Brookhaven National Laboratory has established an initiative in FEL science and technology development which includes the Deep Ultra-Violet Free Electron Laser (DUV-FEL) experiment. It is configured as a sub-harmonically seeded High Gain Harmonic Generator (HGHG) to improve coherence and pulse control as contrasted with other schemes that start up from noise. In its initial configuration the DUV-FEL will allow operation at wavelengths down to 200 nm at pulse lengths below a picosecond. The DUV-FEL will be used as a test-bed for experiments to utilize the UV radiation it produces, and serve as model for extending its principles to much shorter wavelengths (x-rays).