[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76648-76649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31365]



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Part VI





Department of Housing and Urban Development





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Notice of Public Interest (NOPI) for the Partnership for Advancing 
Technology in Housing (PATH); Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 239 / Thursday, December 12, 2002 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4772-N-01]


Notice of Public Interest (NOPI) for the Partnership for 
Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH)

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and 
Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of public interest.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform potential applicants 
that the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development is interested in receiving 
ideas for cooperative agreements for research and activities in support 
of the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) program. 
PATH is working to foster the development and use of advanced housing 
technologies, through partnerships between U.S. businesses and the 
federal government. These efforts, which improve the quality, 
affordability, durability, energy efficiency, and environmental 
performance of a home, help everyone--industry, consumers, and the 
environment. PATH encourages developing and adopting innovative housing 
components and systems, designs, and production methods as well as 
reducing the amount of time needed to move technologies to the market 
place.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit Summary Proposal 
Letters to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of 
Policy Development and Research, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Room 8230, 
Washington, DC 20410, ATTENTION: Unsolicited Proposal (PATH)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please submit any technical questions 
to: Mr. Dana Bres, P.E., Affordable Housing Research and Technology 
Division, Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-4370, ext. 5919, e-mail [email protected]. Administrative questions should be directed to Mr. 
Patrick Tewey, Director, Budget, Contracts, and Program Control 
Division, Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-1796, ext. 4098, email [email protected]. (These numbers are not toll-free.) For hearing- and 
speech-impaired persons, these numbers may be accessed via TTY (text 
telephone) by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-
877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background

    The PATH program is led by PD&R within the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development (http://www.pathnet.org). The PATH program is 
seeking interest in cost-shared, industry-led research projects and 
other projects in support of the PATH program goals.
    A. The PATH program goals are:
    [sbull] Develop new housing technologies (including processes)--
this includes conducting basic and applied research, development of 
housing technology, development of evaluation measures for housing 
technology, evaluation of technologies on the marketplace, and long 
term analysis of housing technology;
    [sbull] Disseminate new and existing technological information--
this includes supporting regulatory acceptance of technologies, 
dissemination of information on promising but underutilized 
technologies, demonstrations of underutilized technologies, and 
provision of a clearinghouse for information on housing technology; and
    [sbull] Study and establish mechanisms for sustained housing 
technology development--this includes forecasting of research needs, 
identification of research, and strategic planning and operations.
    To focus program efforts, PATH sponsored roadmapping sessions to 
identify the advances critical to furthering the use of new 
technologies in the residential homebuilding industry. The initial 
roadmapping sessions were focused on: Reducing Energy Use In Existing 
Buildings; Information Technology to Accelerate and Streamline the 
Homebuilding Process; Advanced Panelized Systems; and, Whole House 
Building Process Redesign. Information on these roadmaps is available 
on the ToolBase Web sites at http://www.toolbase.org/roadmaps. PATH is 
sponsoring a manufactured housing roadmapping process at this time. In 
addition, the 2001 National Academy of Sciences report on the PATH 
program is available at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10066.html.
    B. PD&R is interested in research and dissemination projects which:
    [sbull] Conduct cooperative information gathering and dissemination 
in the U.S. residential construction industry. The work is targeted at 
improving the quality of and access to advanced technological 
information for the U.S. residential construction industry in a non-
commercial manner by identifying the most reliable sources of technical 
information, assessing their accuracy and bias, and providing this 
information in an accessible and timely manner. (highest preference)
    [sbull] Specifically implement the roadmaps (including manufactured 
housing) through research or demonstration projects that address PATH 
objectives. (highest preference)
    [sbull] Address the subjects of roadmaps but not specific 
activities identified in roadmaps. (lesser preference)
    [sbull] Address all other activities that support PATH objectives 
as defined above. (lowest preference)
    Housing technology development and research efforts identified 
should be related to the final stages of the Research and Development 
life cycle, with results that can be implemented into a new or refined 
product within 18 to 36 months.
    C. The funding will vary as a result of available funds and other 
program requirements. In the past several years, an average of six 
cooperative agreements have been made each year with most awards in the 
$100,000 to $300,000 range.

II. Eligibility

    PATH cooperative efforts are open for participation by all (for-
profit, not-for-profit, or non-profit) housing industry or industry 
related organizations (or teams of organizations). PD&R encourages 
small businesses, minority owned firms, HUB-Zone firms, and other 
similar organizations to participate in this program.
    Unsolicited proposals funded under this program require a minimum 
25 percent match.

III. Summary Proposal Letter Submission

    In order to facilitate PD&R review and to minimize preparation time 
and costs for the submitter, a full-fledged proposal should not be sent 
to PD&R initially. Instead, two copies of a brief (up to three pages) 
Summary Proposal Letter should be submitted. The letter should contain 
the following:
    [sbull] The name, address, and classification (academic, private 
for-profit, private non-profit, governmental, etc.) of the sponsoring 
organization or individual;
    [sbull] A brief one or two-line title;
    [sbull] The specific objective of the research;
    [sbull] The problems/issues being addressed;

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    [sbull] The relationship of the research to the PATH program goals 
and priorities;
    [sbull] Methodology to be employed in conducting the research;
    [sbull] Products to be prepared (reports, etc.) and the specific 
audience(s) to whom these products are directed;
    [sbull] If the proposed project involves research using human 
subjects (other than voluntary surveys or public observation) and there 
is any potential for physical, social, psychological, or financial harm 
to the subjects, a certification must be included that an Independent 
Review Board has approved the research design. Provide a description of 
procedures and membership of the Independent Review Board and show that 
it conforms to or has been registered under 24 CFR part 60;
    [sbull] The approximate duration of the research in calendar 
months;
    [sbull] An estimate of the staff months of professional services 
required, the total project cost and the percent to be provided by the 
offeror (cost sharing is required, other federal funds are not eligible 
for cost sharing);
    [sbull] Brief statement justifying how the offeror is the unique 
source from which the work can be obtained or, if the content and 
nature of the proposal is the private, sole possession of the offeror, 
is of direct and immediate value to the government, and cannot be 
obtained from alternative, nonexclusive sources.
    [sbull] The name, title, and telephone number of the project 
manager and each senior researcher; and
    [sbull] A separate one-page resume for each person named in the 
Summary Proposal Letter that concisely outlines his or her 
qualifications for performing the research and commitment to the 
project.
    Types of projects that are not eligible for funding include:
    1. Proposals having little or no research demonstration content.
    2. Work not directly related to the PATH program's role and 
mission.
    3. Proposals for operating funds, working capital, plants, 
information technology, or other investment.
    4. Proposals that solely or principally relate to or benefit a 
particular individual, local group, or community (i.e., proposals that 
do not have a primary expectation of national application or 
replication of results).
    5. Demonstration proposals that would require major statutory 
changes in order for the results to be applied.
    6. Proposals for support of the development of consumer, business, 
or proprietary products, systems, or concepts that are later to be 
offered for sale at a profit. (In special instances, unmet needs of 
high national priority--e.g., energy-conservation systems for housing--
may be funded, but only on a solicited, competitive, public Request for 
Proposals basis).
    7. Proposals that duplicate or overlap current or previous work.
    8. Awards of cooperative agreements may not be made in response to 
an Unsolicited Proposal unless the offeror is the unique source from 
which the work may be obtained (not just a well-qualified, or even 
best-qualified, source), or the content and nature of the proposal is 
the private, sole possession of the offeror, is of direct and immediate 
value to the government, and cannot be obtained from alternative, 
nonexclusive sources. Even if HUD is interested in funding the 
proposal, a market search may be conducted to determine whether there 
are capable, alternative sources or means by which the government may 
obtain the proposed product or services (care being taken not to 
disclose the elements of the proposal asserted to be unique).
    9. Proposals that require a disproportionate share of HUD's 
research funds.
    10. Proposals that do not meet the 25 percent cost sharing 
requirement.
    11. Proposals that are of generally the same subject matter as a 
current PD&R competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) or an invitation 
for assistance agreement (grant or cooperative agreement) applications. 
The period of ineligibility will generally be from the date of the 
first solicitation notice in FedBizOpps or the Federal Register until 
ninety (90) calendar days after competitive selection and award.
    Summary Proposal Letters should be addressed to: Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and 
Research, 451 7th Street, SW, Room 8230, Washington, DC 20410, 
ATTENTION: Unsolicited Proposal (PATH).

IV. Policy Development and Research Review

    Upon receipt the Summary Proposal Letter will be screened, using 
the criteria above to determine eligibility for further review. 
Government-wide regulations may require a market search for alternative 
sources. The offeror will be informed by letter of the results of this 
initial screening.
    Those Summary Proposal Letters that pass the initial screening will 
be given a proposal number and assigned to the appropriate reviewer. If 
interest exists, the offeror may be invited to prepare a detailed 
proposal, the requirements of which will be spelled out in the decision 
letter. Receipt of an invitation from PD&R to submit a more detailed 
proposal does not imply that an award of a cooperative agreement for 
the proposed work is expected. The invitation is only an indication 
that the proposal is of sufficient merit to have passed preliminary 
review and to justify preparation by the offeror of a detailed 
proposal.

    Dated: December 3, 2002.
Harold L. Bunce,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs.
[FR Doc. 02-31365 Filed 12-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-62-P