Energy Research Financial Assistance Program Notice 96-07: Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.

SUMMARY: The Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) of the Office of Energy Research (ER), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in keeping with its energy-related mission to assist in strengthening the Nation's scientific research enterprise through the support of science, engineering, and mathematics, announces its interest in receiving applications from eligible States for the support of the DOE/EPSCoR Program. The purpose of the DOE/EPSCoR Program is to enhance the capabilities of designated States to conduct nationally-competitive energy-related research and to develop science and engineering manpower in energy-related areas to meet current and future needs. Subject to availability of funds, approximately $7 million will be available for awards under the DOE/EPSCoR Program in FY1996 for collaborative research and manpower development in energy-related science and engineering disciplines.

DATES: Applications under this Notice should be received by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, February 21, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Application materials are available from Donna J. Prokop, DOE/EPSCoR Program Manager, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, ER-132, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290. Telephone requests for application materials may be made by calling (301) 903-3426.

The completed formal applications referencing Program Notice 96-07, must be submitted 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 96-07. The above address also must be used when submitting applications by U.S. Postal Service Express mail, any commercial mail delivery service, or when hand carried by the applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna J. Prokop, DOE/EPSCoR Program Manager, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, ER-132, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290 - Telephone, (301) 903-3426 - Fax. (301) 903-9513.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Senate report accompanying the FY 1996 Energy and Water Development Appropriation Bill (S.Rep. No. 104-120, 104th Congress, 1st Sess., pg. 96) recommended that $7 million be committed to continuing the DOE/EPSCoR Program. In accordance with 10 CFR 600.7(b)(1), and to continue to enhance the competitiveness of states and territories identified for participation in the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) by the National Science Foundation (NSF), DOE has decided to continue to restrict eligibility to the following states and territory: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Awards issued under this Notice will provide renewal support for up to seven of the Research Implementation Awards begun under the DOE/EPSCoR initiative in FY 1993 and FY 1994. Recipients of Research Implementation Awards in these fiscal years include: Alabama, Maine, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, and Puerto Rico. Renewal awards will be issued for a one-year period with up to a maximum award amount of $1.0 million. In addition, as a tangible measure of an applicant's commitment to the objectives of the DOE/EPSCoR Program, cost-sharing on a minimum one-to-one ratio is a requirement of this program. Therefore, each application submitted requesting support from DOE under this Notice must provide, from non-Federal funds, an amount equal to or greater than the amount awarded by DOE; i.e. for every dollar provided by DOE, the recipient must provide a dollar or more from non-Federal sources for the project.

General information about development and submission of applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluation, and selection processes, and other policies and procedures are contained in the Application Guide for the Office of Energy Research Financial Assistance Program and in 10 CFR Part 605. Electronic access to ER's Financial Assistance Guide is possible via the Internet using the following E-mail address: http://www.er.doe.gov/

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number of this program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR Part 605.

Issued in Washington, D.C., on December 22, 1995.

Martha A. Krebs
Director
Office of Energy Research

Published in the Federal Register, January 2, 1996 (Vol. 61, No. 1,
pages 57-58.