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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY For more information about the Office of Science, go to Office of Science |
To DOE National Laboratories LAB 06-21
Fusion Research on the National
SUMMARY: The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES) of the Office of Science
(SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its interest in receiving
proposals for collaborative research on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX)
at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The NSTX program addresses two of the long
term goals of the OFES program: Configuration Optimization and developing a
Predictive Capability for Burning Plasmas. Proposals for collaborative research must
support the NSTX Program in addressing key scientific issues related to these goals, such
as Macroscopic Plasma Physics, Multi-scale Transport Physics, Plasma Boundary
Interfaces, Waves and Energetic Particles, and Start-up, Ramp-up and Sustainment
without Solenoid, and Integration of Physics and Operational Requirements for
Achieving Burning Plasma Conditions. To be considered for funding, proposers must
have discussed their proposed research with the NSTX National Research Program
Leaders and must include a Record of Discussion that specifies the benefits of proposed
research to the NSTX research program and the interface support required to carry it out.
Proposals to renew on-going NSTX collaborative research must include a list of project
goals from the previous statement of work and a summary of the actual accomplishments.
DATES: Potential researchers are encouraged (but not required) to submit a brief Letter-
of-Intent by September 8, 2006. The Letter-of-Intent will provide advance information on
general scope of planned research, and will help the Program Manager to plan the peer
review.
Full proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must be submitted to the
DOE Electronic Proposal Management Application (ePMA) system
(https://epma.doe.gov) no later than 8:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time, October 6, 2006, to be accepted for merit review and to permit timely
consideration for award in Fiscal Year 2007. It is important that the entire peer
reviewable proposal be submitted to the ePMA system as a single PDF file attachment.
Please see the "Addresses" section below for further instructions on the methods of
submission for the full proposal.
ADDRESSES: Letters-of-Intent, referencing Program Announcement LAB 06-21 should
be sent to Mr. John Sauter by E-mail: john.sauter@science.doe.gov, with a copy to Dr.
Stephen Eckstrand at: steve.eckstrand@science.doe.gov. Please use "Program
Announcement LAB 06-21 Letter-of-Intent" as the subject of the email.
A complete formal FWP in a single Portable Document Format (PDF) file must be
submitted through the DOE ePMA system
(https://epma.doe.gov) as an attachment. To
identify that the FWP is responding to this program announcement, please fill in the
following fields in the "ePMA Create Proposal Admin Information" screen as shown:
* Please use the wording shown when filling in these fields to identify that the
FWP is responding to this Program Announcement.
Mr. John Sauter
DOE National Laboratories should submit using ePMA as instructed above.
Researchers from other Federal agencies and Non-DOE Federally Funded Research
and Development Centers (FFRDCs) should follow the format at
http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/fed_prop.html and submit the proposal as a CD and
two paper copies using the above address, by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail, any
commercial mail delivery service, or when hand-carried.
In the proposal package, include an extra copy of the one-page abstract.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Stephen Eckstrand, Research
Division, SC-24.2/Germantown Building, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, Office of
Science, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C.
20585- 1290, telephone: (301) 903-5546 , e-mail: steve.eckstrand@science.doe.gov, fax:
(301) 903- 4716. Communications related to the formal proposal should use "Program
Announcement LAB 06-21 FORMAL" in the subject line.
The full text of Program Announcement LAB 06-21 is available via the Internet using the
following web site address:
http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/grants.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The programmatic goal of NSTX is to evaluate the attractiveness of a compact ST
configuration such as a Component Test Facility (CTF) in reducing cost and time of and
risk to the development of practical fusion energy, and to contribute to resolving
important issues in predicting the physics of burning plasmas anticipated in ITER. These
address two of the long term goals of the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES)
program: Configuration Optimization and developing a Predictive Capability for Burning
Plasmas. ITER participation and a CTF are included in the USDOE 20-year strategic
plan for the Fusion Energy Sciences Program
(
http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/archives/plans/SCSP_12FEB04.pdf).
In support of the above goal, the scientific goal of the National Spherical Torus
Experiment (NSTX) is to advance fusion plasma science by determining and
understanding the physics principles of the Spherical Torus (ST), which is characterized
by strong magnetic field curvature and high BT (the ratio of the average plasma pressure
to the applied toroidal magnetic field pressure) due to the low aspect ratio of its toroidal
plasma. These unique properties extend and complement the normal aspect ratio lower
BT tokamak in addressing the overarching scientific issues in magnetic fusion energy
science. These issues are organized in topics of Macroscopic Plasma Physics, Multi-
scale Transport Physics, Plasma Boundary Interfaces, Waves and Energetic Particles, and
Start-up, Ramp-up and Sustainment without Solenoid, and Integration of Physics and
Operational Requirements for achieving burning plasma conditions. These topics are
consistent with the FESAC Priorities Panel report
(
http://www.ofes.fusion.doe.gov/more_html/FESAC/PP_Rpt_Apr05R.pdf).
More detail of the NSTX program is described in the peer reviewed five-year research
program for NSTX starting in FY2004, available at
http://nstx.pppl.gov/Pages_folder/research_folder/5YrPlan.html. An NSTX Program
Letter providing updated information on the NSTX research priorities and collaboration
opportunities during the next three years, accounting for the advice of the NSTX Program
Advisory Committee, will be available on August 4 at
http://nstx.pppl.gov/nstx/NSTX_Program_Letters/.
Research on NSTX is carried out by a broadly based research team, which includes
scientific personnel from many of the leading U.S. fusion research institutions. These
researchers are involved in nearly all areas of research on NSTX. The following sections
provide a description of the research goals for the topical areas that are included in this
solicitation.
NSTX Research Priorities for FY 2007-2009
The projected NSTX priorities for FY 2007-2009 are provided below and grouped in the
following scientific areas:
I. Macroscopic Plasma Physics - role of magnetic structure in plasma
confinement and the limits to plasma pressure in sustained magnetic configurations.
I-2. Characterize the stability of shaped, toroidally rotating plasmas above the
"no-wall" pressure limits with error field correction relevant to CTF.
I-3. Characterize modes that tear magnetic field surfaces and limit plasma
pressure and energy confinement as the plasma pressure increases above the
"no-wall" limit.
II-2. Characterize the relationship between local high-k turbulence and electron
heat transport.
II-3. Measure poloidal rotation and determine radial electric field shear at low A
to constrain theory of low-k turbulence suppression and transport barrier
formation.
II-4. Characterize plasma rotation and momentum transport in sustained high beta
plasmas relevant to ITER and CTF.
III-2. Characterize edge/divertor at low plasma collisionality with ITER-level heat
fluxes and relevance to CTF.
III-3. Assess the requirements of edge heat and particle control with ITER-level
heat fluxes and relevance to CTF for time scales beyond the current
redistribution times.
IV-2. Characterize transport of supra-Alfvénic fast ions due to fast-ion driven
oscillations relevant to ITER and CTF.
IV-3. Characterize the physics of interaction between the edge plasma region and
the externally launched fast plasma waves at high ion cyclotron harmonic
frequencies (n = 10-15) to determine conditions to enable effective heating
and current drive.
IV-4. Characterize the physics of mode conversion between electron Bernstein
waves in the over-dense plasma and externally propagating electromagnetic
waves to determine conditions for heating and current drive in over-dense
plasmas.
V-2. Characterize conditions for solenoid-free ramp-up to substantial plasma
currents via heating and current drive by Neutral Beam Injection and High
Harmonic Fast Wave.
A brief (one-page) Letter-of-Intent is strongly encouraged (but not required) prior to
submission of a full proposal. The Letter-of-Intent will serve notice of the intent to
submit a formal proposal, and the following information will aid the Program Manager in
structuring the peer-review process. The letter of intent should identify the institution;
the Principal Investigator's name, telephone number, and e-mail address; the title of the
proposed project; and names and institutions of any proposed collaborators. The Letter-
of-Intent should also include a narrative describing the research project objectives and
methods of accomplishment.
Program Funding
It is anticipated that up to $1,500,000 will be available for multiple projects to be initiated
in Fiscal Year 2007, contingent on the availability of appropriated funds. Proposals may
request project support for up to three years, with out-year support contingent on the
availability of funds, progress of the research, and programmatic needs. Annual budgets
are expected to range from $100,000 to $800,000 total cost. It is anticipated that awards will
begin on or about April 1, 2007, with a proposed project period of
April 1, 2007 through March 31, 2010.
Submission Information
Full Proposal
The Project Description must not exceed 20 pages, including tables and figures, but
exclusive of attachments. The proposal must contain an abstract or project summary,
short vitae, and letters of intent from collaborators, if appropriate.
Full proposals adhering to DOE Field Work Proposal format (Reference DOE Order
412.1) are to be prepared and submitted consistent with policies of the investigator's
laboratory and the local DOE Operations Office. Laboratories may submit proposals
directly to the SC Program Office listed above. A copy should also be provided to the
appropriate DOE Operations Office.
The instructions and format described below should be followed. You must reference
Program Announcement LAB 06-21 on all submissions and inquiries about this program.
GUIDE FOR PREPARATION OF SCIENTIFIC/TECHNICAL PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED BY NATIONAL LABORATORIES Proposals from National Laboratories submitted to the Office of Science (SC) as a result of this program announcement will follow the Department of Energy Field Work Proposal process with additional information requested to allow for scientific/technical merit review. The following guidelines for content and format are intended to facilitate an understanding of the requirements necessary for SC to conduct a merit review of a proposal. Please follow the guidelines carefully, as deviations could be cause for declination of a proposal without merit review. 1. Evaluation Criteria Proposals will be subjected to formal merit review (peer review) and will be evaluated against the following criteria which are listed in descending order of importance: A. Scientific and/or technical merit of the project;
The reviewers are also asked to comment on Other Appropriate Factors:
2. Summary of Proposal Contents
A complete formal FWP in a single Portable Document Format (PDF) file must be submitted through the DOE ePMA system ( https://epma.doe.gov) as an attachment. To identify that the FWP is responding to this program announcement, please fill in the following fields in the "ePMA Create Proposal Admin Information" screen as shown:
Fiscal Year: Proposal Reason: Program Announcement Number: LAB 06-21 * Program announcement Title: Fusion Research on the National Spherical Torus Experiment, DOE Research Program Announcement * Proposal Purpose: Estimated Proposal Begin Date: HQ Program Manager Organization: * Please use the wording shown when filling in these fields to identify that the FWP is responding to this Program Announcement.
Mr. John Sauter 3. Detailed Contents of the Proposal Adherence to type size and line spacing requirements is necessary for several reasons. No researcher should have the advantage, or by using small type, of providing more text in their proposals. Small type may also make it difficult for reviewers to read the proposal. Proposals must have 1-inch margins at the top, bottom, and on each side. Type sizes must be at least 11 point. Line spacing is at the discretion of the researcher but there must be no more than 6 lines per vertical inch of text. Pages should be standard 8 1/2" x 11" (or metric A4, i.e., 210 mm x 297 mm). 3.1 Field Work Proposal Format (Reference DOE Order 5700.7C) (DOE ONLY) The Field Work Proposal (FWP) is to be prepared and submitted consistent with policies of the investigator's laboratory and the local DOE Operations Office. Additional information is also requested to allow for scientific/technical merit review. Laboratories may submit proposals directly to the SC Program office listed above. A copy should also be provided to the appropriate DOE operations office. 3.2 Proposal Cover Page The following proposal cover page information may be placed on plain paper. No form is required.
SC Program announcement title Name of laboratory Name of principal investigator (PI) Position title of PI Mailing address of PI Telephone of PI Fax number of PI Electronic mail address of PI Name of official signing for laboratory* Title of official Fax number of official Telephone of official Electronic mail address of official Requested funding for each year; total request Use of human subjects in proposed project:
Signature of official, date of signature* *The signature certifies that personnel and facilities are available as stated in the proposal, if the project is funded. Provide the initial page number for each of the sections of the proposal. Number pages consecutively at the bottom of each page throughout the proposal. Start each major section at the top of a new page. Do not use unnumbered pages and do not use suffices, such as 5a, 5b. 3.4 Budget and Budget Explanation A detailed budget is required for the entire project period and for each fiscal year. It is preferred that DOE's budget page, Form 4620.1 be used for providing budget information*. Modifications of categories are permissible to comply with institutional practices, for example with regard to overhead costs. A written justification of each budget item is to follow the budget pages. For personnel this should take the form of a one-sentence statement of the role of the person in the project. Provide a detailed justification of the need for each item of permanent equipment. Explain each of the other direct costs in sufficient detail for reviewers to be able to judge the appropriateness of the amount requested. Further instructions regarding the budget are given in section 4 of this guide. * Form 4620.1 is available at web site: http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/Forms-E.html 3.5 Abstract Provide an abstract of less than 400 words. Give the project objectives (in broad scientific terms), the approach to be used, and what the research is intended to accomplish. State the hypotheses to be tested (if any). At the top of the abstract give the project title, names of all the investigators and their institutions, and contact information for the principal investigator, including e-mail address. 3.6 Narrative (main technical portion of the proposal, including background/introduction, proposed research and methods, timetable of activities, and responsibilities of key project personnel). The narrative comprises the research plan for the project and is limited to 20 pages (maximum). It should contain enough background material in the Introduction, including review of the relevant literature, to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the state of the science. The major part of the narrative should be devoted to a description and justification of the proposed project, including details of the methods to be used. It should also include a timeline for the major activities of the proposed project, and should indicate which project personnel will be responsible for which activities. If any portion of the project is to be done in collaboration with another institution (or institutions), provide information on the institution(s) and what part of the project it will carry out. Further information on any such arrangements is to be given in the sections "Budget and Budget Explanation", "Biographical Sketches", and "Description of Facilities and Resources". 3.7 Literature Cited Give full bibliographic entries for each publication cited in the narrative. 3.8 Biographical Sketches This information is required for senior personnel at the institution submitting the proposal and at all subcontracting institutions (if any). The biographical sketch is limited to a maximum of two pages for each investigator. To assist in the identification of potential conflicts of interest or bias in the selection of reviewers, the following information must be provided in each biographical sketch.
Graduate and Postdoctoral Advisors and Advisees: A list of the names of the individual's own graduate advisor(s) and principal postdoctoral sponsor(s), and their current organizational affiliations. A list of the names of the individual's graduate students and postdoctoral associates during the past five years, and their current organizational affiliations. Facilities to be used for the conduct of the proposed research should be briefly described. Indicate the pertinent capabilities of the institution, including support facilities (such as machine shops), that will be used during the project. List the most important equipment items already available for the project and their pertinent capabilities. Include this information for each subcontracting institution (if any). 3.10 Other Support of Investigators Other support is defined as all financial resources, whether Federal, non-Federal, commercial, or institutional, available in direct support of an individual's research endeavors. Information on active and pending other support is required for all senior personnel, including investigators at collaborating institutions to be funded by a subcontract. For each item of other support, give the organization or agency, inclusive dates of the project or proposed project, annual funding, and level of effort (months per year or percentage of the year) devoted to the project. 3.11 Appendix Information not easily accessible to a reviewer may be included in an appendix, but do not use the appendix to circumvent the page limitations of the proposal. Reviewers are not required to consider information in an appendix, and reviewers may not have time to read extensive appendix materials with the same care they would use with the proposal proper. The appendix may contain the following items: up to five publications, manuscripts accepted for publication, abstracts, patents, or other printed materials directly relevant to this project, but not generally available to the scientific community; and letters from investigators at other institutions stating their agreement to participate in the project (do not include letters of endorsement of the project).
4. Detailed Instructions for the Budget 4.1 Salaries and Wages List the names of the principal investigator and other key personnel and the estimated number of person-months for which DOE funding is requested. Proposers should list the number of postdoctoral associates and other professional positions included in the proposal and indicate the number of full-time-equivalent (FTE) person-months and rate of pay (hourly, monthly or annually). For graduate and undergraduate students and all other personnel categories such as secretarial, clerical, technical, etc., show the total number of people needed in each job title and total salaries needed. Salaries requested must be consistent with the institution's regular practices. The budget explanation should define concisely the role of each position in the overall project. 4.2 Equipment DOE defines equipment as "an item of tangible personal property that has a useful life of more than two years and an acquisition cost of $25,000 or more." Special purpose equipment means equipment which is used only for research, scientific or other technical activities. Items of needed equipment should be individually listed by description and estimated cost, including tax, and adequately justified. Allowable items ordinarily will be limited to scientific equipment that is not already available for the conduct of the work. General purpose office equipment normally will not be considered eligible for support. 4.3 Domestic Travel The type and extent of travel and its relation to the research should be specified. Funds may be requested for attendance at meetings and conferences, other travel associated with the work and subsistence. In order to qualify for support, attendance at meetings or conferences must enhance the investigator's capability to perform the research, plan extensions of it, or disseminate its results. Consultant's travel costs also may be requested. 4.4 Foreign Travel Foreign travel is any travel outside Canada and the United States and its territories and possessions. Foreign travel may be approved only if it is directly related to project objectives. 4.5 Other Direct Costs The budget should itemize other anticipated direct costs not included under the headings above, including materials and supplies, publication costs, computer services, and consultant services (which are discussed below). Other examples are: aircraft rental, space rental at research establishments away from the institution, minor building alterations, service charges, and fabrication of equipment or systems not available off- the-shelf. Reference books and periodicals may be charged to the project only if they are specifically related to the research.
The budget should indicate in general terms the type of required expendable materials and supplies with their estimated costs. The breakdown should be more detailed when the cost is substantial. b. Publication Costs/Page Charges The budget may request funds for the costs of preparing and publishing the results of research, including costs of reports, reprints page charges, or other journal costs (except costs for prior or early publication), and necessary illustrations. c. Consultant Services Anticipated consultant services should be justified and information furnished on each individual's expertise, primary organizational affiliation, daily compensation rate and number of days expected service. Consultant's travel costs should be listed separately under travel in the budget. d. Computer Services The cost of computer services, including computer-based retrieval of scientific and technical information, may be requested. A justification based on the established computer service rates should be included. e. Subcontracts Subcontracts should be listed so that they can be properly evaluated. There should be an anticipated cost and an explanation of that cost for each subcontract. The total amount of each subcontract should also appear as a budget item. Explain the basis for each overhead and indirect cost. Include the current rates.
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