[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 207 (Monday, October 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61198-61203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27021]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial 
Assistance Program--Notice DE-FG01-04ER04-01

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Annual notice of continuation of availability of grants and 
cooperative agreements.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Science (SC) of the Department of Energy (DOE) 
hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving grant 
applications for support of work in the following program areas: Basic 
Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Advanced 
Scientific Computing Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, Biological and 
Environmental Research, and Energy Research Analyses. On September 3, 
1992, DOE published in the Federal Register the Office of Energy 
Research Financial Assistance Program (now called the Office of Science 
Financial Assistance Program), 10 CFR part 605, Final Rule, which 
contained a solicitation for this program. Information about submission 
of applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluation and selection 
processes and other policies and procedures are specified in 10 CFR 
part 605.

DATES: Applications may be submitted at any time in response to this 
Notice of Availability.

ADDRESSES: Formal applications referencing Program Notice DE-FG01-
04ER04-01 must be sent electronically by an authorized institutional 
business official through DOE's Industry Interactive Procurement System 
(IIPS) at: http://e-center.doe.gov (see also http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html). IIPS provides for the posting of 
solicitations and receipt of applications in a paperless environment 
via the Internet. In order to submit applications through IIPS your 
business official will need to register at the IIPS Web site. IIPS 
offers the option of using multiple files; please limit submissions to 
one volume and one file if possible, with a maximum of no more than 
four files. Color images should be submitted in IIPS as a separate file 
in PDF format and identified as such. These images should be kept to a 
minimum due to the limitations of reproducing them. They should be 
numbered and referred to in the body of the technical scientific 
application as Color image 1, Color image 2, etc. Questions regarding 
the operation of IIPS may be E-mailed to the IIPS Help Desk at: 
[email protected], or you may call the help desk at: (800) 683-0751. 
Further information on the use of IIPS by the Office of Science is 
available at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html).
    If you are unable to submit the application through IIPS, please 
contact the Grants and Contracts Division, Office of Science at: (301) 
903-5212 or (301) 903-3604, in order to gain assistance for submission 
through IIPS or to receive special approval and instruction on how to 
submit printed applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice is published annually and 
remains in effect until it is succeeded by another issuance by the 
Office of Science. This annual Notice DE-FG01-04ER04-01 succeeds Notice 
03-01, which was published October 17, 2002.
    It is anticipated that approximately $400 million will be available 
for grant and cooperative agreement awards in Fiscal Year 2004. The DOE 
is under no obligation to pay for any costs associated with the 
preparation or submission of an application. DOE reserves the right to 
fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications 
submitted in response to this Notice.
    The following program descriptions are offered to provide more in-
depth information on scientific and technical areas of interest to the 
Office of Science:

1. Basic Energy Sciences

    The Basic Energy Sciences (BES) program supports fundamental 
research in the natural sciences and engineering leading to new and 
improved energy technologies and to understanding and mitigating the 
environmental impacts of energy technologies. The four long-term 
measures of the program are:
    [sbull] Design, model, fabricate, characterize, analyze, assemble, 
and use a variety of new materials and structures, including metals, 
alloys, ceramics, polymers, biomaterials and more--particularly at the 
nanoscale--for energy-related applications.
    [sbull] Understand, model, and control chemical reactivity and 
energy transfer processes in the gas phase, in solutions, at 
interfaces, and on surfaces for energy-related applications, employing 
lessons from inorganic, organic, self-assembling, and biological 
systems.
    [sbull] Develop new concepts and improve existing methods for solar 
energy conversion and other major energy research needs identified in 
the 2003 Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee workshop report, 
Basic Research Needs to Assure a Secure Energy Future.
    [sbull] Conceive, design, fabricate, and use new instruments to 
characterize and ultimately control materials.
    The science areas and their objectives are as follows:
(a) Materials Sciences and Engineering
    The objective of this program is to increase the fundamental 
understanding of phenomena, properties, and behavior important to 
materials that will contribute to improving current energy technologies 
and developing new energy technologies. Disciplinary areas where basic 
research is supported include materials physics, condensed matter 
physics, materials chemistry, engineering physics, and related 
disciplines where the emphasis is on the science of materials. Product 
development, demonstration, and surveys and process optimization 
studies for existing commercial materials are not within the scope of 
this solicitation.
    Program Contact: Phone--(301) 903-3427; Web site: http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/dms/index.htm.
(b) Chemical Sciences
    The objective of this program is to develop and enhance fundamental 
understanding in the chemical sciences that contributes to the overall 
goal of developing new sources of energy and

[[Page 61199]]

improving processes for using existing energy resources in an efficient 
and environmentally sound manner. Disciplinary areas where basic 
research is supported include atomic, molecular, and optical sciences; 
physical, inorganic, and organic chemistry; chemical physics; 
photochemistry; radiation chemistry; analytical chemistry; separations 
science; actinide chemistry; and chemical engineering sciences.
    Program Contact: Phone--(301) 903-5804; Web site: http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/chm/chmhome.html.
(c) Geosciences
    The objective of this program is to develop a quantitative and 
predictive understanding of geologic processes related to energy and 
environmental quality. The program emphasizes cross-cutting basic 
research that will improve understanding of reactive geochemical 
transport and other subsurface processes and properties and how to 
image them using techniques ranging from electrons, x-rays or neutrons 
to electromagnetic and seismic waves. Applications of this fundamental 
understanding might include transport of contaminant fluids, 
hydrocarbons, sequestered carbon dioxide, or performance prediction for 
repository sites. The emphasis is on the disciplinary areas of 
geochemistry, geophysics, geomechanics, and hydrogeology with a focus 
on the upper levels of the earth's crust. Particular emphasis is on 
processes taking place at the atomic and molecular scale. Specific 
topical areas receiving emphasis include: high resolution geophysical 
imaging; rock physics, physics of fluid transport, and fundamental 
properties and interactions of rocks, minerals, and fluids. Program 
Contact: Phone--(301) 903-4061; Web site: http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/geo/geohome.html.
(d) Energy Biosciences
    The objective of this program is to generate an understanding of 
fundamental biological mechanisms in plants and microorganisms. The 
emphasis is on understanding biological processes that will be the 
foundation for technology developments related to DOE's mission to 
achieve environmentally responsible production and conversion of 
renewable resources for fuels, chemicals, and other energy-enriched 
products. This program has special requirements for the submission of 
preapplications, when to submit, and the length of the applications. 
Applicants are encouraged to contact the program regarding these 
requirements. Program Contact: Phone--(301) 903-2873; E-mail--
[email protected]; Web site: http://www.science.doe.gov/bes/eb/ebhome.html.

2. High Energy Physics

    The primary objectives of this program are to explore the 
fundamental interactions of matter and energy, including the unseen 
forms of matter and energy that dominate the universe; to understand 
the ultimate unification of fundamental forces and particles; to search 
for possible new dimensions of space; and to investigate the nature of 
time itself. The research falls into three broad categories: 
experimental research, theoretical research, and a program of advanced 
R&D in accelerator and particle detector science and technology. The 
goal of the R&D program is to enable the design and fabrication of the 
instrumentation needed for the physics research.
    In support of these broad scientific objectives, the High-Energy 
Physics program has established specific long-term goals that 
correspond very roughly to current research priorities, and are 
representative of the program:
    [sbull] Measure the properties and interactions of the heaviest 
known particle (the top quark) in order to understand its particular 
role in the Standard Model.
    [sbull] Measure the matter-antimatter asymmetry in many particle 
decay modes with high precision.
    [sbull] Discover or rule out the Standard Model Higgs particle, 
thought to be responsible for generating mass of elementary particles.
    [sbull] Determine the pattern of the neutrino masses and the 
details of their mixing parameters.
    [sbull] Confirm the existence of new supersymmetric (SUSY) 
particles, or rule out the minimal SUSY ``Standard Model'' of new 
physics.
    [sbull] Directly discover, or rule out, new particles which could 
explain the cosmological ``dark matter''.
    All grant proposals should address one or more of these goals, or 
else explain how the proposed research supports the broad scientific 
objectives outlined above. More information on the program and the 
scientific research it supports can be found at our Web site: http://doe-hep.hep.net/.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3624.

3. Nuclear Physics

    The Nuclear Physics program supports basic research, technical 
developments and world-class accelerator facilities to expand our 
fundamental understanding of the interactions and structures of atomic 
nuclei and nuclear matter, and an understanding of the forces of nature 
as manifested in nuclear matter. Today, the reach of nuclear physics 
extends from the quarks and gluons that form the substructure of the 
once-elementary protons and neutrons, to the most dramatic of cosmic 
events--supernovae. These and many other diverse activities are driven 
by five broad questions articulated recently by the Nuclear Science 
Advisory Committee (NSAC) in the Opportunities in Nuclear Science: A 
Long-Range Plan for the Next Decade. The four subprogram areas and 
their objectives are organized around answering these five key 
questions. Research activities supported by the Office of Nuclear 
Physics are aligned with and contribute to the overall progress of the 
following long term performance measures:
    [sbull] Make precision measurements of fundamental properties of 
the proton, neutron and simple nuclei for comparison with theoretical 
calculations to provide a quantitative understanding of their quark 
substructure.
    [sbull] Recreate brief, tiny samples of hot, dense nuclear matter 
to search for the quark-gluon plasma and characterize its properties.
    [sbull] Investigate new regions of nuclear structure, study 
interactions in nuclear matter like those occurring in neutron stars, 
and determine the reactions that created the nuclei of atomic elements 
inside stars and supernovae.
    [sbull] Measure fundamental properties of neutrinos and fundamental 
symmetries by using neutrinos from the sun and nuclear reactors and by 
using radioactive decay measurements.
    The program is organized into the following four subprograms:
(a) Medium Energy Nuclear Physics
    This subprogram supports experimental research primarily at the 
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility and with the polarized 
proton collision program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC-
Spin), directed at answering the first key question: What is the 
structure of the nucleon? Detailed investigations of the structure of 
the nucleon are aimed at understanding how these basic building blocks 
of matter are constructed from the elementary quarks and gluons of 
Quantum Chromo-Dynamics (QCD) and how complex interactions among them 
generate all the properties of the nucleon, including its 
electromagnetic and spin properties. New knowledge in this area would 
also allow the nuclear binding force to be described in terms of QCD, 
thus providing a path for

[[Page 61200]]

understanding the structure of atomic nuclei from first principles.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3904.
(b) Heavy Ion Nuclear Physics
    This subprogram supports experimental research primarily at the 
Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) directed at answering the second 
question: What are the properties of hot nuclear matter? At extremely 
high temperatures, such as those that existed in the early universe 
immediately after the ``Big Bang,'' normal nuclear matter is believed 
to revert to its primeval state called the quark-gluon plasma. This 
research program aims to recreate extremely small and brief samples of 
this high energy density phase of matter in the laboratory by colliding 
heavy nuclei at relativistic energies. At much lower temperatures, 
nuclear matter passes through another phase transition from a Fermi 
liquid to a Fermi gas of free roaming nucleons; understanding this 
phase transition is also a goal of the subprogram.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-4702.
(c) Low Energy Nuclear Physics
    This subprogram supports experimental research directed at 
understanding the remaining three questions: What is the structure of 
nucleonic matter? Forefront nuclear structure research lies in studies 
of nuclei at the limits of excitation energy, deformation, angular 
momentum, and isotopic stability. The properties of nuclei at these 
extremes are not known and such knowledge is needed to test and drive 
improvement in nuclear models and theories about the nuclear many-body 
system. What is the nuclear microphysics of the universe? Knowledge of 
the detailed nuclear structure, nuclear reaction rates, half-lives of 
specific nuclei, and the limits of nuclear existence at both the proton 
and neutron drip lines is crucial for understanding the nuclear 
astrophysics processes responsible for the production of the chemical 
elements in the universe, and the explosive dynamics of supernovae. Is 
there new physics beyond the Standard Model? Studies of fundamental 
interactions and symmetries, including those of neutrino oscillations, 
are indicating that our current ``Standard Model'' theory which 
explains what the universe is and what holds it together is incomplete, 
opening up possibilities for new discoveries by precision experiments.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-6093.
(d) Nuclear Theory (Including the Nuclear Data Subprogram)
    Progress in nuclear physics, as in any science, depends critically 
on improvements in the theoretical techniques and on new insights that 
will lead to new models and theories that can be applied to interpret 
experimental data and predict new behavior. The Nuclear Theory program 
supports theoretical research directed at understanding all five of the 
central questions identified in the NSAC 2002 Long Range Plan.
    Included in the theory program are the activities that are aimed at 
providing information services on critical nuclear data and have as a 
goal the compilation and dissemination of an accurate and complete 
nuclear data information base that is readily accessible and user 
oriented.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-7878.

4. Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR)

    The mission of the Advanced Scientific Computing Research Program 
is to deliver forefront computational and networking capabilities to 
scientists nationwide that enable them to extend the frontiers of 
science, answering critical questions that range from the function of 
living cells to the power of fusion energy.
    In order to accomplish this mission, this program fosters and 
supports fundamental research in advanced computing research (applied 
mathematics, computer science and networking), and operates 
supercomputer, networking, and related facilities to enable the 
analysis, modeling, simulation, and prediction of complex phenomena 
important to the Department of Energy.
    The following long-term goals will be indicators of ASCR's success 
in meeting its mission.
    [sbull] Develop mathematics, algorithms, and software that enable 
effective models of complex systems, including highly nonlinear or 
uncertain phenomena, or processes that interact on vastly different 
scales or contain both discrete and continuous elements.
    [sbull] Develop, through the GTL partnership with BER, the 
computational science capability to model a complete microbe and a 
simple microbial community.
Mathematical, Information, and Computational Sciences Subprogram
    This subprogram is responsible for carrying out the primary mission 
of the ASCR program: discovering, developing, and deploying advanced 
scientific computing and communications tools and operating the high 
performance computing and network facilities that researchers need to 
analyze, model, simulate, and--most importantly--predict the behavior 
of complex natural and engineered systems of importance to the Office 
of Science and to the Department of Energy.
    The computing, networking middleware required to meet Office of 
Science needs exceed the state-of-the-art by a wide margin. 
Furthermore, the algorithms, software tools, the software libraries and 
the distributed software environments needed to accelerate scientific 
discovery through modeling and simulation are beyond the realm of 
commercial interest. To establish and maintain DOE's modeling and 
simulation leadership in scientific areas that are important to its 
mission, the MICS subprogram employs a broad, but integrated research 
strategy. The basic research portfolio in applied mathematics and 
computer science provides the foundation for enabling research 
activities, which includes efforts to advance high-performance 
networking, to develop software tools, software libraries and software 
environments. Results from enabling research supported by the MICS 
subprogram are used by computational scientists supported by other 
Office of Science and other DOE programs. Research areas include:
(a) Applied Mathematics
    Research on the underlying mathematical understanding and numerical 
algorithms to enable effective description and prediction of physical 
systems, such as fluids, magnetized plasmas, or protein molecules. This 
includes, for example, methods for solving large systems of partial 
differential equations on parallel computers, techniques for choosing 
optimal values for parameters in large systems with hundreds to 
hundreds of thousands of parameters, improving our understanding of 
fluid turbulence, and developing techniques for reliably estimating the 
errors in simulations of complex physical phenomena.
(b) Computer Science
    Research in computer science to enable large scientific 
applications through advances in massively parallel computing such as 
scalable and fault tolerant operating systems for parallel computers, 
programming models such as development of the Message Passing Interface 
(MPI) model that has become an industry standard, performance modeling 
and assessment tools, interoperability and infrastructure

[[Page 61201]]

methodology, and large scale data management and visualization. The 
development of new computer and computational science techniques will 
allow scientists to use the most advanced computers without being 
overwhelmed by the complexity of rewriting their codes with each new 
generation of high performance architectures.
(c) Network Environment Research
    Research to develop and deploy high-performance network and 
collaborative technologies to support distributed high-end science 
applications and large-scale scientific collaborations. The current 
focus areas include but are not limited to ultra high-speed transport 
protocols, dynamic bandwidth allocation services, network measurement 
and analysis, cyber security systems, and advanced application layer 
services that make easy for scientists to effectively and efficiently 
access and use distributed resources, such as advanced services for 
group collaboration, secure services for remote access of distributed 
resources, and innovative technologies for sharing, controlling, and 
managing distributed computing resources. Program Contact: (301) 903-
5800.

5. Fusion Energy Sciences

    The Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program supports the Department's 
Energy Security and World-Class Scientific Research Capacity goals. The 
FES program goal is to advance plasma science, fusion science, and 
fusion technology--the knowledge base needed for an economically and 
environmentally attractive fusion energy source. FES supports basic and 
applied research, encourages technical cross-fertilization with the 
broader U.S. science community, and uses international collaboration to 
accomplish this goal.
    The FES program contributes to the Energy Security goal through 
participation in ITER, an experiment to study and demonstrate the 
sustained burning of fusion fuel. This proposed international 
collaboration will provide an unparalleled scientific research 
opportunity and will test the scientific and technical feasibility of 
fusion power; ITER is also the penultimate step before a demonstration 
fusion power plant. Assuming a successful outcome of ongoing ITER 
negotiations, in Fiscal Year 2005, FES scientists and engineers will be 
supporting the technical R&D and preparations to start project 
construction in Fiscal Year 2006.
    The FES program contributes to the World-Class Scientific Research 
Capacity goal by managing a program of fundamental research into the 
nature of fusion plasmas and the means for confining plasma to yield 
energy. This includes: (1) Exploring basic issues in plasma science; 
(2) developing the scientific basis and computational tools to predict 
the behavior of magnetically confined plasmas; (3) using the advances 
in tokamak research to enable the initiation of the burning plasma 
physics phase of the FES program; (4) exploring innovative confinement 
options that offer the potential of more attractive fusion energy 
sources in the long term; (5) developing the cutting edge technologies 
that enable fusion facilities to achieve their scientific goals; and 
(6) advancing the science base for innovative materials to establish 
the economic feasibility and environmental quality of fusion energy.
    The overall effort requires operation of a set of unique and 
diversified experimental facilities, ranging from smaller-scale 
university programs to large national facilities that require extensive 
collaboration. These facilities provide scientists with the means to 
test and extend theoretical understanding and computer models--leading 
ultimately to an improved predictive capability for fusion science.
    In Fiscal Year 2005, operation of fusion facilities will be 
increased to create greater opportunity for scientists to address the 
large backlog of proposed experiments, many of them relevant to ITER 
design and operation. Fabrication of the National Compact Stellarator 
will also continue with a target of Fiscal Year 2007, for the initial 
operation of this innovative new confinement system which is the 
product of advances in physics understanding and computer modeling. In 
addition, work will be initiated on the Fusion Simulation Project--a 
joint effort with the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing 
Research--to provide an integrated simulation and modeling capability 
for magnetic fusion energy confinement systems over a 15-year 
development period.
    There will be three performance measures, for 10 years out, that 
will demonstrate that progress is being made towards meeting the 
overall program goal. These measures are:
    1. Predictive Capability for Burning Plasmas: Develop a predictive 
capability for key aspects of burning plasmas using advances in theory 
and simulation benchmarked against a comprehensive experimental 
database of stability, transport, wave-particle interaction, and edge 
effects.
    2. Configuration Optimization: Demonstrate enhanced fundamental 
understanding of magnetic confinement and improved basis for future 
burning plasma experiments through research on magnetic confinement 
configuration optimization.
    3. Inertial Fusion Energy and High Energy Density Physics: Develop 
the fundamental understanding and predictability of high energy density 
plasmas for potential energy applications.

Research Division

    This Division is responsible for overseeing the Science and 
Technology subprograms as well as most of the facility operations 
subprogram (not including ITER) within the FES. The Science subprogram 
seeks to develop the physics knowledge base needed to advance the FES 
program. Research is conducted on medium to large-scale confinement 
devices to study physics issues relevant to fusion and plasma physics 
and to the production of fusion energy. Experiments on these devices 
are used to explore the limits of specific confinement concepts, as 
well as study associated physical phenomena. Specific areas of interest 
include: (1) Reducing plasma energy and particle transport at high 
densities and temperatures; (2) understanding the physical laws 
governing stability of high pressure plasmas; (3) investigating plasma 
wave interactions; (4) studying and controlling impurity particle 
transport and exhaust in plasmas; and (5) understanding the interaction 
and coupling among these four issues in a fusion experiment.
    Research is also carried out in the following areas: (1) Basic 
plasma science directed at furthering the understanding of fundamental 
processes in plasmas; (2) theory and modeling to provide the 
understanding of fusion plasmas necessary for interpreting results from 
present experiments, planning future experiments, and designing future 
confinement devices; (3) atomic physics and the development of new 
diagnostic techniques for support of confinement experiments; (4) 
innovative confinement concepts; and (5) high energy density physics 
and issues that support the development of Inertial Fusion Energy 
(IFE). The high energy density physics necessary for IFE target 
development is carried out by the Office of Defense Programs in the 
Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Agency.
    The Technology subprogram supports the advancement of fusion 
science in the nearer-term by carrying out research on technological 
topics that: (1) Enable domestic experiments to achieve their full 
performance potential and scientific

[[Page 61202]]

research goals; (2) permit scientific exploitation of the performance 
gains being sought from physics concept improvements; (3) allow the 
U.S. to enter into international collaborations gaining access to 
experimental conditions not available domestically; and (4) explore the 
science underlying these technological advances.
    The Technology subprogram supports pursuit of fusion energy science 
for the longer-term by conducting research aimed at innovative 
technologies, designs and materials to point toward an attractive 
fusion energy vision and affordable pathways for optimized fusion 
development. Program Contact: (301) 903-4095 N. Anne Davies.

6. Biological and Environmental Research Program

    For more than 50 years the Biological and Environmental Research 
(BER) Program has been investing to advance environmental and 
biomedical knowledge connected to energy. The BER program provides 
fundamental science to underpin the business thrusts of the 
Department's strategic plan. Through its support of peer-reviewed 
research at national laboratories, universities, and private 
institutions, the program develops the knowledge needed: (1) To 
identify, understand, and anticipate the long-term health and 
environmental consequences of energy production, development, and use; 
and (2) to develop biology based solutions that address DOE and 
National needs.
    The following indicators establish specific long term goals in 
Scientific Advancement that the BER program is committed to, and 
progress can be measured against.
    [sbull] Life Sciences: Characterize the multi protein complexes (or 
the lack thereof) involving a scientifically significant fraction of a 
microbe's proteins. Develop computational models to direct the use and 
design of microbial communities to clean up waste, sequester carbon, or 
produce hydrogen.
    [sbull] Climate Change Research: Deliver improved climate data & 
models for policy makers to determine safe levels of greenhouse gases 
for the Earth system. By 2013, substantially reduce differences between 
observed temperature and model simulations at subcontinental scales 
using several decades of recent data.
    [sbull] Environmental Remediation: Develop science-based solutions 
for cleanup and long-term monitoring of DOE contaminated sites. By 
2013, a significant fraction of DOE's long-term stewardship sites will 
employ advanced biology-based clean up solutions and science-based 
monitors.
    [sbull] Medical Applications and Measurement Science: Develop 
intelligent biomimetic electronics that can both sense and correctly 
stimulate the nervous system and new radiopharmaceuticals for disease 
diagnosis.
    All grant proposals should address one or more of these measures 
and/or explain how the proposed research supports the broad scientific 
objectives outlined above. More information on the program and the 
scientific research it supports can be found at our Web site: http://www.sc.doe.gov/ober/.
(a) Life Sciences Research
    Research is focused on using DOE's unique resources and facilities 
to develop fundamental knowledge of biological systems that can be used 
to address DOE needs in clean energy, carbon sequestration, and 
environmental cleanup and that will underpin biotechnology based 
solutions to energy challenges. The objectives are: (1) To develop the 
experimental and, together with the Advanced Scientific Computing 
Research program, the computational resources, tools, and technologies 
needed to understand and predict the complex behavior of complete 
biological systems, principally microbes and microbial communities; (2) 
to take advantage of the remarkable high throughput and cost-effective 
DNA sequencing capacity at the Joint Genome Institute to meet the DNA 
sequencing needs of the scientific community through competitive, peer-
reviewed nominations for DNA sequencing; (3) to develop and support DOE 
national user facilities for structural biology at synchrotron and 
neutron sources; (4) to develop novel research and computational tools 
that provide the basis for understanding and predicting the responses 
of complex biological systems, information needed to develop 
biotechnology solutions for energy and environmental challenges; (5) to 
use model organisms to understand human genome organization, human gene 
function and control, and the functional relationships between human 
genes and proteins at a genomic scale; (6) to understand and 
characterize the risks to human health from exposures to low levels of 
radiation; and (7) to anticipate and address ethical, legal, and social 
implications arising from BER-supported biological research.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-5468.
(b) Medical Applications and Measurement Sciences
    The research is designed to develop the beneficial applications of 
nuclear and other energy-related technologies for bio-medical research, 
medical diagnosis and treatment. The objectives are: (1) To utilize 
innovative radiochemistry to develop new radiotracers for medical 
research, clinical diagnosis and treatment; (2) to develop the next 
generation of non-invasive nuclear medicine instrumentation 
technologies, such as positron emission tomography; (3) to develop 
advanced imaging detection instrumentation capable of high resolution 
from the sub-cellular to the clinical level; and (4) to utilize the 
unique resources of the DOE in engineering, physics, chemistry and 
computer sciences to develop the basic tools to be used in biology and 
medicine, particularly in imaging sciences, photo-optics and 
biosensors.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3213.
(c) Environmental Remediation
    This research delivers the scientific knowledge, tools, and 
enabling discoveries in biological and environmental research to reduce 
the costs, risks, and schedules associated with the cleanup of the DOE 
nuclear weapons complex; to extend the frontiers of biological and 
chemical methods for remediation; to discover the fundamental 
mechanisms of contaminant transport in the environment; to develop 
cutting edge molecular tools for investigating environmental processes; 
and to develop an understanding of the ecological impacts of 
remediation activities. Research priorities include bioremediation, 
contaminant fate and transport, nuclear waste chemistry and advanced 
treatment options, and the operation of the William R. Wiley 
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) and the Savannah 
River Ecology Laboratory (SREL). The research performed for this 
program will provide fundamental knowledge on a broad range of 
remediation problems. Program Contact: (301) 903-4902.
(d) Climate Change Research
    The program seeks to understand the basic physical, chemical, and 
biological processes of the Earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans and 
how these processes may be affected by energy production and use. The 
research is designed to provide data that will enable an objective 
assessment of the potential for, and the consequences of, human-induced 
climate change at global and regional scales. It also provides data and 
models to enable assessments of mitigation options to prevent such a 
change. The program is comprehensive with an emphasis on: (1) 
Understanding and simulating the radiation balance

[[Page 61203]]

from the surface of the Earth to the top of the atmosphere (including 
the effect of clouds, water vapor, trace gases, and aerosols); (2) 
enhancing and evaluating the quantitative models necessary to predict 
natural climatic variability and possible human-caused climate change 
at global and regional scales; (3) understanding and simulating both 
the net exchange of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere, terrestrial 
and ocean systems, and the effects of climate change on the global 
carbon cycle; (4) understanding ecological effects of climate change; 
(5) improving approaches to integrated assessments of effects of, and 
options to mitigate, climatic change; and (6) basic research directed 
at understanding options for sequestering excess atmospheric carbon 
dioxide in terrestrial ecosystems and the ocean, including potential 
environmental implications of such sequestration.
    Program Contact: (301) 903-3281.

7. Energy Research Analyses

    This program supports energy research analyses of the Department's 
basic and applied research activities. Specific objectives include 
assessments to identify any duplication or gaps in scientific research 
activities, and impartial and independent evaluations of scientific and 
technical research efforts. Consistent with these overall objectives, 
this program conducts numerous research studies to assess directions in 
science and to identify and assess new and improved approaches to 
science management. Program Contact: (202) 586-9942.

8. Experimental Program To Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

    The objective of the EPSCoR program is to enhance the capabilities 
of EPSCoR states to conduct nationally competitive energy-related 
research and to develop science and engineering manpower to meet 
current and future needs in energy-related fields. This program 
addresses basic research needs across all of the Department of Energy 
research interests. Research supported by the EPSCoR program is 
concerned with the same broad research areas addressed by the Office of 
Science programs that are described in this notice. The EPSCoR program 
is restricted to applications, which originate in 21 states (Alabama, 
Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, 
Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, 
Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and 
Wyoming) and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is anticipated that 
only a limited number of new competitive research grants will be 
awarded under this program subject to the availability of funds. 
Program Contact: Phone (301) 903-3427; Web site: http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/EPSCoR/index.htm.

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 21, 2003.
Ralph H. DeLorenzo,
Acting Associate Director of Science for Resource Management.
[FR Doc. 03-27021 Filed 10-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P