[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 232 (Friday, December 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75270-75271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30640]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Science


Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice 01-03; 
Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice inviting research grant applications.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) of the Office of 
Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its 
interest in receiving grant applications for innovative research on the 
topic of nanoscale science, engineering and technology. Opportunities 
exist for research with primary focus in materials sciences, chemical 
sciences, and engineering sciences. More specific information is 
outlined in the supplementary information section below.

DATES: Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a brief 
preapplication. All preapplications, referencing Program Notice 01-03, 
should be received by DOE by 4:30 p.m., E.S.T., January 12, 2001. A 
response to the preapplications encouraging or discouraging a formal 
application generally will be communicated to the applicant within 21 
days of receipt. The deadline for receipt of formal applications is 
4:30 p.m., E.S.T. March 14, 2001, in order to be accepted for merit 
review and to permit timely consideration for award in Fiscal Year 
2001.

ADDRESSES: All preapplications referencing Program Notice 01-03 should 
be sent to Dr. Jerry J. Smith, Division of Materials Sciences and 
Engineering, SC-13, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 
Germantown Road, Germantown MD 20874-1290. Formal applications 
referencing Program Notice 01-03 should be forwarded to: U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of Science, Grants and Contracts Division, 
SC-64, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290, ATTN: 
Program Notice 01-03. This address must also be used when submitting 
applications by U.S. Postal Service Express, any commercial mail 
delivery service, or when hand carried by the applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning research 
topics in specific technical areas, contact the following individuals 
in the appropriate area of interest:
    Materials Sciences: Dr. Jerry J. Smith, Division of Materials 
Sciences and Engineering, SC-13, Office of Science, U.S. Department of 
Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, telephone 
(301) 903-4269, e-mail: [email protected].
    Chemical Sciences: Dr. Paul H. Smith, Division of Chemical 
Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences, SC-14, Office of Science, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, 
telephone (301) 903-5806, e-mail: [email protected].
    Engineering Sciences: Dr. Robert Price, Division of Materials 
Sciences and Engineering, SC-13, Office of Science, U.S. Department of 
Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, telephone 
(301) 903-3565, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Controlling and manipulating matter at the 
atomic and molecular scale is the essence of nanoscale science, 
engineering, and technology (NSET). The BES program has worked with the 
National Science and Technology Council's Interagency Working Group on 
Nanotechnology, with the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee 
(BESAC), and with the broad scientific community from academia, 
industry, and the National Laboratories to define and articulate the 
goals of this research.
    The BES program in NSET has the following overarching goals: (1) 
Attain a fundamental scientific understanding of nanoscale phenomena; 
(2) achieve the ability to design and synthesize materials at the 
atomic level to produce materials with desired properties and 
functions; (3) attain a fundamental understanding of the natural 
processes for the creation of materials and functional systems to serve 
as a guide and a benchmark by which to measure progress in synthetic 
design and synthesis; and (4) develop experimental characterization 
tools and theory/

[[Page 75271]]

modeling/simulation tools necessary to understand, predict, and control 
nanoscale phenomena.
    Two recent reports prepared by the BES program, which address both 
NSET research and broader program goals that are dependent on nanoscale 
understanding, are available on the internet. These reports are Complex 
Systems: Science for the 21st Century (1999) available at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/complexsystems.htm and Nanoscale Science, 
Engineering and Technology Research Directions (1999) available at: 
http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/nanoscale.html. These reports 
detail current topics supported by BES in the area of NSET, describe 
future research directions, and should be used as a guide to 
appropriate proposal topics. Applications in these areas will be 
accepted from individual investigators or groups of 2-4 investigators.

Program Funding

    It is anticipated that up to $18 million will be available for 
grant awards during FY 2001, contingent upon the availability of 
appropriated funds. Multiple year funding of grant awards is expected, 
also contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds, progress 
of the research and continuing program need. Applications received by 
the Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under its 
current competitive application mechanisms may be deemed appropriate 
for consideration under this notice and may be funded under this 
program.

Preapplications

    A brief preapplication may be submitted. The preapplication should 
identify on the cover sheet the institution, principal investigator 
name, address, telephone, fax and e-mail address, title of the project, 
and the field of scientific research. The preapplication should consist 
of no more than a three-page narrative describing the research project 
objectives and methods of accomplishment. These will be reviewed 
relative to the scope and research needs of the Nanoscale Science, 
Engineering, and Technology initiative and DOE programmatic needs. 
Preapplications are strongly encouraged but not required prior to 
submission of a formal application. Please note that notification of a 
successful preapplication is not an indication that an award will be 
made in response to the formal application.

Merit Review

    Applications will be subjected to scientific merit review (peer 
review) and will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria 
listed in descending order of importance as codified at 10 CFR Part 
605.10(d) (www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/605index.html):
    1. Scientific and/or technical merit of the project;
    2. Appropriateness of the proposed method or approach;
    3. Competency of applicant's personnel and adequacy of proposed 
resources; and
    4. Reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget.
    The evaluation will include program policy factors such as the 
relevance of the proposed research to the terms of the announcement and 
an agency's programmatic needs. Note, external peer reviewers are 
selected with regard to both their scientific expertise and the absence 
of conflict-of-interest issues. Non-federal reviewers may be used and 
submission of an application constitutes agreement that this is 
acceptable to the investigator(s) and the submitting institution. 
Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with researchers in other 
institutions, such as universities, industry, non-profit organizations, 
federal laboratories and Federally Funded Research and Development 
Centers (FFRDCs), including the DOE National Laboratories. A parallel 
invitation with a similar potential total amount of funds has been sent 
to DOE FFRDCs. All projects will be evaluated using the same criteria, 
regardless of the submitting institution.
    Information about the development and submission of applications, 
eligibility, limitations, evaluation, selection process, and other 
policies and procedures may be found in 10 CFR Part 605 and in the 
Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial Assistance 
Program. Electronic access to the Guide and required forms is available 
via the World Wide Web at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html. On the grant face page, form DOE F 4650.2, block 15, 
provide the principal investigator's phone number, fax number and e-
mail address. The research description must be 20 pages or less, 
exclusive of figure illustrations, and must contain an abstract or 
summary of the proposed research. Attachments include curriculum vitae, 
a listing of all current and pending federal support, and letters of 
intent when collaborations are part of the proposed research.

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this 
program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 
CFR Part 605.
    Issued in Washington, DC on November 17, 2000.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director of Science for Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 00-30640 Filed 11-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P