[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 4 (Friday, January 6, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 2091-2092] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-141] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Financial Assistance Award; in Support of U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center (PETC). ACTION: Notice of Restricted Eligibility. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), Pittsburgh Energy Technology announces that pursuant to 10 CFR 600.7(b)(1), and in support of the Metairie Site Office (MSO), it intends to conduct a competitive Program Solicitation No. DE-PS22-95MT95001 and to award, on a restricted eligibility basis, financial assistance (grants) to U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities who can show evidence of a collaborative effort with industry, in support of innovative research and advanced concepts pertinent to fossil resource conversion and utilization. Proposals will be subjected to a comparative merit review by a DOE technical panel, and awards will be made to a limited number of proposers on the basis of the scientific merit of the proposal, application of relevant program policy factors, and the availability of funds. The solicitation is expected to be available on January 12, 1995, and proposals must be received by the designated DOE office by February 28, 1995. The solicitation will be provided on a 3.5'', double-sided/high density diskette, using Word Perfect 5.1 for DOS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Energy, Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, Acquisition and Assistance Division, P.O. Box 10940, MS 921-143, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, Attn.: Nancy Toppetta, Telephone: (412) 892-5715, FAX: (412) 892-6216. Requests for solicitation copies must be made in writing or be transmitted via facsimile (FAX) to (412) 892-6212. If the diskette version of the solicitation is incompatible with the proposer's computer system, then a written request should be made for a paper copy in lieu of the diskette. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Solicitation Number: DE-PS22-95MT95001. Title of Solicitation: ``Support of Advanced Fossil Resource Utilization Research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.'' Objective: The Department of Energy seeks proposals from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and HBCU- affiliated research institutes in collaboration with the private sector for innovative research and advanced concepts pertinent to fossil resource conversion and utilization. The resultant grants are intended to maintain and upgrade educational, training, and research capabilities of our HBCUs in the fields of science and technology related to fossil energy resources; to foster private sector participation, collaboration, and interaction with HBCUs; and to provide for the exchange of technical information and to raise the overall level of HBCU competitiveness with other institutions in the field of fossil energy research and development. Thus, the establishment of linkages between the HBCU and private sector fossil energy community is critical to the success of this program, and consistent with the Nation's goal of ensuring a future supply of fossil fuel scientists and engineers from a previously under-utilized resource. Eligibility: Eligibility for participation in this Program Solicitation is redistricted to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and HBCU-affiliated research institutes, and only those that meet all of the following criteria may submit applications in response to this solicitation: the Principal Investigator or a Co- Principal Investigator must be a teaching professor at the submitting university listed in the application; and at least one student registered at the university is to be compensated for work performed in the conduct of research proposed in the application; and each HBCU applicant must reflect collaboration with industry, i.e., the private sector. Proposals from HBCU-affiliated research institutes must be submitted through the college or university with which they are affiliated. The university (not the university-affiliated research institute) will be the recipient of any resultant DOE grant award. A small or large business enterprise will qualify as a ``private'' sector entity; however, the following are specifically excluded from recognition as private sector collaborators: Federal, state and/or local government agencies and non-HBCU colleges and universities. Collaboration by the private sector with the HBCU may be in the form of cash cost sharing, consultation, HBCU access to industrial facilities or equipment, experimental data and/or equipment not available at the university, or as a subgrantee/subcontractor to the HBCU. Areas of Interest: In order to develop a focused national and regional program of HBCU research on fossil technology and resources, the Department is particularly interested in innovative [[Page 2092]] research and advanced concepts pertinent to fossil resource conversion and utilization limited to the nine (9) technical topics listed below. Topic 1--Advanced Environmental Control Technology for Coal Grant applications in support of Advanced Environmental Control Technology for Coal are only solicited for the following subtopics: Coal Preparation Hot Gas Stream Cleanup Advanced High Efficiency Emissions Control Waste Management Topic 2--Advanced Coal Utilization Grant applications in support of Advanced Coal Utilization are only solicited for the following subtopics: Advanced Coal Combustion Systems Fluid Bed Combustion (FBC) Topic 3--Coal Liquefaction Technology Grant applications in support of Coal Liquefaction Technology are only solicited for the following subtopics: Advanced Concepts for Conversion of Coal to Liquids Advanced Concepts for Conversion of Syngas to Liquids Coal-Oil Coprocesing Advanced Catalysts Topic 4--Biotechnology for Fossil Energy Grant applications in support of Biotechnology for Fossil Energy are only solicited for the following subtopics: Beneficiation of Coal Resources Conversion of Fossil Energy Resources Bioreactors and Bioprocess Efficiency Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery Topic 5--Advanced Recovery of Oil Grant applications in support of Advanced Recovery of Oil are only solicited for the following subtopics: Recovery of Light Oil Recovery of Heavy Oil Oil-Field Geoscience Topic 6--Advanced Technology for the Recovery of Natural Gas Grant applications in support of Advanced Technology for the Recovery of Natural Gas are only solicited for the following subtopics: Advanced Geotechnology in Production Applications Advanced Concepts for Natural Gas Conversion to Liquids Topic 7--Advanced Environmental Considerations in the Recovery and Processing of Oil and Natural Gas Grant applications in support of Advanced Environmental Considerations in the Recovery and Processing of Oil and Natural Gas are only solicited for innovative methods and concepts that allow more efficient, effective, and economical reduction of environmental risk from the processing and primary, secondary, and enhanced extraction of oil and natural gas. Research relating to open oil spill cleanup technologies will not be considered. Topic 8--Heavy Oil Upgrading and Processing Grant applications in support of Heavy Oil Upgrading and Processing, are sought for the following subtopics: (a) Improved Understanding of the Chemistry and the Thermodynamics of Adding Hydrogen to Heavy Feedstocks; (b) Improved Understanding of the Chemistry and the Thermodynamics of the Removal of the Contaminants, i.e., S, N, O, Metals, etc., from Heavy Feedstocks; (c) Development of New and Less Expensive Means for Producing Hydrogen from Feedstocks other than Light Hydro-carbons which are Excellent Fuels as is; (d)Development of New and Less Expensive Contaminant Removal Processes for Heavy Oils along with Environmentally Acceptable Means of Disposing of the Contaminants when Removed; (e) Development of New Knowledge to be used to Improve Catalytic Cracking and Hydrocracking Catalysts and Process; and (f) Development of the Knowledge, Catalysts and Processes Necessary to Eliminate the Production of Petroleum Coke or the Ability to Liquefy it so that it can be Recycled to the Refinery. Topic 9--Faculty/Student Exploratory Grants DOE is seeking grant applications from HBCU faculty and/or students for a supportable basic premise on any one of the subtopics covered under the above eight (8) technical topics. DOE will provide ``seed'' grants to the selected HBCU(s) to enable the faculty and/or student researcher(s) to conduct the proposed exploratory research and further develop the stated premise. This is the only topic (Topic nine (9)) under this Program Solicitation that does not require initial private sector collaboration for an application to be considered for selection. Awards: DOE anticipates issuing financial assistance (grants) for each project. DOE reserves the right to support or not support any or all applications received in whole or in part, and to determine how many awards may be made through the solicitation subject to funds available in this fiscal year. The limitation on the maximum DOE funding for each selected grant to be awarded under this Program Solicitation is as follows: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maximum award ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topics 1-8: To 12 months grant duration................................ $80,000 13-24 months grant duration................................ 140,000 25-60 months grant duration................................ 200,000 Topic 9: To 12 months grant duration................................ 10,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Approximately one million dollars is planned for this solicitation. The total should provide support for approximately four to eight R&D proposal selections (Topics 1-8), and approximately two to six facility/student exploratory proposal selection (Topic 9). Solicitation Release Date: The Program Solicitation is expected to be ready for mailing on January 12, 1995. Applications must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the instructions and forms in the Program Solicitation. To be eligible, applications must be received by the Department of Energy by the closing date stated in the solicitation. Debra E. Ball, Contracting Officer, Acquisition and Assistance Division. [FR Doc. 95-141 Filed 1-5-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-M