[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 215 (Friday, November 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59952-59956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29800]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (NE); Program
Announcement LAB NE-99-1 Nuclear Energy Research Initiative
AGENCY: Oakland Operations Office, DOE.
[[Page 59953]]
ACTION: Notice of Nuclear Energy Research Initiative Program
Announcement LAB NE-99-1.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, U.S.
Department of Energy, is interested in receiving field work proposals
for innovative scientific and engineering research and development in
the field of nuclear energy as part of the Nuclear Energy Research
Initiative (NERI). NERI is designed to support innovative research that
can address the principal technical and scientific obstacles to future
use of nuclear power in the U.S. NERI is also intended to reinvigorate
the vital nuclear scientific and engineering infrastructure within U.S.
universities, industry and DOE national laboratories.
This Program Announcement applies only to field work proposals from
DOE National Laboratories that are the sole or lead performer
organization of the proposed work. Where the laboratories are included
in collaborative arrangements with other nonfederal organizations, but
not as the lead performers, the proposals should be submitted in
response to a separate Solicitation, DE-PS03-99SF21764, being issued
simultaneously with this Program Announcement.
DATES: Potential applicants are encouraged to submit a Notice of Intent
to Apply (Attachment A). Refer to the paragraph on the Designation of
Field(s) of Proposed Work in this Program Announcement to identify the
contemplated field of R&D in Attachment A. The notice should be faxed
to Denise Berry, Department of Energy at (510) 637-2025 by November 13,
1998. This Notice of Intent in no way obligates an organization to
submit a field work proposal, and failure to submit the Notice of
Intent in no way prevents an organization from submitting a field work
proposal.
Potential applicants are encouraged to submit a brief preproposal.
All preproposals, responding to Program Announcement LAB NE-99-1 should
be received by DOE by 4:30 P.M. P.S.T. November 20, 1998. A response
encouraging or discouraging a formal field work proposal will be
communicated to the applicant by December 11, 1998. Notification of a
favorable preproposal is not an indication that an award will be made
in response to the field work proposal.
The deadline for receipt of the formal field work proposal is 4:30
P.M. P.S.T. January 29, 1999.
ADDRESSES: All preproposals and field work proposals responding to
Program Announcement LAB NE-99-1 should be sent to Denise Berry, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1301 Clay Street, 700N, Oakland, California
94612-5208, Attn: Program Announcement LAB NE-99-1.
An original and five copies of the preproposal should be submitted
by United States Postal Service including Express Mail or commercial
mail delivery service, or should be hand carried by the applicant to
the address stated above. Preproposals will not be accepted by fax or
electronic mail.
An original and seven copies of the field work proposal should be
submitted by United States Postal Service including Express Mail or
commercial mail delivery service, or should be hand carried by the
applicant to the address stated above. Field work proposals will not be
accepted by fax or electronic mail.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Eligibility
This program announcement invites field work proposals from DOE
national laboratories acting as the sole or lead performer
organization.
Awards
It is anticipated that awards will be made in Fiscal Year 1999.
Field work proposals will be funded yearly, contingent upon the
availability of funds. Up to a total of $19 million of Government
Fiscal Year 1999 Federal funds are available for awards under this
Program Announcement and the complementary grants and cooperative
agreements Solicitation (to universities or other institutions of
higher learning, industry, non-profit and R&D organizations, and DOE
national laboratories that are not participating as the lead
organization). Funding for individual research awards is expected to be
up to $1 million per year with typical awards in the range of $100,000
to $400,000 per year. Collaborative research projects involving two or
more organizations may receive larger awards, if merited. The period of
performance for individual projects is expected to be up to 3 years.
DOE reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or
none of the field work proposals submitted in response to this Program
Announcement.
Background
In January 1997, the President requested his Committee of Advisors
on Science and Technology (PCAST) to review the current national energy
research and development (R&D) portfolio, and provide a strategy to
insure the U.S. has a program to address the Nation's energy and
environmental needs for the next century.
In its November 1997 report responding to this request, the PCAST
Energy Research and Development Panel determined that assuring a viable
nuclear energy option to help meet our future energy needs is
important, and that a properly focused R&D effort should be implemented
by the Department of Energy to address the principal obstacles to
achieving this option. These obstacles include issues involving nuclear
waste, proliferation, economics, and safety. The Panel recommended
addressing technologies that include, but are not limited to, work on
proliferation-resistant reactors or fuel cycles; new reactor designs
for improved performance, reduced cost, and enhanced safety to compete
in the global market; lower output power reactors for applications
where larger reactors may not be advantageous; and nuclear waste. The
PCAST report can be viewed on the NERI web page at http://
neri.ne.doe.gov.
In response to these recommendations, the Department has proposed
the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI), composed of projects
selected from individual or collaborative applications or field work
proposals from universities, DOE national laboratories, industry, R&D,
and non-profit organizations. To assist in defining the NERI Program, a
workshop was convened in Washington, D.C. on April 23-24, 1998,
attended by over 120 researchers, scientists, and engineers
representing these organizations. The workshop focused primarily on the
nuclear R&D topics recommended by PCAST, and served to identify
promising areas of R&D to implement these recommendations and related
recommendations from the workshop. The workshop results, as reported on
the NERI web page, http://neri.ne.doe.gov, have been of fundamental
importance in developing the program defined in this Program
Announcement. Respondents are encouraged to refer to the NERI Workshop
Report prior to developing a field work proposal.
Objective
The NERI program is intended to conduct R&D to meet the following
objectives:
Address and help overcome the principal technical and
scientific obstacles to expanded future use of nuclear energy in the
U.S., including the issues involving resistance to proliferation,
unfavorable economics and nuclear waste disposition;
Advance the state of nuclear technology to maintain a
competitive
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position in overseas markets and a future domestic market.
Promote and maintain a nuclear science and engineering to
meet future technical challenges, and
Improve the performance, efficiency, reliability,
economics, and other attributes to enhance nuclear energy applications.
Scope of Work
The Department of Energy is seeking field work proposals for new
and innovative science and engineering research, development, concepts,
and/or experimental projects in the nuclear energy and supporting
fields that will contribute significantly to meeting the NERI program
objectives. The following paragraphs identify areas for which field
work proposals are solicited. However, researchers may propose projects
in other related areas that are consistent with the NERI objectives. In
formulating proposed projects, the current state of development in the
areas to be investigated should be recognized, such as by citing
references, to avoid repeating work already accomplished.
Proliferation Resistant Reactors and Fuel Technology
Increased knowledge is required to enable incorporation of
proliferation resistance in the design, development, and deployment of
new reactor systems. Proposals are solicited in scientific and
engineering research to improve the proliferation resistance of
reactors and fuel systems. Possible research areas include, but are not
limited to, investigation, and conceptual development to establish
feasibility and attributes of reactor systems, fuel systems and/or
alternative or modified reactor and fuel cycle concepts; material
protection, and control; and techniques that minimize generation of
plutonium and waste-by-products, restrict physical access to fuel
materials while in the reactor, or increase the energy extraction from
and utilization of plutonium and other actinides generated in the fuel.
There is an inherent need for an increase in the understanding of
the basic behavior of irradiated materials; for science and engineering
research that impacts fuel preparations and recycle or alternate means
of spent fuel treatment; and for basic materials research to support
understanding of fuel structure changes during irradiation, as it
relates to the advancement of proliferation resistant reactors and fuel
cycles.
New Reactor Designs
This program element involves scientific and engineering
investigation and development, to the extent needed to establish
feasibility and attributes, of promising reactor concepts in the
following areas:
Reactors to Achieve Improved Performance/Higher Efficiency
and Reduced Costs
Advances in understanding of reactor systems and components are
required to achieve a significant improvement in performance and
economics for the next generation of reactors. Innovative reactor and
power conversion concepts are needed which offer the prospects of
higher efficiency, improved performance, design simplification,
enhanced safety, and low cost. Increased knowledge is required to
support enabling technologies. Research areas of interest include, but
are not limited to development of reactor design advancements and
alternative reactor core concepts, passive safe systems and components,
development of innovative reactor concepts for electrical, non-
electrical or co-generation purposes and advanced system or component
design concepts, advanced instrumentation and controls, and work to
evaluate direct energy conversion technologies such as thermoelectric
conversion systems. Proposed projects should address, among other
items, the characteristics, principal attributes, feasibility, safety
features, proliferation resistance, economic competitiveness, and
identification of other research that may be required.
Low Output Power Reactors
New concepts and supporting knowledge are required to support
development of small, possibly compact, and easily deployable reactors
either for uses in developing countries or for specialized
applications. Potential applications include electrical power
generation, process heating, medical isotope production, or nuclear
research. Research in science and engineering is expected to focus on
concepts, characteristics, principal attributes, feasibility, safety
features, proliferation resistance and underlying technologies rather
than on full reactor systems design.
Science and engineering research of crucial importance to new
reactor designs is dependent on the particular reactor application
being explored. Examples include, but are not limited to, basic
material degradation and corrosion sciences impacting both operation
and applications; increased understanding of the behavior of fluid
systems at elevated temperatures; modern high-temperature materials for
reactor structural components; innovative non-destructive evaluation
methods for system and component monitoring; development and
application of risk-based design tools for pre-deployment predictions
of performance and reliability; modern computational and modeling
methods; incorporation of inherent safety features; automation of
reactor system operation; radiation damage and metallurgy of long-lived
fuels and other components; science and engineering effort to support
alternative energy conversion methods.
Advanced Nuclear Fuels
Research and development is needed to provide measurable
improvements in the understanding and performance of nuclear fuel with
respect to safety, waste production, proliferation resistance, and
economics to enhance the long-term viability of nuclear energy systems.
Appropriate topics include, but are not limited to innovative concepts
for material preparation and production of nuclear fuels; enhanced fuel
design safety; innovation in fuel composition or other attributes that
maximize energy production, optimize fissile material utilization, or
reduce production costs.
Proposals are solicited in scientific and engineering research that
encompass an evaluation over the entire nuclear fuel cycle utilizing
knowledge gained over the past several decades on the technical
characteristics of recycling systems, as well as in monitoring and
controlling fissionable materials, but not being bound by technologies
and facilities currently available. This work is basic to innovative
reactor concepts, proliferation resistance, and advanced fuels. Results
are expected to define gaps in current knowledge and hence identify
areas requiring further work.
New Technologies for Management of Nuclear Waste
Paramount to public acceptance of nuclear technology is development
of concepts and supporting knowledge required for reliable approaches
to management and storage of spent fuels and associated wastes.
Appropriate research topics include, but are not limited to, new
concepts for on-site or interim surface storage; chemistry and
materials science to develop understanding of the behavior of spent
fuel for time periods consistent with on-site surface storage
requirements; strategies for reduction in high level waste volume;
research in surface chemistry and physics to understand and ameliorate
corrosion processes at all pertinent interfaces; engineering research
to support beneficial use of spent fuel and associated wastes.
Proposals in this area are expected to complement, and not
duplicate,
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research activities supported by the Offices of Civilian Radioactive
Waste and Environmental Management. Abstracts of work supported under
the Environmental Management Science Program (EMSP) can be found at
http://www.doe.gov/em52/science-grants.html, while information on the
Civilian Radioactive Waste program and related efforts can be found at
http://www.rw.doe.gov/links.htm.
Fundamental Science and Technology
This element features research and development in science and new
technologies that support one or more applications in the nuclear
energy field, including but not limited to those identified for the
preceding program elements. The proposed work should be based in part
on a consideration of the value or benefits of this work to potential
future applications that satisfy the program objectives. Scientific and
engineering research is solicited in pertinent areas of materials and
chemical sciences, automation engineering and computational sciences,
thermodynamics, health physics, systems engineering and safety, human
factors research to improve the man/machine interface, and other areas
which addresses problems common to the technology topics described
above.
Field work proposals should identify the prospective applications
associated with the proposed work, and the expected benefits from
successful completion of this work.
Designation of Field(s) of Proposed Work
To facilitate the merit review, preproposals and field work
proposals should identify the nuclear technology areas and the related
engineering research and/or basic science field(s) that most closely
apply to the proposed research work. The nuclear technology areas
include proliferation resistant reactor and fuel, reactors with higher
performance/efficiency, low output reactors, advanced nuclear fuels,
and management of nuclear waste, and fundamental science and
technology. The engineering research category would include such fields
as reactors; system and component design development; fuel systems
development; instrumentation and control system development;
radioactive waste; and other nuclear engineering fields of research.
The basic science categories would include such fields as materials
science, chemical science, computational sciences (including
development of algorithms and software technology), and engineering
sciences (including basic research on instrumentation and control
systems, and diagnostic and transport processes).
The requested identification of applicable fields of work is not
intended to constrain or otherwise influence the proposed work in any
way.
Collaborative Field Work Proposals
Collaboration between science and engineering researchers is
encouraged. U.S. universities, DOE national laboratories, private
industry and R&D and non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit
collaborative field work proposals. Under this Program Announcement,
collaborative field work proposals should identify the national
laboratory as the lead organization, and should identify the work scope
responsibilities and cost for each participating organization. The DOE
national laboratory should submit a single field work proposal which
integrates the portion of the overall project work scope assigned to
each participant.
For successful field work proposals, the DOE laboratory will fund
other non-federal participants by a subcontract arrangement. The DOE
national laboratory will be funded directly by DOE. The private sector
or academic organizations must include a Face Page and Budget Pages for
its portion of the project in the field work proposal. Separate Budget
Pages must be included for the DOE national laboratory portions. The
collaborative field work proposal must be submitted as one package.
Collaboration with international organizations is acceptable
provided the collaboration is mutually beneficial and all DOE and other
domestic funding is used for work performed in the U.S. Such
collaborative arrangements are subject to approval by DOE and must
comply with any Federal restrictions on foreign participation, and with
any current DOE memoranda of understanding or other general agreements
between DOE and the participating foreign entity.
Preproposals
The submittal of preproposals prior to submission of field work
proposals is encouraged to receive a preliminary DOE opinion regarding
the significance of the proposed work in meeting program objectives.
Preproposals should include a cover sheet and a brief (up to 3 pages)
project description. The cover sheet should identify the name,
telephone, fax and e-mail address for the project manager or principal
investigator and for the organization(s) submitting the field work
proposal, title of the project, and the field of R&D. A narrative
project description should be included indicating the objectives, work
to be accomplished and importance of successful completion, resources
needed, and estimated cost. In the case of collaborative projects, the
applicant should identify the work to be performed by each
participating organization and the estimated cost to be borne by each
party. The original and five copies of the preproposal should be
submitted. DOE will review preproposals for technical and scientific
merit and relevance of the proposed project to program objectives and
respond to the applicants. This preliminary review neither prevents
submittal of a full field work proposal nor indicates the likelihood of
an award.
Format and Information To Be Included in the Field Work Proposal
(Reference DOE Order 5700.7C, ``http:/www.explorer.doe.gov:1776/
htmls/regs/doe/seriestable.html'')
The Field Work Proposal (FWP) is to be prepared and submitted
consistent with policies of the investigator's laboratory and the local
DOE Operations Office. Additional information is also requested to
allow for scientific/technical merit review.
Applicants are expected to use the following format. Field work
proposals must be written in English with all budgets in U.S. dollars.
The field work proposals should clearly present the objectives,
activities or tasks to be performed, schedule and costs, and the
importance/significance of the proposed project. Where collaborative
efforts are proposed, the individual responsibilities of participating
organizations should be identified. As a minimum, the following
information should be included:
Field work proposal.
Table of Contents.
Project Abstract including identification of the field(s)
of R&D for the proposed project (1 page).
Project Description--narrative description of the proposed
project including objectives, R&D plan including preliminary studies,
research design and tasks, and the significance or benefits of the
proposed project (no more than 20 pages; multi-investigator
collaborative projects may use up to 40 pages).
Project Schedule information.
Organization & Qualifications--identification of the
project organization, and qualifications and responsibilities of the
participating organizations. Biographical sketches of project manager/
principal investigator and other key project personnel (no more than 2
pages each).
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Collaborative R&D (if applicable)--description of the
collaborative arrangements defining responsibilities and tasks assigned
to each participating organization (up to 2 pages).
Facilities & Resources--information on the experience of
the applicant's organization and the adequacy of required facilities
and resources (no more than 5 pages).
Budget for each year and a summary budget page for the
entire project period.
Budget explanation for each participating organization.
Budget and budget justification for each collaborative
subproject, if any.
Additional information the applicant deems relevant may be
included, subject to the page limitation.
In addition to providing an original and seven copies of each
proposal, applicants are required to also provide a 3.5-inch write
protected diskette containing the field work proposal in electronic
format. The label on the diskette must clearly identify the
institution, principal investigator, title of field work proposal, and
the computer system and program used to prepare the document.
Unsuccessful field work proposals will not be returned to the
applicant.
Field Work Proposal Evaluation
All valid field work proposals will be evaluated in accordance with
the requirements of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 600.13.
DOE will perform an initial review for conformance with
the technical and administrative requirements stated in this Program
Announcement, for funding availability, and for general relevance to
NERI program objectives.
For those field work proposals that successfully complete
the initial review, an objective merit review (peer review) will be
performed to evaluate technical and/or scientific merit, and cost
aspects of the field work proposals, exclusive of NE programmatic and
policy factors. This review will be in accordance with the evaluation
criteria stated below. For this purpose, a group comprised of three or
more professionally and technically qualified persons will be selected
in such a manner as to assure the highest degree of independence and
objectivity. The reviewers may include any mix of federal and non-
federal experts, except those persons involved in approving/
disapproving the field work proposals. Reviewers must comply with the
requirements for avoiding conflict of interest as stated in 10 CFR
600.14.
Following the objective merit review, a relevance review
will be performed by DOE on those field work proposals judged to be of
the highest merit. The field work proposals will be evaluated with
respect to NE programmatic and policy factors, including relevance of
the proposed work to the NERI program objectives, and the balance among
program elements to be supported.
The following evaluation criteria apply to the objective merit
review:
Technical quality of the field work proposal:
--Contribution to the state of knowledge in the scientific/technology
fields;
--Importance of the proposed work in meeting program objectives;
--Completeness and clarity of the technical proposal;
--Appropriateness/adequacy of the proposed methodology or approach;
Extent to which proposed work is new, unique or
innovative;
Reasonableness of project cost and schedule, including
allocations among multiple participating organizations where
applicable.
Capabilities and qualifications of principal investigator/
project manager and key personnel, adequacy of resources and facilities
applied by participating organizations.
Intellectual Property Rights
With respect to intellectual property, the patent and data
provisions set forth in the national laboratories M&O contract shall be
used.
Statutory and Regulatory Authority
The Nuclear Energy Research Initiative will be conducted under the
authority of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of
1999, Public Law 105-245; the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) number 81.092; and the applicable DOE Financial Assistance
Regulations at 10 CFR Part 600. The regulations and guidance documents
can be accessed on the DOE Financial Assistance Home Page at ``http://
www.pr.doe.gov/fahome.html''.
Program Announcement Questions & Answers
DOE does not intend to hold a preproposal conference. You may
submit your written questions via e-mail to denise.berry@oak.doe.gov by
November 13, 1998. Responses to questions will be placed on the Oakland
Operations Office Website at ``http://www.oak.doe.gov/financial/
sol__page.html''.
Information
Information about the development, submission of field work
proposals, eligibility, limitations, the selection process, and other
policies and procedures may be found on ``http://www.oak.doe.gov/
financial/sol__page.html''.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Berry, Contract Specialist,
U.S. Department of Energy, 1301 Clay Street, 700N, Oakland, California
94612-5208 (510) 637-1873, (510) 637-2025 FAX.
Issued in Oakland, California, on October 29, 1998.
Joan Macrusky,
Director, Financial Assistance Center.
Attachment A
FAX: (510) 637-2025
TO: Denise Berry, Contract Specialist
Notice of Intent To Apply
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Name of DOE Laboratory
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Name of Collaborating Organization(s)
intends to submit a field work proposal under Program Notice No. LAB
NE-99-1.
Title:-----------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of Work
Element/Area:----------------------------------------------------------
Engineering research
and/or basic science
field:-----------------------------------------------------------------
[FR Doc. 98-29800 Filed 11-5-98; 8:45 am]
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