SCRA, 5300 International Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29418

A -- CAST METAL COALITION SOL CMC98-1 DUE 022897 POC Ms. Amy Kemp, (803) 760-4080; Contracting Officer, Ms. Erinbeth Massie, (803) 760-3371. The Cast Metal Coalition is a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Energy, American Foundrymen's Society, North American Die Casting Association, Steel Founders' Society of America, and the metalcasting industry at large. The Coalition is reviewing whitepapers for 1998 funding in the metalcasting arena related to technology advancement, energy conservation and environmental efforts beneficial for the nation and the industry. Papers should focus on topics within the guidelines stated in "Beyond 2000 -- A Vision for the American Metalcasting Industry", dated September 1995. Whitepapers should demonstrate technical knowledge to implement the intended work. A copy of the Vision and its more detailed Roadmap is available at http://www.scra.org/cmc, or by e-mail at kemp&scra.org. Areas of interest cover die, sand, and investment processes. Industry-wide topics include Enhanced Rapid Prototyping Processes, Mechanical Property Simulation, Process Simulation, Process Improvement, Energy Reduction,Productivity Enhancement, Quality Improvement, Enhanced Process Control Mechanisms, Dimensional Control & Repeatability, Mechanical Property Data Base Enhancement/Expansion, and Pollution Prevention. Topics for foundry processes include Cost Reduction (Yield Improvement, Melting Efficiency, Process Reengineering), Lead Time/Delivery Performance (Rapid Tools Manufacture, Electronic Exchange), Design/Conversion (Conversions, Metal Casting Engineering Systems, New Engineering Approaches), High Integrity Castings (High Alloy Performance, Clean Steel, Thin Wall), Solidification Modeling, Molding Processes, Control of Cast Microstructures, and Tooling & Pattern Production/Wear/Corebox Construction. Topics for specialty processes are also included, such as Die Casting Waste Reduction/Elimination, Internal Soundness Measurement and Prediction, Improved Die & Insert Materials, Semi-Solid and Squeeze Castings, Die Soldering Prevention, Improved Die & Insert Coatings, Enhanced Aluminum Die Casting Alloys, Enhanced Zinc Die Casting Alloys, Enhanced Magnesium Die Casting Alloys, Enhanced Semi-Solid Die Casting Alloys, and Enhanced Metal Matrix Composite Die Casting Alloys. This is a cost-sharing initiative, requiring matching funds of up to $1.40 by the research team for each $1.00 of Coalition funds. Multiple project awards are anticipated, beginning in early calendar 1998. National Labs are encouraged to participate in the teams supporting this initiative. Requirements to establish and track energy and environmental metrics exist. Work products in this program will typically be of a non-proprietary nature and proposers must be willing to present reviews and assist in the transfer of information and knowledge gained in this work across the industry, in order to enhance the overall level of American competitiveness. 1998 proposals will be solicited in the summer of 1997. Whitepapers should be written using twelve-point font and one-inch margins, and should be no more than five pages in length. The whitepapersshould contain seven sections, one section addressing each of the following evaluation criteria: (1) Technical approach and relevance to the Industry's Vision and Roadmap; (2) Potential energy savings (for energy savings estimates, see the "How Do I Submit a Whitepaper or a Proposal to CMC" section of http://www.scra.org/cmc); (3) Potential for productivity improvements (e.g., lead time reductions, scrap reductions, direct cost savings); (4) Industry participation in the project (broad industry participation, in-plant trials, demonstrations); (5) Level of risk (incremental developments versus significant technological change) compared to results expected; (6) Cost realism and cost share; and (7) Past performance. Administrative questions and proposal format/content requests can be directed to: SCRA, Ms. Amy Kemp, Cast Metal Coalition, 5300 International Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29418, phone (803) 760-4080, FAX (803) 760-3349. E-mail is kemp@amp;scra.org and proposal information is available electronically to requestors via e-mail, or through the World Wide Web at http://www.scra.org/cmc. Additional specific technical inquiries may be addressed to any of the ~following Coalition representatives: Dr. Joe Santner, AFS, 505 State Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016-8399, phone (847) 824-0181, FAX (847) 824-7848; Mr. Malcolm Blair, SFSA, 455 State Street, Suite 102, Des Plaines, IL 60016, phone (847) 299-916O, FAX (847) 299-3105; Mr. Steve Udvardy, NADCA, 9701 W. Higgins Road, Suite 880, Rosemont, IL 60018-362O, phone (847) 292-3600 ext. 33O, FAX (847) 292-3620; Mr. Bob Trimberger, Project Manager, DOE-ID, MS 122O, 850 Energy Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401-1563, phone (208) 526-1807, FAX (208) 526-5964. Whitepapers will be due (no faxes) by 5 p.m., E.S.T., 28 February 1997 at: SCRA, Attn: Ms Amy Kemp -- Cast Metal Coalition, 5300 International Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29418. The submittal (or lack of submittal) of a whitepaper for the 1998 award cycle will not guarantee (nor eliminate) the selection of any specif~ic proposal. The whitepaper process is provided as a courtesy to interested proposers in order to provide pre-proposal feedback from CMC before resources are committed to write full proposals. It is anticipated at this point that full proposals will be due to CMC on or before 4 June 1997. (The exact proposal schedule is to be published in May 1997~) All whitepapers submitted by 28 February 1997 will receive a written response from CMC concerning the technical topic/scope suitability for CMC objectives. (0014)

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