Oak Ridge Operations Office, Office of Transportation Technologies; Notice of Solicitation for Research and Development for Class 1-8 Truck Diesel Engine and Natural Gas Fueled Hybrid Propulsion Technologies: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology for Transportation

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Oak Ridge Operations Office, Office of Transportation

Technologies; Notice of Solicitation for Research and Development for

Class 1-8 Truck Diesel Engine and Natural Gas Fueled Hybrid Propulsion

Technologies: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology for

Transportation

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces its interest in

receiving financial assistance applications for research and

development (R&D) on Technologies for Class 1-8 truck Diesel engine and

hybrid propulsion technologies. DOE's Office of Heavy Vehicle

Technologies (OHVT) has set a goal of improving the efficiency and

emissions performance of Class 1-8 trucks through the use of advanced

Diesel engines, emission control technologies, and hybrid electric

propulsion systems.

DATES: The complete solicitation document will be available on or about

September 21, 1999. Preapplications are due October 4, 1999, and

applications are due November 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The complete solicitation document will be available on the

DOE Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) Home Page at http://

doe-iips.pr.doe.gov/ under the heading ``IIPS Business Opportunities'',

Solicitation Number DE-SC05-99OR22735. Any amendments to this

solicitation will be posted at the IIPS site on the Internet. Please

note that users will not be alerted when the solicitation is issued on

the Internet or when amendments are posted on the Internet. Prospective

applicants are therefore advised to check the above Internet address on

a daily basis. The cooperative agreements are expected to be awarded on

or about January 28, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth L. Holt, at (423) 576-0783, U.S.

Department of Energy, P.O. Box 2001, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-8759;

by fax at (423) 241-2549; or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Topic (1) is Heavy Truck Engine Program. The

goal is to develop high efficiency, low emission Diesel engine

technologies for Class 7-8 trucks. Topic (2) is Heavy Hybrid Vehicles

Program. The goal is to develop hybrid electric vehicle systems

technologies utilizing reciprocating natural gas engines for Class 3-6

urban trucks and buses. Topic (3) is Clean Diesel Engine Component

Improvement Program. The goal is to develop component and technology

improvements and/or alterations for increased efficiency, reduced

emissions, and decreased manufacturing costs of Class 1-8 Diesel

engines. The primary fuel for programs 1 and 3 is the applicable (per

Environmental Protection Agency) Diesel certification fuel specified

for Federal Test Procedure emissions testing. The fuel grade may be

appropriately revised throughout the duration of the three research

efforts to be consistent with EPA regulations or proposed rules. The

impact of fuel properties on efficiency and performance is the focus of

a companion program in OHVT. (If appropriate, new fuels identified in

that companion program may be introduced into one or more of the three

R&D programs described in this solicitation.) For program 3, applicant

teams must propose to include a hybrid propulsion system using a

reciprocating engine operating on natural gas. Proposals may be

submitted for one, two, or all three programs. Proposals must be

submitted separately for each program. Under Topic 1, approximately 2-4

awards will be made, with periods of performance ranging from twenty-

four to sixty months, with total estimated DOE funding of $50,000,000

to $70,000,000. Under Topic 2, there will be approximately 3-5 awards,

with periods of performance ranging from forty-eight to sixty months,

with total estimated DOE funding of $30,000,000 to $50,000,000. Under

Topic 3, there will be approximately 3-5 awards, with periods of

performance ranging from twenty-four to forty-eight months, with total

estimated DOE funding of $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. Topics 1 and 2

require a minimum 50 percent cost share; Topic 3 requires a minimum 25

percent cost share. Awards are subject to the availability of funds and

the solicitation will not obligate DOE to make any awards(s). Any non-

profit or for-profit organization, university, or other institution of

higher education, or non-federal agency or entity is eligible to apply.

Federal laboratory participation is encouraged and will be subject to

DOE approval. The solicitation will provide further guidance in this

area. Awards resulting from this solicitation will be subject to the

requirements of the Energy Policy Act which in general requires that

the awardee be a United States-owned company (including certain non-

profits) or that the foreign country in which the parent company is

located meets certain conditions of reciprocity in the treatment of

investments, access to research and development programs, and

protection of intellectual property. All responsible sources, as

indicated above, may submit a preapplication or application which shall

be considered by the Government.

Issued in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on September 15, 1999.

Peter D. Dayton,

Director, Procurement and Contracts Division, Oak Ridge Operations

Office.

[FR Doc. 99-24645 Filed 9-21-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P