American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) Webinar for Federal and Federally-Assisted Construction Contractors

November 13, 2009 - Join the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) - as it presents information on the equal employment opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action (AA) provisions of Federal contracts involving American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds. Sessions on November 19, 2009 and December 9, 2009.

Construction federal contractors are required to take specific affirmative action steps - 16 to be exact.  In this webinar, Federal and federally-assisted construction contractors and subcontractors will learn about these 16 steps and what to expect during a compliance evaluation.

This webinar is approximately 1.5 hours long that includes 30 minutes of Q&A opportunities.  We invite you to e-mail us your questions in advance of the webinar.
 
Register for a session now by clicking a date below: 
 
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EST
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/252772200

Wed, Dec 9, 2009 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EST
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/700005136 
 
Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

Nuclear Energy University Programs - Request for R&D Proposals

November 2, 2009 - The Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP) is requesting Pre-Applications for research and development (R&D) for the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy (NE).  This solicitation (# NEUP-001-10) was prepared by the Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), a Management and Operating (M&O) contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

The mission of NE is to lead the DOE investment in the development and exploration of advanced nuclear science and technology. NE promotes nuclear energy as a resource capable of meeting the Nation’s energy, environmental, and national security needs by resolving scientific, technical, and regulatory challenges through research, development, and demonstration.

NEUP will fund R&D that facilitates achievement of NE’s programmatic objectives. NE’s strategic goals for nuclear energy are as follows:

1. Extend life, improve performance, and sustain health and safety of the current fleet of nuclear power plants
2. Enable new plant builds and improve the affordability of nuclear energy
3. Enable the transition away from fossil fuels in the transportation and industrial sectors
4. Enable sustainable fuel cycles
5. Assure that proliferation risk is not an impediment to nuclear power deployment

The research needs and priorities have been identified and defined for the Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FCR&D) and the Generation IV (Gen IV) programs, and Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program. 

The primary point of contact for questions regarding this solicitation is Dr. Marsha Lambregts from the Nuclear Energy University Programs Integration Office at the INL Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES). However, all technical scope questions need to be submitted through the question and answer feature on the RPA website accessible via the NEUP home page located at http://www.ne-up.org/.

To learn more about this funding opportunity, please download the Request for Pre-Applications (.pdf).  The deadline for these applications is November 10, 2009.

October 28, 2009 - The Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) in North Carolina is offering an introductory webinar on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.  The Department of Energy just released its annual solicitation with millions of dollars available for small business working in energy-related fields. 

Register for this free webinar to learn about these programs and how to apply, click here.

Energy Research Projects Win $151 Million in Funding:  ARPA-E selects 37 projects that could fundamentally change the way we use and produce energy

October 26, 2009 - The Department of Energy today announced major funding for 37 ambitious research projects – including some that could allow intermittent energy sources like wind and solar to provide a steady flow of power, or use bacteria to produce automotive fuel from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. 

The $151 million in funding is being awarded through the Department’s recently-formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (“ARPA-E”).  ARPA-E’s mission is to develop nimble, creative and inventive approaches to transform the global energy landscape while advancing America’s technology leadership. This is the first round of projects funded under ARPA-E, which is receiving a total of $400 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In announcing the selections, Secretary Chu said: “After World War II, America was the unrivaled leader in basic and applied sciences. It was this leadership that led to enormous technological advances. ARPA-E is a crucial part of the new effort by the U.S. to spur the next Industrial Revolution in clean energy technologies, creating thousands of new jobs and helping cut carbon pollution.”

The grants will go to projects with lead researchers in 17 states. Of the lead recipients, 43% are small businesses, 35% are educational institutions, and 19% are large corporations. In supporting these teams, ARPA-E seeks to bring together America's brightest energy innovators to pioneer a low cost, secure, and low carbon energy future for the nation.

Some of the innovative projects selected for awards include:

Liquid Metal Grid-Scale Batteries: Created by Professor Don Sadoway, a leading MIT battery scientist, the all-liquid metal battery is based on low cost, domestically available liquid metals with potential to break through the cost barrier required for mass adoption of large scale energy storage as part of the nation’s energy grid.  If successful, this battery technology could revolutionize the way electricity is used and produced on the grid, enabling round-the-clock power from America’s wind and solar power resources, increasing the stability of the grid, and making blackouts a thing of the past.  And if deployed at homes, it could allow individual consumers the ability to be part of a future “smart energy Internet,” where they would have much greater control over their energy usage and delivery.   

Bacteria for Producing Direct Solar Hydrocarbon Biofuels: Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a bioreactor that has the potential to produce a flow of gasoline directly from sunlight and CO2 using a symbiotic system of two organisms.  First, a photosynthetic organism directly captures solar radiation and uses it to convert carbon dioxide to sugars.  In the same area, another organism converts the sugars to gasoline and diesel transportation fuels. This development has the potential to greatly increase domestic production of clean fuel for our vehicles and end our reliance on foreign oil.  

CO₂ Capture using Artificial Enzymes: Today’s funding will support an effort by the United Technologies Research Center to develop new synthetic enzymes that could make it easier and more affordable to capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and factories.  If successful, the effort would mean a much lower energy requirement for industrial carbon capture and significantly lower capital costs to get carbon capture systems up and running.  Success of this project could substantially lower the cost of carbon capture relative to current, state-of-the-art amine and ammonia based processes.  This would represent a major breakthrough that could make it affordable to capture the carbon dioxide emissions from coal and natural gas power plants around the world. 

Low Cost Crystals for LED Lighting: Developed by Momentive Performance Materials, this proposal for novel crystal growth technology could dramatically lower the cost of developing light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are 30 times more efficient than incandescent bulbs and four times more efficient than compact fluorescents. This higher quality, low-cost material would offer significant breakthroughs in lowering costs of finished LED lighting, accelerating mass market use, and dramatically decreasing U.S. lighting energy usage.  Lighting accounts for 14 percent of U.S. electricity use. 

ARPA-E was originally established under the America Competes Act of 2007.  In April, President Obama announced $400 million in initial funding for the agency. The projects unveiled today are part of the first solicitation from ARPA-E’s $400 million in total Recovery Act funding. The 37 selected projects, which are receiving an average of approximately $4 million each, span the energy sector, including potentially transformative innovations in energy storage, biofuels, carbon capture, renewable power, building efficiency, vehicles, and other energy technology areas. 

Inspired by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), ARPA-E was created to support high risk, high reward energy research that can provide transformative new solutions for climate change and energy security. 

This first ARPA-E solicitation was highly competitive and oversubscribed, with over 3,600 initial concept papers received.  Of those, approximately 300 full applications were requested and ultimately 37 final awardees through a rigorous review process with input from multiple review panels composed of leading U.S. energy science and technology experts and ARPA-E’s program managers.  Evaluations were based on the potential for high impact on ARPA-E’s goals and scientific and technical merit. 

The project selections announced today can be found here.

A second set of ARPA-E funding opportunities will be announced later this fall.  Please visit http://www.arpa-e-.energy.gov/ for more information about these selections, upcoming technical workshops, and new funding opportunities.

Phase I Funding Opportunities for SBIR/STTR Programs

October 23, 2009 – The FY 2010 Phase I Funding Notice (DE-FOA-0000161) for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs is available at https://www.fedconnect.net/ by clicking on “Search Public Opportunities.”  Under “Search Criteria,” select “Advanced Options,” and enter a portion of the title “Annual Phase I Small Business Innovation Research...” then click on “Search.”  Once the screen comes up, locate the appropriate Announcement. 

The deadline for receipt of Phase I grant applications to either program is November 20, 2009, 8:00 p.m. EST.  All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.  The Funding Notice and Technical Topic Descriptions are also available under Phase I Funding Opportunities.  Download the application instructions or the Technical Topic Descriptions.

For additional information, please visit: http://science.doe.gov/sbir/.

.EDUconnections Spotlights Jackson State University

October 16, 2009 – Jackson State University is dedicated to "Challenging Minds, Changing Lives," and the innovative ways in which they prepare their students for the challenges that lie ahead and to solve problems of local, national and international importance is inspiring.

.EDUconnections honors and showcases research universities and helps demonstrate how research and technical advancements through DOE-sponsored programs are propelling our future workforce to new discoveries in engineering, mathematics and many more technical disciplines. 

We are proud to “spotlight” universities that are supported by DOE and highlight their achievements, as well as their researchers and students.  This month we are pleased to feature Jackson State University and its tradition of academic excellence.

SEPTEMBER 2009

Business Opportunity Session (BOS) Webcast

September 24, 2009 – The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization hosted its Business Opportunity Session (BOS) today at the Department of Energy's (DOE's) headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

Department of Energy program and field office representatives, as well as representatives from local state energy offices and the US Small Business Administration presented at the event to discuss subcontracting and contracting opportunities as well as financial assistance available to small businesses interested in working with DOE.  

The event brought over 200 attendees and was viewed by over 300 individuals via DOE's first ever LIVE Webcast.  Nearly $6 billion in specific funding opportunities was shared with small businesses in attendance.

The entire event is available by video on the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization's web site:  http://smallbusiness.doe.gov/. 

For additional information about this event, please contact BOS Coordinator Kent.Hibben@hq.doe.gov.

Minority Serving Institutions Technical Assistance Conference

Sep 21-24, 2009 – The Office of Minority Economic Impact (OMEI) participated in the 3rd Annual Minority Serving Institutions Technical Assistance Workshop in Dallas, Texas.  The conference had over 300 participants representing federal agencies, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and other public/private organizations. 

Chester Scott, a program analyst in OMEI, attended this event as a Department of Energy representative. The conference served as a platform to share resources, establish relationships, and to build partnerships to promote the interest of MSIs, their students and faculty.

DOE to Fund up to $454 Million for Retrofit Ramp-Ups in Energy Efficiency:  Projects Seek to Make Efficiency Accessible to Every Business and Homeowner

September 14, 2009 – U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced a new $450 million program designed to catalyze a nationwide energy upgrade that experts estimate could save $100 million annually in utility bills for households and businesses. The Recovery Act’s “Retrofit Ramp-Up” program will pioneer innovative models for rolling out energy efficiency to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in a variety of communities.  Much like past roll-outs for cable TV or the Internet, DOE intends to create models that, when undertaken nationally, will save consumers billions of dollars on their utility bills and make the huge savings of energy efficiency available to everyone. 

“Energy efficiency isn’t just low-hanging fruit; it’s fruit lying on the ground.  We have the tools to reduce energy use at home and at work and to provide huge savings to families and businesses on their energy bills.  But use of these technologies has been far too limited because we lack the simple and effective ways for people to access them,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. 

“The ‘Retrofit Ramp-Up’ program will support large-scale models that can open new energy efficiency opportunities to whole neighborhoods, towns, and, eventually, entire states,” continued Secretary Chu.  “The Recovery Act will allow innovative communities to demonstrate a variety of sustainable business models that can be replicated across the country.”

The Request for Information (RFI) being issued today is for competitively-selected local energy efficiency projects.  This competitive portion of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program will target community-scale retrofit projects that make significant, long-term impacts on energy use and can serve as national role models for grassroots energy efficiency efforts.  DOE is seeking public comment on this newly funded program under the Recovery Act.  Public comment ends on September 28, 2009.

The Department of Energy is accepting feedback on both the competitively-selected portion of the EECBG program for up to $390 million for neighborhood-scale building retrofits, as well as up to $64 million for local governments that were not eligible to receive the formula grants announced earlier this year.  The EECBG program empowers local communities to make strategic investments to meet the Nation's long-term goals for energy independence and leadership on climate change.

This first topic area under the funding solicitation will target a select number of innovative programs that are structured to provide whole-neighborhood building energy retrofits.  These will be projects that demonstrate a sustainable business model for providing cost-effective energy upgrades for a large percentage of the residential, commercial, and public buildings in a specific community.  Possible approaches could include innovative partnerships between the public and private sector, utility retrofit and audit programs, alternative financing, retail partnerships, and others.  The Department of Energy will award up to $390 million for these projects.

The second topic area for up to $64 million is reserved for cities, counties and State-recognized Indian Tribes that were not eligible to receive population-based formula grant allocations from DOE under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.   These funds are intended to help expand local energy efficiency efforts and reduce energy use in the commercial, residential, transportation, manufacturing, or industrial sectors.

“The aim of the ‘Retrofit Ramp-Up’ program is to jump-start an industry that makes energy efficiency savings easy to access and available to everyone.  By encouraging partnerships between local governments and effective private enterprises, we hope tune-ups for buildings will become as accepted as tune-ups for cars.  These efforts will save Americans millions of dollars, reduce carbon pollution, and create new green jobs,” said Secretary Chu.

The complete Request for Information is available HERE.  Public comment is requested by September 28, 2009.  The Funding Opportunity Announcement is expected to be released in early October, following the public comment period. For more information on the EECBG program, visit http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/.

AUGUST 2009

DOE Announces $37 Million for Small Business Research and Technology

August 20, 2009 –  Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that $37 million in funding from the Recovery Act will be made available to qualified small businesses through the Department’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.  Today’s funding announcement emphasizes the Department’s commitment to developing near-term, clean energy technologies while allowing small businesses take part in the new industrial revolution that the sustainable energy economy will bring.

“Small businesses are engines of job creation and innovation, and we need their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to drive a clean energy economy,” said Secretary Chu. “By helping small businesses bring clean technologies to market, we can create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and reduce carbon pollution.”

DOE’s SBIR/STTR programs target U.S. companies with fewer than 500 employees. Small businesses with strong research capabilities in science or engineering are encouraged to apply. Applications are currently being accepted for topic areas related to improving energy efficiency including:

• Advanced building air conditioning and refrigeration, thermal load shifting, and cool roofs
• Water usage in electric power generation and industrial processes
• Power plant cooling
• Advanced gas turbines and materials
• Sensors, controls, and wireless networks
• Advanced water power technology development
• Smart controllers for smart grid applications
• Advanced solar technologies
• Advanced industrial technologies development
• Advanced manufacturing processes

The deadline for submission of applications is September 4, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. EST.  Approximately $8.5 million is expected to be available for new Phase I awards.  Successful applicants may receive up to $150,000 for a Phase I grant for a period of six months to demonstrate the feasibility of the ideas that appear to have commercial potential.  

 For more information about DOE’s SBIR and STTR programs please visit: http://www.science.doe.gov/sbir/

DOE Hosts Small Business Conference in California for Recovery and Contracting Opportunities

August 18, 2009 – The Department of Energy’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization held its 10th Annual Small Business Conference last week in Long Beach, California to bring together partners in the clean energy and efficiency sector. The conference, titled “Small Businesses Leading the Way to Recovery and Reinvestment,” focused on the availability of over $2 billion in federal small business contracts and subcontracts from the Department of Energy and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

From August 12-14, DOE hosted nearly 1,200 public officials and organizations, private sector contractors, and small businesses to help small businesses in California and across the country capitalize on available contracting, subcontracting and grant opportunities.  Workshops included how to build effective teams and coalitions, how to write a strong proposal and application, and how small businesses can best market their products and services.

The conference also featured the first-ever Minority Educational Institution Matchmaking Forum, which included representatives from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic Serving Institutions.  During the forum, small businesses and minority educational institutions were matched with federal government officials and prime contractors to help determine opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.

Prominent speakers at the conference included Matt Rogers, DOE Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy on Recovery Act Implementation, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Senior Advisor to the Secretary on the Recovery Act; Steve Spinner, DOE Small Business Loan Guarantee Program Advisor; Mark Porat, a leading energy efficiency expert and businessman, and a video presentation by Van Jones, Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

In addition, government officials from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, and Transportation, the Small Business Administration, the Minority Business Development Agency, and California State Energy officials were available to advise small business on the opportunities available in their departments.

JULY 2009

Hispanic High School Students Learn about College, Career, and Community Service

Since its inception, the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity has been a strong supporter of the Hispanic Youth Symposium.  This year, two employees from the Office of Minority Economic Impact, Amanda Quiñones and Fatima Pashaei, volunteered at the George Mason University event, serving as a Hispanic Hero and an Issues-to-Action Moderator, respectively.

National Black Chamber of Commerce's 17th Annual Convention

July 22-24, 2009 – The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Utilization (OSDBU) participated in the National Black Chamber of Commerce's (NBCC's) 17th Annual Convention. The Conference entitled "Change Has Come," took place at the Fairfax Embassy Row Hotel in Washington, D.C.
 
Kent Hibben, a small business specialist in OSDBU, presented the keynote speech, at the request of Harry Alford, President and CEO of NBCC. The address focused on the types of contracting opportunities available at the Department of Energy for small businesses.  OSDBU has been a strong proponent of advocating for minority businesses and, as the most-funded civilian Agency, intends to work with small businesses to help stimulate the economy’s growth while working to usher in newer, greener industries.

NBCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African American communities through entrepreneurship and capitalistic activity within the United States and via interaction with the Black Diaspora. Of the one million Black-owned businesses in the United States, the NBCC reaches more than 100,000 Black-owned business stakeholders.

National Veteran Small Business Conference

July 21-23, 2009 – The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) participated in the 5th Annual National Veteran Small Business Conference, hosted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 21-23.  This conference is one of the largest forums for attendance by service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOBs), with over 2,000 individuals in attendance. 

Nick Demer, a procurement analyst in OSDBU, attended this event as a Department of Energy (DOE) representative.  The event provided an excellent opportunity for SDVOBs to network with DOE and other federal agency representatives to gain valuable knowldege about contracting opportunities with the Federal government and its prime contractors.

Closing Ceremony Held for MEISPP Student Interns

July 22, 2009 – The Office of Minority Economic Impact hosted the closing ceremony for its Minority Educational Institutions Student Partnership Program (MEISPP) at Pier 7 Restaurant in Washington, D.C.  This ceremony concluded eight weeks of intensive and substantive work experience gained by over 30 student interns at various DOE Headquarter's program offices.  The keynote speaker at the event was Rita Franklin, Acting Chief Human Capital Office at the Department of Energy.  

The 2009 MEISPP summer interns came from diverse backgrounds and represented several Minority Educational Institutions (MEIs) and majority institutions across the continental United States and Puerto Rico. 

Interns Share Lunch with the Under Secretary for Energy

July 21, 2009 – Under Secretary, Kristina Johnson, delivered an address to interns in the Minority Educational Institution Student Partnership Program (MEISPP) at the the Department of Energy (DOE) Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  The informal brown bag lunch allowed students an opportunity to gain invaluable advice and guidance about the various career paths available at DOE. 

Research Opportunities Session for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

July 9, 2009 – The Office of Minority Economic, in conjunction with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, hosted a forum at the Department of Energy (DOE) Headquarters in Washington, D.C., attended by HBCU Vice Presidents and representatives, non-profit educational organizations, as well as various DOE program office representatives.  This forum provided an opportunity for schools to learn about the various work being done at the Department and funding opportunities available to the schools for research and grants. 

Click on the links below to download  presentations (.pdf) by DOE program office representatives about various funding opportunities available to HBCUs and other minority institutions: