[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59496-59497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24079]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Financial Assistance Solicitation for Research and Development 
for Fuel Cells for Stationary and Automotive Applications

AGENCY: Chicago Operations Office, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a financial assistance solicitation.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing its 
intention to solicit applications for financial assistance for cost 
shared research and development of technologies that will enhance 
research and development in fuel cell technology. The DOE Office of 
Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies seeks industry 
cost-shared projects that address research needs in building fuel cell 
systems; fuel cells for back up power; materials for high temperature 
membranes; fuel cell component durability; water and thermal 
management; fuel processing; and catalysts.

DATES: The solicitation will be available on DOE's ``Industry 
Interactive Procurement System'' (IIPS) Web page located at http://e-
center.doe.gov under the ``HELP'' section of the web site. Applicants 
must register in IIPS prior to submitting an application. Only 
registered users will have the capability to transmit their 
applications in a responsive matter. Applicants are strongly encouraged 
to register with IIPS as soon as possible prior to the application 
deadline. All applications must have an IIPS transmission stamp of not 
later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 27, 2002. Applicants are 
advised to begin transmission 24 hours in advance of the deadline in 
order to prevent any transmission difficulties.

ADDRESSES: The solicitation and any subsequent amendments will be 
published on the above mentioned Internet address. All applications 
shall be submitted through IIPS in accordance with the instructions 
provided in the solicitation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nadine Kijak at (630) 252-2508; by 
mail at U.S. Department of Energy, 9800 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 
60439-4899; by facsimile at (630) 252-5045; or by electronic mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The combined residential and commercial Buildings sector accounts 
for approximately 36% of the U.S. primary energy consumption and 
between 30% and 40% of all airborne emissions. These factors are the 
driving force behind DOE's efforts to develop high efficiency polymer 
electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell power systems as an alternative 
power source to grid-based electricity for buildings. The Buildings 
sector provides a diverse set of application requirements over a wide 
power range that can be met by PEM fuel cell systems. DOE seeks 
applications from qualified developers of PEM fuel cell power systems 
to develop and test a stationary fuel cell power system for a market-
driven building application that simultaneously addresses DOE 
priorities of lowering energy consumption and emissions. Also included 
in the solicitation are cross-cutting areas which apply to fuel cell 
technology for stationary and transportation applications, such as high 
temperature membranes, durability, and catalysts.
    A workshop was held on April 10-11, 2002 regarding Fuel Cells for 
Buildings and Stationary Applications. The proceedings from this 
workshop are available on the following web site: http://www.eren.doe.gov/hydrogen/, under the ``What's New'' section. A summary 
of the research and development work regarding Fuel Cells for 
Transportation Applications is available on the following Web site:
    [sbull] http://www.cartech.doe.gov/research/fuelcells/index.html, 
under
    [sbull] 2001 Annual Progress Report: Transportation Fuel Cell Power 
Systems, Part 1 (6Mb pdf)
    [sbull] 2001 Annual Progress Report: Transportation Fuel Cell Power 
Systems, Part 2 (5Mb pdf)
    Research and Development Solicitation Topics: Responsive projects 
will cross-cut several technological and methodological roadmap areas 
including, but not limited to, the development of a stationary PEM fuel 
cell power system for buildings, development of a back-up fuel cell 
system; PEM stack durability; development of materials for high 
temperature membranes; reduction of membrane cost; fuel processing; 
water and thermal management; fuel cell demonstration; platinum 
recycling; and development of non-precious metal catalysts and a fuel 
cell economic analysis.
    Type and Number of Anticipated Awards: Awards under this 
solicitation will be cooperative agreements with a term of up to five 
years. Subject to the availability of funds, DOE is planning to 
allocate approximately $7 million in fiscal year 2003 for the selected 
projects. It is estimated that up to 20 projects may be selected for 
cost-shared cooperative agreements. Subject to the availability of 
funds, total estimated Government funding for the solicitation is 
approximately $70 million for the maximum five-year period.
    Application Requirements: Where the nature of the work demands 
multi-disciplinary expertise, teaming arrangements are preferred. For 
the development of a stationary fuel cell power system and the fuel 
cell demonstration topics, at least one partner of the multi-partner 
team is required to be a utility. For the back-up fuel cell system 
topic, at least one partner of the multi-partner team is required to be 
the host organization for the field test. For the improvement of high 
temperature membranes topic, at least one partner of the multi-partner 
team is required to be a university.
    To be eligible for award under this solicitation, applicants will 
be required to contribute a non-federal cost share of 20-50% of the 
yearly project costs to be incurred under the proposed project, 
depending upon specific topic area selected, as specified in the 
solicitation. Prior costs incurred (i.e., costs to conduct prior 
research or development, patents, or to develop technical reports under 
previous research efforts) should not be proposed and will not be 
considered as cost share.
    In addition to the foregoing, other evaluation and selection 
criteria will be identified in the solicitation. DOE solicitation and 
selection procedures are set forth in 10 CFR 600. The full text of 10 
CFR part 600 Financial Assistance Rules are located at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_00/10cfr600_00.html.
    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,

[[Page 59497]]

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 center.doe.gov">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.

    Issued in Argonne, Illinois, on September 16, 2002.
John D. Greenwood,
Assistant Manager for Acquisition and Assistance.
[FR Doc. 02-24079 Filed 9-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P