U.S. Department of Energy, Oakland Operations Office, 1301 Clay Street, Room 700N, Oakland, CA 94612-5208

A -- STOCKPILE STEWARDSHIP/INERTIAL FUSION SCIENCE SOL DE-PS03-97DP00167 DUE 063097 POC Ann Satsangi, Project Manager 301-903-8059 or Bill O'Neal, Contracting Officer 510-637-1880 WEB: Stockpile Stewardship/Inertial Fusion, http://www.oak.doe.gov/procure/proc_main.html and http://www3.dp.doe.gov/ifnif/grants.htm. E-MAIL: Stockpile Stewardship/Inertial Fusion Science, ann.satsangi@dp.doe.gov or bill.o'neal@oak.doe.gov. SUMMARY: The Department of Energy Office of Defense Programs hereby announces its interest in receiving grant applications for performance of unclassified innovative research in high energy density science relevant to inertial fusion within the stockpile stewardship program. A solicitation will be available on or about April 11, 1997. The objectives of this new Inertial Fusion Science in Support of Stockpile Stewardship Financial Assistance Program are to (1) increase U.S. efforts in high energy density science relevant to Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) through funding of small research projects at universities and other private sector institutions; (2) promote interactions between such investigators and scientists at the Department of Energy weapons laboratories, and; (3) assist in training scientists in areas of long-term research relevant to stockpile stewardship. Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Office of Inertial Fusion and the NIF Project intends to provide up to $2 million in FY98 for multiple grant awards under this Inertial Fusion Science in Support of Stockpile Stewardship Financial Assistance Program. Applicants will compete for one to three year grant awards through open competition with peer review. The solicitation document invites applications from all segments of the U.S. private sector (non federal). Any U.S. university or other institution of higher education or other non profit or for profit organization, non federal agency or entity will be eligible for a grant award under this new financial assistance program. Non-U.S. citizens at U.S. institutions are eligible. Investigators at foreign institutions may not apply as a principal investigator, but may receive funding as a co-investigator. DOE must be notified of any foreign nationals involved in the funded work, and there may be some restrictions on their participation at certain facilities and conferences. Representative Research Areas: Under this solicitation, DOE will consider applications for unclassified research in inertial fusion science that is relevant to stockpile stewardship. Both theoretical and experimental proposals are encouraged. Examples of areas of research (and some subfields) eligible for support under this financial assistance program are: Hydrodynamics fluid instabilities behavior of complex systems Radiative properties and atomic physics dense plasma behavior plasma spectroscopy radiative transfer opacity Plasma physics interpenetrating plasmas plasma streaming in magnetic fields laser plasma instabilities beam plasma interactions high energy density plasmas Material properties equation of state extreme high temperature and high pressure regimes material/radiation interactions Development of Diagnostics particle (neutron and charged particle) spectroscopic (e.g. x ray) Computational Physics radiation hydrodynamics codes material radiation interactions new modeling techniques Facility Use: For applicants who propose the use of facilities at one of the ICF laboratories, arrangements will need to be made with the specific laboratory. Potential applicants should contact the appropriate laboratory directly to discuss any facility-related concerns and to determine the laboratory's procedures and schedule for submittal of a facility use proposal. The laboratory's review of facility use proposals for acceptability will take place prior to the DOE selection. PREAPPLICATION: Potential applicants are encouraged to submit a preapplication consisting of one to five pages of narrative describing the research objectives and methods of accomplishment. The purpose of the preapplication is 1) to provide some feedback to applicants on the relevance of their ideas to the program, and 2) to give DOE an idea of the number of full applications to expect. A preapplication should include cover-page information and a brief (1 to 5 page) project description. The cover page should include: a statement that the document is a preapplication; principal investigator's (PI) name, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address; name and address of PI's organization; and title of the project. The project description should include the following, as appropriate: a description of the proposed research; a statement of its importance; an explanation of methodology and equipment needs, including ICF facility use; anticipated results; a project schedule with estimated completion date; cost-share and total project cost information. Confidential or proprietary information is discouraged, but any such information must be clearly marked. Attachments or enclosures submitted with the preapplication will not be reviewed. Preapplications will be reviewed relative to the goals of the grant program and the DOE will respond with a letter informing the applicant whether or not the proposed work is within the bounds of the program. Preapplications are not required, but are encouraged. Preapplications should be submitted by May 1, 1997 to: Office of Inertial, DP-18, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, Attn.: Grant Program, or submitted electronically to: ann.satsangi@dp.doe.gov. APPLICATION EVALUATION: Evaluation process: Applications will undergo several stages of review: administrative review, stewardship/ICF review, and scientific/technical review. The administrative review assures that the application is complete, has been signed by an authorized official, and is consistent with national security and export laws. The stewardship relevance review will be performed by a panel consisting of representatives from the three weapons laboratories who will evaluate whether applications fall within the scope of the grant program. The scientific/technical peer review process will follow standard merit review practices used in other funding competitions. Independent peer reviewers will evaluate applications on their technical merit will score them against an established set of criteria. The DOE selection official will be Christopher J. Keane, Associate Director, Office of Inertial Fusion and the NIF Project. Scientific / Technical Merit Evaluation Criteria: The following evaluation criteria are listed in relative order of importance. 1) Scientific/technical merit and significance of the research 2) The feasibility of plans for carrying out the proposed research considering such factors as appropriateness of the proposed method or approach, facility compatibility, other commitments, competition, and timing. 3) Impact on stewardship mission 4) Adequacy of proposed resources and interest of the applicant institution 5) Research performance, capability and future promise of the investigator(s) 6) Reasonableness and appropriateness of proposed budget DATES: Preapplications should be submitted by May 1, 1997. Full applications under this notice should be received by 4:30 pm Eastern Standard Time, June 30, 1997. Initial grant awards under this new financial assistance program are planned for about November 15, 1997. ADDRESSES: The complete solicitation document will be available on or about April 4, 1997 on the Internet by accessing the ICF grant program home page (http://www3.dp.doe.gov/ifnif/grants.htm) or by accessing the DOE/OAK home page (http://www.oak.doe.gov/procure/proc_main.html). Prospective applicants may also submit a written request including a self addressed stamped envelope and an MS DOS formatted high density 3 1/2", virus free diskette to the contracting officer for a diskette copy of the solicitation (U.S. Dept. of Energy, Oakland Operations Office, 1301 Clay Street 700N, Oakland, CA 94612-5208, Attn: Bill O'Neal). Completed applications referencing Solicitation Notice DE-PS03-97DP00167 must be submitted to: Office of Inertial Fusion, DP-18, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD, 20874-1290, Attn.: Grant Program. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Satsangi, 301 903 8059, ann.satsangi@dp.doe.gov or Bill O'Neal 510-637-1880, bill.o'neal@oak.doe.gov The Catalogue of Federal Assistance number for this program is 81.112. (0085)

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