The Department of Energy's Robotics Technology Development Program works with industry, universities, and other federal agencies to collaborate on technologies that can be used in DOE's environmental restoration projects. There are a number of ways universities and businesses can get more information about the robotics program.
An excellent place to start is the Robotics Forum sponsored by DOE each year. The fifth Robotics Forum will be August 30-31 at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. More than 300 people are expected to attend the forum, which is open to the public. At the forum, the robotics program will share its plans for the next year. In keeping with procurement regulations, however, no new projects or requests for proposals will be announced. Universities and industry researchers can gain specific information to help write more focused proposals, and learn what it's like to work with DOE from people who have. Participants can get close to some robots on the last half-day of the forum while touring the Sandia National Laboratories' robotics lab. This facility is a DOE laboratory and access restrictions apply to non U.S. citizens. For more information about the Robotics Forum, call Jerry Stauffer at (505) 845-8966. His electronic mail address is "jdstauf@isrc.sandia.gov" (quotation marks are not part of the address).
How to get involved
There are a number options available to universities, industries, and individuals that would like to work with DOE on developing and using remediation technologies, including robotics.
Cooperative Research and Development
Agreements
CRADAs are agreements between a DOE laboratory and a non-federal
organization to conduct cooperative research and development
consistent with the laboratory's mission. The partner provides funds,
facilities, people, or other resources while DOE provides access
to its facility and expertise but no funds. The laboratory and
CRADA partner negotiate rights to inventions and intellectual
properties that result from the research.
Procurement Mechanisms
DOE prefers formal solicitations over unsolicited proposals.
Research Opportunity Announcements are published in the Federal
Register and Commerce Business Daily. DOE uses ROAs to
solicit advanced research and technologies for a broad range of
cleanup needs. An ROA is open for a year after the date of issue
and includes a partial small business set aside.
Program Research and Development Announcements are used to solicit a wide range of technical solutions to specific problem areas. PRDAs may be used to solicit proposals for contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements. Multiple awards with dissimilar approaches are generally made.
Financial assistance awards start as Program Rule announcements in the Federal Register. DOE uses financial assistance awards when technology is developed for a public purpose. When 51 percent or more of a project is related to a public interest goal, DOE may award a grant or cooperative agreement.
Technical Personnel Exchange
DOE and industry scientists can work together on problems of
mutual interest through three to six month technical personnel
exchanges. Industries are expected to share in the cost of the
exchange, but resulting patents are the sole property of the
private sector company.
Reimbursable Work for Industry
DOE laboratories are available to perform work for industry or
other federal agencies, provided work at a laboratory is related
to its mission and does not compete with the private sector. Ownership
of any inventions resulting from the research goes to the private
sector company.
