Biomass Research and Development

The summary for the Biomass Research and Development grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Grants Agreements, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Biomass Research and Development: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy jointly announce the availability of funds and solicit proposals for a grant under the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 and other authorities. Federal policy supports greater use of biomass based products, biomass feedstock production, and biomass processing and conversion. This solicitation for proposals is intended to promote greater innovation and development related to biomass. To respond to this solicitation, applicants must be eligible and submit proposals that respond to the priorities and related criteria in this solicitation. Proposals in the appropriate number and form must be submitted to the following address no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 16, 2003 to Management Services Division, NRCS-USDA, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013-2890, ATTN: Sheila Leonard. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) are collaborating on a Biomass Research and Development Initiative as directed under several statutory authorities. Section 9008 of the Farm Security and Rural Development Act of 2002 provided for a reauthorization of the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 and provided $75 million in funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) from 2002 through 2007. In addition, Section 2306 of the Energy Policy Act (PL 102-486) provides authority and requirements for financial assistance for programs covered by Titles XX through XXII of the Act. Through this Biomass Research and Development Initiative, grants are available to eligible entities to carry out research, development, and demonstrations on biobased products, bioenergy, biofuels, biopower, and related processes. Grants will be awarded competitively, on the basis of: 1. technical merit, based on procedures that provide for scientific peer review by an independent panel of scientific and technical peers; and 2. program priorities that consider costs and preference for applications that: a) involve a consortium of experts from multiple entities; b) encourage the integration of disciplines and application of the best technical resources; and c) demonstrate potentially viable market opportunities for bio-based products, bioenergy, biofuels, and biopower. As an added resource, applicants may review the Roadmap for Biomass Technologies in the United States prepared by the Biomass Technical Advisory Committee. It can be found on the web at http://www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov/pdfs/FinalBiomassRoadmap.pdf USDA intends to make up to $16 million available to fund proposals of merit under this solicitation. DOE intends to make up to $5 million available to fund proposals of merit under this solicitation. The Federal share of awards is expected to range in dollar amount from $250,000 to $2,000,000 with the work proposed to be completed within a three year time frame. For this solicitation, a minimum non-Federal share of 20 percent of total project cost is required. A greater priority for project acceptance will occur with a higher non-Federal contribution to project costs. Successful proposals will not receive funding from both USDA and DOE under this solicitation. DOE and USDA will have set specific program priorities as outlined in the full proposal. The purpose of this solicitation is to implement the Biomass Research Development Act of 2000 as follows: stimulate research, development, and demonstration of technologies resulting in diversification of biobased products with emphasis on development of co-products that enhance the economic viability of biomass processing and manufacturing, including energy, that can be sustainably and cost-competitively produced from biomass; stimulate the use of biobased products currently commercially available; and ensure that applicable research technologies are disseminated and are adapted by communities where appropriate and viable. Proposals must be received by USDA no later than 4:00 p.m.(eastern daylight time) on May 16, 2003. Eligible Applicants An institution of higher education, a national laboratory, a Federal research agency, a state research agency, a private sector entity, a nonprofit organization, or a consortium of two or more entities described within this paragraph Mailing Address and Additional Information For program information contact Merlin Bartz, Special Assistant, Natural Resources and the Environment at 202-720-7173. For administrative questions contact Sheila Leonard, Grant Officer, NRCS at 202-720-5436. Mail to: Management Services Division, Room 5220 South Building, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-0016 ATTN: Sheila Leonard. Link to Full Announcement http://www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov