[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34692-34693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12098]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Number DE-PS36-02GO92008]


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. 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 and category 2 
applications are open to all the mission focus industries and the 
building, transportation, and power sectors.

DATES: DOE issued the solicitation on April 29, 2002. The deadline for 
receipt of applications is 3 p.m. Mountain Time on June 28, 2002.

ADDRESSES: All Golden Field Office (GO) solicitations will be posted on 
the Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) Web Site at http://
e-center.doe.gov; however, you may access them, along with IIPS 
instructions, through links on the GO Web Site at: http://www.golden.doe.gov/businessopportunities.html by clicking on 
``Solicitations.'' IIPS provides the medium for disseminating 
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.

[[Page 34693]]

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:

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).
    A selection of former projects funded by the I&I Program that have 
reached commercial markets include 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.

Availability of Funds for FY 2003

    DOE is announcing the availability of up to $2.7 million dollars in 
agreement funds for Fiscal Year 2003. 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 April 29, 2002.
Matthew A. Barron,
Acting Director, Office of Acquisition and Financial Assistance, Golden 
Field Office.
[FR Doc. 02-12098 Filed 5-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P