small businesses. Typically, ROAs are published annually in the Federal Register and the Commerce Business Daily, and multiple awards are made.

PRDAs are program announce-
ments used to solicit a broad mix of R&D and DT&E proposals. Typically, a PRDA is used to solicit proposals for wide-range of tech-
nical solutions to specific EM pro-
blem areas. PRDAs may be used to solicit proposals for contracts, grants, or cooperative agree-
ments. Multiple awards, which may have dissimilar approaches or concepts, are generally made. Numerous PRDAs may be issued each year. In addition to PRDAs and ROAs, EM uses financial assistance awards when the tech-
nology is developed for public

purpose. Financial assistance awards are solicited through pub-
lication in the Federal Register. These announcements are called Program Rules. A Program Rule can either be a one-time solicita-
tion or an open-ended, general solicitation with annual or more frequent announcements concern-
ing specific funding availability and desired R&D agreements. The Program Rule can also be used to award both grants and coopera-
tive agreements. EM awards grants and cooperative agree-
ments if 51% or more of the overall value of the effort is related to a public interest goal. Such goals include possible non-DOE or other federal agency participation and use, advancement of present and future U.S. capabilities in domestic and international environmental