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

A -- SOLICITATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION FOR COOPERATIVE AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES (CARAT) PROGRAM SOL DE-PS02-99EE50493 DUE 040999 POC Michael Rafa, Contract Specialist, 630/252-2192 WEB: The Acquisition and Assistance Group, www.ch.doe.gov/business/ACQ.htm. E-MAIL: E-mail address for Michael Rafa, Contract Specialist, michael.rafa@ch.dov.gov. The Department of Energy (DOE) plans to issue a Solicitation for Financial Assistance to invite small business and institutions of higher education to submit applications for financial assistance for research and development (R&D) for advanced vehicle technologies compatible with the Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies (OAAT) R&D Program. Entities with strong research capabilities in science or engineering in any of the topic areas described below are encouraged to participate. DOE will support high quality research and development on advanced automotive technology concepts concerning important scientific or engineering problems and opportunities that could lead to significant public benefit. CARAT is intended to channel the creativity and resourcefulness of the small business and academic communities to remove technology barriers blocking the viability of promising technologies. This is an exclusive means to research, develop and validate advanced automotive technologies that will enable the production of cars and light trucks which are extremely fuel efficient, have low emissions and are /or fuel flexible. The CARAT topics are: (1) Oxygen Reduction Catalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell; (2) Cooling Systems for PEM Fuel Cells (3) Direct-Methanol Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells; (4)Ultralight Sandwich Structures; (5) Processing of Metal Matrix Composites; (6)) Low-cost Carbon Fiber Precursors and Production Methods; (7)High-Volume, High Rate, Low-cost Manufacturing of Structural Thermoplastics Composites; (8) Mass Flow Rate and Chemical Composition Sensor for Engine Intake System; (9) Safe Electrolytes with Improved Operating Temperature Range; (10) Low-cost, Novel Carbon Anodes; (11) Low-cost Packaging for Lithium-ion Cells; (12) Stabilization of Manganese Spinel for Use as Low-cost Cathode Material in Lithium-ion Batteries; (13) Traction Motor for Parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicle(HEV); (14) Improved Coolant for Electrical/Electronic EV/HEV Systems; (15) Waste Heat Recovery in Passenger Automobiles. The CARAT Program is a 3-phased program. A minimum cost-share of 20% is required for Phases I and II. Phase I may be funded up to $150,000 for a period of 12 months, and Phase II may be funded up to $750,000.00 for a period of 24 months. Teaming arrangements are encouraged, however, no less than 51% of the work must be performed by the small business or higher education entity. DOE intends to issue the solicitation on or about March 24,1999 and the pre-applications are due on April 9, 1999. The solicitation will be available on the INTERNET to view and download at http://www.ch.doe.gov/business/ACQ.htm (it is critical that ACQ is uppercase and all others are lower case. Printed copies will not be available from this office, therefore, copies must be downloaded from the INTERNET. Posted 03/17/99 (W-SN309445). (0076)

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