U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401

A -- NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A SOLICITATION FOR THE INVENTIONS AND INNOVATION PROGRAM SOL DE-PS36-98GO10293 DUE 073198 POC Contact Jennifer Squire, Inventions and Innovations Project Monitor at (303) 275-4764, or internet jennifer_squire@nrel.gov; or Bertha Crisp, Contract Specialist at (303) 275-4771, or internet bertha_crisp@nrel.gov WEB: click here to download a copy of the RFP, http://www.eren.doe.gov/solicit.htm. E-MAIL: click here to contact the Project Monitor or Contract Specialist via e-mail, jennifer_squire@nrel.gov or bertha_crisp@nrel.gov. The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) has revised the process of financial assistance under the Inventions and Innovation Program. Formerly the program had two distinct programs: The Energy-Related Inventions Program (ERIP) and the Innovative Concepts Program (InnCon). The goals of the Inventions and Innovation Program are to improve energy efficiency through the promotion of innovative ideas and inventions that have a significant potential future commercial market. The Inventions and Innovation Program goals are also consistent with the mission of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE), which is to develop and promote the adoption of cost-effective renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies within the building, industrial, transportation, and utility sectors for the benefit of economic competitiveness, energy security, and environmental quality of the nation. The following OIT focus industries, which are the dominant energy users and wastegenerators in the U.S. manufacturing sector, are of particular interest to the program: Aluminum, Chemicals, Forest Products, Glass, Metal-Casting, and Steel. Proposals for each program were submitted through an unsolicited application process to DOE through the National Institute of Standards and Technology, formerly the National Bureau of Standards for ERIP and directly to DOE for InnCon. DOE/OIT has revised the two programs to put them under one competitive solicitation process. DOE intends to issue a new solicitation annually. Ideas that have a significant energy savings impact and future commercial market potential are chosen for financial support through the competitive solicitation process. The new Inventions and Innovation Program will provide financial assistance at two levels, up to $40,000 or up to $100,000 depending on the stage of development. Refer to Appendix 1 of the Solicitation for definitions. The level of financial assistance will be determined during the review process by DOE. There are no restrictions. Small, start-up businesses, individual inventors, and entrepreneurs are especially encouraged to participate. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number assigned to this program is 81.036. Cost sharing is not required but encouraged by applicants and/or cooperating 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. With publication, DOE is announcing the availability of up to $3 million dollars in grant agreement funds for fiscal year 1999. The awards will be made through a competitive process. Each award may cover a project period of up to two (2) years. DOE reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the proposals submitted in response to this notice. DOE expects to issue the solicitation on or about May 1, 1998. To obtain a copy of the solicitation, eligible parties may write to the U. S. Department of Energy Golden Field Office, Attention: Jennifer Squire, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401, or obtain an electronic copy through the Golden Field Office Home Page at http://www.eren.doe.gov/golden/solicit.htm beginning May 1, 1998. Only written requests for the solicitation will be honored. For convenience, requests for the solicitation may be faxed to Ms. Squire at (303) 275-4788. (0089)

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