[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 235 (Thursday, December 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63381-63382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30243]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


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

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Financial Assistance Solicitation.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intent to issue Financial 
Assistance Solicitation No. DE-PS26-02NT15379 entitled ``Applications 
of Petroleum Technologies on Native American and Alaskan Native 
Corporation Properties for the Benefit of the Entire Tribe/Native 
Corporation.'' The DOE/NETL is seeking applications on behalf of the 
National Petroleum Technology Office, for support of projects 
consistent with applied research for development, exploration, 
processing and environmental solutions for oil production problems on 
Native American and Alaskan Native Corporation lands, thereby commonly 
benefitting the Tribe or Corporation. This program is directed toward 
creating cooperative efforts between the Tribes or Corporations and the 
oil industry.

DATES: The solicitation will be available on the DOE/NETL's Internet 
address at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business and on the ``Industry 
Interactive Procurement System'' (IIPS) webpage located at http://e-
center.doe.gov on or about December 10, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juliana L. Murray, U.S. Department of 
Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, PO Box 10940, MS 921-
107, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, E-mail Address: [email protected], 
Telephone Number: 412-386-4872.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE supports modern petroleum 
technologies on Native American and Alaskan Native Corporation lands 
which are both economically and environmentally viable. For a number of 
reasons, many areas on Native American and Alaskan Native Corporation 
lands are under explored and consequently have underdeveloped oil 
reserves. This program is directed toward creating cooperative efforts 
between the Tribes or Corporations and the oil industry.
    The four areas of interest for the technical topics of this 
solicitation are:

(1) Development Program

    The Development program is directed toward technologies to improve 
the development of a known oil field on Native American and Alaskan 
Native Corporation lands. Proposed efforts must be economically and 
environmentally viable as well as an improvement in the development of 
an oil field. The types of technologies to be considered are not 
limited to, but may include, reservoir characterization, completion or 
stimulation, secondary or tertiary oil recovery, artificial lift, well 
workovers, well drilling, field studies and production management;

(2) Exploration Program

    The Exploration program is directed toward technologies to promote 
the exploration of undiscovered oil fields on Native American and 
Alaskan Native Corporation lands. In cooperation with the Tribal 
management, proposed efforts must be economically and environmentally 
viable as well as an improvement of oil field exploration techniques. 
The types of technologies to be considered are not limited to, but may 
include, non-invasive exploration techniques, computer-based modeling 
for exploration and well drilling and evaluation;

(3) Environmental Program

    The Environmental program is directed toward technologies to reduce 
the cost of effective environmental oil and gas field compliance. The 
types of technologies to be considered are not limited to, but may 
include, soil remediation and remediation due to past operational 
practices or problems, air emissions, innovative waste and produced 
water management; and

(4) Oil Processing Program

    The oil processing program is directed toward an increase in 
refining capacity by addressing issues that limit potential 
construction. The types of studies to be considered are those that 
evaluate the environmental impact and the economic feasibility of oil 
processing on Native American lands. Projects that focus on reducing 
the environmental impact of oil refining on these lands will also be 
considered.
    Proposed efforts must incorporate innovative technologies to 
improve the development of a known oil field, to promote exploration of 
undiscovered oil reserves, to study viable solutions to evaluate and 
minimize the environmental impact of oil processing construction/
operation or to reduce the cost of effective environmental oil and gas 
field compliance.
    This solicitation fits into the overall mission of NETL by 
furthering to resolve the environmental, supply and reliability 
constraints of producing and using fossil energy resources to provide 
Americans with a stronger economy,

[[Page 63382]]

healthier environment and more secure future. Reserves and production 
are expected to increase as well as potential for facilitating a 
cleaner environment and a strong potential to increase processing 
capacity. The benefits are far-reaching to U.S. citizens, Native 
American Tribes, Alaskan Native Corporations and the U.S. Government by 
promoting a stronger economy, healthier environment and more secure 
future.
    This solicitation is a follow-on to a 1999 Native American 
Solicitation. DOE anticipates issuing approximately two to five 
financial assistance (grant) awards with a project performance period 
no less than one year in length and up to two years in length. 
Approximately $1.2 million of DOE funding is planned for this 
solicitation. DOE has determined the minimum cost share of twenty 
percent (20%) of the total estimated project cost is required; details 
of the cost sharing requirement and the specific funding levels will be 
contained in the program solicitation.
    This solicitation will be targeted for unrestricted competition 
however, all potential offerors must provide a letter of commitment for 
the project from the Native American Tribe's governing body or from the 
governing body of an Alaskan Native Corporation (more information will 
be provided in the solicitation). Applications submitted by or on 
behalf of (1) another Federal agency; (2) a Federally Funded Research 
and Development Center sponsored by another Federal agency; or (3) a 
Department of Energy (DOE) Management Operating (M&O) contractor will 
not be eligible for award under this solicitation. However, an 
application that includes performance of a portion of the work by a DOE 
M&O contractor will be evaluated and may be considered for award 
subject to the provisions to be set forth in Program Solicitation DE-
PS26-02NT15379 (Note: The limit on participation by an M&O contractor 
for an individual project under this solicitation cannot exceed 20% of 
the total project cost).
    Once released, the solicitation will be available for downloading 
from the IIPS Internet page. At this Internet site you will also be 
able to register with IIPS, enabling you to submit an application. If 
you need technical assistance in registering or for any other IIPS 
function, call the IIPS Help Desk at (800) 683-0751 or e-mail the Help 
Desk personnel at center.doe.gov">IIPS_HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov. The solicitation will 
only be made available in IIPS, no hard (paper) copies of the 
solicitation and related documents will be made available.
    Prospective applicants who would like to be notified as soon as the 
solicitation is available should subscribe to the Business Alert 
Mailing List at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business. 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 actual solicitation document will 
allow for requests for explanation and/or interpretation.

    Issued in Pittsburgh, PA, on November 29, 2001.
Dale A. Siciliano,
Deputy Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 01-30243 Filed 12-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P