[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68580-68581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28653]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Notice of Availability of a Financial Assistance Solicitation for 
Cooperative Agreement Proposals

AGENCY: Chicago Operations Office, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces its interest in 
receiving applications for research and development and demonstration 
in the area of the Advanced Communications and Controls Program (ACCP). 
The objective of the solicitation is to demonstrate sensing, 
communication, information and control technologies to achieve a 
seamless integration of multi-vendor distributed energy resources (DER) 
units at aggregation levels that meet individual user requirements for 
facility operations (residential, commercial, industrial, 
manufacturing, etc.) and further serve as resource options for electric 
and natural gas utilities.

DATES: Solicitation Number DE-SC02-03CH11139 and any amendments will be 
available on DOE's ``Industry Interactive Procurement System'' (IIPS) 
Web page located at http://e-center.doe.gov on or about November 22, 
2002. All applications must have an IIPS transmission time stamp of not 
later than 11:59 A.M. Eastern Time on the date specified in the 
solicitation, which is expected to be on or about January 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Prospective applicants are advised to check the above 
Internet address on a daily basis. All applications must be submitted 
through IIPS in accordance with the instructions provided in the 
solicitation and the IIPS User Guide, which can be obtained by going to 
the IIPS Secured Services site 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 manner. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to register with IIPS as soon as 
possible prior to the application deadline. 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. All applications must have an IIPS 
transmission time stamp of not later than 11:59 A.M. Eastern Time on 
the date specified in the solicitation, which is expected to be on or 
about January 31, 2003. Applicants are advised to begin transmission 24 
hours in advance of the deadline in order to prevent any transmission 
difficulties. The solicitation and any subsequent amendments will be 
published on the above mentioned Internet address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin E. Palmer, (630) 252-2708.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scope of work for this cooperative 
research and development and demonstration solicitation will be in two 
phases. This solicitation will be for Phase I applications only, but 
will describe some aspects of possible Phase II awards as reference 
information. It is DOE's intent to evaluate submitted designs and 
business plans in Phase I, and support the further testing of only the 
most promising approaches in Phase II. Phase I activities involve the 
design and the proof-of-design stage and Phase II involves the 
demonstration of the Phase I design architecture to a large scale in 
real-world settings while integrating with the operations of one or 
more feeder lines. The duration of the Phase I project is estimated to 
be six months, with the entire project's scope of work--for Phase I and 
Phase II combined--to be completed within 2.5 years. DOE expects to 
award about four to six cooperative agreements under this solicitation 
for Phase I. It is anticipated that two or three of the Phase I 
applicants will proceed to Phase II. Only Phase I awardees will be 
eligible for consideration for Phase II. Estimated total DOE funding 
for Phase I is $1.2M. Subject to the availability of funds, the 
estimated total of any future DOE funding for Phase II is $1.8M. A 
minimum non-federal cost sharing commitment of 20% of the total 
proposed costs for Phase I is required. A minimum non-federal cost 
sharing commitment of 50% of the total proposed costs for Phase II is 
required.
    The purpose of this solicitation is to invite interested parties to 
submit an application for cost-shared cooperative agreements with the 
Department of Energy (DOE) for research and development and 
demonstration for integrated communication and control solutions that 
would enable interoperable and integrated operation of large numbers of 
distributed energy resources from varying suppliers to achieve 
optimization in power quality,

[[Page 68581]]

power reliability and economic performance. The fully demonstrated DER 
aggregation system with embodiment of communication and control 
technologies will lead to real-time, interactive customer-managed 
service networks to achieve greater customer value. Any for-profit or 
non-profit organization or other institution of higher education, or 
non-federal agency or entity is eligible to apply, unless otherwise 
restricted by the Simpson-Craig Amendment. Integrated project teams 
that include electric utilities (investor-owned, municipal, 
cooperative), energy service companies, DER suppliers, information 
technology providers and customers who will use the aggregated DER 
system are highly encouraged. Collaborations with state energy 
agencies, national laboratories and universities are also encouraged. 
DOE National Laboratory participation as a subcontractor to an awardee 
under this solicitation is limited to no more than 20% of the total 
cost of all tasks to be performed. The solicitation when issued will 
include a narrative scope of work, program requirements, qualification 
criteria, evaluation criteria, and other information. Specific response 
instructions and deadlines will be included in the solicitation 
package.

    Issued in Argonne, Illinois on October 24, 2002.
John D. Greenwood,
Assistant Manager for Acquisition and Assistance.
[FR Doc. 02-28653 Filed 11-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P