In the February 12, 1999 Issue:

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DOD SEEKS INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS FOR DUAL USE
The Department of Defense's Dual Use Science and Technology (DUS&T) Program, now in its fourth year of operation, is seeking participation from companies that are developing commercial technologies that could be used in military applications.

DOD has issued a Broad Agency Announcement and is seeking proposals in eight areas of technology:

Congress established goals for the initiation of dual use projects based on a percentage of the military Services' applied research budgets. In 1999, the goal is seven percent (roughly $115 million) that the Services are striving to commit to commercially relevant technologies. This year the Department plans to budget $110 million for its share of the DUS&T Program.

Inducements for industry to work with DoD's DUS&T Program include cost-shared projects, access to technology from the government and increased market opportunities with the military Services. In addition, the Department is making it easier for companies to participate by using contracting procedures that are outside the normal acquisition regulations.

Program officials are sponsoring a Dual Use Science and Technology Investment Strategy Conference March 25 in Chicago. Program managers from the Army, Navy and Air Force who are co-funding R&D projects will be on hand to answer questions from industry related to their technology needs and the process for participating in the DU S&T Program.   There is a $75 registration fee for the conference.

Proposals in response to the solicitation are due May 4, with selection of awards anticipated later this year.

For more information, contact Dan Petonito, DUS&T program manager, 703/ 681-5451 or visit their web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dust.

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$9 MILLION OFFERED BY DOE’S INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE
Proposal deadlines are fast approaching for three solicitations — totaling $9 million — offered under the Department of Energy’s Industries of the Future (IOF) initiative. Solicitations for research, technology development and deployment proposals to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts of steel, metal casting and agriculture close next month.

Industries of the Future is a strategy to encourage companies within the country’s nine most energy- and waste-intensive industries to work together to identify, develop and implement ways to reduce their energy use while increasing their economic competitiveness.

The six industrial sectors joining steel, metal casting and agriculture are aluminum, chemicals, forest products, glass, mining and petroleum. Industries of the Future also is addressing technologies cutting across several sectors, such as distributed generation, sensors, and enabling materials.

Within each sector, partnerships were formed of government, companies, associations, federal laboratories, and research and academic institutions to:

The sector groups then developed two documents, one summarizing the industry’s vision of the future and the other, a technology roadmap identifying specific technologies and priority areas for research and development.

Solicitations for proposals suggesting ways to address the roadmap priorities and eliminate barriers to implementing the roadmap technologies are being released for each sector. IOF funding available across sectors ranges from $2 million to $12 million.

The specific solicitations currently open are:

AGRICULTURE Approximately $2 million has been appropriated for the current agricultural industry solicitation. Three to six cooperative agreement awards are expected to be made, ranging in size between $200,000 and $600,000/year for 2-3 years. Teaming of two or more organizations and a 50 percent cost share are required for each project.

Proposals are due March 12, 1999. Selections and funding will be coordinated from the DOE Chicago Operations Office.

STEEL Approximately $5 million is available for the steel solicitation. One to five cooperative agreements awards will be made from the Idaho Operations Office. Cost -share requirements vary depending on the type of project proposed. For R&D proposals, a minimum 30 percent non-federal cost share is required. For demonstration projects, the matching requirement grows to 50 percent. Proposals under the steel industry focus are due by March 18.

METAL CASTING Approximately $2.5 million is available for this round of funding. The DOE Idaho Operations Office anticipates making 5 to 10 cooperative agreement awards each with a duration of three years or less. A minimum 50% non-federal cost-share is required for research and development projects. Collaborative projects are encouraged, but not required. The deadline for receipt of pre-applications was February 4, 1999. The deadline for receipt of full applications is March 24, 1999.

Each sector’s vision statements and road maps may be obtained from the Office of Industrial Technology or viewed on its website at http://www.oit.doe.gov/industries.shtml

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 $2.8 MILLION FOR STATE IOF ACTIVITIES
Under the State Energy Program Special Projects solicitation, the Department of Energy is seeking proposals from states for projects implementing the Industries of the Future (IOF). [See related articles in this issue and the 1/29/99 issue of the Digest for background.]

The DOE Office of Industrial Technology will award approximately $2.8 million for 20 projects ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 that:

Only State Energy Program offices are eligible to apply. A 20 percent non-federal cost share is encouraged. Applications must be received by April 1, 1999. Samples of previously funded projects and an interactive forum is offered to address questions from eligible organizations at http://www.oit.doe.gov/states/statesiof.shtml

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CHICAGO UNVEILS TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES
On Monday, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced a series of initiatives to promote technology development for the city, including an information technology incubator, formation of a Mayor’s Council of Technology Advisors, and a Civic Network to support capacity needs for Internet commerce by Chicago businesses.

The cornerstone of the Mayor’s technology initiatives, however, is the formation of the Chicago Technology Growth Fund, a $3 million venture capital fund to provide seed-stage financing in conjunction with private investors for high-tech startup firms located within Chicago. The Illinois Coalition was named to manage the fund for the city.

The Mayor’s Council of Technology Advisors will work to position Chicago as a leader in information technology (IT) by promoting the growth and retention of IT businesses, helping to meeting the growing capital needs of entrepreneurs, developing a strategy to pool technology talent in the city, and promoting access and understanding of IT throughout the city. The Council will be chaired by the Illinois Coalition chairman, Steve Mitchell.

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