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-81-0163 DUE 100699 POC Diana Mulligan, (303) 445-2436, Grants and Cooperative Agreements Officer WEB: AAMS Current Solicitation Listing, http://www.usbr.gov/aamsden/AAMSsol.htm. 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-81-0163 for the Desalination Research and Development Program, Task H, Partnerships. Parties without Internet access shall request the solicitation package in writing by facsimile to (303) 445-6345 or by regular mail to Attn: D. Mulligan, D-7810, Box 25007, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225. 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 10/06/99. 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 H -- Partnerships) to form partnerships with water research organizations to co-fund others to perform basic or applied research. These partnerships are for 12 months duration or less (follow-on funding may be available for additional research studies). Only responsible water research organizations dedicated to creating new sources of water through research and technology and who meet the qualifications listed below may submit a proposal which will be considered by Reclamation: All research activities are monitored by an external research advisory board or council of nationally recognized experts who are associated with Federal, state, and local government; private industry; and academic institutions of higher education; Reclamation will be included as a member of the external research advisory board or a member of the sponsored project advisory committee during the course of this funding; Must be able to show a successful history of working with universities, local, state, and national government entities, water utilities, international organizations, and regulatory agencies; Are specifically chartered to perform basic and applied water research to resolve national issues; and Are involved in basic or applied research for advanced water treatment processes or desalting technologies, and have successfully performed water treatment or desalting research for a minimum of five (5) years at a minimum funding level of $1,000,000 per year. Any responsible sources that meet the criteria which is stated above and in the solicitation may submit a proposal which will be considered by Reclamation. Foreign entities are not eligible for funding under the authorizing legislation for this program, other than United States-Mexico binational research foundations and inter-university research programs established by the two countries. Federal agencies are not eligible to apply. 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 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. 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 reimbursable 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 named individual. 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 $60,000. Contingent upon Congressional funding, and pending successful completion of previous research, a maximum amount of $180,000 per agreement will be awarded for research for Reclamation's cost-share portion as follows: amounts of up to $60,000 will be provided for research for each of three (3) consecutive fiscal years (FY2000, FY2001, and FY 2002). Posted 08/04/99 (W-SN363445). (0216)

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