FEDERAL
AGENCY:
OFFICE
OF FOSSIL ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
AUTHORIZATION:
Atomic
Energy Act of 1954, as amended, Public Law 83-703; Energy Reorganization
Act of 1974, Public Law 93-438; Research and Marketing Act of 1946,
as amended, Public Law 85-934; Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research
and Development Act of 1974, Public Law 93- 577; Department of Interior
and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1980, Public Law 96-126;
Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal
Year 2001, Public Law 106-291.
To
improve scientific and technical understanding of the chemistry
and physics involved in the conversion and utilization of coal.
The primary objective is to fund long-term, high-risk, meritorious
fundamental research for the advancement of science related to all
Fossil Energy's coal-related programs. Through an annual solicitation,
applications are sought with the potential to overcome barriers
in technology development and accelerate the identification of solutions
for energy and environmental problems. Solicited research should
contemplate nearly total carbon closure by the year 2015 along with
substantial increases in energy conversion efficiency for utilizing
our nation's abundant coal resources.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants.
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USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Work must be related to
program objectives.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
U.S. colleges and universities may apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
U.S. colleges and universities will benefit. The principal investigator
must be a teaching professor and the grant must support at least
one student enrolled at the college/university.
Credentials/Documentation:
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21
for institutions of higher education. This program is excluded
from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is excluded from
coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure:
This program is subject to the provisions of 10 CFR 600. Proposals
should be submitted to National Energy Technology Laboratory,
Attn: MS921-107 , Department of Energy, P.O. Box 10940, 626 Cochrans
Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940, Contact: Mr. John Augustine,
(412) 892-4524. Fax: (412) 386-6137.
Award Procedure:
Proposals reviewed by qualified experts in accordance with the
factors listed in 10 CFR Chapter II, Part 600 with specific emphasis
on the scientific and technical merit of the proposed research
and the factors listed in the formal solicitation for proposals.
Deadlines:
Deadlines are stated in solicitations issued annually. Normally,
solicitations are issued between September and December with proposals
due 6 weeks later.
Range of Approval/Disapproval
Time: Approximately 90 to 180 days.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
None.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching
Requirements: Limited university/industrial
collaboration is encouraged but not required in the core program.
A minimum of 25% cost sharing is required in the University/Industry
partnership application. Details are described in the solicitation.
This program has no statutory formula.
Length and Time Phasing
of Assistance: Varies, but it is no longer
than 60 months. Usually funded by the Electronic Transfer System.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Reports are currently required on a semi-annual basis on progress
and expenditures.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 110,
in conjunction with OMB Circular No. A-21, "Cost Principles for
Education Institutions."
Records:
Retention of records will be required pursuant to guidelines set
forth in 10 CFR 600.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
89-0213-0-1-271.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $3,000,000; FY 02 est $3,000,000; and FY 03 est
$3,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
$80,000 to $200,000. Average: $130,000.
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In fiscal year 2001, 64
applications were received and 18 awards were made.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND
LITERATURE:
A formal competitive solicitation
for proposals for fiscal year 2001 was issued in December, 2000
for the fiscal year 2001 program.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local
Office: Project Office - National Energy Technology
Laboratory, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. Telephone: (412)
386-4524. Contact: Mr. John Augustine.
Headquarters Office:
Office of Advanced Research, Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy,
Washington, DC 20585. Contact: Fred Glaser. Telephone: (301) 903-2786.
Web Site Address:
http://www.fe.doe.gov/coal_power/advresearch/advres_universityresearch.
html
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Examples of projects funded
in 2000 are: (1) Ceramic Membranes for Hydrogen Separation application;
(2) Ceramic Membranes for Hydrogen Production from Coal; (3) Water-Gas
Shift Hydrogen Separation Process; (4) Sulfur Reduction in Gasoline
and Diesel Fuels by Extraction; (5) Novel Integrated Stack Approach
for Realizing Mechanically Robust Solid Oxide Fuel Cells; (6) Improved
Iron Catalysts for Slurry Phase Fisher-Tropsch Synthesis; and (7)
Fundamental Investigation of Fuel Transformations in Advanced coal
Combustion and Gasification Technologies.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Emphasis is on the scientific
and technical merit of the proposed research and the factors listed
as generic goals in the formal solicitation for proposals.
