Bureau of Reclamation, Acquisition Operations Group, Code D-7810, Denver Federal Center, PO Box 25007, Denver CO 80225

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR APPLIED RESEARCH-DESALINATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SOL 00-FC-81-0162 DUE 101599 POC Diana Mulligan, (303) 445-2436, Grants and Cooperative Agreements Officer WEB: AAMS Current Solicitation Listing, http://www.usbr.gov/aamsden/. E-MAIL: Diana Mulligan, dmulligan@do.usbr.gov. The solicitation package may be obtained from the Bureau of Reclamation home page located at URL http://www.usbr.gov/aamsden/AAMSsol.html. Reference Solicitation No. 00-FC-81-0162 for the Desalination Research and Development Program, Task G, Testing of Pilot Scale Systems. Parties without Internet access shall request the solicitation package in writing by facsimile to (303) 445-6345 or by E-Mail to dmulligan@do.usbr.gov. Telephone requests will not be honored. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the instructions contained in Section E of the solicitation, and shall not exceed the page limitations specified. Proposals are due no later than 10/15/99. The U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), is currently requesting proposals for research activities sponsored by the Desalination Research and Development (DesalR&D) Program. Through this program, Reclamation is forming partnerships with private industry, universities, local communities, and others to address a broad range of desalting needs. The overall objective of the program is to serve as a catalyst in reducing the cost of desalting technologies so that they can become an affordable alternative to most of the communities. In an earlier solicitation for fiscal year 1999, Reclamation requested proposals in six different research emphasis areas for projects of 12 months duration. In this solicitation, proposals are requested for another emphasis area (Task G -- Testing of Pilot Scale Systems) to perform pilot plant investigations. These pilot plant investigations can be an extension (second phase) of existing research work being performed under one of the other emphasis areas of this program, or may stem from other outside research work. In either case, the existing research must have progressed to the point that a pilot-scale test program is the next logical phase. Sufficient information, in the form of reports and laboratory-scale test data, must be provided describing the results of previous research on the technology as an attachment to the proposal (not counted in the page limitation specified in solicitation paragraph E.6.3) so that a determination can be made that a pilot-scale test program is the next logical step. The technical review committee will make this determination based on (1) the maturity of the technology, (2) technical and economic feasibility, and (3) the degree to which the proposed investigation supports the overall objectives of the DesalR&D program as described below. The Water Desalination Act of 1996, the authorizing legislation for this program, defines the following important terms: (1) Desalination or desalting means "the use of any process or technique for the removal and, when feasible, adaptation to beneficial use, of organic and inorganic elements and compounds from saline or biologically impaired waters, by itself or in conjunction with other processes." (2) Saline water means "sea water, brackish water, and other mineralized or chemically impaired water." Offerors (other thanacademic institutions of higher education) must be willing to cost-share 50% or more of the project cost, depending on the financial need of the project. Offerors proposing to provide additional cost-share will be given greater consideration. Cost-sharing may be made through cash or in-kind contributions from the offeror, or third party non-Federal participants. Cost-sharing is not mandatory from academic institutions, but is strongly encouraged. No profit or fee will be allowed. Patent rights for any developments will be retained by the research partner (offeror) in accordance with provisions contained in the solicitation. Reclamation's laboratory facilities are available for use on a cost reimburseable basis. These include laboratory and pilot-scale equipment at the Technical Service Center in Denver, Colorado, and the state-of-the-art water treatment facility, the Water Quality Improvement Center, in Yuma, Arizona. Additional information regarding the use and cost of these facilities may be obtained by contacting the above. Any responsible source, to include individuals, academic institutions, commercial or industrial organizations, private entities, public entities (including state and local), or Indian Tribal Governments, may submit a proposal which will be considered by Reclamation. Foreign entities, other than United States-Mexico binational research foundations and inter-university research programs established by the two countries, are not eligible for funding under the authorizing legislation for this program. Federal agencies are not eligible to apply. During fiscal year 2000, Reclamation anticipates making awards in the quantities listed below, subject to the content and quality of proposals received for each task area; however, should additional funding become available, additional awards may be made. For fiscal year 2000 Reclamation anticipates the award of a total of two (2) assistance agreements to two (2) separate Recipients with Federal funding amounts of up to $150,000 for pilot plant design, construction, and installation in the first year, and amounts of up to $120,000 for an optional second year for testing, repairs, modification, and evaluation. The total Reclamation two-year cost share portion can not exceed $270,000 per agreement. Posted 07/28/99 (W-SN360287). (0209)

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