TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATION PROGRAM

Program Opportunity Notice (PON) No. 587-02

Maximum Award - $25,000

APPLICATIONS DUE: June 13, 2002 at 3:00PM*

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking applications for its Technology Acceleration Program. NYSERDA wants to stimulate early stage product development and encourage the commercialization efforts of New York State businesses and institutions whose products and/or processes result in the generation or conservation of energy, or environmental benefits. To that end, the Technology Acceleration Program is designed to provide funding opportunities that will (i) support exploratory research/proof-of-concept validation of new technology (i.e., bench-scale tests, prototype development) or (ii) develop successful business strategies (i.e., business plans, market research, marketing materials). For businesses or institutions interested in funding opportunities for products or processes that do not focus specifically on the purposes mentioned above, please refer to www.nyserda.org/rddopps.html or www.nyserda.org/upcoming.html for future funding opportunities, respectively.

The number of projects selected for funding under the Technology Acceleration Program is subject to the availability of funds.

Please submit 8 copies of the application to:

If proposal will be received on or after April 15, 2002, send to: Karen Whalen, PON No. 587-02 NYSERDA 17 Columbia Circle Albany, NY 12203-6399

If proposal will be received prior to April 15, 2002, send to: Karen Whalen, PON No. 587-02 NYSERDA Corporate Plaza West 286 Washington Avenue Ext. Albany, NY 12203-6399

Questions regarding this program should be directed to C. Anthony Owens at (518) 862-1090, ext. 3262 or cao@nyserda.org.
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* Late applications will be returned unopened.

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Program Description and Application Instructions

Technology Acceleration Program

Program Description: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking applications for its Technology Acceleration Program. NYSERDA wants to stimulate early stage product development and encourage the commercialization efforts of New York State businesses and institutions whose products and/or processes result in the generation or conservation of energy, or environmental benefits. To that end, the Technology Acceleration Program is designed to provide funding opportunities that will (i) support exploratory research/proof-of-concept validation of new technology (i.e., bench-scale tests, prototype development) or (ii) develop successful business strategies (i.e., business plans, market research, marketing materials). For businesses or institutions interested in funding opportunities for products or processes that do not focus specifically on the purposes mentioned above, please refer to www.nyserda.org/rddopps.html or www.nyserda.org/upcoming.html for current or future funding opportunities, respectively.

Evaluation Process: Applications will be evaluated by a Technical Evaluation Panel of NYSERDA staff members and outside technical/financial experts, with funding decisions expected approximately eight weeks after the due date. The review will involve a comparative evaluation of seven variables:

Concept - Is the proposed concept practical and technically feasible? Is the technology new, innovative or underutilized?
Approach - Is the approach, as outlined in the scope of work, likely to meet the specific end point defined in the application? Are the milestones reasonable?
Benefits - How significant is the potential energy benefit to New York State? Are there additional environmental or economic benefits?
Cost - Is the overall cost reasonable when measured against the project goal and scope of work? Is the overall cost justified by the expected benefits?
Qualifications - Do the project participants have the necessary qualifications, experience, resources and facilities?
Technology Transfer - Does the application include a strategy (appropriate to the stage of product development) to ensure the future use, replication or commercialization of the project results?
Other Considerations - Applications will be reviewed to determine if they reflect NYSERDA's overall objectives, including: risk/reward relationships, potential for complementing similar ongoing or completed projects, the general distribution of NYSERDA projects among organizations and the distribution of projects within New York State.

Eligibility: NYSERDA is soliciting all New York State businesses and institutions for a wide range of research, development and commercialization projects whose products and/or processes result in the generation or conservation of energy, or environmental benefits. Applications for the Technology Acceleration Program will be forwarded to the most appropriate NYSERDA program area for review and evaluation. Note: Funding offered under the Technology Acceleration Program cannot be used to pay for direct labor (i.e., salaries) or indirect expenses (i.e., overhead) of the proposing organization.

Format: All applications must be in typewritten form on single-sided, regular size paper (8-1/2 x 11). Type size of less than 11 pitch is unacceptable. In order to evaluate all applications on the basis of merit, NYSERDA requests that proposers use the exact format and to respond to the statements and questions provided in the attached application. Any application exceeding the limit of three pages will not be considered. Attachments will not be counted towards the page limit, however, NYSERDA does request that attachments be kept to a minimum of no more than four pages. Please provide a cover letter stating the title of your application(s) and the number of copies being submitted for each application. Also, please do not submit the requested information in a folder or any other binding device (other than a staple in the upper left corner).

GENERAL CONDITIONS

Proprietary Information - Careful consideration should be given before confidential information is submitted to NYSERDA as part of your proposal. Review should include whether it is critical for evaluating a proposal, and whether general, non-confidential information, may be adequate for review purposes.

The NYS Freedom of Information Law, Public Officers law, Article 6, provides for public access to information NYSERDA possesses. Public Officers Law, Section 87(d)(2) provides for exceptions to disclosure for records or portions thereof that "are trade secrets or are submitted to an agency by a commercial enterprise or derived from information obtained from a commercial enterprise and which if disclosed would cause substantial injury to the competitive position of the subject enterprise." Information submitted to NYSERDA that the proposer wishes to have treated as proprietary, and confidential trade secret information, should be identified and labeled "Confidential" or "Proprietary" on each page at the time of disclosure. This information should include a written request to except it from disclosure, including a written statement of the reasons why the information should be excepted. See Public Officers Law, Section 89(5) and the procedures set forth in 21 NYCRR Part 501.

Omnibus Procurement Act of 1992 - It is the policy of New York State to maximize opportunities for the participation of New York State business enterprises, including minority- and women-owned business enterprises, as bidders, subcontractors, and suppliers on its procurement Agreements.

Information on the availability of New York subcontractors and suppliers is available from:

Empire State Development
Division For Small Business
30 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12245

A directory of certified minority- and women-owned business enterprises is available from:

Empire State Development
Minority and Women's Business Development Division
30 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12245

Contract Award - NYSERDA anticipates making multiple awards under this solicitation. It may award a contract based on initial applications without discussion, or following limited discussion or negotiations. Each offer should be submitted using the most favorable cost and technical terms. NYSERDA may request additional data or material to support applications.

Limitation - This solicitation does not commit NYSERDA to award a contract, pay any costs incurred in preparing an application, or to procure or contract for services or supplies. NYSERDA reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications received, to negotiate with all qualified sources, or to cancel in part or in its entirety the solicitation when it is in NYSERDA's best interest.

Disclosure Requirement - The proposer shall disclose any indictment for any alleged felony, or any conviction for a felony within the past five years, under the laws of the United States or any state or territory of the United States, and shall describe circumstances for each. When a proposer is an association, partnership, corporation, or other organization, this disclosure requirement includes the organization and its officers, partners, and directors or members of any similarly governing body. If an indictment or conviction should come to the attention of NYSERDA after the award of a contract, NYSERDA may exercise its stop-work right pending further investigation, or terminate the agreement; the contractor may be subject to penalties for violation of any law which may apply in the particular circumstances. Proposers must also disclose if they have ever been debarred or suspended by any agency of the U.S. Government or the New York State Department of Labor.

Attachment:

• Application