ORNL Sustainable Transportation Program Technical Assistance for US Small Businesses in Vehicle Technologies Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is announcing a pilot Technical Assistance Program to help a limited number of American-owned U.S. small businesses commercialize clean transportation technologies. This opportunity will provide selected participants access to ORNL's experienced staff and unique equipment and capabilities in support of the participants' sustainable transportation research and development activities. Description UT-Battelle, LLC, acting under its Prime Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the management and operation of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, conducts research and development in support of the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Through its Sustainable Transportation Program (STP), EERE advances the development of next-generation technologies to improve plug-in electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles, advanced combustion engine and vehicle efficiency, and produce low-carbon domestic fuels. ORNL invites applications from small businesses to participate in this pilot Technical Assistance Program. Projects will be selected based on the criteria described below and will provide up to approximately 40 hours of ORNL staff effort and the necessary facilities and supplies. Companies must provide at least 50% cost share, which can be funds-in to ORNL or in-kind contributions (e.g., facilities, services, and staff time). Company cost share cannot be met using funds from U.S. Government sources. Funds will not be provided to the company by ORNL. Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT REQUEST. Objective The objective of this pilot program is to help small businesses commercialize clean and efficient transportation technologies by providing technical assistance or information. Examples of available assistance and information include • Test and measurement of systems or components • Analytical testing and characterization of materials • Advising on processing or manufacturing concerns and resolving related technical problems • Advising on emerging products or processes • Assistance in addressing general technology performance Eligibility Participants must be American-owned U.S. small businesses (<500 employees). Proposed projects must address a technical barrier to market introduction or product quality and must be in one of the following technical areas related to vehicles: • Combustion engines • Emissions systems • Fuel impacts on engines and emission systems • Materials for use in propulsion systems Proposers are encouraged to consult with ORNL STP technical staff to develop a work scope that is technically feasible and compatible with ORNL facilities and capabilities. Application Applications may be submitted at any time via email to Keith Kahl (
[email protected] ) with a subject line of "ORNL STP Technical Assistance." Applications must be submitted in PDF file format, and may be no longer than five (5) single-spaced pages using a 12-point font (Times New Roman preferred). To be considered, applications must include the following elements under headings corresponding to the following bullets: • Title page (not included in page limit): Project title; company name; company business contact information (name, address, phone number, fax number, email address) for contract topics and for scientific/technical topics; ORNL principal investigator contact information (name, address, phone number, fax number, email address). • Abstract: Brief, non-proprietary summary of technical objectives and potential impacts of proposed project. • Background: Technical challenge to be addressed in the project. Identify ORNL capabilities to be used. • Project Plan and Objectives: Provide a brief research plan and expected utilization of ORNL resources. List clear technical objectives and project tasks. • Impact: Describe the anticipated energy savings, economic benefit, environmental benefit, or other associated outcomes of a successful project. • Project Budget (not included in page limit): Summary of project costs including amount and source of participant cost share. • Qualifications and Expertise (not included in page limit): Provide brief biographical information for key company staff involved in the project. Selection Criteria • Applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis. • Projects must take advantage of unique ORNL assets and proposed work must not be able to be reasonably performed by entities in the private sector. • ORNL staff and equipment time must be available to perform the work. • Projects must specifically address commercialization or market barriers. • Projects must be technically sound and aligned with the DOE Vehicle Technologies mission. • Selections will be contingent on availability of funds. Process Applications will be reviewed by a team comprising ORNL business and research professionals and will be approved by the ORNL STP Director with DOE/HQ concurrence. Each approved application for a project will be finalized and carried out through a Short Form Model Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) signed by ORNL and the participating company. Work can begin once the CRADA is fully executed. A final letter report, accompanied by an abstract that is suitable for public release, will be generated for each project. Intellectual Property and Proprietary Data DOE and ORNL respect the importance of industry's intellectual property and data security while balancing the need to document the benefits of public expenditures. Provisions relating to proprietary information and intellectual property are set forth in the CRADA. A Non-Disclosure agreement (NDA), if required, can be put into place during development of the project to facilitate discussions while protecting the company's proprietary information. To the extent possible, it is preferred that proprietary information NOT be included in the application. If company proprietary information is included in the application, the specific information should be marked as such, and UT-Battelle/ORNL will treat that information as business confidential. CRADA Information Awardees are expected to enter into a CRADA with UT-Battelle. Because of the need for accelerated placement and execution of the projects, the most favorable terms allowable within DOE guidelines have been established and will not be subject to negotiation. Failure to enter into a CRADA in a timely manner will result in termination of further project consideration. CRADAs have provisions that address the protection of the participants' existing proprietary information and intellectual property, as well as the information and intellectual property generated and made during the collaboration. More specifically, each party owns its own inventions while jointly made inventions will be jointly owned. In all cases, the U.S. Government will retain government use rights. Proprietary data used in performing the work may be protected for a period of five years. Financial Information DOE is providing funding through the ORNL Sustainable Transportation Program and will support ORNL staff and equipment costs for a period of up to approximately 40 hours per project. Participating companies are responsible for a minimum of 50% cost share, which can be funds-in to ORNL or in-kind contributions (e.g., facilities, services, and staff time). Company cost share cannot be met using funds from U.S. Government sources. For more information, contact Keith Kahl Oak Ridge National Laboratory National Transportation Research Center 2360 Cherahala Boulevard Knoxville TN 37932
[email protected] Phone 865-946-1236