[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 8 (Monday, January 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1601-1603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-582]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Presolicitation  DE-PS36-03GO93005]


Low Wind Speed Technology for Small Wind Turbines

AGENCY: Golden Field Office, U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of presolicitation request for comments and expression 
of interest.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing its 
intention to issue a solicitation for financial assistance and is 
seeking expressions of interest and comments on a proposed approach to 
cost-shared, public-private projects for the development of cost-
effective small wind turbines (100 kilowatts or less), for use in 
distributed power applications at low wind speeds throughout the United 
States. The purpose of this announcement is to obtain an indication of 
the level of interest by industry participants and seek comments on the 
proposed scope of a low wind speed, small wind turbine development 
solicitation.

DATES: Expressions of interest and comments to the planned solicitation 
are due January 24, 2003. The solicitation is planned to be issued 
approximately 30 days after comments are received. Should DOE decide to 
proceed, a formal solicitation will be issued.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the solicitation, once issued, 
interested parties should access the DOE Golden Field Office Home Page 
at http://www.golden.doe.gov/businessopportunities.html, click on 
``Solicitations,'' and then access the solicitation number identified 
above. The DOE Golden Field Office Home Page will provide a link to the 
solicitation synopsis in the Industry Interactive Procurement System 
(IIPS) web site and provide instructions on using IIPS. The 
solicitation will also be available directly through IIPS at http://e-
center.doe.gov by browsing opportunities by Contract Activity, for 
those solicitations issued by the Golden Field Office. To be notified 
when the solicitation is issued, join the Solicitation Mailing List 
specific to this notice through IIPS. DOE will not issue paper copies 
of the solicitation. For questions regarding the operation of IIPS, 
contact the IIPS Help Desk at center.doe.gov">IIPS_HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov or at 
(800) 683-0751.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Questions or requests for additional 
information should be sent electronically to [email protected]. 
Expressions of interest and comments on the proposed solicitation 
should be submitted electronically to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is 
soliciting expressions of interest and comments on a proposed approach 
to cost-shared, public-private projects for the development of cost-
effective small wind turbines (100 kilowatts or less), for use in 
distributed power applications in low wind speed areas throughout the 
United States, and primarily targeting residential and small business 
uses. A major focus of the DOE Wind Program is the development of wind 
turbine

[[Page 1602]]

technology that is cost effective for use in the vast areas of the 
Nation with lower wind speeds than are currently economically viable. 
The low wind speed small wind turbine development activities are 
planned as cooperative efforts with industry, and guided by several 
principles: (1) Public/private partnerships will be developed to 
support continuing innovation. These partnerships are intended to be 
flexible and adaptive, support multiple pathways, and offer 
opportunities for new players to enter the program; (2) wind program 
research and testing activities will be closely aligned to support 
these partnerships; (3) applied systems integration activities will 
guide portfolio planning and technology transfer; and (4) program 
evaluations will be performed regularly using performance-based 
management techniques as the basis for performance criteria, periodic 
review, and adjustment.
    The goal of this low wind speed technology effort is to develop a 
class of small wind turbines (100 kW or less) for residential and small 
business applications that provide cost effective performance in Class 
3 wind resources by 2007. To achieve this goal, DOE intends to provide 
financial support via Grants and Cooperative Agreements for public-
private partnerships to complete concept studies, component 
development, and/or turbine prototype development for multiple 
technology pathways. Given the range of turbine sizes and applications 
of interest, performance goals for each partnership effort will be 
established individually. The objective for each effort is to achieve 
the level of cost effectiveness in Class 3 wind resources that can be 
achieved in Class 5 resources with current baseline technology. 
Applicants will propose an appropriate cost performance target for 
Class 3 wind resources.
    Industry partnerships and related supporting research and testing 
activities will be coordinated to facilitate technology transfer and 
transition of conceptual design and component development projects into 
system development. All partnership activities will be periodically 
reviewed against established milestones as the basis for funding and 
planning adjustments needed to optimize the portfolio for success. 
Under the planned solicitation, DOE will be soliciting applications 
for: (1) Conceptual Design Studies, (2) Component Development, and (3) 
Prototype Turbine Development projects, for small-scale turbine designs 
(less than 100 kilowatts) for distributed power applications.
    Conceptual Design Studies (Technical Area 1) are envisioned as 6-12 
month efforts with a maximum of DOE funding being $100,000 for any 
single award. No cost share will be required. Awards for Conceptual 
Design Studies are anticipated to be Grants.
    Component Development (Technical Area 2) is envisioned as an 18 to 
24 month effort with the DOE funding being between $500,000 and $1 
million for any single award. The program anticipates a cost-shared 
agreement with a minimum cost share requirement of 30% by the offeror. 
As the program intends to be substantially involved, awards are 
expected to be Cooperative Agreements.
    Prototype Turbine Development (Technical Area 3) is envisioned as a 
three-year effort with a maximum DOE funding of $1,500,000 for any 
single award. The program intends to use a cost-shared agreement with a 
minimum cost share requirement of 50% by the offeror. As DOE intends to 
be substantially involved, awards are expected to be Cooperative 
Agreements. Initial prototype wind turbines are expected to complete 
field-testing by 2007.
    The program expects to award one to three agreements under each 
Technical Area with projects incrementally funded on a fiscal year 
basis. Additional consideration in the evaluation process will be given 
for cost sharing in excess of the minimum required amount. Applicants 
may submit more than one application under any or all the Technical 
Areas. However, diversity of technology and participants within the DOE 
Wind Program will be factors in selecting applications for negotiation 
of award.
    Throughout the projects, the program will encourage the use of best 
business and project-management practices. Disciplined engineering 
development processes, including rigorous laboratory and field tests to 
verify component and subsystem designs, will be emphasized.
    Applications need to include a description of the proposed concept 
in sufficient detail as to allow evaluation by a group of knowledgeable 
reviewers; identify planned teaming arrangements; and include a 
proposed budget and schedule. The program expects a majority of the 
work to be performed within the United States, and applicants will be 
asked to demonstrate the economic benefits of the proposed project to 
the United States. Qualified business and technical professionals will 
evaluate the written applications. Awards will be based upon technical 
viability, projected Cost of Energy (COE), capabilities, and the 
likelihood of achieving program goals and objectives.
    The American World Energy Association (AWEA) U.S. Small Wind 
Turbine Industry Roadmap document (http://www.awea.org/smallwind/documents/31958.pdf) identifies specific areas of interest that relate 
to future advances in distributed wind technology. These areas of 
interest include: (1) Reduction in turbine system costs; (2) reduction 
in manufacturing costs; (3) improvements in reliability; (4) 
improvements in power electronics design and reliability; (5) reduction 
of noise; (6) development of better analytical tools; (7) improvement 
in overspeed control knowledge; and (8) development of more cost-
effective, taller towers.
    Expressions of interest are sought from potential applicants to the 
forthcoming solicitation, and comments on the proposed plan are sought 
from all interested parties. Expressions of interest should not include 
detailed proposals, but should include the following information: (1) 
The names, addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers, and electronic 
mail address of the primary contact person for the planned application; 
(2) potential participants, their affiliation, and proposed roles, 
including the need for support from National Laboratories such as the 
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) or Sandia National 
Laboratory (SNL); (3) comments on the proposed solicitation; (4) a 
statement indicating the Technical Area under which an application for 
financial assistance should be submitted; and (5) a brief description 
of the concept to be proposed. Responses to this notice should not 
exceed five pages.
    To be considered, responses should be received by January 24, 2003. 
Once issued, Solicitation number DE-PS36-03GO93005 will include 
complete information including technical aspects, funding, application 
preparation instructions, evaluation criteria, and other factors that 
will be considered when selecting applications for funding. Issuance of 
the solicitation is planned for February 2003, with applications due 
approximately 60 calendar days after the solicitation is issued. 
Information on Financial Assistance Regulations (10 CFR 600), proposal 
firms, award format, or post award forms can be obtained through the 
DOE Golden Field Office Home Page http://www.golden.doe.gov/businessopportunities.html.


[[Page 1603]]


    Issued in Golden, Colorado, on December 17, 2002.
Jerry L. Zimmer,
Director, Office of Acquisition and Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 03-582 Filed 1-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P