[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 873-874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-390]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Number DE-PS36-02GO90014]


Solicitation for Financial Assistance Applications; Inventions 
and Innovation Program

AGENCY: Golden Field Office, Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for financial assistance applications.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies 
(OIT) is funding a competitive grant program entitled the Inventions 
and Innovation (I&I) Program. The goals of the I&I Program are to 
improve energy efficiency through the promotion of innovative ideas and 
inventions that have a significant, potential energy impact and a 
potential, future commercial market. These goals are consistent with 
the mission of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 
(EERE), which is to develop and promote the adoption of cost-effective 
renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies within the 
building, industrial, transportation, and power sectors for the benefit 
of economic competitiveness, energy security, and environmental quality 
of the nation. The following mission focus industries, comprised of the 
most energy intensive industries in the U.S. manufacturing sector, are 
of particular interest to the Program: Agriculture, Aluminum, 
Chemicals, Forest products, Glass, Metal-casting, Mining, Petroleum, 
and Steel. Category 1 applications must be applications relevant to the 
Glass mission focus industry. Only Glass specific applications will be 
accepted under Category 1. Category 2 applications are open to all the 
mission focus industries and the building, transportation, and power 
sectors.

DATES: DOE expects to issue the solicitation on or about December 19, 
2001. The deadline for receipt of applications will be on or about 3 pm 
Mountain Time on February 15, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The formal solicitation document will be disseminated 
electronically as Solicitation Number DE-PS36-02GO90014, Inventions and 
Innovation (I&I) Program, through the Industry Interactive Procurement 
System (IIPS) located at the following URL: http://e-center.doe.gov. 
IIPS provides the medium for disseminating

[[Page 874]]

solicitations, receiving financial assistance applications, and 
evaluating the applications in a paperless environment. Completed 
applications are required to be submitted via IIPS. Individuals who 
have the authority to enter their company into a legally binding 
contract/agreement and intend to submit proposals/applications via the 
IIPS system must register and receive confirmation that they are 
registered prior to being able to submit an application on the IIPS 
system. An IIPS ``User Guide for Contractors'' can be obtained by going 
to the IIPS Homepage at the URL noted above and then clicking on the 
``Help'' button. Questions regarding the operation of IIPS may be e-
mailed to the IIPS Help Desk at center.doe.gov">IIPS_HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov or call 
the help desk at (800) 683-0751.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margo Gorin, Contract Specialist, at 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A selection of former projects funded by the 
I&I Program that have reached commercial markets included the 
following:
     Meta-Lax Stress Relief Equipment offers distinct 
advantages over conventional heat treatment methods. It uses less 
energy, is portable, can handle any size metal part, and treats metal 
stress in hours versus days.
     Aero Cylinder Technology replaces conventional cylinders 
by combining air spring bellows into assemblies for use on machines 
(such as punch presses) to control motion and large masses. The air 
springs act as counter balancers and press cushioners to eliminate 
alignment problems. This proper alignment reduces downtime and 
compressed air losses, resulting in significant energy savings.
     Electro-Optic Inspection of Heat Exchangers is a laser-
based, nondestructive evaluation system for inspecting heat exchanger 
tubing for internal corrosion, erosion, scale buildup, and deformation. 
Benefits to petrochemical, pulp and paper, and power-generation plants 
include reduced downtime and increased efficiency.
     Hydrodynamic Multi-Deflection Pad Bearings optimize 
bearing operation in high-speed, combined heat and power turbines, 
high-load electric motors or gear boxes, air or gas compressors, and 
air conditioning refrigeration equipment. Energy loss due to friction 
is reduced up to forty-percent by using fluids as a wedge between pads 
and moving parts.
    Solicitation Specifications: Eligibility requirements include the 
following: (1) Individuals that are U.S. citizens, either native-born 
or naturalized; (2) small businesses (as defined by the Small Business 
Administration) that are U.S. owned, as defined in 10 CFR part 600.501; 
or (3) institutions of higher learning located in the U.S. Individual 
inventors and very small businesses (15 or fewer employees) are 
especially encouraged to participate. More than one application may be 
submitted by an applicant for different innovations. However, funding 
will be limited to one award per applicant, per cycle. Also more than 
one organization may be involved in an application as long as the lead 
organization and lead financial assistance management responsibilities 
are defined. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number assigned 
to the I&I Program is 81.036. Cost sharing by applicants and/or 
cooperating participants is not required but highly encouraged. In 
addition to direct financial contributions, cost sharing can include 
beneficial services or items such as manpower, equipment, consultants, 
and computer time that are allowable in accordance with applicable cost 
principles.
    The Golden Field Office has been assigned the responsibility of 
issuing the solicitation and administering the awards. Ideas that have 
a significant energy savings impact and future commercial market 
potential are chosen for financial support through the competitive 
solicitation process. The I&I Program will provide financial assistance 
of up to $40,000 for Category 1 and up to $200,000 for Category 2 to 
applications that fall within the ``conceptual'' and ``developmental'' 
stages of development, respectively. To be considered for a Category 2 
award, a bench-scale model and/or other preliminary investigations must 
be complete. Each award may cover a project period of up to one year 
for Category 1 and up to two years for Category 2. In addition to 
financial assistance, the I&I Program offers technical guidance and 
commercialization support to successful applicants through the Resource 
Centers for Innovation (RCI).
    Availability of Funds for FY 2001: DOE is announcing the 
availability of up to $2.16 million dollars in agreement funds for 
Fiscal Year 2002. The awards will be made through a competitive 
solicitation. DOE reserves the right to fund in whole or in part any, 
all, or none of the proposals submitted in response to this notice.

    Issued in Golden, Colorado on December 20, 2001.
Matthew A. Barron,
Acting Director, Office of Acquisition and Financial Assistance, Golden 
Field Office.
[FR Doc. 02-390 Filed 1-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P