[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64072-64074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30785]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Program Interest; Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
Research and Development Program
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nonproliferation and
National Security, Office of Research and Development (NN-20).
ACTION: Notice of Program Interest--to fund unsolicited applications/
proposals for financial assistance awards contributing to the mission
of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) Research and
Development (R&D) Program.
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SUMMARY: The DOE is interested in receiving for consideration
applications for Federal Financial Assistance Awards pursuant to the
financial assistance rules contained in Title 10 CFR part 600 (10 CFR
part 600, specifically 10 CFR
[[Page 64073]]
600.9). On behalf of the DOE CTBT R&D Program, DOE invites Unsolicited
Applications/Proposals from interested and qualified Nonprofit
Organizations, Institutions of Higher Education, and Commercial
Organizations to pursue research that supports the CTBT R&D Program
mission.
The CTBT R&D Program mission is: ``to carry out research and
development necessary to provide U.S. government agencies, that are
responsible for monitoring and/or verifying CTBT compliance, with
technologies, algorithms, hardware and software for integrated systems
to detect, locate, identify and characterize nuclear explosions at the
thresholds and confidence levels that meet U.S. requirements in a cost-
effective manner.'' Program priorities focus on the advancement of
seismic, infrasound, radionuclide, and hydroacoustic knowledge and
capabilities. This Notice of Program Interest is intended to encourage
the participation of Nonprofit Organizations, Institutions of Higher
Learning, and Commercial Organizations in furthering these program
mission interests.
DATES: This Notice of Program Interest expires September 30, 1999. This
date is not a deadline for applications; applications may be submitted
at any time. An updated notice may be issued after September 30, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Applicants seeking funding consideration by the CTBT R&D
Program under this Notice of Program Interest are requested to mark and
submit their Unsolicited Applications/Proposals, eight (8) total, as
follows:
Original and copies # 1-6: Leslie A. Casey, Treaty Monitoring
Programs Manager, c/o CTBT R&D Program--Notice of Program Interest--NN-
20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington,
DC 20585-0420. DOE/NN-20 will initiate the objective merit review
process.
Copy # 7: John N. Augustine, Unsolicited Applications/Proposals
Manager, c/o CTBT R&D Program--Notice of Program Interest--NN-20, U.S.
Department of Energy, Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC), 626
Cochrans Mill Road, PO Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940. DOE-FETC
will assign a DOE identification number and acknowledge receipt of the
proposal.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Energy (NN-20),
1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585-0420. Attn.: Leslie
A. Casey, Telephone Number: (202) 586-2151, Fax Number: (202) 586-0485.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Responses to this Notice of Program Interest
must explain how the proposed work furthers the CTBT R&D Program
mission and resolves program research issues. These are summarized on
the Web Page: ``http://www.ctbt.rnd.doe.gov/coordination/'', under the
heading ``R&D Issues and Metrics''. Successful applications will:
demonstrate a knowledge of the CTBT R&D Program (as represented in the
Reports Listing at the Program's web site--http://
www.ctbt.rnd.doe.gov); offer novel or innovative approaches leading to
performance improvements and cost reductions; and/or respond to ground
truth data deficiencies.
Application Submission Requirements
Applications/proposals are to follow the ``Guide for the Submission
of Unsolicited Applications/Proposals,'' (DOE/PR-0014) which is
available on the Web Page ``http://www.fetc.doe.gov/business/
index.html). This guide identifies What to Submit with respect to
Departmental information requirements for Basic Information, Business
and Financial Information, Technical Information, and Certifications.
It is imperative that Unsolicited Applications/Proposals adequately
address these requirements as omissions could delay proposal
processing.
In addition, Unsolicited Applications/Proposals are to address the
technical work to be performed and costs associated with that work. The
required information and format are as follows:
(1) Project Description: (Provide a comprehensive, but succinct
(350 character) summary of the proposed research project. It should
convey the project objective, application, method, product and value to
U.S. government agencies and other users).
(2) Objective(s): (State research objectives).
(3) Application: (Describe the product and how it is to be used.
Discuss the product's merits over the current baseline and any
technical uncertainties that could impede the performance of the
resulting product).
(4) User(s): (Identify potential users and indicate whether they
have expressed interest in the product).
(5) Prior Work: (Summarize the current state-of-the-art for the
stated field of endeavor. Provide credentials of key participants and
describe their previous relevant work. Cite applicable bibliographic
references).
(6) Collaborators: (Identify other participants and describe their
role and contribution).
(7) Proposed Work & Scientific Basis: (Specify the technical
approach to manage the project; describe specific tasks and subtask
activities to be conducted by Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to achieve
the research objectives; and identify key decision points (milestones).
Relate these elements to how they further the stated research
objectives and advance the state-of-the-art).
(8) Research Issues: (Identify the technical issues that will be
addressed by the project; list potential barriers and explain how they
will be overcome).
(9) Tasks: (By WBS element list the tasks, associated subtasks, and
associated costs. Differentiate the cost for fully burdened labor,
equipment, materials, other (such as travel, taxes, fee (if
applicable), etc.) (Once Unsolicited Proposals are selected for
funding, a complete break-down by cost element will be required.)
(10) Milestones: (List milestones (key decision points) and
scheduled completion dates by task).
(11) Deliverables: (List deliverables (products) and scheduled
completion dates by task).
Unsolicited Applications/Proposals will be evaluated against many
factors. Some of the criteria that are likely to apply include:
technical merit; applicant's familiarity with other ongoing work; the
relevance and quality of the applicant's prior work; the effectiveness
of the proposed technical approach; timeliness; cost; and the period of
performance. Successful proposals will also facilitate evaluation
against these criteria.
Funding Considerations
Financial Assistance Awards (Grants or Cooperative Agreements) are
anticipated to be funded for project durations of 1-3 years and awards
will generally range from $100,000 to $500,000. While Unsolicited
Applications/Proposals may be considered for funding at any time
following receipt, favorable consideration may be enhanced by timing
submission to parallel DOE's review and funding cycle. Applications/
proposals that are submitted by March 1, 1999 will support funding
decisions in June/July, 1999 followed by contract negotiations over the
summer in preparation for awards in early FY 2000.
Submission, Withdrawal, and Unsuccessful Applications
Unsolicited Proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis.
Unsolicited Applications/Proposals must state an acceptance period of
180 days; however, Unsolicited
[[Page 64074]]
Applications/Proposals may be withdrawn by the Applicant at any time by
written notification to the DOE Unsolicited Applications/Proposals
Manager previously identified. Unsolicited Applications/Proposals that
are received may be considered for funding at any time following
receipt. Unsolicited Applications/Proposals that are not selected in FY
98 may be reconsidered for funding in the following year. Unsolicited
Applications/Proposals that are not funded and not withheld for
reconsideration will be destroyed and the Applicant will be notified
accordingly. A Federal Financial Assistance Award (Grant and
Cooperative Agreements) application package which includes a sample
award can be obtained from the DOE Contracting Officer previously
identified or can be down-loaded from the DOE AL Web Page: ``http://
www.doeal.gov/cpd/'' under the heading ``Solicitations''.
It is DOE policy to exercise extreme care to ensure that the
proposal information is not duplicated, used or disclosed in whole or
in part for any purpose other than to evaluate the proposal, without
written permission of the Applicant. Furthermore, with respect to the
Unsolicited Proposal evaluation, the Applicant is hereby informed that
it is standard practice of the CTBT R&D program officials to include
review by DOE laboratory managers and experts in the topic area of the
proposal. If you are an expert and are willing to serve as a reviewer
on a non-remunerative basis, the CTBT R&D Program would like to be
notified of your interest. Serving as a technical reviewer could
encompass these Unsolicited Proposals, subject to non-disclosure
agreements, as well as other proposals related to the CTBT R&D Program.
Interested individuals are requested to forward their resume and cover
letter expressing their interest to: Manager, Treaty and Monitoring
Program (NN-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20585-0420. Finally, proposal evaluation may include
coordination with other government agencies or their designated
contractors, primarily to check for duplication of effort and end user
interest. This is an important integration practice appropriate to a
full-scope, ongoing and mature program such as the CTBT R&D program.
Issued in Washington, DC on November 12, 1998.
Leslie A. Casey,
Treaty Monitoring Programs Manager, NN-20.
[FR Doc. 98-30785 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
