[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 58 (Friday, March 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15899-15900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7305]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Energy Technology Laboratory; Notice of Financial 
Assistance Solicitation

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intent to issue Financial 
Assistance Solicitation No. DE-PS26-00NT40779 entitled ``Hybrid Power 
Systems.'' The goal of this procurement is to aid the development of 
systems that will produce affordable, safe, environmentally-friendly 
electrical power with a goal of eventually being 70+ percent efficient 
(lower heating value) from fossil fuels. The work will focus on proof-
of-concept systems of suppliers' market entry product. The system shall 
contain any combination of existing or ``near-term'' power industry 
fuel-to-electricity conversion equipment. One of these components must 
be a high-temperature fuel cell.

DATES: The solicitation will be available on the DOE/NETL's Internet 
address at

[[Page 15900]]

http://www.netl.doe.gov/business on or about April 24, 2000. The 
solicitation will allow for requests for explanation and/or 
interpretation. Solicitations will not be distributed in paper form or 
diskette. The exact date and time for the submission of proposals will 
be indicated in the solicitation. However, at least a forty-five (45)-
day response time is currently planned.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly A. McDonald, MS I07, U.S. 
Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory 3610 
Collins Ferry Road, P.O. Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880, E-mail 
Address: [email protected], Telephone Number: (304) 285-4113.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The work performed under this action will 
consist of three phases. The first phase will entail identification and 
resolution of barrier issues of the proposed hybrid system. This will 
include concept identification, system definition, economic evaluation, 
and experimental work to resolve any barrier issues. This information 
will be used by the DOE for system validation. The second phase will 
consist of a detailed design and cost study of the proposed system. The 
third phase will include fabrication and proof-of-concept testing of 
the proposed system. If a potential offeror believes that there are no 
barrier issues in their proposed system, and has all of the information 
that would be required in the first phase, the offeror can petition to 
DOE to initially start the project in Phase II.
    The proposed system must contain a high-temperature fuel cell 
combined with other power generation modules. Other power generation 
modules that may be proposed include: Another fuel cell; steam turbine; 
gas turbine; diesels; other heat engines; etc. This solicitation does 
not address photovoltaics, wind, or tidal energy systems. The system 
must be fueled by natural gas. The offerer must be a commercial 
producer of a major component of the proposed system or must partner 
with commercial producers of the major components (defined as power 
producing units such as fuel cells, turbines, etc.). While the goal of 
this procurement is to produce systems with energy efficiencies greater 
than 70 percent, it is anticipated that the initial market entry 
systems investigated under this solicitation, may have efficiencies 
less than this.
    DOE anticipates multiple cooperative agreement awards resulting 
from this solicitation and no fee or profit will be paid to a recipient 
or subrecipient under the awards. For agreements 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. This particular 
program is covered by Section 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 and at least 50 
percent for demonstration and commercial projects. Depending on the 
phase and maturation stage of the agreement, cost-share expectations 
will range from 20 to 50 percent. The particular program is also 
covered by Section 2306 of EPAct, 42 U.S.C. 13525 for financial 
assistance awards. The solicitation will contain as part of the 
application package the applicable EPAct representation form(s) for 
Foreign-owned companies. 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, however, it is anticipated that two to four 
awards will be made during the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2001, with 
an average total estimated cost from $5 to $15 million.
    Prospective applicants who would like to be notified as soon as the 
solicitation is available should register at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business. Provide your E-mail address and click on the ``Advanced 
Electric Power Generation'' technology choice located under the heading 
``Fossil Energy.'' Once you subscribe, you will receive an announcement 
by E-mail that the solicitation has been released to the public. 
Telephone requests, written requests, E-mail requests, or facsimile 
requests for a copy of the solicitation package will not be accepted 
and/or honored. Applications must be prepared and submitted in 
accordance with the instructions and forms contained in the 
solicitation. The solicitation will allow for requests for explanation 
and/or interpretation.

    Issued in Morgantown, WV, on March 10, 2000.
Randolph L. Kesling,
Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 00-7305 Filed 3-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P