[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10072-10074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4429]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Energy Financial Assistance Program for University
Reactor Sharing
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE), hereby announces that invitations have been sent to all U.S.
colleges and universities with a licensed, operating nuclear reactor
that have an interest in making their reactor facility available to
other educational institutions.
The objectives of the program are to provide opportunities needed
by educational institutions, without these facilities, for research,
education and training of their faculty and students in the nuclear
sciences and technology. The grants are used to offset costs of
[[Page 10073]] materials, irradiation services, technical services,
etc., incurred by the host university. Each grantee is responsible for
announcing the availability of the reactor sharing program to other
educational institutions in their geographical region.
DATES: The deadline date for applications is March 24, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Four copies of the application should be submitted to: U.S.
Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Policy and
Management, Information and Contract Management Branch, NE-133,
Washington, D.C. 20585.
The application should be signed on the cover sheet by the person
initiating the application and by the authenticating university
official.
Telephone inquiries requesting information concerning this
solicitation should be directed to Mr. E. G. Tourigny (301) 903-3679.
Completed applications delivered by U.S. Postal Service Express
Mail, any commercial mail delivery service, or when handcarried by the
applicant must be submitted to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of
Nuclear Energy, Office of Policy and Management, Information and
Contract Management Branch, NE-133, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown,
Maryland 20874.
Anyone interested in more detailed information may write to the
address below:
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Facilities
Division, Technical Support Branch, NE-443, Washington, D.C. 20585 or
call Area Code 301-903-3679.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Reactor Sharing Program derives its
statutory authority from the Department of Energy Organization Act,
Public Law 95-91, which was enacted to provide for the development of
technologies and processes to reduce total energy consumption and
enhance energy production. The purpose of this program is to increase
the availability of university nuclear reactor facilities to nonreactor
owning colleges or universities and other educational institutions--
(user institutions). This is accomplished by providing grants to
reactor-owning universities (host institutions). These grants provide
funds against which reactor operating costs may be charged when the
facilities are utilized by regionally affiliated user institutions for
student instruction or for student or faculty research. Under this
program, allowable reactor operating costs are restricted to the
categories delineated below under the heading, Financial Arrangements.
The objectives of the program are to strengthen nuclear science and
engineering instruction in the curricula of the nonreactor owning
colleges and universities, as well as to provide research opportunities
and to enable the application of nuclear analytical techniques by
faculty and students in the sciences. University reactors are extremely
versatile neutron sources and research facilities; thus the
availability of a nuclear reactor contributes particularly and
significantly to research and educational opportunities at both the
graduate, undergraduate and precollege levels. DOE anticipates that
approximately $500,000 will be available from the Office of Nuclear
Energy for support of these activities during Fiscal Year 1995.
In accordance with 10 CFR-600.7(b)(1), eligibility for these grants
is restricted to U.S. colleges and universities with nuclear reactor
facilities because they have a unique opportunity to enable other
institutions to participate in important aspects of the Nation's
nuclear science and engineering educational programs.
Individual award amounts will be determined by a DOE proposal
review panel and will be based on (1) availability of the reactor to
outside users, (2) the type of reactor sharing activities and the
number of students and/or faculty traditionally served by the proposer,
and (3) evidence of interest on the part of potential user institutions
to utilize the proposer's facility during the proposed grant period.
DOE reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none
of the applications submitted in response to this invitation.
Negotiation, award, and administration will be in accordance with the
DOE Financial Assistance Policy.
General Information
Institutional Eligibility
Any educational institution within the United States which operates
a research or training reactor is eligible to submit a new award or
renewal application to participate in the University Reactor Sharing
Program. In evaluating applications, preference is given to
institutions that can show an affiliation with a substantial number of
regional educational institutions who have indicated interest in using
the applicant's reactor facility, or who have used the facilities
during the previous grant year.
User Institutions
User institutions eligible for participation in the program are
primarily educational institutions such as universities and colleges,
junior colleges, technical and community colleges, high schools and
junior high schools. User groups or individuals affiliated with the
host institution are not eligible for assistance under this program.
Also excluded are research activities undertaken by an educational
institution for which grant or contract funding is provided by other
sources. The selection and scheduling of user institution participants
is the responsibility of the host institution.
Scope of Program Projects
The projects may range from tours/demonstrations, experiments,
workshops and seminars for middle and high school groups to faculty
research projects and M.S./Ph.D. thesis or dissertation research.
Reactor utilization may range from simple service irradiations and
analytical support to basic research studies requiring the facilities'
most sophisticated equipment.
Financial Arrangements
Duration of Grants
Funds for the University Reactor Sharing Program will be provided
through an assistance grant with host institutions. Charges may be made
against grant funds for services rendered to user institutions. The
terms of a grant normally will be one year, subject to modifications
and renewals.
Reimbursable Costs
Costs for reimbursement are limited to: (1) Payments for
irradiation services not to exceed the established, published schedule
of the host institution, (2) payments for use of the reactor and
related facilities based upon established rates of the host
institution, (3) costs of technical assistance furnished by the host
institution for conduct of studies by a user institution, and (4) costs
of materials and supplies consumed in user institution projects.
Charges should not be made to the grant for costs that are already
incurred as part of the normal operating expenses of the facility.
Laboratory apparatus and instrumentation are not eligible items for
reimbursement. Indirect or overhead costs are not allowed. Costs for
individual or group travel or subsistence are normally not allowed or
encouraged; exceptions are permitted, under unusual circumstances, with
the approval of the project director.
Reports
An annual report summarizing activities supported under the grant
is required from the host institution. This report is due within 90
days after the [[Page 10074]] end of the grant period. The report
should contain specific information in the format shown below.
University:------------------------------------------------------------
Project Director:------------------------------------------------------
Grant Number:----------------------------------------------------------
Location:--------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone Number:------------------------------------------------------
Reactor Type:----------------------------------------------------------
Power Level:-----------------------------------------------------------
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Reactor
Participating Principal No. of student/faculty involved Description of project/program sharing
institution investigator support
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XXXXX........ XXXXX....... (Indicate Academic Level).......... (Thirty words or less)............ XXXX
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It is requested that standard size (8 \1/2\ x 11) paper be used.
Application Preparation
An application should include at least the following items.
1. A statement of the relative availability of the reactor to
outside users.
2. An assessment on a regional basis of the colleges, universities
or precollege institutions that can be served by the proposing
institution's reactor facility.
3. Evidence of interest on the part of potential or former user
institutions which contain brief statements of interest and plans for
utilizing the applicant's reactor facility during the proposed grant
period.
4. Applications must include a completed Standard Form 424,
``Application for Federal Assistance''; a 424A, ``Budget Information'';
and 424B, ``Assurances,'' as well as the Drug-Free Workplace, Debarred,
and Lobbying Certifications.
Terry R. Lash,
Director, Office of Nuclear Energy.
[FR Doc. 95-4429 Filed 2-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
