U.S. Department Of Energy, Chicago Operations Office, 9800 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439

A -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR AUTOMOTIVE INTEGRATED POWER MODULES SOL DE-SC02-98ee50525 POC Earlette Robinson, 630/252-2667 WEB: DOE Chicago Operations Office -- Acquisition Home Page, http://www.ch.doe.gov/business/acq.htm. E-MAIL: Merit Review Committee Secretary, earlette.robinson@ch.doe.gov. The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Transportation Technologies (OTT) plans to issue a financial assistance solicitation (FAS) for research and development on Automotive Integrated Power Modules (AIPM). This solicitation, which is due to be released on or about July 15, 1998, and supports the Government/automotive industry Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). The Partnership is developing light-duty vehicles that achieve up to three times the fuel economy of comparable conventional vehicles, meet emission standards, and offer the same level of performance and cost as today's vehicles. Additional information on the Partnership can be attained at the Unites States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) web site http://uscar.org. Hybrid electric propulsion, integrated power electronics, along with direct injection engines, fuel cells, and light-weight materials have been selected for development due to their potential for attaining the goal of 80-mpg fuel economy in a six-passenger sedan. The AIPM is a cross-cutting system development technology that supports DOE's automotive fuel cell and direct injection engine programs and their introduction into pre-production automobiles. The applicant shall develop and demonstrate their AIPM innovation by using open architecture concepts that permit scalable low-cost manufacturing to meet automotive goals and requirements. Further, the applicant shall participate with DOE and its automotive industry partners to demonstrate the system development capabilities of the proposed AIPM. Depending on funding availability, DOE may require AIPM prototypes being developed under the resulting awards to undergo system validation. Those prototypes that are successful may be used to develop automotive engineering solutions for operation under extreme conditions. The AIPM specification was coordinated with the Navy's Power Electronic Building Block (PEBB) program and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, (IEEE). Additional information canbe found on the PEBB web site http://pebb.onr.navy.mil and the IEEE web site http://stdsbbs.ieee.org/groups/1461. System integration issues for the AIPM include delivery of complete scale modules incorporating the principles of design for manufacturing and means to update DOE existing cost analyses. Proposals are sought for light-duty transportation applications, however a scale up to medium and heavy duty transportation application may also be considered. DATES and ADDRESSES: The solicitation will be available on or about July 15, 1998, on the DOE Chicago Internet Home Page at http://www.ch.doe.gov/business/ACQ.htm under the heading "Current Acquisition Activities," Solicitation No. DE-SC02-98EE50525, with applications due on or about August 17, 1998. Any amendments to this solicitation will be posted on the Internet. Please note that users will not be alerted when the solicitation is issued on the Internet or when amendments are posted on the Internet. Prospective applicants are, therefore, advised to check the above Internet address on a daily basis. The cooperate agreement are anticipated to be awarded on or about Jan 1, 1999. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Completed applications referencing Solicitation Notice DE-FC02-98EE50525 must be submitted to: U.S. Department of Energy Chicago Operations Office Attn: Earlette Robinson Bldg. 201, Room 3E-10 9800 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439-4899 DOE's Office of Transportation Technologies anticipates that approximately two cooperative agreements will result from this solicitation. Periods of performance may range from 24 to 36 months and total estimated DOE funding of $10,000,000 each. Cost sharing requirements are estimated at 50 percent. Awards are subject to the availability of funds. The solicitation will not obligate DOE to make any award(s). Any non-profit or for-profit organization, university of other institution of higher education, or non-federal agency or entity is eligible to apply. Federal laboratory participation shall be minimal and will be subject to DOE approval. THE SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE FURTHER GUIDANCE IN THIS AREA. Awards resulting from this solicitation will be subject to the requirements of the Energy Policy Act which in general requires that the awardee be a United States-owned company (including certain non-profits) or that the foreign country in which the parent company is located meets certain conditions of reciprocity in the treatment of investments, access to research and development programs, and protection of intellectual property. All responsible sources, as indicated above, may submit an application which shall be considered by the government. (0168)

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