[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4242-4243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1801]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Energy Technology Center; Notice of Intent To issue a 
Federal Assistance Solicitation (PS)

AGENCY: National Energy Technology Center (NETL), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given of the intent to issue a PS No. DE-
PS26-00NT40781 entitled ``Energy Efficient Building Equipment and 
Envelope Technologies, Round II.'' The PS will solicit the submission 
of innovative technologies that have the potential for significant 
energy savings in residential and commercial buildings. Through this 
solicitation, the Department of Energy is seeking to support projects 
that are advancing energy efficient equipment, envelope technologies 
and whole building technologies. Specifically, the objective of the 
procurement is to accelerate high-payoff technologies that, because of 
their risk, are unlikely to be developed in a timely manner without a 
partnership between industry and the Federal government.

DATES:  The solicitation will be available from NETL's Internet address 
at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business. Prospective offerors who would 
like to be notified as soon as the solicitation is available should 
register at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business/index.html. Provide your 
e-mail address and click on the heading ``Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.'' Once you subscribe, you will receive an 
announcement by e-mail that the solicitation has been released to the 
public. Those prospective offerors who obtain a copy of the 
solicitation through the Internet should check the location frequently 
for any solicitation amendments. Telephone requests, written requests, 
e-mail requests, or facsimile requests for a copy of the solicitation 
package will not be accepted

[[Page 4243]]

and/or honored. The actual solicitation document will allow for 
requests for explanation and/or interpretation. Solicitations will not 
be distributed in paper form or on diskette. The solicitation will be 
available on or about February 12, 2000. The exact date and time for 
the submission of proposals will be indicated in the solicitation. 
However, at least a forty-five day response time is currently planned.

ADDRESSES:  Acquisition and Assistance Division, U.S. Department of 
Energy, National Energy Technology Center, P.O. Box 880, Morgantown, WV 
26507-0880.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Vicky L. Shears, Contract Specialist, 
U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Center, P.O. Box 
880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880; Telephone 304/285-4083.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  DOE/NETL intends to select a group of 
projects programmatically balanced with respect to: (1) Technology 
category (equipment end users, envelopes and whole buildings); (2) 
building type (residential and/or commercial); and (3) time of 
commercialization (short-term or long-term market potential of the 
technology). The solicitation will cover research and development on 
materials, components and systems applicable to both residential and 
commercial buildings. The solicitation will not support demonstration 
projects to deploy the technology on a large scale but will support 
proof of concept projects.
    The research and development areas of interest are as follows: 
Building Equipment--energy conversion and control equipment supplying 
lighting, space conditioning (heating, cooling, dehumidification and 
ventilation), water heating, refrigeration, appliance services and 
electric power to building occupants and commercial operations; 
Building Envelope--materials, components and systems for windows, 
walls, roofs, foundations and other elements which comprise building 
exteriors and provide thermal integrity and day lighting; and Whole 
Building Technologies--the integration of components and systems which 
govern overall energy use and indoor environmental quality in a 
building.
    The solicitation covers research in four technology maturation 
stages. Technology Maturation Stage 2 involves applied research; 
Technology Maturation Stage 3 involves exploratory development (non-
specific applications and bench-scale testing; Technology Maturation 
Stage 4 involves advanced development (specific applications and bench-
scale testing); and Maturation Stage 5 involves engineering development 
(pilot-scale and/or field testing).
    Multiple awards are expected regardless of the technology 
maturation stage(s) proposed. For projects spanning more than one 
maturation stage, continuation decision points will be inserted at the 
completion of each stage. Additional decision points may be required 
depending upon the length of any one maturation stage. It is 
anticipated that eight to ten awards will be made with an average total 
estimated cost from $200,000 to $1,000,000. It is DOE's desire to 
encourage the widest participation including the involvement of 
individuals, corporations, non-profit organizations, and state or local 
governments or other entities. In order to gain the necessary expertise 
to review proposals, non-Federal personnel may be used as evaluators or 
advisors in the evaluation of proposals, but will not serve as members 
of the technical evaluation committee. This particular program is 
covered by Sections 3001 and 3002 of the Energy Policy Act (EPAct), 42 
U.S.C. 13542 for financial assistance awards. EPAct 3002 requires a 
cost share commitment of at least 20 percent from non-Federal sources 
for research and development projects. In accordance with FAR 52.232-
18, ``Availability of Funds,'' funds are not presently available for 
this procurement. The Government's obligation under this award is 
contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which 
payment for award purposes can be made.

    Issued January 19, 2000.
Randolph L. Kesling,
Division Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 00-1801 Filed 1-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P