be approximately five awards, with periods of performance of 
thirty months and total estimated DOE funding of $40,000,000.00. Under 
Topic 3 there will be approximately eight awards with periods of 
performance of thirty-six months and total estimated DOE funding of 
$10,000,000.00. Cost sharing requirements will vary from zero to fifty 
percent, depending on the topic area, and will be specified in the 
solicitation. Awards are subject to the availability of funds and the 
solicitation will not obligate DOE to make any award(s). Any non-profit 
or for-profit organization, university or other institution of higher 
education, or non-federal agency or entity is eligible to apply. 
Federal laboratory participation shall be minimal and will be subject 
to DOE approval. The solicitation will provide further guidance in this 
area. Awards resulting from this solicitation will be subject to the 
requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 which in general requires 
that the awardee be a United States-owned company (including certain 
non-profits) or that the foreign country in which the parent company is 
located meets certain conditions of reciprocity in the treatment of 
investments, access to research and development programs, and 
protection of intellectual property. All responsible sources, as 
indicated above, may submit an application which shall be considered by 
the government.

    Issued in Chicago, Illinois on May 4, 1998.
J. D. Greenwood,
Acquisition and Assistance Group Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-12677 Filed 5-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P