[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64907-64908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24941]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket Number: 040910260-4260-01]


Solicitation of Letters of Interest to Form Participating 
Research Teams at the NIST Center for Neutron Research

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) announces its intent to form 
partnerships, called ``Participating Research Teams'' (PRT's), to 
develop and apply advanced cold and thermal neutron beam measurement 
capabilities at the NCNR to assist crucial and timely U.S. R&D directed 
toward the production of next-generation fuel cells, hydrogen storage 
systems, and related materials and components. The NCNR/NIST is 
therefore soliciting letters of interest in forming PRT's, which will 
be open to one or more U.S. companies, universities, or government 
agencies. Participation by the NCNR/NIST is permissible if desired by 
the PRT and the NCNR/NIST.

DATES: Letters of interest will be received on an ongoing basis until 
further notice.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should send letters to Dr. Patrick D. 
Gallagher, Director, NIST Center for Neutron Research, 100 Bureau 
Drive,

[[Page 64908]]

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8560, or via e-mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), 
which is located at the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
in Gaithersburg, MD, intends to form partnerships, called 
``Participating Research Teams'' (PRT's), to develop and apply advanced 
cold and thermal neutron beam measurement capabilities at the NCNR to 
assist crucial and timely U.S. R&D directed toward the production of 
next-generation fuel cells, hydrogen storage systems, and related 
materials and components. The partnership agreements will be based upon 
the statutory technology transfer authorities available to NIST, 
including the Federal Technology Transfer Act. Under these 
partnerships, new or existing NCNR neutron-imaging and neutron-
scattering instrumentation, which are uniquely sensitive to the 
transport, behavior, and nanoscale properties of hydrogen and 
hydrogenous materials, would be developed or upgraded and modified to 
permit the study of critical materials and devices under conditions 
that are directly relevant to their use and performance in 
technological applications.
    Organizations participating in a PRT would share the costs of 
developing and constructing neutron instrumentation and their 
subsequent operation. In return, PRT members would share access to a 
portion of the total time available on the capabilities developed under 
the partnership. At the same time, at least 25% of the total time would 
be made available to non-PRT U.S. organizations on a competitive, 
merit-based basis.
    The modes of PRT access could be tailored for either individual or 
joint research, and the subsequent data would be made available to the 
U.S. science and technology community through open publication in 
archived and peer-reviewed journals, or in publicly available reports. 
Proprietary research would require separate approval and the payment of 
suitable charges by the partnership organizations to assure full cost 
recovery to the Government, including a commensurate share of the 
operating expenses of the NCNR.
    PRT's will be open to one or more U.S. companies, universities, or 
government agencies. It is anticipated that PRT agreements will be 
established for a three-year period, with renewal subject to the 
requirements and interests of the partnership and the NIST/NCNR. 
Proposals for PRT's will be evaluated by an internal panel of NCNR/NIST 
staff on the basis of technical merit, level of effort, and the 
statutory mission of NIST and final approval of PRT agreements will be 
made by the Director, NCNR.

    Dated: November 3, 2004.
Hratch G. Semerjian,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 04-24941 Filed 11-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P