[Federal Register: April 15, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 72)] [Notices] [Page 18392-18393] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr15ap98-61] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Intent to Solicit Inventions and Innovation Program Grants AGENCY: The Department of Energy (DOE), Golden Field Office. ACTION: Notice of intent to issue a solicitation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The DOE's Office of Industrial Technologies (DOE) 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. These goals are consistent with the mission of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which is to develop and promote the adoption of cost-effective renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies within the building, industrial, transportation, and utility sectors for the benefit of economic competitiveness, energy security, and environmental quality of the nation. The following focus industries, which are the dominant energy users and waste generators in the U.S. manufacturing sector, are of particular interest to the DOE program: Aluminum, Chemicals, Forest Products, Glass, Metal-Casting, and Steel. DATES: DOE expects to issue the solicitation on or about May 1, 1998. ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the solicitation, eligible parties may write to the U.S. Department of Energy Golden Field Office, Attention: Jennifer Squire, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401, or obtain an electronic copy through the Golden Field Office Home Page at http:// www.eren.doe.gov/golden/solicit.htm beginning May 1, 1998. Only written request for the solicitation will be honored. For convenience, requests for the solicitation may be faxed to Ms. Squire at (303) 275-4788. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE has revised the process of financial assistance under the I&I Program. Formerly the program had two distinct programs: The Energy-Related Inventions Program (ERIP) and the Innovative Concepts Program (InnCon). Proposals for each program were submitted through an unsolicited application process to DOE through the National Institute of Standards and Technology, formerly the National Bureau of Standards for ERIP and directly to DOE/OIT for InnCon. DOE is now combining these two programs under one competitive solicitation process. DOE intends to issue a new solicitation annually. The Golden Field Office has been assigned the responsibility to issue the solicitation and administer the awards for OIT. Ideas that have a significant energy savings impact and future commercial market potential are chosen for financial support through the competitive solicitation process. The new I&I Program will provide financial assistance at two levels, up to $40,000 or up to $100,000 depending on the stage of development of an idea. In addition to financial assistance this program offers technical guidance and commercialization support to successful applicants. Some former selected projects that the I&I Program has funded are: (1) Thermefficient 100r--a high efficiency fired heater that extracts heat from exhaust gases to raise the temperature of incoming water to be heated. The thermal efficiency of the technology is nearly 100% and reduces fossil fuel use. (2) Brandon Rings--prevent damage and energy loss that occur over time with start-up, thermal distortion, and shaft vibration in turbines. These have been used in commercial turbine systems in the U.S. saving over 110 trillion BTU since 1986. (3) Electro-Optic Inspection of Heat Exchangers--is a laser based, nondestructive evaluation system for [[Page 18393]] inspecting heat exchanger tubing for internal corrosion, erosion, scale buildup, and deformation. The benefits are reduced downtime and increased efficiency for fossil and nuclear power plants, pulp and paper, and petro-chemical plants. Solicitation Specifics There are no restrictions, however, small businesses, individual inventors, and entrepreneurs are especially encouraged to participate. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number assigned to this program is 81.036. Cost sharing is not required but encouraged by applicants and/or cooperating 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. Availability of Funds in Fy 1999 With publication, DOE is announcing the availability of up to $3 million dollars in grant agreement funds for fiscal year 1999. The awards will be made through a competitive process. Each award may cover a project period of up to two (2) years. DOE anticipates awarding grants at two levels. The first level will fund up to $40,000 for Category 1 proposals, which fall within the first two stages of development. The second level will fund up to $100,000 for Category 2 proposals, which fall within the last three stages of development. Refer to Appendix 1 of the Solicitation for definitions. 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, CO, on April 8, 1998. John W. Meeker, Chief, Procurement, Golden Field. [FR Doc. 98-9955 Filed 4-14-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P