[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27718-27719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13412]
[[Page 27718]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Program Interest--Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
Research and Development Program
AGENCY: Albuquerque Operations Office (AL). The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of program interest--to fund unsolicited applications/
proposals for financial assistance awards contributing to the mission
of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) Research and Development
Program.
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SUMMARY: The DOE is interested in receiving for consideration
applications for Federal Financial Assistance Awards pursuant to the
financial assistance rules contained in Title 10 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 600 (10 CFR 600), specifically 10 CFR 600.9). On
behalf of the DOE CTBT R&D Program, DOE/AL invites Unsolicited
Applications/Proposals from interested and qualified Nonprofit
Organizations, Institutions of Higher Education, and Commercial
Organizations to pursue research that supports the CTBT R&D program
mission.
The CTBT R&D Program mission is: ``to carry out research and
development necessary to provide U.S. government agencies, that are
responsible for monitoring and/or verifying CTBT compliance, with
technologies, algorithms, hardware and software for integrated systems
to detect, locate, identify and characterize nuclear explosions at the
thresholds and confidence levels that meet U.S. requirements in a cost-
effective manner.'' Program priorities focus on the advancement of
seismic, infrasound, radionuclide, and hydroacoustic knowledge and
capabilities. This Notice of Program Interest is intended to encourage
the participation of Nonprofit Organizations, Institutions of Higher
Education, and Commercial Organizations in furthering these program
mission interests.
DATES: This Notice of Program Interest expires September 30, 1998. This
date does not represent a common deadline for applications but rather
that applications may be submitted at any time before the notice
expires.
ADDRESSES: Applicants seeking funding consideration by the CTBT R&D
Program under this Notice of Program Interest are requested to mark and
submit their Unsolicited Applications/Proposals, eight (8) total, as
follows:
Original and Copies #1-6: Leslie A. Casey, Treaty Monitoring
Program Manager, c/o CTBT R&D Program--Notice of Program Interest--NN-
20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence, Ave., SW, Washington,
DC 20585-0420. DOE/NN-20 will initiate the objective merit review
process.
Copy #7: John N. Augustine, Unsolicited Applications/Proposals
Manager, c/o CTBT R&D Program--Notice of Program Interest--NN-20, U.S.
Department of Energy, Federal Energy Technology Office (FETC), 626
Cochrans Mill Road, PO Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940. DOE FETC--
Pittsburgh will assign a DOE identification number and acknowledge
receipt of the proposal.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Energy, Albuquerque
Operations Office, P.O. Box 5400, Albuquerque, NM 87185-5400, Attn: Mr.
Michael G. Loera, Contracts and Procurement Division, Telephone Number:
(505) 845-4302, Fax Number: (505) 845-4004.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Responses to this Notice of Program Interest
must explain how the proposed work furthers the CTBT R&D Program
mission and research issues. These are summarized on the Web Page:
``http://www.ctbt.rnd.doe.gov/coordination/'', under the heading ``R&D
Issues and Metrics''. Successful applications will: demonstrate a
knowledge of the ongoing CTBT R&D Program; offer novel or innovative
approaches leading to performance improvements and cost reductions;
respond to ground truth data deficiencies; and, follow the guidance
provided in the ``Guide for the Submission of Unsolicited Applications/
Proposals'', which is available on the Web Page: ``http://
www.pr.doe.gov/gdtoc.html''. Applicants are, thereby, encouraged to
review and acquaint themselves with 10 CFR 600.10, ``Form and contents
of applications'', and with work that has already been performed as
represented in the bibliography located at the Program's web site.
Unsolicited Applications/Proposals will be evaluated against many
factors. Some of the criteria that are likely to apply include:
technical merit; applicant's familiarity with other ongoing work; the
relevance and quality of the applicant's prior work; effectiveness of
the proposed technical approach; timeliness; cost; and the period of
performance. Applicants are, therefore, encouraged to include
information in their proposals that facilitate evaluation against these
criteria and as a minimum should address the requirements listed below.
Cost sharing is not required, but highly encouraged. It is anticipated
that Cooperative Agreements will be favored over Grants. The resulting
Cooperative Agreement or Grant will be administered by the DOE
Albuquerque Operations Office, or possibly by other CTBT Program Office
designees.
Unsolicited Applications/Proposals are to be comprised of both
technical and cost proposal elements. Unsolicited Proposal requirements
and format are as follow:
(1) Project Description: (Provide a comprehensive, but succinct
[350 character] description of the proposed research project. It should
convey the project objective, application, method, product and value to
U.S. government agencies and other users).
(2) Objective(s): (State research objectives).
(3) Application: (Describe the product and how it is to be used.
Discuss the product's merits over the current baseline and operational
risk considerations).
(4) User(s): (List potential users and indicate whether they have
expressed interest in the product).
(5) Prior Work: (Summarize the current state-of-the-art for the
stated field of endeavor. Provide credentials of key participants and
describe their previous relevant work. Cite applicable bibliographic
references).
(6) Collaborators: (Identify other participants and describe their
role and contribution).
(7) Proposed Work & Scientific Basis: (Specify the technical
approach to manage the project; describe specific tasks and subtask
activities to be conducted by Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to achieve
the research objectives; and identify key decision points [milestones].
Relate these elements to how they further the stated research
objectives and advance the state-of-the-art).
(8) Research Issues: (Identify the technical issues that will be
addressed by the project; list potential barriers and explain how they
will be overcome).
(9) Tasks: (By WBS element, list the tasks, associated subtasks,
and associated costs. Differentiate the cost for fully burdened labor,
equipment, materials, other (such as travel, taxes, fee (if
applicable), etc.) [Once Unsolicited Applications/Proposals are
selected for funding, a complete break-down by cost element will be
required.]
(10) Milestones: (List milestones and scheduled completion dates by
task/subtask).
(11) Deliverables: (List deliverables and scheduled completion
dates by task/subtask).
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Funding Considerations
Financial Assistance Awards are anticipated to be funded for
project duration's of 1-3 years and awards will generally range from
$100,000 to $500,000. Total program funds for Unsolicited Applications/
Proposals in Fiscal Year (FY) 1998 are not likely to exceed $1,000,000.
Unsolicited Applications/Proposals received may be considered for
funding at any time following receipt. Unsolicited Applications/
Proposals not selected in FY 1998 may be reconsidered for funding in
the following year.
Submission, Withdrawal, and Unsuccessful Applications
Unsolicited Applications/Proposals will be accepted on an ongoing
basis. Unsolicited Applications/Proposals must state an acceptance
period of 180 days; however, Unsolicited Applications/Proposals may be
withdrawn by the Applicant at any time by written notification to the
DOE Contracting Officer identified below. Unsolicited Applications/
Proposals not funded and not withheld for reconsideration will be
destroyed and the Applicant will be notified accordingly. A Federal
Financial Assistance Award (Grant and Cooperative Agreements)
application package which includes a sample award can be obtained from
the DOE Contracting Officer identified below or can be down-loaded from
the DOE AL Web Page: ``http://www.doeal.gov/cpd/'' under the heading
``Solicitations''.
It is DOE policy to exercise extreme care to ensure that the
proposal information is not duplicated, used or disclosed in whole or
in part for any purpose other than to evaluate the proposal, without
written permission of the Applicant. Furthermore, with respect to the
Unsolicited Proposal evaluation, the Applicant is hereby informed that
it is standard practice of the CTBT R&D program officials to include
review by DOE laboratory managers and experts in the topic area of the
proposal. If you are an expert and are willing to serve as a reviewer
on a non-remunerative basis, the CTBT R&D Program would like to be
notified of your interest. Serving as a technical reviewer could
encompass these Unsolicited Applications/Proposals, subject to non-
disclosure agreements, as well as other proposals related to the CTBT
R&D Program. Interested individuals are requested to forward their
resume and cover letter expressing their interest to: Manager, Treaty
Monitoring Programs (NN-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20585-0420. Finally, proposal
evaluation may include coordination with other government agencies or
their designated contractors, primarily to check for duplication of
effort and end user interest. This is an important integration practice
appropriate to a full-scope, ongoing and mature program such as the
CTBT R&D program.
Issued in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 1998.
Leslie A. Casey,
Treaty Monitoring Program Manager, NN-20.
[FR Doc. 98-13412 Filed 5-19-98; 8:45 am]
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