U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Office, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401

U -- CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM SOL DE-PS36-98GO10295 DUE 051298 POC Contact, John Golovach, Contract Specialist at (303)275-4761 or John Meeker, Contracting Officer at (303)275-4748 WEB: click here to download a copy of the RFP, http://www.eren.doe.gov/solicit.htm. E-MAIL: click here to contact the Contract Specialist via e-mail, john_golovach@nrel.gov. Through this solicitation, DOE is supporting private and/or public sector efforts to improve the organizational and business practices of local Clean Cities coalitions organized to achieve Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) objectives for accelerating the use of alternative fuels. EPACT was enacted to improve energy security and urban air quality. The Clean Cities program was initiated by DOE for the purposes of fulfilling voluntary commitment provisions, Section 505 of EPACT, in order to accelerate the public and private sector use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). To carry this initiative forward, DOE's Clean Cities program has encouraged the formation of public and private sector coalitions in major metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. for the purposes of working together cooperatively to expand rapidly both production and utilization of AFVs and development of the necessary refueling infrastructure to support such vehicle use. The Clean Cities program is a growing national network of local coalitions that are dependent upon an integrated information and training system to remain effective. The objective of this scope of work is to incorporate a collection of information, communication, planning and training tools in order to best support and assist ongoing local Clean Cities coalition efforts to be effective organizations in building new markets for alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles. The services provided by this cooperative agreement award will assist local Clean Cities in achieving the objectives they established through Memorandums of Understanding with local partners in each community and DOE. In response to this solicitation, DOE expects to make a single award. There is a potential for additional single year extensions of this work with additional future year funds. Additional scope of work could be negotiated at a later date. The scope of the Clean Cities Program will require expertise in the following exemplary areas of support: a) Alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles; b) Alternative fuels and air quality legislation and regulations; c) Knowledge of key members of industry; d) Intergovernmental organizations; e) Training and curricula development and materials; f) Marketing, advertising, and public outreach; g) Organizational planning; and h) Meetings and workshop facilitation. Through this solicitation, the Department of Energy seeks to support local Clean Cities partnerships in the following three general areas of interest: 1) Training and Outreach to Local Clean Cities; 2) Public Outreach; and 3) Alternative Fuel Market Development. 1. Training and Outreach to Local Clean Cities: Prepare training curricula, materials and conduct up to six educational workshops in order to strengthen organizational effectiveness of local Clean Cities coalitions. Provide prepared materials (slides and/or videos, talking points, handouts) in a fashion that would enable DOE regional staff and/or clean cities coordinators to make condensed presentations (during local meetings) on a particular training subject. In essence, this "train the trainer approach" would enable more coalition members the opportunity to participate and learn about a subject or idea. Training programs in the following topics are desired. A. Financing vehicle purchasing, infrastructure development and organizational operations: Work will focus on educating and training coalitions on techniques for: financing and raising funds, such as seeking funding from foundations and corporations; incorporating as a nonprofit; grant writing; event planning; applying for and participating in Congestion Mitigation Air Quality programs. B. Community organization outreach: Work will focus on educating and training coalitions to identify and develop partnerships with pertinent local, community organizations, such as the Lion's Club, Sierra Club, parent/teacher associations, American Lung Association, etc., in order to integrate alternative fuels' initiatives into local community agendas. C. Public information outreach: Work will improve coalitions' ability to communicate and present information to showcase local alternative fuel achievements. Work will also include assisting Coalitions to develop public information and outreach strategies. D. Building organizational capability: Work will include training coalitions on how to increase the organizational capability of local coalitions by explaining how to establish senior executive and intern programs and motivating volunteers to conduct coalition activities. E. Strategic market development: Work will be directed toward assisting local coalitions with establishing strategic market development plans that identify available resources -- people, participating company affiliations, vehicles, refueling stations, corridors, airports, local laws and incentives; and then identify gaps to form action plans that will result in Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) markets. 2. Public Outreach: Develop and design information materials to educate the public about Alternative Fuels and other advanced transportation technologies. Work would utilize a variety of electronic and print formats to develop a coordinated, comprehensive public information strategy in conjunction with DOE regional efforts. Work guidelines would be developed in conjunction with the DOE Public Affairs Office in order to maximize benefit and avoid duplication. A. Outreach Program: Work would include developing and placing magazine articles to increase fleet operators, fleet owners, and general public interest in Clean Cities and alternative fuels. Work could include the development of case studies and general public information products. B. Partner Awards: Work would include developing an award and recognition process that would generate corporate attention to Clean Cities objectives. Awards and recognition would be communicated utilizing tools developed in (A) above. C. Public Service Announcements: Work would include developing appropriate themes on the societal benefits of driving low emission, alternative fuel, and fuel efficient vehicles; creating public service announcements based on these themes for print and broadcast media; and placing these public service announcements in the appropriate publications and broadcast media. D. Middle and high school AFV curricula: Work will be to develop and distribute new and/or build upon existing educational materials on the value and benefits of alternative fuel utilization, current and future AFV technology, and infrastructure for incorporation into middle and high school curricula. Training teachers on how to use the materials should be part of the task. 3. Alternative Fuel Market Development: Work would focus on developing partnerships in certain, concentrated market niches demonstrated to be "critical" in the development of a successful, local AFV market, such as airports, taxi fleets, school bus fleets, rental car, and national parks. Work would include developing an expertise in each niche; effectively "tackling" problem areas or issues in the market area; and identifying programs that can be replicated in other Clean Cities. Workshops would utilize the information materials developed. Up to two workshops per market sector will be considered. Solicitation number DE-PS36-98GO10295 will include complete information on the program including technical aspects, funding, application preparation instructions, application evaluation criteria, and other factors that will be considered when selecting projects for funding. No pre- application conference is planned. Issuance of the solicitation is planned on or about April 10, 1998, with responses due May 12, 1998. Requests for the solicitation must be in writing and directed to John R. Golovach. Facsimiles and electronic mail are acceptable and can be transmitted to (303) 275-473 (fax) or john_golovach@nrel.gov (email). Solicitation may also be obtained electronically through the Golden Field Office Home Page at http://www/eren.doe.gov/golden/solicit.htm. Written notification must be sent to Mr. Golovach within two days of downloading the solicitation fromthe Home Page. A list of requestors of the solicitation will also be published and may be obtained electronically through the Golden Field Office Home Page at http://www.eren.doe.gov/golden/solicit.htm. All responsible sources may submit an application and all timely applications will be considered. (0089)

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