[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 71095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30406]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of Solicitation

AGENCY: Idaho Operations Office, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability of solicitation--biobased products 
industry education initiative.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Industrial 
Technologies, is seeking applications from private and public 
institutions of higher learning to promote multidisciplinary education 
and training programs for graduate students at the Masters or Ph.D. 
levels in the area of biobased products.
    The emerging biobased products industry uses crops, trees, 
residues, and wastes to make chemicals and a large range of everyday 
consumer goods, like plastics, paints and adhesives. Contributions to 
this new industry would come from a wide range of traditional academic 
programs including: biology, molecular and micro-biology, genomics, 
plant physiology, fermentation sciences, agronomy, crop production, 
forestry, chemistry, chemical engineering and other engineering 
disciplines, and polymer and material science. These examples are cited 
for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the 
academic programs to just those listed. This solicitation seeks to 
encourage the widest possible range of creative approaches.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of applications is 3 p.m. MDT January 
17, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Applications should be submitted to: Procurement Services 
Division, U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, 
Attention: Marshall Garr [DE-PS07-00ID13962], 850 Energy Drive, MS 
1221, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401-1563.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marshall Garr, Contract Specialist, at 
[email protected], telephone (208) 526-1536.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of this new education 
initiative is to produce graduates who can enter the complex biobased 
products industry and effectively integrate knowledge from the wide 
range of technologies that are necessary for this industry to grow. 
U.S. universities and colleges are encouraged to design a 
comprehensive, multidisciplinary curriculum to achieve such a goal from 
an educational perspective and simultaneously allow the student to gain 
a hands-on experience through the implementation of an individual 
relevant research program. It is expected that the student, under the 
major professor's tutelage will conduct a research program that will 
make substantive contributions to the biobased products industry. It is 
encouraged for the students to interact with industry in their academic 
and research program.
    Graduates will eventually be expected to contribute to improving 
the efficient utilization of energy in this new industry and enhancing 
the environmental quality of the surrounding land, air and water.
    The statutory authority for this program is the Federal Non-Nuclear 
Energy Research & Development Act of 1974 (Pub L. 93-577). DOE 
anticipates approximately 4-5 grant awards will be made for up to 
$125,000 each a year for a maximum of three years in duration. These 
grants will cover both the costs for establishing a new cross-cutting 
academic and research program in this field as well as full stipends 
for 2 or so deserving graduate students at the Masters or Ph.D. level. 
The awards will be used for the academic year starting in the fall of 
2001.
    The issuance date of Solicitation No. DE-PS07-01ID14037 will be 
November 27, 2000. The solicitation will be available in full text via 
the Internet at the following address: http://www.id.doe.gov /doeid/
psd/proc-div.html. Technical and non-technical questions should be 
submitted in writing to Marshall Garr by e-mail [email protected], or 
facsimile at 208-526-5548 no later than December 12, 2000.

    Issued in Idaho Falls on November 21, 2000.
R. Jeffrey Hoyles,
Director, Procurement Services Division.
[FR Doc. 00-30406 Filed 11-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P