[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 243 (Monday, December 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 71130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32899]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Golden Field Office; Notice of Solicitation for Financial 
Assistance Applications; Million Solar Roofs Initiative Small Grant 
Program for State and Local Partnerships

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Solicitation for Financial Assistance Applications 
Number DE-PS36-00GO10496.

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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 Million Solar Roofs Program for State and 
Local Partnerships. The selected applicants will receive financial 
assistance under a grant with DOE.

DATES: The solicitation will be issued in late December, 1999.

ADDRESSES: 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: DOE's Million Solar Roofs (MSR) Initiative 
is an initiative to install solar energy systems on one million U.S. 
buildings by 2010. It was announced by President Clinton on June 26, 
1997 in his speech before the United Nations Session on Environment and 
Development. This effort includes two types of solar energy 
technology--photovoltaics that produce electricity from sunlight and 
solar thermal panels that produce heat for domestic hot water, space 
heating or heating swimming pools. A key strategy of the Initiative is 
to catalyze market demand in local areas through the establishment of 
State and Local MSR Partnerships. The Congressional language 
authorizing these funds specifically directs DOE to use these funds to 
eliminate barriers to the use of solar energy systems and to support 
partnerships (See Conference Report 105-749 on the FY 99 Energy and 
Water Development Appropriation Act). The overall goal of this 
solicitation is to assist State and Local Partnerships in contributing 
to the installation of one million solar energy systems on U.S. 
rooftops by the year 2010.
    This solicitation is only open to both existing and new MSR State 
and Local Partnerships. Those MSR Partnerships that received funding 
from DOE in Fiscal Year 1999 under the ``Million Solar Roofs Initiative 
Small Grant Program for State and Local Partnerships'' or the ``State 
Energy Program Special Projects Solicitation'' are ineligible for an 
award in FY 2000. These Partnerships bring together business, 
government and community organizations, (e.g., solar energy educational 
organizations, or not-for-profit housing agencies) at the regional 
level with a commitment to install a pre-determined number of solar 
energy systems. There were forty (40) such existing partnerships under 
the MSR Initiative, as of October 1, 1999. They received their MSR 
Partnership designation by writing a letter of commitment to DOE with 
their goal for actual installations by 2010. In return, DOE provides 
access to a variety of financing options, training and technical 
assistance from DOE's existing infrastructure, recognition and support, 
and a link to solar energy businesses, associations and related 
industries that can provide assistance. New MSR Partnerships can 
declare their intent to join the Initiative by including such a letter 
with their application for this solicitation. A complete description of 
partnerships and their representative activities can be found on the 
MSR website at http://www.MillionSolarRoofs.org.
    DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will only 
consider proposals from interested State and Local Partnerships to help 
fund their MSR program development and implementation activities. Grant 
awards will be managed by the DOE Regional Offices. DOE intends to 
allocate a portion of total available funding to each of the six DOE 
regions based on a formula that considers existing partnerships that 
did not receive funding from DOE in FY 1999 and the potential for new 
partnerships to be established. Applicants will only be competing 
against other partnerships in their DOE region.
    The project or activity must be conducted in a designated MSR 
partnership community. Any member of a State or Local Partnership, 
except industry associations, can apply on behalf of the Partnership, 
including builders, energy service providers, utilities, non-
governmental organizations, local governments, or state governments. 
The different organizations/offices involved in a State or Local 
Partnership are encouraged to collaborate on their response to this 
solicitation. There is no cost-sharing requirement for these grants 
although cost-sharing will be favorably considered in the selection 
process. Subject to the availability of funds, 10-25 awards totaling 
$500,000 (DOE funding) in FY 2000 are anticipated to be awarded as a 
result of this Solicitation. DOE funding for individual awards will be 
$10,000 to $50,000 in size. Solicitation number DE-PS36-00GO10496 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 applications for funding. No pre-application conference is 
planned. Issuance of the solicitation is planned for late December, 
with applications due on January 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Adams, Contracting Officer, at 
303-275-4722, e-mail [email protected], or Jerry Kotas, Project 
Officer, at 303-275-4714, e-mail [email protected].

    Issued in Golden, Colorado, on December 8, 1999.
Jerry Zimmer,
Director, Office of Procurement and Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 99-32899 Filed 12-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-p