[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7740-7743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3607]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice DE-FG01-
04ER04-11; Theoretical Research in Plasma and Fusion Science

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES) of the Office of 
Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announces its interest 
in receiving grant applications for theoretical research relevant to 
the U.S. program in magnetic fusion energy sciences. All individuals or 
groups planning to submit applications for new or renewal funding in 
Fiscal Year 2005 should submit in response to this Notice.
    The specific areas of interest are:

1. Magnetohydrodynamics and Stability
2. Confinement and Transport
3. Edge and Divertor Physics
4. Plasma Heating and Non-inductive Current Drive
5. Innovative/Integrating Concepts
6. Atomic and Molecular Processes in Plasmas

    More specific information on each area of interest is outlined in 
the general and program specific supplementary information section 
below. OFES may also solicit proposals from time to time under separate 
announcements of Initiatives to support coordinated, goal-directed 
community efforts. The Initiatives will be funded to achieve specific 
programmatic and scientific aims and will be subject to requirements 
that are different from those of this notice. Such grants, if funded, 
will be subject to periodic reviews of progress.
    Due to the limited availability of funds, Principal Investigators 
with continuing grants may not submit a new application in the same 
area(s) of interest as their previous application(s), which received 
funding. A Principal Investigator may submit only one application under 
each area of interest as listed above.

DATES: To permit timely consideration for awards in Fiscal Year 2005, 
applications submitted in response to this notice must be received by 
DOE no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, April 1, 2004. Electronic 
submission of formal applications in PDF format is required. It is 
important that the submission be in a single PDF file.
    Applicants are requested to submit a letter-of-intent by March 4, 
2004, which includes the title of the application, the name of the 
Principal Investigator(s), the requested funding and a one-page 
abstract. These letters-of-intent will be used to organize and expedite 
review processes. Failure to submit a letter-of-intent will not 
negatively prejudice a responsive formal application submitted in a 
timely fashion. The letters-of-intent should be sent by e-mail to the 
following e-mail address: [email protected] and the Subject 
line should state: Letter-of-intent regarding Program Notice 04-11.

ADDRESSES: Formal applications referencing Program Notice DE-FG01-
04ER04-11, must be electronically submitted by an authorized 
institutional business official through DOE's Industry Interactive 
Procurement System (IIPS) at: http://e-center.doe.gov/. 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 
website. It is suggested that this registration be completed several 
days prior to the date

[[Page 7741]]

on which you plan to submit the formal application. The Office of 
Science will include attachments as part of this notice that provide 
the appropriate forms in PDF fillable format that are to be submitted 
through IIPS. IIPS offers the option of using multiple files, it is 
important that the submission be in a single PDF file if possible. 
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 grant 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 an application through IIPS, please 
contact the Office of the Director, Grants and Contracts Division, 
Office of Science, DOE at: (301) 903-5212 in order to gain assistance 
for submission through IIPS or to receive special approval and 
instructions on how to submit printed applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, SC-
55/Germantown Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-1290. Specific contacts for each area 
of interest, along with telephone numbers and Internet addresses, are 
listed below:
    1. Magnetohydrodynamics and Stability: Rostom Dagazian, Research 
Division, SC-55, Telephone: (301) 903-4926, or by Internet address: 
[email protected].
    2. Confinement and Transport: Curt Bolton, Research Division, SC-
55, Telephone: (301) 903-4914, or by Internet address: 
[email protected].
    3. Edge and Divertor Physics: Mike Crisp, Research Division, SC-55, 
Telephone: (301) 903-4883, or by Internet address: 
[email protected].
    4. Plasma Heating and Non-inductive Current Drive: Rostom Dagazian, 
Research Division, SC-55, Telephone: (301) 903-4926, or by Internet 
address: [email protected].
    5. Innovative/Integrating Concepts: Francis Thio, Research 
Division, SC-55, Telephone (301) 903-4678, or by Internet address: 
[email protected]; or Steve Eckstrand, Research Division, 
SC-55, Telephone: (301) 903-5546, or by Internet address: 
[email protected].
    6. Atomic and Molecular Processes in Plasmas: Mike Crisp, Research 
Division, SC-55, Telephone: (301) 903-4883, or by Internet address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: General information about development and 
submission of applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluations and 
selection processes, and other policies and procedures may be found in 
the Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial Assistance 
Program and 10 CFR part 605. Electronic access to SC's Financial 
Assistance Guide and required forms is possible via the Internet using 
the following Web site address: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html. DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs 
associated with the preparation or submission of an application if an 
award is not made.

Program Funding

    It is anticipated that about $5,000,000 of Fiscal Year 2005 funding 
will be available to fund new work, or renewals of existing work, from 
applications received in response to this Notice. The number of awards 
and range of funding will depend on the number of applications received 
and selected for award. Since future year funding is not anticipated to 
increase, applications should propose constant effort in future years 
(allowing for inflation). Future year funding will depend upon suitable 
progress and the availability of funds. The cost-effectiveness of the 
application will be considered when comparing applications with 
differing funding requirements. The number of grants funded, and the 
amount of funding for each grant, will depend on the number and quality 
of the applications received.
    Collaborative research projects involving more than one 
institution, as well as basic work in support of the Scientific 
Discovery through Advanced Computing initiative, are encouraged. 
Applications submitted from different institutions, which are directed 
at a common research activity, should clearly indicate they are part of 
a proposed collaboration and contain a brief description of the overall 
research project. However, each application must have a distinct scope 
of work and a qualified principal investigator, who is responsible for 
the research effort being performed at his or her institution. 
Synergistic collaborations with researchers in federal laboratories and 
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including 
the DOE National Laboratories are also encouraged, though no funds will 
be provided to these organizations under this Notice. Further 
information on preparation of collaborative applications may be 
accessed via the Internet at: http://www.science.doe.gov/production/grants/Colab.html.
    Since we expect that reviewers will be asked to review several 
applications, those applications from individual PIs or small groups 
(1-4 people) should be limited to a maximum of twenty (20) pages 
(including text and figures) of technical information, while 
applications from larger theory groups should be limited to thirty (30) 
pages. All applications should be in a single PDF file. The single PDF 
file may also include a few selected publications in an Appendix as 
background information. In addition, in the electronic submission, 
please limit biographical and publication information for the principal 
investigator and senior personnel to no more than two pages each. Each 
principal investigator should provide an E-mail address.
    In addition to the information required by 10 CFR part 605 each 
application should contain the following items: (1) A succinct 
statement of the goal of the research, (2) a detailed research plan, 
(3) the specific results expected at the end of the project period, (4) 
an analysis of the adequacy of the budget, (5) a discussion of the 
impact of the proposed research on other fields of science, and (6) for 
projects requiring significant computational resources (e.g., at the 
National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center), an estimate and 
justification of the resources that will be required. In addition if 
the work is to be part of the International Tokamak Physics Activity 
(ITPA) activities, the PI should include adequate funding to cover all 
the needed ITPA related travel.

Merit Review

    Applications will be subjected to formal merit review and will be 
evaluated against the following criteria, which are listed in 
descending order of importance as set forth in 10 CFR part 605 (http://www.science.doe.gov/production/grants/605index.html). Included with 
each criteria are the detailed questions that are asked of the 
reviewers.

[[Page 7742]]

1. Scientific and/or Technical Merit of the Project
    [sbull] Does this application address an important problem in 
plasma science, plasma technology, fusion energy science, or fusion 
energy technology?
    [sbull] How does the proposed research compare with other research 
in its field, both in terms of scientific and/or technical merit and 
originality?
    [sbull] What is the likelihood that it will lead to new or 
fundamental advances in its field?
2. Appropriateness of the Proposed Method or Approach
    [sbull] Are the conceptual framework, methods, and analyses 
adequately developed and likely to lead to scientifically valid 
conclusions?
    [sbull] Does the proposed research employ innovative concepts or 
methods?
    [sbull] Does the applicant recognize significant potential problems 
and consider alternative strategies?
3. Competency of the Applicant's Personnel and Adequacy of the Proposed 
Resources
    [sbull] How well qualified are the applicant's personnel to carry 
out the proposed research? (If appropriate, please comment on the 
scientific reputation and quality of recent research by the principal 
investigator and other key personnel.)
    [sbull] Please comment on the applicant's research environment and 
resources.
    [sbull] Does the proposed work take advantage of unique facilities 
and capabilities and/or make good use of collaborative arrangements?
4. Reasonableness and Appropriateness of the Proposed Budget
    [sbull] Is the proposed budget and staffing levels adequate to 
carry out the proposed research?
    The reviewers are also asked to comment on Other Appropriate 
Factors:
    [sbull] How is the proposed project relevant to the Office of 
Fusion Energy Science's goals?
    [sbull] Could the proposed research make a significant contribution 
to another field?
    [sbull] Is there potential for spin-offs?
    [sbull] If applicable, please comment on the educational benefits 
of the proposed activity.
    Scientific and technical merit also includes the importance and 
relevance of the proposed research to the U.S. fusion program. 
Accordingly, preference will be given to work based in the U.S.
    In addition, proposals from theory groups will also be rated on the 
synergy of the group and the management of the group. With respect to 
synergy, the criteria are:
    (1) Clear evidence of collaborative work.
    (2) The extent to which the group addresses difficult problems 
requiring a team effort.
    With respect to management the criteria are:
    (1) Clear evidence of scientific leadership.
    (2) The extent to which the management evaluates the relevance and 
scientific impact of the groups work.
    The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences shall also consider, as part 
of the evaluation, other available advice or information as well as 
program policy factors, such as ensuring an appropriate balance among 
the program areas and within the program areas, ensuring support for 
major computational efforts, ensuring support for experiments, and 
quality of previous performance.
    Selection of applications/proposals for award will be based upon 
the findings of the evaluations, the importance and relevance of the 
proposed research to the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences' mission, and 
funding availability.

Program Specific Information

1. Magnetohydrodynamics and Stability

    Grant applications are solicited for new research or continuation 
of past efforts in magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) theory in support of work 
on magnetically confined fusion plasmas. Current areas of interest 
include advanced tokamak (AT), innovative confinement concepts (ICC), 
burning plasma physics and steady state, high-beta plasma issues. Both 
analytical and computational approaches will be considered. Additional 
work is needed on nonlinear MHD codes to include new physics, such as 
extended MHD (including flows and various non-ideal MHD effects), 
resistive wall modes, and particularly neoclassical tearing modes. 
Finally, basic work in support of the Scientific Discovery through 
Advanced Computing initiative that involves the development of large-
scale MHD codes will also be considered.

2. Confinement and Transport

    Applications will be considered in the area of confinement and 
transport in plasmas. This area covers plasma turbulence, energy, 
particle, momentum and radiation transport in the core of the plasma 
and theory based transport modeling. The work of interest includes work 
in support of tokamak as well as non-tokamak innovative concepts. 
Topics of interest include among others, electromagnetic effects on 
turbulence, shear flow generation and its impacts on transport, and 
understanding of the role of collisions in turbulent plasmas. Both 
analytical and computational work is of interest. Basic work in support 
of the Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing initiative that 
involves the development of large-scale codes to explore turbulence 
will also be considered.

3. Edge and Divertor Physics

    Applications will be considered in the area of edge physics theory. 
This area covers edge plasma turbulence, energy, particle and radiation 
transport in the edge of the plasma and in the neighborhood of the 
separatrix. The work of interest includes neutrals transport in 
divertors and plasma edge region, atomic physics processes affecting 
temperature, radiation and flame front propagation in divertors, and 
pedestal and Elm theory and modeling. Both analytical and numerical 
models are of interest. Techniques and algorithms for modeling fast 
particles in the edge region, as well as adaptive grid methods and 
their application to modeling of plasma turbulence and transport in the 
edge region will be considered.

4. Plasma Heating and Non-Inductive Current Drive

    Applications will be considered in the area of radio frequency (RF) 
physics in plasmas. This includes RF propagation, heating and current 
drive. Of interest are both analytical and numerical treatments of 
interaction of plasmas with radio frequency waves. These include 
electron cyclotron, ion cyclotron, lower hybrid, and Bernstein waves. 
Topics of interest include, among others, physical processes involved 
in conversion layers, power deposition for temperature profile control, 
and interaction of waves of different frequencies to produce specific 
effects on the plasma. Applications for modeling radio frequency 
launchers and their coupling to the edge plasma will also be 
considered.

5. Innovative/Integrating Concepts

    Grant applications are desired for theoretical and computational 
research on innovative concepts that have the possibility of leading to 
improved magnetic fusion systems. Increased theoretical and 
computational research is needed to help in the analysis of 
experimental data and aid in planning innovative fusion related 
experiments. Topics of interest include: equilibrium and stability of 
3D systems, including

[[Page 7743]]

island formation; extension of turbulence models to 3D systems; 
improvement in extended MHD modeling of RFPs; increased understanding 
of turbulent transport in RFPs; and spheromak formation. Applications 
are also desired for theoretical and computational research on 
integrated studies that include multiple topics.

6. Atomic and Molecular Processes in Plasmas

    Grant applications will be considered for theoretical research 
relevant to the description of atomic processes in plasmas. In addition 
to overall scientific merit, emphasis will be given to work that 
promises to aid the understanding of the basic atomic processes that 
are important for modeling of magnetically confined plasmas. Basic 
atomic processes that are important for modeling high energy density 
plasmas produced by high power lasers or ion beams may also be 
considered. The program has found understanding electron-atom and 
electron-ion collisions and the radiation emitted by atoms and ions to 
be of importance for the modeling of plasma behavior in experiments. 
Some current areas where atomic processes are considered to be 
important include the effects of transport, the effects of impurities 
and the understanding of diagnostics.
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program 
is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR part 
605.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 11, 2004.
Martin Rubinstein,
Acting Director, Grants and Contracts Division, Office of Science.
[FR Doc. 04-3607 Filed 2-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P