Office of Technology Development and Deployment for Environmental Management (81.104)
Program
81.104 Office of Technology Development and Deployment for Environmental Management
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Authorization
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, Section 31, as amended, Public Law 83-703; Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, Public Law 93-438; Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, as amended; Public Law 96-573; Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978; Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, Public Law 99-240; Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act, Public Law 96-368; Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act of 1990, Public Law 101-615.
Program Number
81.104
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
The Office of Science and Technology (OST) will work with the Environmental Management (EM) customer programs to develop new or improved technology systems to reduce risks to the environment and to the public, reduce overall cleanup costs, and furnish cleanup methods that did not previously exist in order to satisfy applicable Federal, State, local laws, and regulations. Achieving the EM strategic objective of safety and expeditiously managing waste; cleanup of facilities and the environment; stabilizing and storing nuclear materials and spent nuclear fuel; and completing cleanup at as many sites as possible by the end of 2006, requires targeted investments in science and technology. To focus technology development on the most pressing problems, four major remediation and waste management areas have been identified to date within the DOE complex: (1) Transuranic and mixed waste; (2) radioactive tank waste; (3) subsurface contaminants; and (4) deactivation and decommissioning.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements); Project Grants (Contracts).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Financial assistance is provided in support of the program objectives. Restrictions on the use of funds depend on the provisions of the specific project agreement. Applicants must meet the guidelines established by DOE or contained in the specific Congressional authorization for a particular program being supported.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Public, quasi-public, private industry, individuals, groups, educational institutions, organizations, and nonprofit organizations may apply including State or local level governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and institutions in U.S. Territories and possessions may apply. Determinations are made by DOE Headquarters, the field, or both.
Beneficiary Eligibility
States, affected Indian tribes, regional organizations, (including U.S. Territories) local governments, and the public will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. Cost will also be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for institutions of higher education or as otherwise defined in the financial assistance instrument.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
These determinations will be made by DOE Headquarters, or assisted by the field as appropriate. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
After informal communication with DOE Headquarters Office, a formal proposal by the organization interested in doing the work must be submitted through an appropriate official of the corporate entity, organization, or institution. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. Financial assistance requests will be reviewed pursuant to the Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Merit Review System (May 5, 1991) and the DOE Financial Assistance Manual, as amended. Note that in fiscal years 2003 and beyond the vast majority of awards will be made in response to competitive procurement and financial assistance solicitations. There will be little to no funding available for unsolicited proposals.
Award Procedure
Award decisions are made by DOE Headquarters throughout the fiscal year.
Deadlines
Whatever is stated in the program announcements; unsolicited proposals may be submitted at any time. Proposals received after April 1, of any year, may be held up to 1 year and may be supported from the next fiscal year funding, if available.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Proposals for renewal are subject to review and acceptance by DOE Headquarters, the field, or both.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
There are no specific cost- sharing requirements for financial assistance. It may be appropriate under certain conditions to invoke the appropriate provisions for cost-sharing as set forth in DOE procurement regulations governing cost-sharing or other guidelines. Certain financial assistance requests leading to transfers of technology and/or requiring protection of intellectual property rights may wish to provide cost- sharing as part of its organization's commitments and capabilities.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Length and time phasing of assistance will vary with the program phase and activity. The maximum term of an award is 5 years.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
The schedule for reports are arranged at the time of negotiations. Applicants will typically submit a quarterly and an annual report as specified in the grant award, although in certain instances more frequent reporting may be required.
Audits
Costs incurred are subject to audit throughout the contract or grant period and before final close-out. The extent and frequency of audits depend on the size of the contract/grant and the specific contract/grant provisions. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
A grantee is expected to maintain auditable records to substantiate the total costs incurred under the grant or contract.
Program Accomplishments
Technology development activities for Environmental Management are in progress to ensure the health and safety of the public and environment through economic savings, reduced waste generation, new technologies that did not exist and novel applications of existing technologies. OST has seen accomplishments through waste minimization and avoidance, technology integration, and integrated demonstration programs. These accomplishments represent significant advances toward the OPTED goals.
Financial Information
Account Identification
89-0240-0-1-053; 89-0242-0-1-053.
Obligations
(Grants and Contracts) FY 02 $50,000,000; FY 03 est $60,000,000; and FY 04 est $40,000,000 (Note: It is anticipated that FY 04 funding will be used largely to fund out year costs for projects awarded in FY 03 and for renewals of on-going financial assistance agreements).
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$5,000 to $4,000,000 per year. Funding may be provided at a higher value for financial cost assistance leading to tangible products.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
The following list represents an overview of regulations, guidelines, and literature associated with OPTED requirements, objectives and goals: RCRA, CERCLA, NEPA, CAA, CQA, TSCA, Federal Register notices, "DOE Guide for the Submission of Unsolicited Proposals," "Doing Business with the Department of Energy," "Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Merit Review System."
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Office of Science and Technology, Office of Environmental Management, DOE, Washington, DC 20585.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Contracts: (1) Develop specific technologies to address the Department of Energy's primary problems in the areas of radioactive waste management and environmental remediation; and (2) conduct studies and make recommendations on radionuclide contamination, radioactive and mixed waste, and basic radiation protection criteria. Grants: (1) Research and development of methods and tecnologies to improve radioactive waste cleanup; and (2) establishment of review groups on U.S., DOE environmental restoration and waste management technologies.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Work must be beneficial to the overall accomplishment of the program objectives and consistent with the criteria of the EM Merit Review System (i.e., technically meritorious, qualified principal investigators, adequate facilities for conduct of the work, past experience and performance history).
