[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 240 (Tuesday, December 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69062-69063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33197]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


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

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Solicitation for financial assistance applications 
number DE-PS45-99R530403.

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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 Great Lakes Regional Biomass 
EnergyProgram (GLRBEP) Management Project. The selected applicant will 
receive financial assistance to manage GLRBEP under a financial 
assistance agreement with DOE.

DATES: The solicitation will be issued on or about December 7, 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 GLRBEP 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 Great 
Lakes Region includes the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
    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 Chicago Regional Support Office (CRSO) and GLRBEP 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 GLRBEP.
    The GLRBEP Annual Operating Plan (AOP) is a document which will be 
prepared each year by the CRSO, 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 CRSO 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 biomass publications, 
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 GLRBEP 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

[[Page 69063]]

responsibility of the recipient with appropriate oversight from the 
CRSO.
    In response to this solicitation, DOE expects to make a single 
award. Solicitation number DE-PS45-99R530403 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 December 7, 1998, with responses 
due on January 27, 1999.

    Dated: December 3, 1998.
John W. Meeker,
Chief, Procurement, GO.
[FR Doc. 98-33197 Filed 12-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P