[Federal Register: March 4, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 42)]
[Notices]               
[Page 9724-9725]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04mr02-61]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 
National Energy Technology Laboratory; Notice of Availability of 
a Financial Assistance Solicitation

AGENCY: National Energy Technology Laboratory, Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of availability of a financial assistance solicitation.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intent to issue Financial 
Assistance Solicitation No.DE-PS26-02NT41446 entitled ``Development of 
Technologies and Capabilities for Natural Gas Infrastructure 
Reliability.'' This solicitation supports the Natural Gas 
Infrastructure Reliability product line which is part of the Department 
of Energy's Strategic Center for Natural Gas. This solicitation 
competitively seeks cost-shared applications for energy research and 
development (R&D) related activities that promote the efficient and 
sound production and use of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil). 
The primary purpose of the solicitation is to maintain and enhance the 
integrity and reliability of the natural gas transmission and 
distribution pipeline infrastructure. Research directed specifically 
towards expansion of the pipeline and major references to expansion 
will be discouraged.

DATES: Potential applicants are required to submit a brief, not to 
exceed seven pages, pre-application. The deadline for submissions of 
pre-applications and comprehensive applications will be identified in 
the solicitation. No comprehensive application will be evaluated unless 
a pre-application has been received and considered by the DOE. The 
review process for the pre-

[[Page 9725]]

applications will be limited to a programmatic review that will result 
in encouraging or discouraging submission of a comprehensive 
application. However, discouraged applicants are not prohibited from 
submitting full applications. A response to the pre-applications will 
be communicated to the applicant within two weeks after the closing 
date for the pre-application. All pre-applications must be submitted 
through the Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) system in 
accordance with the instructions in the solicitation. The solicitation 
will be available on the ``Industry Interactive Procurement System'' 
(IIPS) webpage located at http://e-center.doe.gov on or about March 1, 
2002. The deadline for submission of pre-applications and comprehensive 
applications will be identified in the solicitation. Applicants can 
obtain access to the solicitation from the address above or through 
DOE/NETL's website at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dona G. Sheehan, U.S. Department of 
Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box 10940, MS 921-
107, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940, E-mail Address: sheehan@netl.doe.gov, 
Telephone Number: 412/386-5918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In an effort to determine the needs of the 
gas infrastructure industry, NETL sponsored visioning and road mapping 
workshops allowing representatives from natural gas organizations and 
industries to define and prioritize research directions necessary to 
maintain and expand the natural gas infrastructure. The input from 
these workshops has been summarized in a report entitled ``Pathways for 
Enhanced Integrity, Reliability and Deliverability'' and is publicly 
available on the NETL Website at http://www.netl.doe.gov/scng/
publications/naturalg.pdf. Applicants are encouraged to review the 
information contained in this document.
    To support the pipeline infrastructure, NETL is requesting R&D 
applications which will result in the development of technology which 
supports the current and future natural gas infrastructure. The 
solicitation will focus on research in the following areas: (1) 
Transmission systems, (2) distribution systems and (3) technologies 
which clearly affect both areas. Applicants may propose research in any 
area which supports the industries needs; however, the proposed work 
must address, but not necessarily limited to, research needs identified 
in the visioning and road mapping workshops. In addition to the 
proposed R&D effort, applicants will be required to include a 
discussion of the costs and benefits to ensure that the technology 
being developed has the potential to result in a useful commercial 
product which will be utilized by the natural gas infrastructure 
industry. DOE anticipates issuing cost-shared financial assistance 
(Cooperative Agreement) awards. DOE reserves the right to support or 
not support, with or without discussions, any or all applications 
received in whole or in part, and to determine how many awards will be 
made. Multiple awards are anticipated. Approximately $1.5 million of 
DOE funding is planned.
    Applications submitted by, or on behalf of: (1) Another Federal 
agency; (2) a Federally Funded Research and Development Center 
sponsored by another Federal agency; or (3) a Department of Energy 
(DOE) Management and Operating (M&O) contractor will not be eligible 
for an award under this solicitation. An application may include 
performance of work by a DOE M&O contractor but that work must not 
exceed 15% of the total contract value. If a project which includes 
National Laboratory participation is approved for funding, DOE intends 
to make an award to the applicant for its portion of the effort and to 
provide direct funding for the National Laboratories portion of the 
effort as a Field Work Proposal (FWP).
    DOE has determined that a minimum cost share of 25 percent of the 
total project cost is required for this solicitation. Details of the 
cost sharing requirement and the specific funding levels will be 
contained in the solicitation.
    Once released, the solicitation will be available for downloading 
from the IIPS Internet page. At this Internet site you will also be 
able to register with IIPS, enabling you to submit an application. If 
you need technical assistance in registering or for any other IIPS 
function, call the IIPS Help Desk at (800) 683-0751 or E-mail the Help 
Desk personnel at IIPS_HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov. The solicitation will 
only be made available in IIPS, no hard (paper) copies of the 
solicitation and related documents will be made available.
    Prospective applicants who would like to be notified as soon as the 
solicitation is available should register at http://www.netl.doe.gov/
business. Once you subscribe, you will receive an announcement by E-
mail that the solicitation has been released to the public. Telephone 
requests, written requests, E-mail requests, or facsimile requests for 
a copy of the solicitation package will not be accepted and/or honored. 
Applications must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the 
instructions and forms contained in the solicitation. The actual 
solicitation document will allow for requests for explanation and/or 
interpretation.

    Issued in Pittsburgh, PA, on February 21, 2002.
Dale A. Siciliano,
Deputy Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 02-5067 Filed 3-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P