A -- COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM ENTITLED THE INVENTIONS AND INNOVATION (I&I) PROGRAM

Notice Date

January 4, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401

ZIP Code

80401

Solicitation Number

DE-PS36-01GO90006

Response Due

July 11, 2001

Point of Contact

Questions may be sent to: go_nice3@nrel.gov

E-Mail Address

Margo Gorin (go_nice3@nrel.gov)

Description

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) is funding a competitive grant program entitled the Inventions and Innovation (I&I) Program. The goals of the I&I Program are to improve energy efficiency through the promotion of innovative ideas and inventions that have a significant potential future commercial market. These goals are consistent with the mission of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), which is to develop and promote the adoption of cost-effective renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies within the building, industrial, transportation, and utility sectors for the benefit of economic competitiveness, energy security, and environmental quality of the nation. The following OIT focus industries, which are dominant energy users and waste generators in the U.S. manufacturing sector, are of particular interest to the program: Agriculture, Aluminum, Chemicals, Forest Products, Glass, Metal-casting, Mining, and Steel. The DOE Golden Field Office (GO) has been assigned the responsibility to issue the solicitation and administer the awards. DOE intends to issue a new solicitation annually. Ideas that have a significant energy savings impact and future commercial market potential are chosen for financial support through the competitive solicitation process. The I&I Program will provide financial assistance at two levels: 1) up to $40,000 for Category 1 applications, conceptual stage of development, and 2) up to $200,000 for Category 2 applications, developmental stage of invention. To be considered for a Category 2 award, a bench-scale model and/or engineering analysis must be complete. Each award may cover a project period of up to one year for Category 1 and up to two years for Category 2. In addition to financial assistance, the I&I Program offers technical guidance and commercialization support to successful applicants through the Regional Resource Centers for Innovation (RRCI), regional networks among business professionals interested in the research, development, commercialization, and investment of energy efficient technologies. Eligibility requirements include the following: 1) individuals that are U.S. citizens, either native born or naturalized, 2) small businesses (as defined by the Small Business Administration) that are U.S. owned as defined in 10 CFR Part 600.501, or 3) institutions of higher learning located in the U.S. Institutions of higher learning located in the U.S. may only apply under Category 1. Individual inventors and very small businesses (15 or fewer employees) are especially encouraged to participate. More than one application may be submitted by an applicant for different innovations. However, funding will be limited to one award per applicant, per category, per cycle. 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 this program is 81.036. Cost sharing is not required but highly encouraged by applicants and/or cooperating participants. In addition to direct financial contributions, cost sharing can include beneficial services or items such as manpower, equipment, consultants, and computer time that are allowable in accordance with applicable cost principles. DOE is announcing the availability of up to $3 million dollars in grant agreement funds for Fiscal Year 2001. The awards will be made through a competitive process. Each award may cover a project period of up to one year for Category 1 applications and up to two years for Category 2 applications. DOE reserves the right to fund in whole or in part any, all, or none of the proposals submitted in response to this notice. DOE expects to issue the solicitation on or about April 1, 2001. To obtain a copy of the solicitation, eligible parties may write to the U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, Attention: Margo Gorin, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, Colorado 80401 or send a fax to, Attention: Margo Gorin (303) 275-4788. An electronic copy may be obtained through the Golden Field Office Home Page at http://www.golden.doe.gov/businessopportunities under the "Solicitations" thumbnail beginning on or about April 1, 2001.*****

Web Link

Click here to download copy of solicitation (http://www.golden.doe.gov/buisnessopportunities)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010108/ASOL003.HTM (W-004 SN50A1T4)