[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11302-11303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6037]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice 02-19: 
Innovations in Fusion Energy Confinement Systems

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES) of the Office of 
Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its 
interest in receiving grant applications for innovative experiments in 
fusion energy confinement systems. Organizations with research projects 
funded under previous notices for this topic that are now due for 
continuation funding need not submit; however, those seeking renewal 
funding in Fiscal Year 2003, should submit a renewal application under 
this Notice. Successful applications will be funded early in Fiscal 
Year 2003.
    The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences is interested in applications 
for innovative fusion energy experimental research. The specific areas 
of interest are:
    1. Innovative Approaches to Understanding Plasmas.
    2. Innovative Confinement Concepts.
    3. Innovative Plasma Operations in Support of Proof of Principle 
(POP), Performance Extension (PE), and Burning Plasma Experiments.
    More specific information on each area of interest is outlined in 
the general and program specific information section below.
    The research should be aimed at experimentally elucidating the 
physics principles involved. Research projects are sought which are 
unique, first of a kind and which provide new scientific insights. 
Although the main thrust of this initiative is experimental, 
consideration will also be given to applications that are directed at 
scientific assessment of new concepts, approaches, and plasma 
operations that are not ready for experimental investigation. 
Applications for research on existing large experiments, or initiatives 
in Inertial Fusion Energy should not be submitted in response to this 
notice. Collaborative applications submitted from different 
institutions that are directed at a single proposed experiment will be 
``bundled'' and reviewed collectively.
    Due to the limited availability of funds, Principal Investigators 
with continuing grants may not submit a new application in the same 
area(s) of interest as their current grant(s). A Principal Investigator 
may submit only one application under each area of interest as listed 
above.

DATES: To permit timely consideration for awards in Fiscal Year 2003, 
applications submitted in response to this notice must be received by 
DOE no later than 4:30 p.m., E.D.T., May 15, 2002. No electronic 
submissions of formal applications will be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Completed formal applications referencing Program Notice 02-
19 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 02-19. The above 
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: Specific contacts for each area of 
interest, along with telephone numbers and Internet addresses, are 
listed below:

Innovative Approaches to Understanding Plasmas: Steve Eckstrand, 
Research Division, SC-55, Telephone: (301) 903-5546, or by Internet 
address: [email protected]
Innovative Confinement Concepts: Dr. Curtis W. Bolton III, Research 
Division, SC-55, Telephone: (301) 903-4914, or by Internet address: 
[email protected]
Innovative Plasma Operations in Support of POP, PE, and Burning Plasma 
Experiments: Chuck Finfgeld, Research Division, SC-55, Telephone: (301) 
903-3423, or by Internet address: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: General information about development and 
submission of applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluations and 
selection processes, and other policies and procedures may be found in 
the Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial Assistance 
Program and 10 CFR part 605. Electronic access to SC's Financial 
Assistance Guide and required forms is possible via the Internet using 
the following Web site address: http://www.science.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html. DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs 
associated with the preparation or submission of an application if an 
award is not made.
    In selecting applications for funding, the DOE Office of Fusion 
Energy Sciences will give priority to applications that can produce 
experimental results within three to five years after grant initiation. 
Theoretical research will be accepted for consideration under this 
Notice when bundled with and in support of an experimental application. 
The detailed description of the proposed project should contain the 
following items: (1) A detailed experimental research plan, (2) The 
specific results or deliverable expected at the end of the project 
period, (3) Goal of the experiment, (4) Synopsis of the experimental 
program plan, (5) Adequacy of the facilities and budget, (6) Discussion 
of why this research would have an important

[[Page 11303]]

impact on the prospects for fusion energy, and (7) Discussion of how 
the experiment would elucidate the physics principles of the 
innovation.
    Applications concerned with scientific assessment of new concepts, 
approaches, and plasma operations that are not ready for experimental 
investigation should have a well-defined scope and duration of no more 
than two years. These applications will be considered non-renewable. 
The product of such assessment would be a clear scientific description 
of the concept and its operation, its physics and engineering basis, 
critical analysis of major difficulties to be overcome in developing 
the concept as a net producer of energy through the fusion process, and 
an analysis of what would be achieved by moving to experimental 
research.

Program Funding

    It is anticipated that up to $4,500,000 in Fiscal Year 2003, will 
be available to start new projects from applications received in 
response to this Notice. The number of awards and range of funding will 
depend on the number of applications received and selected for award. 
Future year funding is anticipated to be greater but will depend on the 
nature of the applications, suitable experimental progress and the 
availability of funds. The cost-effectiveness of the application will 
be considered when comparing applications with differing funding 
requirements. Applications for scientific assessment of new concepts 
will be limited to a maximum of $150,000 in any year. Applications 
requiring annual funding as low as $50,000 are welcome and encouraged.
    To enable all reviewers to read all applications, the application 
must be limited to a maximum of twenty (20) pages (including text and 
figures) plus not more than one page each of biographical information 
and publications of the principal investigator, plus any additional 
forms required as a part of the standard grant application.
    An original and seven copies of each application must be submitted. 
Due to the anticipated number of reviewers, it would be helpful for 
each applicant to submit an additional seven copies of each 
application. In lieu of the seven additional copies, applicants may 
provide a CD-ROM containing the application in Portable Document Format 
(PDF). The label on the CD must clearly identify the institution, 
principal investigator, and title of the application. (If the applicant 
elects to submit a CD, an original and seven copies of the application 
must still be submitted.)

Merit Review

    Applications will be subjected to formal merit review and will be 
evaluated against the following criteria, which are listed in 
descending order of importance as set forth in 10 CFR Part 605:
    1. Scientific and/or technical merit of the project;
    2. Appropriateness of the proposed method or approach;
    3. Competency of the applicant's personnel and adequacy of the 
proposed resources;
    4. Reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget.
    The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences shall also consider, as part 
of the evaluation, other available advice or information as well as 
program policy factors such as ensuring an appropriate balance among 
the program areas and within the program areas, coupling to theory and 
computational support, and quality of previous performance. Strong 
preference will be given to proposals for work based in the United 
States. Selection of applications/proposals for award will be based 
upon the findings of the technical evaluations, the importance and 
relevance of the proposed research to the Office of Fusion Energy 
Sciences' mission, and funding availability.

Program Specific Supplementary Information

    1. Innovative Approaches to Understanding Plasmas: These are 
innovative experiments aimed at understanding some key scientific issue 
of importance to fusion energy. This could include experiments aimed at 
understanding turbulence and zonal flows, understanding reconnection, 
or understanding other outstanding fusion energy sciences issues.
    2. Innovative Confinement Concepts: This is innovative experimental 
research that has the possibility of leading to improved fusion energy 
power plants.
    3. Innovative Plasma Operations in Support of POP, PE, and Burning 
Plasma Experiments: The fusion program has a number of confinement 
concepts that have passed beyond the exploratory stage to either the 
POP, PE, or the burning plasma stages. Innovative Plasma Operations is 
aimed at developing the science and understanding of new ways to 
enhance the performance of the POP, PE, or burning plasma experiments. 
This could include work on stabilizing resistive wall modes, new 
methods of turbulence suppression, methods to suppress neo-classical 
tearing modes, and novel methods to use fusion energetic particles.

    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 March 4, 2002.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director for Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 02-6037 Filed 3-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-02-U