[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15670-15671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8351]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent to Provide Optional Prescreening Process for the
National Industrial Competitiveness Through Energy, Environment and
Economics (NICE3) Program
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, The
Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of Intent to provide optional prescreening process for
potential applicants under the DOE NICE3 program solicitation.
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Summary: The Office of Industrial Technologies of the Department of
Energy is funding a State Grant Program entitled National Industrial
Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and Economics
(NICE3). The goals of the NICE3 Program are to improve energy
efficiency, promote cleaner production, and to improve competitiveness
in industry.
Background Information
The intent of the NICE3 program is to fund projects that have
completed the research and development stage and are ready to
demonstrate a fully integrated commercial unit. Some industrial
technologies that the NICE3 program has funded follow: SO3
Cleaning Process in the Manufacture of Semiconductors; Innovative
Design of a Brick Kiln Using Low Thermal Mass Technology; Continuously
Reform Electroless Nickel Plating Solutions; Recovery and Reuse of
Water-Washed Overspray Paint; and HCl Acid Recovery System. For the
past six years the NICE3 program has offered 65 grants
(approximately $20.5 million) to fund innovative industrial
technologies.
Eligible applicants for funding include any authorized agency of
the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the
United States. For convenience, the term State in this notice refers to
all eligible State agency applicants. Local governments, State and
private universities, private non-profits, private businesses, and
individuals, who are not eligible as direct applicants, must work with
the appropriate State agencies in developing projects and forming
participation arrangements. DOE strongly encourages and requires these
types of cooperative arrangements in support of program goals.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number assigned to this
program is 81.105. Up to $6 million in Federal funds will be made
available in FY 1998 by DOE for the August 1997 solicitation. Cost
sharing is required by all applicants and/or cooperating project
participants. The Federal Government will provide up to 45 percent of
the funds for the project in FY 1998. The remaining funds must be
provided by the eligible applicants and/or cooperating project
participants. In addition to direct financial contributions, cost
sharing can include beneficial services or items, such as manpower
equipment, consultants, and computer time that are allowable in
accordance with applicable cost principles. The state applicant is
required to have an industrial partner to be considered eligible for
grant consideration.
Presolicitation
This notice is to advise potential applicants and project
participants of the August 1997 solicitation and that DOE will accept
presolicitation submissions that set out a brief description of the
potential projects. The submissions should not exceed two pages and
should adhere to the format laid out in the preproposal format. This
format can be obtained by calling the U.S. Department of Energy's
Golden Field Office contacts (listed below). All preproposal
submissions will be reviewed by NICE 3 project monitors at the
Golden Field Office. The monitors will provide comments to the
submitter on the proposed project's applicability to the NICE 3
program. In addition, the reviewers will provide feedback which the
applicant can use to formulate and refine their proposal.
The submission of a presolicitation description is not mandatory
for submitting an application under the August 1997 solicitation. The
DOE reviews and comments under the presolicitation process will not be
used by DOE in evaluating or awarding applications under the
solicitation. The only purpose of the presolicitation process is to
assist potential applicants, who may need assistance, in refining their
application.
DATES: A brief description of the proposed project can be submitted to
the Golden Field Office on or before July 1, 1997. All summaries must
be submitted through a state agency.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Hass, at (303) 275-4728, or Doug
Hooker, at (303) 275-4780, at the U.S. Department of Energy Golden
Field Office, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401, for referral
to the appropriate DOE Regional Support Office or State Agency. In
addition, information on the NICE 3 program can be located at
http//www.oit.doe.gov/
[[Page 15671]]
Access/nice 3. The Contract Specialist is James Damm, at (303)
275-4744.
Issued in Golden, Colorado, on March 21, 1997.
John W. Meeker,
Procurement Manager, GO.
[FR Doc. 97-8351 Filed 4-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
