[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 207 (Monday, October 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61197-61198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27019]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Energy Technology Laboratory; Notice of Availability of 
a Funding Opportunity Announcement

AGENCY: National Energy Technology Laboratory, Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of availability of a funding opportunity announcement.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intent to issue Funding 
Opportunity Announcement No. DE-PS26-04NT42031 entitled ``Support of 
Advanced Fossil Resource Conversion and Utilization Research by 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority 
Institutions.'' The Department of Energy announces that it intends to 
conduct a competitive Funding Opportunity Announcement and award 
Financial Assistance (Grants) to U.S. Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities (HBCU) and Other Minority Institutions (OMI) in support of 
innovative research and development of advanced concepts pertinent to 
fossil resource conversion and utilization. Applications will be 
subjected to a comprehensive technical review and awards will be made 
to a select number of applicants based on the scientific merit of the 
application, relevant program policy factors, and the availability of 
funds. Collaboration with private industry is encouraged.

DATES: The Funding Opportunity Announcement will be available on the 
``Industry Interactive Procurement System'' (IIPS) Web page located at 
http://e-center.doe.gov in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2004. 
Applicants can obtain access to the Funding Opportunity Announcement 
from the address above or through DOE/NETL's Web site at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Miltenberger, MS I07, U.S. 
Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box 
880, 3610 Collins Ferry Road, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880, E-mail 
Address: [email protected], Telephone Number: (304) 285-
4083.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Approximately $1.0 million of DOE funding is 
planned to award between 5 to 7 projects from this Financial 
Opportunity Assistance. Awards are expected to be made in the third 
quarter of Fiscal Year 2004.
    The intent of the Fossil Energy HBCU/OMI Program is to establish a 
mechanism for cooperative HBCU/OMI research and development projects; 
to provide faculty and student support at the institutions; to foster 
private sector participation and interaction with HBCU/OMIs in fossil 
energy research and development; to provide for the exchange of 
technical information; to raise the overall level of competitiveness by 
the HBCU/OMIs with other institutions in the field of fossil research; 
and to increase the number of opportunities in the areas of science, 
engineering and technical management for HBCU/OMIs. The collaborative 
involvement of HBCU/OMIs and the private sector help to ensure a future 
supply of technically competent managers, scientists, engineers, and 
technicians. The Program will also serve to maintain and upgrade the 
educational, training, and research capabilities of our HBCU/OMIs in 
the fields of science, engineering, and technical management, and 
provide the talent for an improved utilization of the nation's fossil 
fuel resources.
    Therefore, the DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) 
invites HBCU/OMIs, in collaboration with the private sector, to submit 
applications for innovative research and development of advanced 
concepts related to fossil energy utilization and conversion. The 
overall purpose of this collaborative effort is to improve prospective 
U.S. commercial capabilities, and to increase scientific and technical 
understanding of the chemical and physical processes involved in the 
conversion and utilization of fossil fuels, thereby broadening fossil 
resource and technology benefits to our commerce and the consumer. 
Thus, HBCU/OMI faculty members and their institutions, in collaboration 
with the private sector, are strongly encouraged to undertake fossil 
energy-related research and development. Pursuant to 10 CFR 600.6(b), 
eligibility for award under the subject Solicitation is restricted to 
HBCU/OMIs. HBCU/OMIs are defined by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), 
U.S. Department of Education. The Web site address for the OCR list is 
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html. 
Statutory authority for this Program is provided by Public Law 95-224, 
as amended by 97-258.
    Grant applications are sought in innovative research and 
development of advanced concepts pertinent to fossil fuel conversion 
and utilization in the eight (8) technical topics specified below. The 
Technical Topics have undergone revision from previous Solicitations 
due to recent changes in the energy industry and the realignment of the 
Office of Fossil Energy. Technical Topics 1 through 7 are considered to 
be in the HBCU/OMI Core Program. The Core Program is intended to 
maintain and upgrade educational, training, and research capabilities. 
Private section collaboration is strongly encouraged in the Core 
Program. Technical Topic No. 8 is considered to be in the Faculty/
Student Exploratory Research Training Grant Program.
    While all Technical Topics are of importance to the Fossil Energy 
programs, areas which are emerging as higher priority include the 
following: (a) Problems related to Global Climate Change and Greenhouse 
gases (especially carbon dioxide); (b) Materials (as related to 
advanced power system components and advanced separations); (c) 
Catalysis (for improved reaction chemistry, higher efficiencies, short 
residence times, etc.); (d) Computer Modeling (especially related to 
Advanced Power System scenarios for fossil energy, and advanced Coal 
Characterization related to fossil and biomass carbon as a feedstock, 
solid fuels, and co-processing); (e) Control and Characterization of 
Mercury and fine particulate (PM2.5); (f) Computer 
Enhancements and Reservoir Modeling as related to oil and gas recovery; 
(g) Continued Emphasis on flooding issues and geoscience as related to 
improved oil and gas recovery technologies; and (h) Optimization for 
Oil Well Completions and Stimulations. Prospective applicants should be 
aware of the technical issues that NETL considers a higher priority to 
the HBCU/OMI Program at this time as they may be used in guiding the 
selection of products for award.

Technical Topic 1--Advanced Environmental Control Technologies for Coal
Technical Topic 2--Advanced Coal Utilization
Technical Topic 3--Clean Fuels Technology
Technical Topic 4a--Heavy Oil Upgrading and Processing
Technical Topic 4b--Oil Sands
Technical Topic 5--Advanced Recovery, Completion/Stimulation, and 
Geoscience Technologies for Oil
Technical Topic 6--Natural Gas Supply, Storage and Processing
Technical Topic 7--Fuel Cells
Technical Topic 8--Faculty/Student Exploratory Research Training Grants

    This is the only topic [Topic eight (8)] under this Program 
Solicitation that does not have private sector collaboration as a goal 
in consideration of an application.

[[Page 61198]]

    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, 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 center.doe.gov">IIPS_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. Telephone 
requests, written requests, E-mail requests, or facsimile requests for 
a copy of the solicitation package will not be accepted and/or honored. 
Applications must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the 
instructions and forms contained in the solicitation. The actual 
solicitation document will allow for requests for explanation and/or 
interpretation.

    Issued in Morgantown, WV on October 17, 2003.
Dale A. Siciliano,
Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 03-27019 Filed 10-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P