[Federal Register: May 15, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 94)]
[Notices]
[Page 34692-34693]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15my02-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Number DE-PS36-02GO92008]
Solicitation for Financial Assistance Applications; Inventions
and Innovation Program
AGENCY: Golden Field Office, Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of solicitation for financial assistance applications.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies
(OIT) is funding a competitive grant program entitled the Inventions
and Innovation (I&I) Program. The goals of the I&I Program are to
improve energy efficiency through the promotion of innovative ideas and
inventions that have a significant, potential energy impact and a
potential, future commercial market. The following mission focus
industries, comprised of the most energy intensive industries in the
U.S. manufacturing sector, are of particular interest to the Program:
Agriculture, Aluminum, Chemicals, Forest products, Glass, Metal-
casting, Mining, Petroleum, and Steel. Category 1 and category 2
applications are open to all the mission focus industries and the
building, transportation, and power sectors.
DATES: DOE issued the solicitation on April 29, 2002. The deadline for
receipt of applications is 3 p.m. Mountain Time on June 28, 2002.
ADDRESSES: All Golden Field Office (GO) solicitations will be posted on
the Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) Web Site at http://
e-center.doe.gov; however, you may access them, along with IIPS
instructions, through links on the GO Web Site at: http://
www.golden.doe.gov/businessopportunities.html by clicking on
``Solicitations.'' IIPS provides the medium for disseminating
solicitations, receiving financial assistance applications, and
evaluating the applications in a paperless environment. Completed
applications are required to be submitted via IIPS. Individuals who
have the authority to enter their company into a legally binding
contract/agreement and intend to submit proposals/applications via the
IIPS system must register and receive confirmation that they are
registered prior to being able to submit an application on the IIPS
system.
[[Page 34693]]
Questions regarding the operation of IIPS may be e-mailed to the IIPS
Help Desk at IIPS_HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov or call the help desk at
(800) 683-0751.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margo Gorin, Contract Specialist, at
go_I&I@nrel.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Solicitation Specifications
Eligibility requirements include the following: (1) Individuals
that are U.S. citizens, either native-born or naturalized; (2) small
businesses (as defined by the Small Business Administration) that are
U.S. owned, as defined in 10 CFR Part 600.501; or (3) institutions of
higher learning located in the U.S. Individual inventors and very small
businesses (15 or fewer employees) are especially encouraged to
participate. More than one application may be submitted by an applicant
for different innovations. However, funding will be limited to one
award per applicant, per cycle. Also more than one organization may be
involved in an application as long as the lead organization and lead
financial assistance management responsibilities are defined. The
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number assigned to the I&I
Program is 81.036. Cost sharing by applicants and/or cooperating
participants is not required but highly encouraged. 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 Golden Field Office has been assigned the responsibility of
issuing the solicitation and administering the awards. Ideas that have
a significant energy savings impact and future commercial market
potential are chosen for financial support through the competitive
solicitation process. The I&I Program will provide financial assistance
of up to $40,000 for Category 1 and up to $200,000 for Category 2 to
applications that fall within the ``conceptual'' and ``developmental''
stages of development, respectively. To be considered for a Category 2
award, a bench-scale model and/or other preliminary investigations must
be complete. Each award may cover a project period of up to one year
for Category 1 and up to two years for Category 2. In addition to
financial assistance, the I&I Program offers technical guidance and
commercialization support to successful applicants through the Resource
Centers for Innovation (RCI).
A selection of former projects funded by the I&I Program that have
reached commercial markets include the following:
Meta-Lax Stress Relief Equipment offers distinct
advantages over conventional heat treatment methods. It uses less
energy, is portable, can handle any size metal part, and treats metal
stress in hours versus days.
Aero Cylinder Technology replaces conventional cylinders
by combining air spring bellows into assemblies for use on machines
(such as punch presses) to control motion and large masses. The air
springs act as counter balancers and press cushioners to eliminate
alignment problems. This proper alignment reduces downtime and
compressed air losses, resulting in significant energy savings.
Electro-Optic Inspection of Heat Exchangers is a laser-
based, nondestructive evaluation system for inspecting heat exchanger
tubing for internal corrosion, erosion, scale buildup, and deformation.
Benefits to petrochemical, pulp and paper, and power-generation plants
include reduced downtime and increased efficiency.
Hydrodynamic Multi-Deflection Pad Bearings optimize
bearing operation in high-speed, combined heat and power turbines,
high-load electric motors or gear boxes, air or gas compressors, and
air conditioning refrigeration equipment. Energy loss due to friction
is reduced up to forty-percent by using fluids as a wedge between pads
and moving parts.
Availability of Funds for FY 2003
DOE is announcing the availability of up to $2.7 million dollars in
agreement funds for Fiscal Year 2003. The awards will be made through a
competitive solicitation. DOE reserves the right to fund in whole or in
part any, all, or none of the proposals submitted in response to this
notice.
Issued in Golden, Colorado on April 29, 2002.
Matthew A. Barron,
Acting Director, Office of Acquisition and Financial Assistance, Golden
Field Office.
[FR Doc. 02-12098 Filed 5-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P