Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice 02-26: High Energy Physics Outstanding Junior Investigator Program

AGENCY:

Department of Energy.

ACTION:

Notice inviting grant applications.

SUMMARY:

The Division of High Energy Physics of the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its interest in receiving grant applications for support under its Outstanding Junior Investigator (OJI) Program. Applications should be from tenure-track faculty investigators who are currently involved in experimental or theoretical high energy physics or accelerator physics research, and should be submitted through a U.S. academic institution. The purpose of this program is to support the development of individual research programs by outstanding scientists early in their careers. Awards made under this program will help to maintain the vitality of university research and assure continued excellence in the teaching of physics.

DATES:

To permit timely consideration for award in Fiscal Year 2003, formal applications submitted in response to this notice must be received before November 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

We encourage you to submit formal applications in response to this solicitation electronically through DOE's Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) at: http://e-center.doe.gov/. IIPS provides for the posting of solicitations and receipt of applications in a paperless environment via the Internet. Applications must be submitted through IIPS in PDF format by an authorized institutional business official. Questions regarding the operation of IIPS may be e-mailed to the IIPS Help Desk at: HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov or you may call the help desk at (800) 683-0751. Further information on the use of IIPS by the Office of Science is available at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html.

If you are unable to submit the application through IIPS, formal applications may be sent to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Grants and Contracts Division, SC-64/Germantown Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-1290. ATTN: Program Notice 02-26.

When submitting applications by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail, any commercial mail delivery service, or when hand carried by the applicant, the following address must be used: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Grants and Contracts Division, SC-64, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290, ATTN: Program Notice 02-26.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Jeffrey Mandula, Division of High Energy Physics, SC-221/Germantown Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-1290. Telephone: (301) 903-4829. E-Mail: jeffrey.mandula@science.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Outstanding Junior Investigator program was started in 1978 by the Department of Energy's Office of Science. A principal goal of this program is to identify exceptionally talented high energy physicists early in their careers and assist and facilitate the development of their research programs. Eligibility for awards under this notice is therefore restricted to non-tenured investigators who are conducting experimental or theoretical high energy physics or accelerator physics research. Since its debut, the program has initiated support for between five and ten new Outstanding Junior Investigators each year. The program has been very successful and contributes importantly to the vigor of the U.S. High Energy Physics program. Applicants should request support under this notice for normal research project costs as required to conduct their proposed research activities. The full range of activities currently supported by the Division of High Energy Physics is eligible for support under this program.

The DOE expects to make five to ten grant awards in Fiscal Year 2003, to meet the objectives of this program. It is anticipated that approximately $500,000 will be available in Fiscal Year 2003, subject to availability of appropriated funds. In the recent past, awards have averaged $60,000 per year, with the number of awards determined by the number of excellent applications and the total funds available for this program. Multiple year funding of grant awards is expected, including renewal beyond the initial project period, as long as the recipient's tenure status is unchanged. Funding will be provided on an annual basis subject to availability of funds.

Applications will be subjected to scientific merit review (peer review) and will be evaluated against the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of importance as set forth in 10 CFR part 605.10(d):

1. Scientific and/or technical merit of the project;

2. Appropriateness of the proposed method or approach;

3. Competency of applicant's personnel and adequacy of proposed resources; and

4. Reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget.

General information about development and submission of applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluations and selection processes, and other policies and procedures are contained in the Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program and 10 CFR part 605. Electronic access to the application guide and required forms is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html. DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of applications if an award is not made.