[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46171-46172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19710]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


``Grand Challenge'' for Basic and Applied Research in Hydrogen 
Storage; Solicitation Number DE-PS36-03GO93013

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

ACTION: Notice of issuance of solicitation for financial assistance 
applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Hydrogen, Fuel Cell, and Infrastructure 
Technologies of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy is soliciting financial assistance 
Applications with the objective of supporting industry efforts and the 
President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative in developing a path to a hydrogen 
economy. Under this Solicitation, DOE is seeking Applications for basic 
and applied research in hydrogen storage materials technologies. DOE 
intends to provide financial support under provisions of the Hydrogen 
Future Act of 1996.

DATES: The Solicitation was issued on July 24, 2003 with a closing date 
of September 30, 2003.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the Solicitation, interested parties 
should access the DOE Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) 
web site. The Solicitation can be obtained directly through IIPS at 
http://e-center.doe.gov by browsing opportunities by Program Office, 
Financial Assistance, Golden Field Office, and then selecting this

[[Page 46172]]

Solicitation number. DOE will not issue paper copies of the 
Solicitation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Damm, Contracting Officer, via 
facsimile to (303) 275-4788 or electronically to [email protected]. 
Solicitation questions must be submitted through IIPS per the 
instructions contained in the Solicitation. Responses to questions will 
be posted on the IIPS web site. Further information on DOE's Hydrogen, 
Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure Technologies Program can be viewed at 
http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under this Solicitation, DOE is issuing a 
``Grand Challenge'' to the scientific community by soliciting 
Applications for research, development and demonstration of hydrogen 
storage materials and technologies. In addition to applied research and 
development, Applications can include substantial basic research aimed 
at improving the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of 
hydrogen storage in materials. This solicitation requests applications 
in two Categories.
    Category 1, Research and development to be conducted by virtual 
Centers of Excellence led by DOE national laboratories and including 
universities, industry, and/or other federal/national laboratories as 
partners. Focus areas are Metal hydrides, Chemical hydrides, and 
Carbon-based hydrogen storage materials. Only DOE national laboratories 
may submit joint application packages in response to Category 1. The 
proposed university and industry efforts must be part of those 
application packages.
    Category 2, Research and development through cooperative agreements 
in the following areas: New materials or technologies for hydrogen 
storage; Compressed and liquid hydrogen tank technologies; and Off-
board hydrogen storage systems. Category 2 is open to Applicants from 
universities and industry; federal or national laboratories may be 
partners.
    Awards under this Solicitation will be Cooperative Agreements with 
terms of three to five years beginning in fiscal year 2004. DOE 
anticipates selecting 15 to 20 Applications for negotiation of Award. 
Subject to the availability of annual congressional appropriations, the 
total cumulative DOE funding available under this Solicitation for all 
projects is anticipated to be between $95 million and $125 million over 
the five-year period. The minimum required cost share varies with the 
type of Applicant and type of proposed project and is specified in the 
Solicitation along with specific application instructions.

    Issued in Golden, Colorado, on July 25, 2003.
Jerry L. Zimmer,
Director, Office of Acquisition and Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 03-19710 Filed 8-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-M