Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.: Southeast regional biomass energy program management project,

[Federal Register: September 25, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 186)]

[Notices]

[Page 51343]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr25se98-49]

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Golden Field Office; Notice of Solicitation for Financial Assistance Applications; Southeast Regional Biomass Energy Program Management Project

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for financial assistance applications number DE-PS36-98GO10359.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the DOE Financial Assistance Rules, 10 CFR 600.8, is announcing its intention to solicit applications for the Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program (SERBEP) Management Project. The selected applicant will receive financial assistance to manage SERBEP under a cooperative agreement with DOE.

DATES: The solicitation will be issued on or about October 13, 1998.

AVAILABILITY: To obtain a copy of the Solicitation once it is issued, submit a written request to the U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401, Attention: Mr. Matt Barron, Contract Specialist. For convenience, requests for the Solicitation may be sent via facsimile to Matt Barron at (303) 275-4788 or by E-mail to matt__barron@nrel.gov. Prospective applicants are encouraged to obtain the solicitation electronically through the Golden Field Office Home Page at http://www.eren.doe.gov/golden/solicit.htm. Only written requests for the solicitation will be considered.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The major goals of the DOE SERBEP are: to promote biomass energy by creating awareness, a positive image, and confidence in biomass energy technologies within the region; to develop a climate supportive of biomass energy among the general public and relevant government agencies; to assist both the public and private sectors in the responsible development, commercialization, and utilization of biomass energy technologies so that the region achieves full realization of associated energy, economic, and environmental benefits; and to select and perform activities that provide for responsible development of biomass energy within the region. The Southeastern Region includes the following states/areas: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Applications must address each of the following activities in order to be considered for award. The activities are (1) management and planning, (2) information and outreach, and (3) project oversight and evaluation.

1. Management and Planning includes a plan for the overall management of the project at the state level, including coordination with the DOE Atlanta Regional Support Office (ARSO) and SERBEP ad hoc steering committees. The responsibility also includes development of resource plans and the provision of technical input to DOE for development of annual operating plans for the SERBEP.

   The SERBEP Annual Operating Plan (AOP) is a document which will be prepared each year by the ARSO, with appropriate committee input, which provides guidance and direction to the program for the following Fiscal Year.

   The FY'98AOP is available for interested parties. It is anticipated that the FY'99 AOP will not vary significantly from the current AOP and that it will be completed by September 1998--prior to the award resulting from this solicitation. It will be the responsibility of the recipient to guide the Program in meeting AOP objectives, recommend and implement changes to the AOP as necessary, and assist the ARSO in the preparation and completion of future AOP's.

2. Information and Outreach includes responding to inquiries about the program from interested parties, developing biotech briefs, collecting and contributing articles to support dialogue, and preparing regional biomass energy program reports. The recipient also will coordinate and publish a regional newsletter at least quarterly and will establish and maintain a SERBEP Internet site which provides relevant biomass program information and project summaries.

3. Project Oversight and Evaluation includes the award and administration of subgrants to organizations in the region. The recipient will solicit applications for projects in support of program objectives through a competitive solicitation. The ARSO will establish a review panel consisting of DOE and/or DOE laboratory staff, state officials, university staff, and other experts as needed. Documentation of the evaluation process and final recommendations will be collected and presented to the ARSO Project Officer for approval prior to execution of subawards.

   Administration of the individual subgrants, including financial commitments, performance tracking, and the provision of periodic reports to DOE, will be the responsibility of the recipient with appropriate oversight from the ARSO.

   In response to this solicitation, DOE expects to make a single award. Solicitation number DE-PS36-98GO10359 will include complete information on the program including technical aspects, funding, application preparation instructions, application evaluation criteria, and other factors that will be considered when selecting projects for funding. No pre-application conference is planned. Issuance of the solicitation is planned on or about October 13, 1998, with responses due on November 10, 1998. Notice of Solicitation for Financial Assistance Applications SOUTHEAST REGIONAL BIOMASS ENERGY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT PROJECT

   Issued in Golden, Colorado, on September 17, 1998. John W. Meeker, Chief, Procurement, GO.

   [FR Doc. 98-25689Filed9-24-98; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 6450-01-P