[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 237 (Monday, December 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 63686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30444]


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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 Program Solicitation No. DE-PS26-02NT40865 entitled ``Solid 
State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Core Technology Program.'' The 
purpose of the SECA Core Technology Program is to develop science and 
technologies that address specific technical challenges and barriers 
faced by the SECA Industrial Teams. The goal for SECA Industrial Teams 
is to develop a 3 kilowatt (kW)-10kW solid-oxide fuel cell system 
including stack and balance of plant that has a Factory Cost of $400/kW 
by 2010. Additional information associated with the SECA program is 
located at http://www.seca.doe.gov. 

DATES: The solicitation will be available on the ``Industry Interactive 
Procurement System'' (IIPS) Web page located at http://e-center.doe.gov 
on or about December 10, 2001. Prospective applicants can obtain access 
to the solicitation from the above Internet address or through the DOE/
NETL's Internet address at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business.

ADDRESSES: The solicitation and any subsequent amendments will be 
published on the DOE/NETL's Internet address at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business and on the IIPS Web page located at http://e-
center.doe.gov. Comments and/or questions prior to the issuance of the 
solicitation shall be forwarded to the mailing address or E-mail 
address provided below.

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 subject solicitation will focus on 
specific sub-topics under the following six Core Technology topic 
areas:

1. Fuel Processing.
2. Manufacturing.
3. Controls & Diagnostics.
4. Power Electronics.
5. Modeling & Simulation.
6. Materials.

    Each topic area contains one or more sub-topics that describe needs 
for specific science, engineering and technologies to support the SECA 
Industrial Teams. The Core Technology Program will focus on generating 
new scientific and engineering knowledge and on creating technology 
breakthroughs to address technical risks and barriers that limit 
achievement of the SECA performance and cost goals for solid-state fuel 
cell systems. Universities and small business research entities are 
considered well suited for this role of generating new knowledge and 
creating breakthroughs. The solicitation is however open to any 
nonprofit or for-profit organization, university or other institution 
of higher education, or non-federal agency, unless otherwise restricted 
by the Simpson-Craig Amendment.
    The DOE anticipates award of multiple cooperative agreements in the 
various topic/subtopic areas; but the DOE reserves the right to award 
the agreement type and number deemed in its best interest. Each award 
will consist of two phases, and the selection for each phase will be 
based on a competitive process. Phase I will investigate the 
feasibility of the proposed concept/approach and will be limited to 
approximately $150,000 (DOE Funding) and twelve (12) months. Only Phase 
I recipients will have the opportunity to submit a renewal application 
to receive funds for Phase II research. If the Phase I work 
demonstrates feasibility, the selected Industrial Team members see 
sufficient commercialization merit, and adequate program funds are 
available, the recipient will be awarded a Phase II renewal agreement. 
Phase II work includes advancing the science and technology to a 
sufficient maturity level that it will be adopted by the Industrial 
Team(s). The Phase II effort will be limited to approximately $500,000 
(DOE Funding) and twenty-four (24) months. Phase II renewal awards may 
be partially funded to pick only the aspects of the Phase II work that 
have sufficient merit to the SECA Industrial Team(s).
    Applicants are advised that a minimum of 20% cost sharing will be 
required in Phase I and Phase II for technologies proposed under Topic 
Areas 1 through 5. Cost sharing is not mandatory for Phase I or Phase 
II under Topic Area 6, but is highly encouraged.
    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 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 Morgantown, WV on November 30, 2001.
Randolph L. Kesling,
Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 01-30444 Filed 12-7-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P