[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64072-64074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30785]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Program Interest; Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty 
Research and Development Program

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nonproliferation and 
National Security, Office of Research and Development (NN-20).

ACTION: Notice of Program Interest--to fund unsolicited applications/
proposals for financial assistance awards contributing to the mission 
of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) Research and 
Development (R&D) Program.

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

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 CFR part 600 (10 CFR 
part 600, specifically 10 CFR

[[Page 64073]]

600.9). On behalf of the DOE CTBT R&D Program, DOE 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 
Learning, and Commercial Organizations in furthering these program 
mission interests.

DATES: This Notice of Program Interest expires September 30, 1999. This 
date is not a deadline for applications; applications may be submitted 
at any time. An updated notice may be issued after September 30, 1999.

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 
Programs 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 Center (FETC), 626 
Cochrans Mill Road, PO Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940. DOE-FETC 
will assign a DOE identification number and acknowledge receipt of the 
proposal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Energy (NN-20), 
1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585-0420. Attn.: Leslie 
A. Casey, Telephone Number: (202) 586-2151, Fax Number: (202) 586-0485.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Responses to this Notice of Program Interest 
must explain how the proposed work furthers the CTBT R&D Program 
mission and resolves program 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 CTBT R&D Program (as represented in the 
Reports Listing at the Program's web site--http://
www.ctbt.rnd.doe.gov); offer novel or innovative approaches leading to 
performance improvements and cost reductions; and/or respond to ground 
truth data deficiencies.

Application Submission Requirements

    Applications/proposals are to follow the ``Guide for the Submission 
of Unsolicited Applications/Proposals,'' (DOE/PR-0014) which is 
available on the Web Page ``http://www.fetc.doe.gov/business/
index.html). This guide identifies What to Submit with respect to 
Departmental information requirements for Basic Information, Business 
and Financial Information, Technical Information, and Certifications. 
It is imperative that Unsolicited Applications/Proposals adequately 
address these requirements as omissions could delay proposal 
processing.
    In addition, Unsolicited Applications/Proposals are to address the 
technical work to be performed and costs associated with that work. The 
required information and format are as follows:
    (1) Project Description: (Provide a comprehensive, but succinct 
(350 character) summary 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 any 
technical uncertainties that could impede the performance of the 
resulting product).
    (4) User(s): (Identify 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 Proposals are selected for 
funding, a complete break-down by cost element will be required.)
    (10) Milestones: (List milestones (key decision points) and 
scheduled completion dates by task).
    (11) Deliverables: (List deliverables (products) and scheduled 
completion dates by task).
    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; the effectiveness 
of the proposed technical approach; timeliness; cost; and the period of 
performance. Successful proposals will also facilitate evaluation 
against these criteria.

Funding Considerations

    Financial Assistance Awards (Grants or Cooperative Agreements) are 
anticipated to be funded for project durations of 1-3 years and awards 
will generally range from $100,000 to $500,000. While Unsolicited 
Applications/Proposals may be considered for funding at any time 
following receipt, favorable consideration may be enhanced by timing 
submission to parallel DOE's review and funding cycle. Applications/
proposals that are submitted by March 1, 1999 will support funding 
decisions in June/July, 1999 followed by contract negotiations over the 
summer in preparation for awards in early FY 2000.

Submission, Withdrawal, and Unsuccessful Applications

    Unsolicited Proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis. 
Unsolicited Applications/Proposals must state an acceptance period of 
180 days; however, Unsolicited

[[Page 64074]]

Applications/Proposals may be withdrawn by the Applicant at any time by 
written notification to the DOE Unsolicited Applications/Proposals 
Manager previously identified. Unsolicited Applications/Proposals that 
are received may be considered for funding at any time following 
receipt. Unsolicited Applications/Proposals that are not selected in FY 
98 may be reconsidered for funding in the following year. Unsolicited 
Applications/Proposals that are 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 previously 
identified 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 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 and Monitoring 
Program (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, DC on November 12, 1998.
Leslie A. Casey,
Treaty Monitoring Programs Manager, NN-20.
[FR Doc. 98-30785 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P