[Federal Register: May 22, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 99)]
[Notices]               
[Page 27993-27994]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22my03-64]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Number DE-PS36-03GO93012]

 
Million Solar Roofs Initiative Small Grant Program for State and 
Local Partnerships

AGENCY: Golden Field Office, U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of solicitation for financial assistance 
applications.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the DOE 
Financial Assistance Rules, 10 CFR 600.8, is announcing its intention 
to solicit applications from State and Local Partnerships under the 
Million Solar Roofs (MSR) Program. DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy will consider proposals from interested State and 
Local Partnerships to help fund their MSR program development and 
implementation activities.

DATES: The solicitation will be issued early May 2003.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the solicitation will be accessible through the 
Golden Field Office Home Page at http://www.go.doe.gov/businessopportunities.html
 under ``Solicitations.'' The Golden Home 
Page will provide direct access to the solicitation and provide 
instructions on using the DOE Industry Interactive Procurement System 
(IIPS) Web site. The solicitation can also be obtained directly through 
IIPS at http://e-center.doe.gov/ by browsing opportunities by Program 
Office for those solicitations issued by the Golden Field Office. DOE 
will not issue hard copies of the solicitation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James McDermott, Contacting Officer, 
at 215-656-6976 or electronically at james.mcdermott@ee.doe.gov. 
Responses to questions will be posted on the DOE IIPS website.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy's MSR Initiative is 
an initiative to support State and Local Partnerships who agree to 
install solar energy systems on one million buildings in the United 
States (U.S.) by 2010. This effort includes two types of solar energy 
technology: (1) Solar electric (photovoltaic) systems that produce 
electricity from sunlight, and (2) solar thermal systems panels that 
produce heat for domestic hot water, for space heating or for heating 
swimming pools. The Partnerships bring together business, government 
and community organizations at the regional level with a commitment to 
install a pre-determined number (at least 500) of solar energy systems.
    A complete description of partnerships and their representative 
activities can be found on the MSR Web site at http://www.MillionSolarRoofs.org
.
    Applications under the solicitation must further the work of State 
and Local Partnerships, including partners in the building industry, 
state and local governments, utilities, the solar energy industry, 
financial institutions and non-governmental organizations, to remove 
market barriers to solar energy use and to develop and strengthen local 
demand for solar energy products and applications.
    There are two types of grants available: Phase 1--New Partnership 
grants, and Phase 2--Meeting the Commitment grants. Only one 
application may be submitted per partnership in one or the other of the 
categories, but not both. Partnerships that have been awarded prior MSR 
partnership grants in the past may not apply for a Phase 1--New 
Partnership grant. Newly formed or existing partnerships that have not 
received prior MSR grants may apply for a Phase 1--New Partnership 
grant. Any partnership with the prerequisites may apply for a Phase 2--
Meeting the Commitment grant.
    The project or activity must be conducted in a designated MSR State 
and Local Partnership area. There is no cost sharing requirement for 
these

[[Page 27994]]

grants, although cost sharing will be one of the criteria considered. 
Subject to the availability of funds, multiple awards for a total of 
$1,500,000 (DOE funding) in Fiscal Year 2003 are anticipated as a 
result of this Solicitation. The selected applicants will receive 
financial assistance under a grant. DOE will fund up to $50,000 per 
project. DOE anticipates funding approximately 30 to 40 grants in the 
amount of $10,000 to $50,000 each.
    Solicitation number DE-PS36-03GO93012 will include complete 
information on the program, including technical aspects, funding, 
application preparation instructions, application evaluation criteria, 
and other factors that will be considered when selecting applications 
for funding. No pre-application conference is planned. Issuance of the 
solicitation is planned for early May 2003, with applications due 45 
days after the solicitation has been issued.

    Issued in Golden, Colorado, on May 6, 2003.
Jerry L. Zimmer,
Director, Office of Acquisition and Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 03-12872 Filed 5-21-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P