[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15670-15671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8351]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Intent to Provide Optional Prescreening Process for the 
National Industrial Competitiveness Through Energy, Environment and 
Economics (NICE<SUP>3) Program

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, The 
Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to provide optional prescreening process for 
potential applicants under the DOE NICE<SUP>3 program solicitation.

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Summary: The Office of Industrial Technologies of the Department of 
Energy is funding a State Grant Program entitled National Industrial 
Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and Economics 
(NICE<SUP>3). The goals of the NICE<SUP>3 Program are to improve energy 
efficiency, promote cleaner production, and to improve competitiveness 
in industry.

Background Information

    The intent of the NICE<SUP>3 program is to fund projects that have 
completed the research and development stage and are ready to 
demonstrate a fully integrated commercial unit. Some industrial 
technologies that the NICE<SUP>3 program has funded follow: SO<INF>3 
Cleaning Process in the Manufacture of Semiconductors; Innovative 
Design of a Brick Kiln Using Low Thermal Mass Technology; Continuously 
Reform Electroless Nickel Plating Solutions; Recovery and Reuse of 
Water-Washed Overspray Paint; and HCl Acid Recovery System. For the 
past six years the NICE<SUP>3 program has offered 65 grants 
(approximately $20.5 million) to fund innovative industrial 
technologies.
    Eligible applicants for funding include any authorized agency of 
the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the 
United States. For convenience, the term State in this notice refers to 
all eligible State agency applicants. Local governments, State and 
private universities, private non-profits, private businesses, and 
individuals, who are not eligible as direct applicants, must work with 
the appropriate State agencies in developing projects and forming 
participation arrangements. DOE strongly encourages and requires these 
types of cooperative arrangements in support of program goals.
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number assigned to this 
program is 81.105. Up to $6 million in Federal funds will be made 
available in FY 1998 by DOE for the August 1997 solicitation. Cost 
sharing is required by all applicants and/or cooperating project 
participants. The Federal Government will provide up to 45 percent of 
the funds for the project in FY 1998. The remaining funds must be 
provided by the eligible applicants and/or cooperating project 
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. The state applicant is 
required to have an industrial partner to be considered eligible for 
grant consideration.

Presolicitation

    This notice is to advise potential applicants and project 
participants of the August 1997 solicitation and that DOE will accept 
presolicitation submissions that set out a brief description of the 
potential projects. The submissions should not exceed two pages and 
should adhere to the format laid out in the preproposal format. This 
format can be obtained by calling the U.S. Department of Energy's 
Golden Field Office contacts (listed below). All preproposal 
submissions will be reviewed by NICE <SUP>3 project monitors at the 
Golden Field Office. The monitors will provide comments to the 
submitter on the proposed project's applicability to the NICE <SUP>3 
program. In addition, the reviewers will provide feedback which the 
applicant can use to formulate and refine their proposal.
    The submission of a presolicitation description is not mandatory 
for submitting an application under the August 1997 solicitation. The 
DOE reviews and comments under the presolicitation process will not be 
used by DOE in evaluating or awarding applications under the 
solicitation. The only purpose of the presolicitation process is to 
assist potential applicants, who may need assistance, in refining their 
application.

DATES: A brief description of the proposed project can be submitted to 
the Golden Field Office on or before July 1, 1997. All summaries must 
be submitted through a state agency.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Hass, at (303) 275-4728, or Doug 
Hooker, at (303) 275-4780, at the U.S. Department of Energy Golden 
Field Office, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401, for referral 
to the appropriate DOE Regional Support Office or State Agency. In 
addition, information on the NICE <SUP>3 program can be located at 
http//www.oit.doe.gov/

[[Page 15671]]

Access/nice <SUP>3. The Contract Specialist is James Damm, at (303) 
275-4744.

    Issued in Golden, Colorado, on March 21, 1997.
John W. Meeker,
Procurement Manager, GO.
[FR Doc. 97-8351 Filed 4-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P