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NSF & DOE TO FUND NEW ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTERS
The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Research have announced that there will be funds available to create Environmental Molecular Science Institutes (EMSI).This funding opportunity will establish one to three EMSIs aimed at increasing fundamental understanding of natural and industrial processes and their interaction at the molecular level. In particular, research will focus on environmental problems caused by manufacturing activities that are energy and pollution intensive.
NSF expects to commit $2 million per year beginning in FY 98. Grant requests in the range of $500,000 to $2 million per year for up to five years will be deemed appropriate. DOE also expects to contribute approximately $2 million in FY 98 to support specific activities within the Institutes appropriate to DOE interests.
Eligibility is limited to colleges, universities, and other not-for-profit institutions. Potential applicants are required to submit a brief preliminary proposal by October 15, 1997. The proposal must reference NSF 97-135. The preliminary proposals will be evaluated and the principal investigators will be advised on responsiveness to goals and priorities. Full proposals will be due by February 1, 1998.
For more information on this competitive grant, contact Janet Osteryoung of NSF at 703/306-1845 or e-mail her at josteryo@nsf.gov. Or you may contact Robert Marianelli of DOE at 301/903-5808 or e-mail at robert.marianelli@mailgw.er.doe.gov. Information about the program can also be obtatined on the web at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/1997/nsf97135/nsf97135.htm
DOE SEEKING PROPOSALS FOR NICE3 PROGRAM
The Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies is soliciting proposals for its National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment and Economics (NICE3) grant program. NICE3 provides funding to state and industry partnerships (large and small businesses) for projects that develop and demonstrate advances in energy efficiency and clean production technologies.DOE has announced the availability of up to $6 million in grant/cooperative agreement funds for fiscal year 1998. Since 1991, NICE3 has sponsored 78 projects, with 53% from small business, totaling $24.4 million of federal funding. Industrial technologies that the NICE3 program has funded include the following: cleaning process in the manufacturing of semiconductors; innovative design of a brick kiln using low thermal mass technology; and fiber loading for paper manufacture.
The only eligible applicants for purposes of funding under the program include any authorized agency of the 50 states and territories. Industry applicants must submit project proposals through a state energy, pollution prevention, or business development office. Awardees receive a one-time grant of up to $400,000 for the proposed project. Grants fund up to 45% of the total project cost for up to three years.
The proposal deadline for the federal government is December 10, 1997. However, most states will have earlier deadlines. Check with your appropriate state agency for further detail. For a copy of the NICE3 solicitation, contact Eric Hass, Project Manager of NICE3, at 303/275-4728. More detailed information about the program can be found on the web at http://www.oit.doe.gov/Access/nice3
DOE FUNDING FOR CHEMICAL INDUSTRY INITIATIVE
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) will be accepting applications for research and development projects that improve energy efficiency and minimize waste generation in the chemical industry. DOE and the chemical industry have entered into an understanding to identify appropriate areas of joint research. The areas for collaborative research contemplated by this solicitation are catalysis, bioprocesses, and separation technologies.The DOE expects to award six to twenty cooperative agreements with an anticipated $4 million in total funding for FY 1998. DOE will consider projects ranging from one to five years. The solicitation will invite applications from any non-profit or for-profit organization, university or other institution of higher education or non-federal agency or entity. National laboratories are not eligible for awards as prime recipients.
A minimum cost-sharing commitment of 30 percent of the total cost of the project will be required from chemical industry sources for R&D projects. Should any demonstration or commercial application projects result from this initial effort, the cost sharing requirement from chemical industry sources is a minimum of 50 percent.
The Federal Register announced that the solicitation would be available on or about July 31, 1997. However, to date, the solicitation has not been released. When it is available, the document will be found on the internet by accessing the DOE Chicago Operations Office Acquisition and Assistance Group home page at (http://www.ch.doe.gov/business/ACQ.htm) under the heading "Current Acquisition Activities" The Federal Register reported that applications will be due on or before 3:00 p.m., Central Daylight Time, September 15, 1997. For further information contact Earlette Robinson at (630) 252-2667 or e-mail earlette.robinson@ch.doe.gov
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