**Notice of Intent to Issue**

**Funding Opportunity Announcement No.: DE-FOA-0000028**

The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory
(NETL) intends to issue, on behalf of the DOE Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Program, a
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled "Transportation
Electrification."

Projects selected under this requirement shall be used to establish
widespread demonstration, development, evaluation, and education
projects to accelerate the market introduction and penetration of
advanced electric drive vehicles.

Emerging electric vehicle technologies include Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicles (PHEV), Electric Vehicles (EV), Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV),
electric Idle Reduction (IR) technologies, Electric Rail, and the
recharging and support infrastructure required for each technology. The
classes of vehicles that are covered range from small off-road vehicles,
to passenger vehicles, to over-the-road trucks, to rail and marine
vessels. The transition to a transportation system that is heavily
reliant on electricity generated using domestic fuels and renewable
resources has the potential to dramatically reduce the consumption of
imported petroleum products, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and create
green jobs in the United States.

Prospective applicants will be required to apply to at least one or more
of the following Areas of Interest:

1.  Electric Drive Vehicle Demonstration and Evaluation

2.  Transportation Sector Electrification

3.  Advanced Electric Drive Vehicle Education Program

Projects will be awarded to conduct demonstration and data collection on
a wide range of electric drive transportation technologies. There are a
number of factors that impact the vehicle design characteristics, such
as vehicle usage, charging frequency, impacts due to varying climates,
availability of vehicle chargers, and actual real-world electric range.
These operating characteristics impact the benefit to the consumer and
overall vehicle design. It is the intent of the solicitation to gain an
understanding of these operating characteristics and use the information
to feed the design and development of a PHEV, EV, or FCV that is
optimized for performance and cost, while meeting emissions standards.
Similar information will be collected to accelerate the market
introduction and penetration of other electric drive technologies. The
vehicles and electric technologies should then realize a fast ramp-up to
high volume production.

DOE envisions awarding multiple financial assistance awards in the form
of cost-shared grants. The estimated period of performance for each
award is two to three years.

Non-Federal cost share will be required for all recipients. The specific
amount of non-Federal cost share will be identified in the FOA.

DOE plans to make the Funding Opportunity Announcement available in
February, 2009. The Funding Opportunity Announcement will be available
for viewing at Grants.gov
([http://www.grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/)) and at FedConnect
(<https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect> ). Applicants are strongly
encouraged to register at these sites to receive notification of
announcements posted by the National Energy Technology Laboratory. When
the Funding Opportunity Announcement is released, applications will only
be received through Grants.gov.

In anticipation of the Funding Opportunity Announcement being released
shortly, there are several one-time actions prospective applicants must
complete in order to submit an application through Grants.gov (e.g.,
obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number, register with the Central Contract Registry (CCR), register with
the credential provider, and register with Grants.gov). Due to the
likelihood of a short response period, interested applicants are
strongly encouraged to ensure these requirements have been met. Detailed
information on the DUNS and CCR process is presented at
http://[[www.grants.gov/GetStarted]{.underline}](http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
Applicants may use the Grants.gov Organization Registration Checklist at
[[http://www.grants.gov/assets/OrganizationRegCheck.pdf]{.underline}](http://www.grants.gov/assets/OrganizationRegCheck.pdf)
to guide them through the process. Designating an E-Business Point of
Contact (EBiz POC) and obtaining a special password called an MPIN are
important steps in the CCR registration process. Applicants not yet
registered with CCR and Grants.gov, should allow at [least 21
days]{.underline} to complete these requirements. It is strongly
recommended that the process be started as soon as possible.

If your organization does not have a DUNS number, go to the Dun &
Bradstreet (D&B) online registration located at
[[http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do]{.underline}](http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do)
to receive a number free of charge or call 1-866-705-5711.

The Central Contractor Registration (CCR) collects, validates, stores,
and disseminates business information about the Federal Government\'s
trading partners in support of the contract award, grants, and the
electronic payment processes.

To see if your organization is already registered with CCR, check the
CCR website located at
[[http://www.bpn.gov/ccrinq/scripts/search.asp]{.underline}](http://www.bpn.gov/ccrinq/scripts/search.asp).
You will be able to search CCR by using either your organization's DUNS
Number or legal business name. If your organization is already
registered, take note of who is listed as the organization's E-Business
Point of Contact (E-Business POC). This person will be responsible for
registering in FedConnect.

If your organization is not registered in CCR, go to the CCR Website at
[[www.ccr.gov]{.underline}](http://www.ccr.gov/) and select the \"Start
New Registration\" option to begin the registration process. Please
allow up to 7 days for processing of your registration which includes
the IRS validating your Employer Identification Number (Taxpayer
Identification Number or Social Security Number). The organization's
E-Business POC will be designated during the CCR registrations process.
A special Marketing Partner ID Number (MPIN) is established as a
password to verify the E-Business POC.

The DOE will not entertain questions at this time. Once the Funding
Opportunity Announcement has been released, a "submit questions" feature
will be defined.

DISCLAIMER

This Notice is issued so that interested parties are aware of the DOE's
intention to issue this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Any of the
information contained in this Notice is subject to change.