[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 46 (Monday, March 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10830-10831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5830]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Research
Energy Research Financial Assistance Program Notice 97-08:
Innovations in Fusion Energy Confinement Systems
AGENCY: Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES) of the Office of
Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its interest
in receiving grant applications for innovative experiments in fusion
energy confinement systems. Organizations with research projects funded
under previous Notice 95-10 which are now due for continuation funding
need not submit; however, those seeking renewal funding should submit a
renewal application under this Notice. Successful applications will be
funded early in FY 1998.
The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences is interested in applications
for innovative experimental research that has the possibility of
leading to improved fusion energy power plants (this includes tokamak
based power plants with qualitatively improved performance). The
research should be aimed at experimentally elucidating the physics
principles involved. Research projects are sought which are unique,
first of a kind and which provide new scientific insights. Although the
main thrust of this initiative is experimental, consideration will be
given to applications which are directed at scientific assessment of
new concepts which are not ready for experimental investigation.
Applications for research on existing large tokamaks, separate theory
investigations, or initiatives in Inertial Fusion Energy should not be
submitted in response to this notice. Collaborative applications
submitted from different institutions which are directed at a single
proposed experiment will be ``bundled'' and reviewed collectively.
DATES: To permit timely consideration for awards in Fiscal Year 1998 ,
applications submitted in response to this notice must be received no
later than 4:30 p.m., May 15, 1997. No electronic submissions of formal
applications will be accepted.
ADDRESSES: Completed formal applications referencing Program Notice 97-
08 should be forwarded to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy
Research, Grants and Contracts Division, ER-64, 19901 Germantown Road,
Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290, ATTN: Program Notice 97-08.
[[Page 10831]]
The above address must also be used when submitting applications by
U.S. Postal Service Express, any commercial mail delivery service, or
when hand carried by the applicant.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ronald A. Blanken, Science
Division, ER-55, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of
Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, Telephone:
(301) 903-3306 or 3287, or by Internet address,
ronald.blanken@mailgw.er.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In selecting applications for funding, the
DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences will give priority to applications
that can produce experimental results within three to five years after
grant initiation. Theoretical research will be accepted for
consideration under this Notice when ``bundled'' with and in support of
an experimental application. The detailed description of the proposed
project should contain the following items: (1) A detailed experimental
research plan, (2) The specific results or deliverable expected at the
end of the project period, (3) Goal of the experiment, (4) Synopsis of
the experimental program plan, (5) Adequacy of the facilities and
budget, (6) Discussion of why this research would have an important
impact on the prospects for fusion energy power plants, and (7)
Discussion of how the experiment would elucidate the physics principles
of the innovation.
Applications concerned with scientific assessment of new concepts
which are not ready for experimental investigation should have a well
defined scope and a duration of no more than two years. These
applications will be considered non-renewable. The product of such
assessment would be a clear scientific description of the concept and
its operation, its physics and engineering basis, critical analysis of
major difficulties to be overcome in developing the concept as a net
producer of energy through the fusion process, and an analysis of what
would be achieved by moving to experimental research.
It is anticipated that up to $3,000,000 in FY 1998 will be
available to start new projects from applications received in response
to this Notice. The number of awards and range of funding will depend
on the number of applications received and selected for award. Future
year funding is anticipated to be greater but will depend on the nature
of the applications, suitable experimental progress and the
availability of funds. Because of the total amount of anticipated
available funding and because of the intent to have a broadly based
program, experimental applications with an annual requirement in any
year in excess of $1,500,000 are unlikely to be funded. The cost-
effectiveness of the application will be considered when comparing
applications with differing funding requirements. Applications for
scientific assessment of new concepts will be limited to a maximum of
$150,000 in any year. Applications requiring annual funding as low as
$50,000 are welcome and encouraged. To enable all reviewers to read all
applications, the application must be limited to a maximum of twenty
(20) pages (including text and figures) plus not more than one page
each of biographical information and publications of the principal
investigator, plus any additional forms required as a part of the
standard grant application. An original and seven copies of each
application must be submitted. Due to the anticipated number of
reviewers, it would be helpful for each applicant to submit an
additional seven copies of each application. In lieu of the seven
additional copies, applicants may provide a 3.5-inch diskette
containing the application in Portable Document Format (PDF). The label
on the diskette must clearly identify the institution, principal
investigator, and title of the application. (If the applicant elects to
submit a diskette, an original and seven copies of the application must
still be submitted.) Applications will be subjected to formal merit
review and will be evaluated against the following criteria, which are
listed in descending order of importance as set forth in 10 CFR Part
605:
1. Scientific and/or technical merit of the project;
2. Appropriateness of the proposed method or approach;
3. Competency of the applicant's personnel and adequacy of the
proposed resources; and
4. Reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget.
The evaluation will include program policy factors such as the
relevance of the proposed research to the terms of the announcement and
the agency's programmatic needs. General information about development
and submission of applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluations
and selection processes, and other policies and procedures may be found
in the Application Guide for the Office of Energy Research Financial
Assistance Program and 10 CFR Part 605. Electronic access to the
Application Guide is possible via the Internet using the following Web
site address: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this
program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10
CFR Part 605.
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 27, 1997.
John Rodney Clark,
Associate Director for Resource Management, Office of Energy Research.
[FR Doc. 97-5830 Filed 3-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
