Notice of Competitive Financial Assistance for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Competitive Financial Assistance for the Office of

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Amendment to Competitive Financial Assistance

Solicitation.

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SUMMARY: On December 3, 1998, the Department of Energy issued a notice

which announced a competitive solicitation for applications for grants

and cooperative agreements for information dissemination, public

outreach, training, and related technical analysis activities involving

renewable energy and energy efficiency. The solicitation had two

closing dates--January 8, 1999 and March 31, 1999.

The purpose of this announcement is to: (1) Extend the second

closing date until April 16, 1999; (2) announce new Program Areas of

Interest for competition, which were not contained in the December 3

solicitation; (3) identify Program Areas of Interest contained in the

December 3 solicitation (Attachment A) which are being cancelled for

the second closing date because funds are expected to be exhausted

under the first round of awards; (4) modify certain Program Areas of

Interest; and (5) indicate that certain technical amendments will be

made to the solicitation. It is estimated that funding of up to $1

million will be available under renewable energy programs and up to $1

million will be available under energy conservation programs for awards

for project funding in FY 1999 and FY 2000. The anticipated project

periods are from six months to three years, and awards are expected by

July 1999. Proposals received in response to this solicitation will be

subjected to the objective merit review procedures for the Office of

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

ADDRESSES: The formal amendment to the solicitation is expected to be

issued by early March 1999. It will be available as solicitation number

DE-PS01-99EE10649 through the Department of Energy's Business

Opportunities at Headquarters Procurement Services Homepage located at

www.pr.doe.gov/solicit.html. Interested applicants that do not have

Internet access may request a copy of the solicitation by sending a

request with a virus-free diskette and self-addressed, stamped, a

diskette mailer to U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Headquarters

Procurement Services, Attn.: Document Control Specialist, MA-543, 1000

Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Ms. Jacqueline Kniskern, MA-

542, Office of Headquarters Procurement Services, U.S. Department of

Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121,

facsimile number (202) 426-0168, e-mail at

[email protected]. E:mail is the preferred method for

submission of comments and/or questions.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy supports the Department of Energy's strategic

objectives of increasing the efficiency and

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productivity of energy use, while limiting environmental impacts;

reducing the vulnerability of the U.S. economy to disruptions in energy

supplies; ensuring that a competitive electric utility industry is in

place that can deliver adequate and affordable supplies with reduced

environmental impacts; supporting U.S. energy, environmental, and

economic interests in global markets; and delivering leading-edge

technologies. A key component of this program is the support of

information dissemination, public outreach, training and related

technical analysis and assistance activities to: (1) Stimulate

increased energy efficiency in transportation, buildings, and industry

and increased use of renewable and alternative energy; and (2)

accelerate the adoption of new technologies to increase energy and the

use of renewable and alternative energy. The purpose of this

solicitation (as amended) is to further these objectives through

financial assistance in the following areas:

Office of Power Technologies--The primary mission of this Office is

to lead the national effort to develop solar and other renewable energy

technologies and to accelerate their acceptance and use on a national

and international level. The Office also develops advanced high

temperature superconducting power equipment and energy storage systems,

addresses advanced technology needs for transmission and distribution

systems, and provides information and technical assistance on electric

utility restructuring. Program Areas of Interest 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F,

1G, 1H, 1I, 1J, and 1K are cancelled for the second closing date.

Financial assistance applications will be accepted for Program Area of

Interest 1L, ``Utility Sector: Co-Sponsorship of Conferences.''

Applications also will be accepted for an amended Program Area of

Interest 1A, which will be focused on public outreach involving

distributed power.

Office of Industrial Technologies--Due to the large volume of

applications received during the first round, applications will not be

accepted in Program Areas of Interest 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, and 2G.

Office of Transportation Technologies--During this round of

applications, proposals will not be accepted for Program Areas of

Interest 3A, 3B, and 3C. A limited amount of funding will be competed

to support projects in Program Area of Interest 3D, ``Training Programs

for Local Clean Cities Coalitions and Alternative Fuels Curriculum

Development.''

Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs---Due

to the large volume of applications received during the first round,

applications will not be accepted in Program Area of Interest 4.

Federal Energy Management Program--The mission of this Program is

to assist agencies in achieving the Federal energy management goals and

to disseminate information to States, local governments, and the public

on innovative approaches to the use of energy. During this round of

applications, proposals will not be accepted for Program Areas of

Interest 5A and 5C. However, financial assistance applications will be

requested for a revised Program Area of Interest 5B, the ``Product

Energy Efficiency Information.'' In addition, proposals will be

requested for two new areas: (1) ``Information Dissemination and

Technical Analysis on Federal Mobile Equipment Energy Efficiency

Potential; and (2) ``Information Dissemination and Outreach to the

Federal Sector.''

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy has overall management responsibility for the entire

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Due to the large

number of applications in the first round, proposals will not be

accepted for Program Area of Interest 6A. Financial assistance

applications will be requested to support information dissemination,

outreach, and training involving international energy efficiency and

renewable energy efforts (Program Area of Interest 6B). However, funds

available will be reduced substantially, and this Area of Interest will

be modified to focus on region-wide activities in Africa, South Asia,

and Latin America.

In addition, a new Program Area of Interest will be added for

technical assistance under the Million Solar Roofs Initiative for

national efforts to remove barriers to the use of solar energy systems.

Applications will be requested for activities that address the barriers

and opportunities in the following areas: (1) Residential and

commercial codes and covenants that restrict the use of solar energy on

buildings; (2) financing solar energy systems on residential and

commercial buildings; (3) interconnection of photovoltaic systems to

the utility grid; and (4) solar energy information materials.

Additional information about the programs of the Office of Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy can be obtained at the Office's

Internet site at www.eren.gov/ee.html.

Issued in Washington, DC, on February 22, 1999.

Carol M. Rueter,

Acting Director, Program Services Division, Office of Headquarters

Procurement Services.

[FR Doc. 99-4848 Filed 2-25-99; 8:45 am]

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