[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 229 (Monday, November 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 65766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31809]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Solicitation for Financial Assistance Applications; 
Northeast Regional Biomass Energy Program Management Project

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for financial assistance applications 
number DE-PS36-99GO10385.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the DOE 
Financial Assistance Rules, 10 CFR 600.8, is announcing its intention 
to solicit applications for the Northeast Regional Biomass Program 
(NERBEP) Management Project. The selected applicant will receive 
financial assistance to manage NERBEP under a financial assistance 
agreement with DOE.

DATES: The solicitation will be issued on or about November 30, 1998.

AVAILABILITY: To obtain a copy of the Solicitation once it is issued, 
interested parties must access the Golden Field Office Application, 
Award and Solicitation page at http://www.eren.doe.gov/golden/
solicit.htm, click on ``solicitations'' and then locate the 
solicitation number identified above. DOE does not intend to issue 
written copies of the solicitation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The major goals of the DOE NERBEP are: to 
promote biomass energy by creating awareness, a positive image, and 
confidence in biomass energy technologies within the region; to develop 
a climate supportive of biomass energy among the general public and 
relevant government agencies; to assist both the public and private 
sectors in the responsible development, commercialization, and 
utilization of biomass energy technologies so that the region achieves 
full realization of associated energy, economic, and environmental 
benefits; and to select and perform activities that provide for 
responsible development of biomass energy within the region. The 
Northeast Region includes the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
    Applications must address each of the following activities in order 
to be considered for award. The activities are (1) management and 
planning, (2) information and outreach, and (3) project oversight and 
evaluation.
    1. Management and Planning includes a plan for the overall 
management of the project at the state level, including coordination 
with the DOE Boston Regional Support Office (BRSO) and NERBEP ad hoc 
steering committees. The responsibility also includes development of 
resource plans and the provision of technical input to DOE for 
development of annual operating plans for the NERBEP.
    The NERBEP Annual Operating Plan (AOP) is a document which will be 
prepared each year by the BRSO, with appropriate committee input, which 
provides guidance and direction to the program for the following Fiscal 
Year.
    The draft FY '99 AOP will be made an attachment to the 
solicitation. It will be the responsibility of the recipient to guide 
the Program in meeting AOP objectives, recommend and implement changes 
to the AOP as necessary, and assist the BRSO in the preparation and 
completion of future AOP's.
    2. Information and Outreach includes responding to inquiries about 
the program from interested parties, developing biotech briefs, 
collecting and contributing articles to support dialogue, and preparing 
regional biomass energy program reports. The recipient also will 
coordinate and publish a regional newsletter at least quarterly and 
will establish and maintain a NERBEP Internet site which provides 
relevant biomass program information and project summaries.
    3. Project Oversight and Evaluation includes the award and 
administration of subgrants to organizations in the region. The 
recipient will solicit applications for projects in support of program 
objectives through a competitive solicitation. Administration of the 
individual subgrants, including financial commitments, performance 
tracking, and the provision of periodic reports to DOE, will be the 
responsibility of the recipient with appropriate oversight from the 
BRSO.
    In response to this solicitation, DOE expects to make a single 
award. Solicitation number DE-PS36-99GO10385 will include complete 
information on the program including technical aspects, funding, 
application preparation instructions, application evaluation criteria, 
and other factors that will be considered when selecting projects for 
funding. No pre-application conference is planned. Issuance of the 
solicitation is planned on or about November 30, 1998, with responses 
due on January 20, 1999.

    Issued in Golden, Colorado, on November 8, 1998.
John W. Meeker,
Chief, Procurement, GO.
[FR Doc. 98-31809 Filed 11-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P