[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4259-4260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2346]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Restricted Eligibility Support of Fossil Resource
Utilization by Historically Black Colleges and Universities
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Pittsburgh Energy Technology
Center (PETC).
ACTION: Notice of Restricted Eligibility.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy announces that it intends to conduct
a competitive Program Solicitation and award financial assistance
(grants) to U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities who can
show evidence of a collaborative effort with industry, in support of
innovative research and development of advanced concepts pertinent to
fossil resource conversion and utilization. Applications will be
subjected to a technical merit review by a DOE technical panel, and
awards will be made to a limited number of applicants on the basis of
the scientific merit of the application, application of relevant
program policy factors, and the availability of funds.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John R. Columbia, U.S. Department
of Energy, Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, Acquisition and
Assistance Division, P.O. Box 10940, MS 921-143, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-
0940, Telephone: (412) 892-6219, FAX: (412) 892-6216. The solicitation
will be provided on a 3.5'', double sided/high density diskette, using
Word Perfect 5.1 for DOS, and the solicitation will also be made
available on DOE's PETC World Wide Web Server Internet System (http://
www.petc.doe.gov/business). If the diskette version of the solicitation
is incompatible with the applicant's computer system, or if applicants
are unable to access the Internet System, a paper copy of the
solicitation will be available, upon receipt of a written request
submitted via facsimile (fax) at (412) 892-6216.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Solicitation
``Support of Fossil Resource Utilization by Historically Black
Colleges and Universities''
Objectives
Through Program Solicitation No. DE-PS22-96PC96201, the Department
of Energy seeks applications from Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) and HBCU-affiliated research institutes in
collaboration with the private sector for innovative research and
development of advanced concepts pertinent to fossil resource
conversion and utilization. The resultant grants are intended to
maintain and upgrade educational, training, and research capabilities
of our HBCUs in the fields of science and technology related to fossil
energy resources; to foster private sector participation,
collaboration, and interaction with HBCUs; and to provide for the
exchange of technical information and to raise the overall level of
HBCU competitiveness with other institutions in the field of fossil
energy research and development. Thus, the establishment of linkages
between the HBCU and private sector fossil energy community is critical
to the success of this program, and consistent with the Nation's goal
of ensuring a future supply of fossil fuel scientists and engineers
from a previously under-utilized resource.
Eligibility
Eligibility for participation in this Program Solicitation is
restricted to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and
HBCU-affiliated research institutes, and only those that meet all of
the following criteria may submit applications in response to this
solicitation: The Principal Investigator or a Co-Principal Investigator
must be a teaching professor at the submitting university listed in the
application; and at least one student registered at the university is
to be compensated for work performed in the conduct of research
proposed in the application; and each HBCU applicant must reflect
collaboration with industry, i.e., the private sector. Applications
from HBCU-affiliated research institutes must be submitted through the
college or university with which they are affiliated. The university
(not the university-affiliated research institute) will be the
recipient of any resultant DOE grant award. A small or large business
enterprise will qualify as a ``private'' sector entity; however, the
following are specifically excluded from recognition as private sector
collaborators: Federal, state and/or local government agencies and non-
HBCU colleges and universities. Collaboration by the private sector
with the HBCU may be in the form of cash cost sharing, consultation,
HBCU access to industrial facilities or equipment, experimental data
and/or equipment not available at the university, or as a subgrantee/
subcontractor to the HBCU.
Areas of Interest
In order to develop and sustain a national program of HBCU research
in advanced and fundamental fossil fuels studies, the Department is
interested in innovative research and development of advance concepts
pertinent to fossil fuel conversion and utilization limited to the
following eight (8) technical topics:
Topic 1--Advanced Environmental Control Technology for Coal
Topic 2--Advanced Coal Utilization
Topic 3--Coal Liquefaction Technology
Topic 4--Heavy Oil Upgrading and Processing
Topic 5--Advanced Environmental and Recovery Technologies for Oil
Topic 6--Advanced Environmental and Recovery Technologies for Natural
Gas
Topic 7--Environmental Issues Related to Oil and Gas Exploration and
the Disappearance of the Wetlands
Topic 8--Faculty/Student Exploratory Grants
Note: This is the only topic (Topic eight (8)) under this
Program Solicitation that does not require initial private sector
collaboration for an application to be considered for selection.
Awards
DOE anticipates issuing financial assistance (grants) for each
project. DOE reserves the right to support or not support any or all
applications received in whole or in part, and to determine how many
awards may be made through the solicitation subject to funds available
in this fiscal year. The limitation on the maximum DOE funding for each
selected grant to be awarded under this Program Solicitation is as
follows:
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Maximum award
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Topics 1-7:
To 12 months grant duration........................... $80,000.00
[[Page 4260]]
13-24 months grant duration........................... 140,000.00
25-60 months grant duration........................... 200,000.00
Topic 8: To 12 months grant duration.................... 10,000.00
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Approximately $860,000.00 is planned for this solicitation; however, at
the present time, in the absence of a signed approved Appropriations
Bill, funds are not yet available. The total should provide support for
approximately four to six R&D application selections (Topics 1-7), and
approximately two to four facility/student exploratory application
selections (Topic 8).
Solicitation Release Date
The Program Solicitation is expected to be ready for release on or
about February 7, 1996. Applications must be prepared and submitted in
accordance with the instructions and forms contained in the Program
Solicitation. To be eligible, applications must be submitted to the
designated DOE office by the closing date specified in the Program
Solicitation (anticipated to be on or about March 22, 1996).
Dale A. Siciliano,
Contracting Officer, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 96-2346 Filed 2-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
