[Federal Register: May 15, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 94)]
[Notices]               
[Page 34693-34694]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15my02-59]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Number DE-PS36-02GO92009]

 
Solicitation for Financial Assistance Applications; National 
Industrial Competitiveness Through Energy, Environment, and Economics 
(NICE \3\) 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 National 
Industrial Competitiveness Through Energy, Environment, and Economics 
(NICE \3\) Program. The goal of the NICE \3\ Program is to advance U.S. 
competitiveness through commercial demonstration of energy efficient 
and clean production manufacturing and industrial technologies in 
industry. This is accomplished by providing cost-shared, financial 
assistance to state and industry partnerships. 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: agriculture, aluminum, chemicals, forest products, glass, 
metal-casting, mining, petroleum, and steel.

DATES: DOE issued the solicitation on May 1, 2002. The deadline for 
receipt of applications is 3:00 pm Mountain Time on June 28, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The formal solicitation document will be disseminated 
electronically as Solicitation Number DE-PS36-02GO92009, National 
Industrial Competitiveness Through Energy, Environment, and Economics 
(NICE \3\) Program. Access DOE Golden Field Office Home Page at http://
www.golden.doe.gov/businessopportunities.html, click on 
``Solicitations'', and then access the solicitation number. The Golden 
Home Page will also provide instructions on registering and submitting 
applications in the Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) web 
site. The Solicitation can also be obtained directly through IIPS at 
http://e-center.doe.gov by browsing opportunities by Contracting 
Activity. DOE will not issue paper copies of the solicitation. 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

[[Page 34694]]

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. An IIPS ``User 
Guide for Contractors'' can be obtained by going to the Golden Field 
Office Homepage at http://www.golden.doe.gov/
businessopportunities.html. 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: To be eligible 
to apply for this financial assistance program, applicants must be a 
state agency in partnership with an industry partner(s) or an industry 
partner(s) who has coordinated state agency endorsement. Endorsement, 
here, refers to the act of a state(s): (1) Recommending the proposed 
technology demonstration, (2) waiving its role as the primary 
applicant, and (3) assigning that role to industry via signature on the 
``State Endorsement Form.'' The ``State Endorsement Form'' must be 
reprinted on official state agency letterhead for signature by a state 
official, in cases where state agencies decline to be the primary 
applicant. State agencies include state energy, state environmental, 
state business development, or any state agency as defined by 10 CFR 
600.202. In addition to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or 
possession of the U.S., and all federally-recognized Indian tribes are 
eligible as described in 10 CFR 600.202. Applicants are not limited in 
the number of applications they can submit, provided that multiple 
applications are not submitted for the same project. 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 NICE \3\ Program is 81.105. Non-federal cost share from a 
combination of state and industrial partner sources for a single award 
must be at least 50% of the total cost of the project (if $500,000 in 
federal funding is requested, cost-share must equal at least $500,000. 
Cash, equipment, labor, and in-kind contributions are all allowable as 
cost share as defined in 10 CFR 600.123 and 600.224).
    The Golden Field Office has been assigned the responsibility of 
issuing the solicitation, and the awards will be administered by DOE's 
Regional Offices. The Program's intent is to encourage highly leveraged 
funding to get an innovative project commercially demonstrated in 
industry by the end of the award period. The NICE\3\ Program will 
provide financial assistance for the first production-scale, commercial 
demonstration of an industrial process. To be ready for commercial 
demonstration, all research and development activities must already be 
completed with successful test results. By the end of the financial 
assistance project period, an industrial scale, commercial 
demonstration must be completed in the U.S. At the end of the project, 
the technology/process must be ready for commercialization. Grants 
range up to $525,000. A 50% cost share is required. DOE anticipates 
awarding up to 4 awards, and each award may cover a project period of 
up to 3 years. No additional funding of applications for continuation 
of work beyond the award period is envisioned or planned by DOE.
    A selection of former projects funded by the NICE\3\ Program 
include the following:
     AAP St. Mary's in Ohio is improving cost of sales and 
reducing waste and pollution by recycling aluminum on-site.
     Beta Control Systems in Oregon has developed a closed loop 
hydrochloric acid recovery system for small to mid-size steel companies 
by integrating innovative materials with automatic controls.
     Brittany Dyeing & Printing in Massachusetts has developed 
a new process that increases productivity and energy efficiency in 
fabric finishing.
     Caterpillar in Illinois is recycling paint overspray in 
heavy construction equipment.
     ChemStone Inc. of South Carolina is demonstrating a newly 
developed patented chemistry for the pulp and paper industry that 
results in better fiber breakdown, higher pulp yields, and cleaner pulp 
when added to the pulping process.
    Availability of Funds for FY 2003: DOE is announcing the 
availability of up to $2 million dollars in grant agreement funds for 
Fiscal Year 2003. The awards will be made through a competitive 
solicitation process. 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 May 1, 2002.
Matthew A. Barron,
Acting Director, Office of Acquisition and Financial Assistance, Golden 
Field Office.
[FR Doc. 02-12099 Filed 5-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P