[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 221 (Thursday, November 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58392-58395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29167]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Research
Continuation of Solicitation for Financial Assistance Program
Notice 97-01
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Annual Notice of Continuation of Availability of Grants and
Cooperative Agreements.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Energy Research (ER) of the Department of Energy
hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving applications for
grants and cooperative agreements supporting work in the following
programs: Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research,
Fusion Energy, Computational and Technology Research, Multi-Program
Energy Laboratories--Facilities Support, High Energy and Nuclear
Physics, and Energy Research Analysis activities. On September 3, 1992,
DOE published in the Federal Register a Solicitation for this program
which contained information about submission of applications,
eligibility, limitations, evaluation and selection processes and other
policies and procedures which are specified in 10 CFR Part 605.
DATES: Applications may be submitted at any time in response to this
Notice of Availability. This annual Notice remains in effect until it
is superseded by another issuance by the Office of Energy Research.
ADDRESSES: Applicants may obtain forms and additional information from:
Director, Grants and Contracts Division, Office of Energy Research, ER-
64, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD
20874-1290, (301) 903-5212. Completed applications must be sent to this
same address. Electronic access to the latest version of ER's Financial
Assistance Guide is possible via the Internet using the following Web
site address: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Solicitation for the Office of Energy
Research Financial Assistance Program was published in the Federal
Register September 3, 1992, (57FR40582). That Solicitation specifies
the policies and procedures which govern the application, evaluation,
and selection processes for grants and cooperative agreements. It is
anticipated that approximately $400 million will be available for award
in FY 1997. 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.
In addition, the following program descriptions are offered to
provide more indepth information on scientific and technical areas of
interest to the Office of Energy Research:
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1. Basic Energy Sciences
This program supports basic science research efforts in a variety
of disciplines to broaden the energy supply and technological base
knowledge. The major science division and its objectives are as
follows:
(a) Materials Sciences
The objective of this program is to increase the understanding of
phenomena and properties important to materials behavior that will
contribute to meeting the needs of present and future energy
technologies. It is comprised of the subfields metallurgy, ceramics,
solid state physics, materials chemistry, and related disciplines where
the emphasis is on the science of materials.
Program Contact: (301) 903-3427.
(b) Chemical Sciences
The objective of this program is to expand, through support of
basic research, knowledge of various areas of chemistry, chemical
engineering and atomic physics with a goal of contributing to new or
improved processes for developing and using domestic energy resources
in an efficient and environmentally sound manner. Disciplinary areas
where research is supported include physical, inorganic and organic
chemistry; chemical physics; photochemistry; radiation chemistry;
analytical chemistry; separations science; actinide chemistry; and
chemical engineering.
Program Contact: (301) 903-5804.
(c) Engineering Research
This program's objectives are: (1) To extend the body of knowledge
underlying current engineering practice in order to open new ways for
enhancing energy savings and production, prolonging useful equipment
life, and reducing costs while maintaining output and performance
quality; and (2) to broaden the technical and conceptual base for
solving future engineering problems in the energy technologies. Long-
term research topics of current interest include: foundations of
bioprocessing of fuels and energy related wastes, fracture mechanics,
experimental and theoretical studies of multiphase flows, intelligent
machines, and diagnostics and control for plasma processing of
materials.
Program Contact: (301) 903-5822.
(d) Geosciences
The goal of this program is to develop a quantitative and
predictive understanding of the energy-related aspects of processes in
the earth. The emphasis is on the upper levels of the earth's crust and
the focus is on geophysics and geochemistry of rock-fluid systems and
interactions emphasizing processes taking place at the atomic and
molecular scale. Specific topical areas receiving emphasis include:
high resolution geophysical imaging; rock physics, fundamental
properties and interactions of rocks, minerals, and fluids; and
sedimentary basin systems. The resulting improved understanding and
knowledge base are needed to assist efforts in the utilization of the
Nation's energy resources in an environmentally acceptable fashion.
Program Contact: (301) 903-5822.
(e) Energy Biosciences
The primary objective of this program is to generate the
fundamental understanding of biological mechanisms in the areas of
botanical and microbiological sciences that will support
biotechnological developments related to DOE's mission. The research
serves as the basic information foundation with respect to an
environmentally responsible renewable resource production for fuels and
chemicals, microbial conversions of renewable materials and biological
systems for the conservation of energy. This office has special
requirements on the submission of preapplications, when to submit, and
the length of the preapplications; applicants are encouraged to contact
the office regarding these requirements.
Program Contact: (301) 903-2873.
2. High Energy and Nuclear Physics
This program supports about 90% of the U.S. efforts in high energy
and nuclear physics. The objectives of these programs are indicated
below:
(a) High Energy Physics
The primary objectives of this program are to understand the nature
and relationships among fundamental forces of nature and to understand
the ultimate structure of matter in terms of the properties and
interrelations of its basic constituents.
Program Contact: (301) 903-3624.
(b) Nuclear Physics (Including Nuclear Data Program)
The primary objectives of this program are an understanding of the
interactions and structures of atomic nuclei and nuclear matter at the
most elementary level possible, and an understanding of the fundamental
forces of nature as manifested in nuclear matter.
Program Contact: (301) 903-3613.
3. Computational and Technology Research
The goal of this program is to conduct an integrated program in
applied mathematical sciences, high performance computing and
communications, information infrastructure, advanced energy projects
research, and technology research, to address complex problems.
Research in forefront and diverse programs is becoming more
multidisciplinary and requires new approaches to the solution of these
complex problems. The program exploits the capabilities and research
skills at universities, national laboratories, and industrial research
laboratories. The program provides technical, analytical, and
management direction for development, implementation, and evaluation of
research programs that include activities from fundamental research to
technology development. The goal of the program is accomplished through
the effort of the following two divisions:
(a) Mathematical, Information, and Computational Sciences
This is a diverse research program in applied mathematical
sciences, high performance computing, communications and information
infrastructure technologies that spans the spectrum of activities from
strategic fundamental research to technology development and
demonstration. The diverse activities supported by this program are
integrated to support two major strategic directions that support the
underlying mathematical concepts and information technology needs of
all Department of Energy (DOE) mission areas. These two strategic
directions are:
National Collaboratories--developing a set of tools and
capabilities to permit scientists and engineers to access facilities
and collaborate on experiments system-wide, as easily as if they were
in the same building.
Advanced Computational Testing and Simulation--developing
an integrated set of algorithms, software frameworks, and network
infrastructures to enable simulation to complement experimentation when
actual experiments would be dangerous, expensive, or infeasible.
Program Contact: (301)-903-5800.
(b) Advanced Energy Projects/Laboratory Technology Research
Advanced Energy Projects--This activity funds research to establish
the feasibility of novel, energy-related concepts. These concepts are
usually derived from recent advances in basic research, but require
additional research
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to establish their feasibility. A common theme for each concept is the
initial linkage of new, or previously neglected, research results to a
practical energy payoff for the Nation.
Laboratory Technology Research--This activity conducts technology
research projects to reduce technical risk associated with a technology
or process development. The program couples basic research advances at
ER national laboratories into the advanced energy technology arena
through leveraged collaborations with industry. The program is focused
on critical technology research areas, i.e., tailored materials,
intelligent manufacturing, and sustainable environments, to contribute
technological innovations that will stimulate national economic growth,
and to increase the return on the government investment in basic
research.
Program Contact: (301)-903-5995.
4. Fusion Energy Sciences
The mission of the Fusion Energy Sciences program is to advance
plasma science, fusion science, and fusion technology - the knowledge
base needed for an economically and environmentally attractive fusion
energy source. This program is supported by the Office of Fusion Energy
Sciences (OFES), which fosters both applied and basic research and
emphasizes international collaboration to accomplish this mission.
(a) Science Division
This Division seeks to develop the physics knowledge base needed to
advance the Fusion Energy Sciences program toward its goals. Basic and
applied research is carried out in the following areas: (1) Basic
plasma science research directed at furthering the understanding of
fundamental processes in plasmas; (2) improving the theoretical
understanding of fusion plasmas necessary for interpreting results from
present experiments and the planning and design of future confinement
devices, (3) obtaining the critical data on plasma properties, atomic
physics and new diagnostic techniques for support of confinement
experiments, (4) supporting exploratory research into concepts that are
alternatives to the tokamak, and (5) carrying out research on issues
that support the development of Inertial Fusion Energy, for which
target development is carried out by the Department of Energy's Defense
Programs.
Research into basic physics issues associated with medium to large
scale confinement devices is essential to studying conditions relevant
to the production of fusion energy. Experiments on these scale of
devices are used to explore the limits of specific confinement
concepts, as well as study associated physical phenomena. Specific
areas of interest include: (1) The production of increased plasma
densities and temperatures, (2) the understanding of the physical laws
governing plasma energy of high plasma pressure, (4) the investigation
of plasma interaction with radio frequency waves, and (5) the study and
control of particle transport and exhaust in plasmas.
Program Contact: (301) 903-4095.
(b) Technology Division
This Division seeks to develop the technology knowledge base needed
to advance the Fusion Energy Sciences program toward its goals. The
Division's science-oriented goal is to provide the technologies that
are required to successfully design, build, and operate near-term
experiments aimed at producing, understanding, and optimizing the
fusion energy process. The Division's energy-oriented goal is to
develop the technologies that will be needed in the long-term for an
economically and environmentally attractive fusion energy source. These
goals are pursued through multi-institutional domestic programs and
international collaboration partnerships that are centered around U.S.
participation in the Engineering Design Activities for a long-pulse
burning plasma experiment - the International Thermonuclear
Experimental Reactor (ITER).
Program Contact: (301) 903-5378.
5. Health and Environmental Research (Biological and Environmental
Research Program)
The goals of the Biological and Environmental Research Program are
as follows: (1) To provide, through basic and applied research, the
scientific information required to identify, understand and anticipate
the long-term health and environmental consequences of energy use and
development; and (2) to utilize the Department's unique resources to
solve major scientific problems in medicine, biology and the
environment. Goals of the program are accomplished through the effort
of its divisions, which are:
(a) Health Effects and Life Sciences Research
This is a broad program of basic and applied biological research.
The objectives are: (1) To understand and characterize the risks to
human health from exposures to low levels of radiation and chemicals
both at home and at work; (2) to integrate information and technologies
from genome, structural biology, and cellular/molecular biology
research with human health research to understand the relationships
between gene expression, structure, and function; (3) to develop
applications of new biotechnologies, including microbial genome
research; (4) to develop and support DOE national user facilities for
use in fundamental research in structural biology; (5) to combine
computer science, structural biology, and genome research to predict
the three dimensional structure of proteins from the DNA sequence of
the encoding genes; (6) to create and apply new technologies and
resources in mapping, sequencing, and information management for
characterizing the molecular nature of the human genome; and (7) to
anticipate and address ethical, legal, and social implications arising
from genome research.
Increasing emphasis will be placed on: new models for mitigating
potential adverse human health effects from energy activities and
cleanup operations by understanding the complex relationships between
genes, the proteins they encode, and the biological functions of these
proteins; development and application of technologies and information
management resources for cost- effective, integrated approaches to
high-throughput DNA sequencing and analysis.
Program Contact: (301) 903-5468.
(b) Medical Applications and Measurement Science
The objectives of this program comprise the following areas: (1) to
develop new concepts and techniques for detecting and measuring
hazardous physical and chemical agents related to energy production;
(2) to develop new instrumentation and technology for biological and
biomedical research; and; (3) to enhance the beneficial applications of
radiation and radionuclides in the diagnosis, study, and treatment of
human diseases.
Program Contact: (301) 903-3213.
(c) Environmental Remediation
The objectives of the program relate to environmental processes
affected by energy production and use. For example, the program
develops information on the physical, chemical and biological processes
that cycle and transport energy-related material, particularly
contaminates, through the Earth's surface and subsurface. Emphasis is
put on the development of a strong basis for understanding and
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implementing the appropriate and efficient use of bioremediation,
particularly at the Department's sites.
Program Contact: (301) 903-3281.
(d) Environmental Processes
This program also addresses global environmental change from
increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The
scope of the global change program encompasses the carbon cycle,
climate modeling and diagnostics, atmospheric sciences and meteorology,
ecosystem responses, the role of the ocean in global change, and
impacts on resources. The role of clouds and radiation in climate
prediction is a particular emphasis.
Program Contact: (301) 903-3281.
6. Planning and Analysis
The Office of Planning and Analysis assists the Director of Energy
Research in fulfilling the statutory responsibility to advise the
Secretary of Energy on matters regarding the research programs within
the Office of Energy Research's purview, including advice regarding
undesirable duplication or gaps in such programs and the basic and
applied research activities of the Department. The Office also performs
independent cost/benefit analyses and provides the Director with
impartial and independent scientific and technical evaluations and
recommendations.
Program Contact: (301) 903-3122.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 28, 1996.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director for Resource Management, Office of Energy Research.
[FR Doc. 96-29167 Filed 11-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
