Novel X-Ray Light Sources
Department of Energy
Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice 99-24;
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
ACTION: Notice inviting research grant applications
SUMMARY: The Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) of the Office of Science (SC),
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its interest in receiving grant
applications for the development and application of novel, laser-based light sources
operating in the X-ray spectral region.
DATES: Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a brief preapplication.
All preapplications, referencing Program Notice 99-24, should be received by DOE by
4:30 P.M., E.D.T., October 1, 1999. A response to the preapplications encouraging or
discouraging a formal application generally will be communicated to the applicant within
30 days of receipt.
The deadline for receipt of formal applications is 4:30 P.M., E.S.T., January 19, 2000, in
order to be accepted for merit review and to permit timely consideration for award in
Fiscal Year 2000.
ADDRESSES: All preapplications, referencing Program Notice 99-24, should be sent to
Dr. Eric A. Rohlfing, Division of Chemical Sciences, SC-14, Office of Science, U.S.
Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown MD 20874-1290 or
transmitted by facsimile to (301) 903-4110.
Formal applications referencing Program Notice 99-24 should be forwarded to:
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Grants and Contracts Division, SC-64,
19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290, ATTN: Program Notice
99-24. This address must also be used when submitting applications by U.S. Postal
Service Express, any commercial mail delivery service, or when hand carried by the
applicant. An original and seven copies of the application must be submitted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Eric A. Rohlfing, Division of Chemical Sciences, SC-14, Office of Science,
U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290,
telephone (301) 903-8165, e-mail: eric.rohlfing@science.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
In January 1999, the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) Panel on
Novel, Coherent Light Sources made a series of six recommendations to BES on the
R&D plan for the development of light sources that might ultimately lead to the next-generation light-source facility.
The full report from this panel is available at the
following web address:
http://www.er.doe.gov/production/bes/BESAC/pubs.html
The BESAC panel identified the specific need for research into the development and
application of table-top, laser light sources in their Recommendation (3):
"There is a symbiotic relationship between future accelerator-based sources and high-powered ultrafast lasers.
Future light sources will involve a complete marriage of
accelerator principles and lasers. Lasers are also likely to be the avenue where the
shortest pulses are attained and many new scientific experiments are developed first. The
Panel recommends that DOE should support laser light source development
independently and vigorously. This is best done by support of peer-reviewed proposals
based on science that requires a significant component of laser source development. It is
also desirable to support one or more DOE laboratory centers for laser development that
can be coordinated with overall light source facility development plans."
They also identified the need for improved X-ray detectors and optics in order to more
fully utilize these novel lasers or existing synchrotron facilities in their Recommendation
(6): "Support should be provided for the development of X-ray detectors and optics,
concomitant with better utilization of existing synchrotron facilities and lasers to carry
out tests of potential new experiments that may be enhanced by a coherent hard X-ray
source."
This invitation for grant applications is a direct response to these two recommendations
of the BESAC Panel on Novel, Coherent Light Sources. In particular, we seek
applications for research in the following areas:
Program Funding
It is anticipated that an estimated $1.0 million will be available for grant awards during
FY 2000, contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. Multiple year funding
of grant awards is expected, also contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds,
progress of the research and continuing program need. Applications received by the
Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under its current competitive
application mechanisms may be deemed appropriate for consideration under this notice
and may be funded under this program.
Preapplications
Preapplications are strongly encouraged but not required prior to submission of a full
application. Please note that notification of a successful preapplication is not an
indication that an award will be made in response to the full application.
The preapplication should identify, on the cover sheet, the institution, principal
investigator name, address, telephone, fax and e-mail address, title of the project, and the
field of scientific research. The preapplication should consist of no more than a three-page narrative describing
the research project objectives and methods of accomplishment.
These will be reviewed relative to the scope and research needs of the Novel X-Ray Light Source initiative.
Formal notification of either discouragement or encouragement for
submission of a full application will occur within 30 days of the deadline for receipt of
the preapplications.
Full applications will be subjected to scientific merit review (peer review) and will be
evaluated against the following evaluation criteria listed in descending order of
importance as codified at 10 CFR 605.10(d).
1. Scientific and/or Technical Merit of the Project,
The evaluation will include program policy factors such as the relevance of the proposed
research to the terms of the announcement and an agency's programmatic needs. Note,
external peer reviewers are selected with regard to both their scientific expertise and the
absence of conflict-of-interest issues. Non-federal reviewers may be used and submission
of an application constitutes agreement that this is acceptable to the investigator(s) and
the submitting institution.
Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with researchers in other institutions, such as
universities, industry, non-profit organizations, federal laboratories and Federally Funded
Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including the DOE National
Laboratories. A parallel announcement with a similar potential total amount of funds will
be issued to DOE FFRDCs. All projects will be evaluated using the same criteria,
regardless of the submitting institution.
Information about the development and submission of applications, eligibility,
limitations, evaluation, selection process, and other policies and procedures may be found
in 10 CFR Part 605 and in the Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial
Assistance Program. Electronic access to the Guide and required forms is available via
the World Wide Web at:
http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html
On the grant face page, form DOE F 4650.2, block 15, provide the principal investigator's
phone number, fax number and e-mail address. The research description must be 20
pages or less, exclusive of figure illustrations, and must contain an abstract or summary
of the proposed research. Attachments should include curriculum vitae, a listing of all
current and pending federal support, and letters of intent when collaborations are part of
the proposed research.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program is 81.049, and the
solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR Part 605.
John Rodney Clark
Published in the Federal Register August 27, 1999, Volume 64, Number 166, Pages 46898-46899.
Office of Science
Novel X-Ray Light Sources
As noted in Recommendation (3) of the BESAC Panel given above, future light source
facilities are likely to encompass both accelerator-based and laser-based light sources in a
fully symbiotic relationship. Thus, we encourage applications in which there is a direct
linkage to or collaboration with ongoing efforts in the area of X-ray free electron lasers
(FELs), such as the use of laser-based systems as seeds for FEL amplifiers.
2. Appropriateness of the Proposed Method or Approach,
3. Competency of Applicant's Personnel and Adequacy of Proposed Resources,
4. Reasonableness and Appropriateness of the Proposed Budget.
Associate Director of Science
for Resource Management