[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 55008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23387]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Energy Technology Laboratory; Notice of Availability of 
a Financial Assistance Solicitation

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Financial Assistance Solicitation.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intent to issue Financial 
Assistance Solicitation No. DE-PS26-00NT40854, entitled ``Solid State 
Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA).'' The purpose of the SECA 
solicitation is to seek Industrial Development Teams to develop a 3 
kilawatt (kW)-10kW solid-oxide fuel cell system including stack and 
balance of plant that has a Factory Cost of $400/kW by 2010. The goal 
is to develop solid-oxide fuel cell systems that have broad 
applicability via use of mass customization techniques. Development of 
solid-oxide fuel cell systems that are applicable to stationary, 
mobile, and military applications with minimal differences in core 
module components is also desired.

DATES: A draft solicitation will be available on or about September 15, 
2000. Comments and/or questions concerning the draft solicitation shall 
be submitted to the DOE Contract Specialist no later than 25 days after 
publication of the solicitation; the mailing address and E-mail address 
is provided below.

ADDRESSES: The draft solicitation will be available for viewing and 
downloading from NETL's Homepage at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business. 
The final version of the solicitation along with all amendments will be 
posted on the NETL Homepage; applicants are therefore encouraged to 
periodically check the NETL Homepage to ascertain the status of these 
documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary S. Gabriele, 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) 285-4253.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U. S. Department of Energy is seeking 
Industrial Teams to develop a total of three solid-oxide fuel cell 
system prototypes per team with a net power output of between 3 
kilawatts (kW) to 10kW. A single organization (prime) will lead each 
Industrial Team. The project will be structured in three phases over 
ten years with minimum goals and requirements established for each 
phase. A full functional prototype will be tested according to a 
minimum set of goals and requirements no later than the end of each 
phase.
    This solicitation represents the beginning of a new fuel cell 
program. The new program will attack the fuel cell commercialization by 
reducing costs and producing system configurations that have wide 
applicability. SECA includes two major components--the Industrial Teams 
Component and the Core Technology Program. This solicitation is for the 
Industrial Team Component only.
    The DOE anticipates award of multiple cost-sharing cooperative 
agreements; but the DOE reserves the right to award the agreement type 
and number deemed in its best interest. As required in Section 3002, 
Title XXX of the Energy Policy Act (EPACT), offerors are advised that 
mandatory cost-share will be required for each phase of the project: 
20% for Phase I and 50% for Phases II and III. Funds are not currently 
available for this solicitation; the Government's obligation under any 
cooperative agreement awarded is contingent upon the availability of 
appropriated FY2001 funds.

    Issued in Morgantown, WV on August 31, 2000.
Randolph L. Kesling,
Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 00-23387 Filed 9-11-00; 8:45 am]
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