[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 51296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24645]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Oak Ridge Operations Office, Office of Transportation 
Technologies; Notice of Solicitation for Research and Development for 
Class 1-8 Truck Diesel Engine and Natural Gas Fueled Hybrid Propulsion 
Technologies: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology for 
Transportation

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its interest in 
receiving financial assistance applications for research and 
development (R&D) on Technologies for Class 1-8 truck Diesel engine and 
hybrid propulsion technologies. DOE's Office of Heavy Vehicle 
Technologies (OHVT) has set a goal of improving the efficiency and 
emissions performance of Class 1-8 trucks through the use of advanced 
Diesel engines, emission control technologies, and hybrid electric 
propulsion systems.

DATES: The complete solicitation document will be available on or about 
September 21, 1999. Preapplications are due October 4, 1999, and 
applications are due November 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The complete solicitation document will be available on the 
DOE Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) Home Page at http://
doe-iips.pr.doe.gov/ under the heading ``IIPS Business Opportunities'', 
Solicitation Number DE-SC05-99OR22735. Any amendments to this 
solicitation will be posted at the IIPS site 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 January 28, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth L. Holt, at (423) 576-0783, U.S. 
Department of Energy, P.O. Box 2001, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-8759; 
by fax at (423) 241-2549; or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Topic (1) is Heavy Truck Engine Program. The 
goal is to develop high efficiency, low emission Diesel engine 
technologies for Class 7-8 trucks. Topic (2) is Heavy Hybrid Vehicles 
Program. The goal is to develop hybrid electric vehicle systems 
technologies utilizing reciprocating natural gas engines for Class 3-6 
urban trucks and buses. Topic (3) is Clean Diesel Engine Component 
Improvement Program. The goal is to develop component and technology 
improvements and/or alterations for increased efficiency, reduced 
emissions, and decreased manufacturing costs of Class 1-8 Diesel 
engines. The primary fuel for programs 1 and 3 is the applicable (per 
Environmental Protection Agency) Diesel certification fuel specified 
for Federal Test Procedure emissions testing. The fuel grade may be 
appropriately revised throughout the duration of the three research 
efforts to be consistent with EPA regulations or proposed rules. The 
impact of fuel properties on efficiency and performance is the focus of 
a companion program in OHVT. (If appropriate, new fuels identified in 
that companion program may be introduced into one or more of the three 
R&D programs described in this solicitation.) For program 3, applicant 
teams must propose to include a hybrid propulsion system using a 
reciprocating engine operating on natural gas. Proposals may be 
submitted for one, two, or all three programs. Proposals must be 
submitted separately for each program. Under Topic 1, approximately 2-4 
awards will be made, with periods of performance ranging from twenty-
four to sixty months, with total estimated DOE funding of $50,000,000 
to $70,000,000. Under Topic 2, there will be approximately 3-5 awards, 
with periods of performance ranging from forty-eight to sixty months, 
with total estimated DOE funding of $30,000,000 to $50,000,000. Under 
Topic 3, there will be approximately 3-5 awards, with periods of 
performance ranging from twenty-four to forty-eight months, with total 
estimated DOE funding of $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. Topics 1 and 2 
require a minimum 50 percent cost share; Topic 3 requires a minimum 25 
percent cost share. Awards are subject to the availability of funds and 
the solicitation will not obligate DOE to make any awards(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 is encouraged 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 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 a preapplication or application which shall 
be considered by the Government.

    Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on September 15, 1999.
Peter D. Dayton,
Director, Procurement and Contracts Division, Oak Ridge Operations 
Office.
[FR Doc. 99-24645 Filed 9-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P