A -- - Advanced Coatings Research and Development

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Broad Agency Announcement - Advanced Coatings Research and Development BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT #DTPH56-06-BAA-0001 This FedBizOpps notice constitutes the BAA as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). A formal Request for Proposals (RFP) or other type of solicitation regarding this announcement will not be issued. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) does not expect to award more than $250,000 in funding to any single research project, or to award more than $1,000,000 in funding over the life of the program described in this BAA. Additional levels of funding may be available if warranted with all funds contingent on Congressional approval. A technical evaluation panel will review all white papers received for responsiveness to the evaluation areas stated in this BAA. An offeror providing a white paper deemed worthy of further consideration and meeting the criteria of this BAA will be notified with possible suggestions for change in scope and detailed guidelines for submitting a full proposal. Each full proposal must include a cost sharing contribution of at least fifty percent of the proposed project's total cost to be considered. The Government's technical staff will not hold any discussion with an offeror after submission of a white paper without the Contracting Officer's prior approval. PHMSA encourages the widest participation, particularly involvement with universities and other academic institutions, as well as with individuals, corporations, non-profit organizations, small and small disadvantaged businesses, and State or local governments or other entities. BACKGROUND PHMSA conducted an Advanced Coatings Research & Development (R&D) workshop for Pipelines and Related Facilities in Gaithersburg, Maryland on June 9-10, 2005. The 1.5 day event included approximately 60 representatives from Federal, State and international government agencies, public representatives, research funding organizations, standards organizations, and pipeline operators from the U.S. and Canada. The Coatings Workshop led to a common understanding of current research efforts, a listing of key challenges facing government and industry, and a compilation of potential research areas whose exploration can help meet these challenges and therefore be considered in the development of new R&D applications. Only those topics described in the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and identified at the Coatings Workshop will be addressed. Not all topics identified at the Coatings Workshop fit within PHMSA's mission and therefore may not be represented in this BAA. Information on the research topics identified can be found in the Advanced Coatings Workshop proceedings and the technical report-out presentations. To view these proceedings and presentations, please visit http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/mtg_060905.htm . To gain a historical perspective of the Pipeline Safety R&D Program's goals, strategies, several previous pipeline stakeholder events, and descriptions of all awarded research, visit the program webpage at: http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/ . GENERAL INFORMATION PHMSA is seeking white papers on individual projects that address the following pipeline safety program areas. Additional details about the intent of these research topics are found within the proceedings and working group report-outs at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/mtg_060905.htm . 1. Coating Integrity Address the lack of knowledge on the role coating parameters play with failure mechanisms when linked to coating disbondment. Items for the investigation could include identification of appropriate surface profile/preparation to reduce coatings disbondment. The impact of manufacturing extrusion process for multi-layer coatings towards the residual stresses could also be investigated. Project results could identify and assess potential coating disbondment and how the above properties can be measured. The research team members could include technology developers, coating appliers, pipeline operators and if appropriate, standards development organizations. 2. Coating Application Address the role preheat temperature plays on strain hardening behaviour of steel pipe (important for strain based design.) The project could also address abrasive blast cleaning on Stress Corrosion Cracking resistance and any other resulting effects. Project results should identify and develop protocols on how the coating application process affects the properties of steel pipes. The research team members could include technology developers, coating appliers, pipeline operators and if appropriate, standards development organizations. 3. Disbonded Coating Identification Develop advanced technologies or techniques for identifying disbonded coatings and shielding locations for new and existing pipes. Project results could drive improvements in existing, or create new, technologies and techniques for identifying disbonded coatings and shielding locations for new and existing pipes. The research scope should quantify any advancement over existing technology or techniques. Field tests using realistic operating conditions could be employed to benchmark application of the proposed technology or technique. The research team members could include technology developers, coating appliers, pipeline operators and if appropriate, standards development organizations. 4. In-field Welding and Coating Coordinated Activities Address the interactions between in-field welding and field applied pipe coatings. A project could survey existing approaches and practices that welders utilize and develop protocols that could affect the integrity and quality of field applied coatings. The research could include welded joints, hot taps, and service repairs to the pipeline. Project results could improve communications between welders and coating applicators in the field. The research team members could include technology developers, coating appliers, pipeline operators and if appropriate, standards development organizations. In addition, each research topic must have with the following attributes: 1) Can produce results in the short-term (1-3 years). 2) Are progressed successfully past the proof of concept. 3) Can contribute to the development of technology or strengthening of consensus standards or provides general knowledge for decision makers. WHITE PAPERS PHMSA is seeking white papers on individual projects that address the above specified pipeline safety program areas. Each proposal must include a cost sharing contribution of at least fifty percent of the proposed project's cost to be considered. Each white paper should be no more than five pages and include the following: 1) a description of the state-of-the-art in the area being proposed; 2) actions proposed to advance that state with a quantifiable method to measure the improvement anticipated upon completion of the project; 3) examples of past performance that demonstrates the ability of an offeror to compete further from white papers to proposals; and 4) examples, if any, of prior awarded research with DOT. Each white paper must include the following contact information: point of contact, organization name and complete street address, organization DUNS number, organization Tax Identification Number (TIN), telephone number, fax number, and email address. The entire white paper submission package, including the White Paper itself (5 pages maximum), and all attachments, appendices and backup materials, should not exceed a total of fifteen pages. The package must include sufficient information to evaluate the following areas: I. Offeror's understanding and description of the "state of the art" in the proposed research area: The degree to which the offeror identifies the current status of the technology in the research area it is proposing to address, including previous work done by the offeror and others in the proposed R&D area and appropriateness of how the prior work relates to the proposed application of the technology. Adequacy and feasibility of the applicant's approach to achieving stated objectives must be clarified. II. Scientific and technical merit of proposal to advance pipeline safety: The degree to which the proposed technology or methodology is based on sound scientific and engineering principles as well as the degree to which the proposal will advance pipeline safety if the project is successfully completed. III. Adequacy and feasibility of technical approach and realism of cost estimate: Appropriateness, rationale, and completeness of the applicant's technical approach. The adequacy of the proposed project schedule, staffing plan and planned travel to complete the proposed project. The realism of the cost estimate to meet objectives and deliver products in the proposed timeline. The likelihood that the proposed project will be successful and develop a new successful technology. IV. Technical experience and capabilities of the offeror in Federal research programs: Credentials, capabilities and experience of key personnel. Demonstrated corporate experience of the applicant and participating organizations in managing similar projects that are similar to the proposal in size, complexity, and technology are evaluated as is the adequacy of the facilities and equipment to perform project tasks. V. Timeline to implement proposed technologies or concepts into practice into the pipeline industry: Overall potential timeline of the proposed technology to become an accepted commercial product if the project is successfully completed. VI. State of the application and coordination and collaboration with end users to implement proposed technologies or concepts into the pipeline industry: (Criterion to be used only during full proposal evaluation) If applicable, the proposed research should identify whether the deliverable addresses technology or consensus standards. The offeror could include scope items that coordinate with standard organizations and or vendor technology organizations to increase the chance that project results will be applied or commercialized. Items such as invitations to project meetings, providing copies of milestone reports and drafting project outputs in formats recognized with that organization are suggested. The offeror could provide clarity, logic and likely effectiveness of project organization including subcontractors to successfully complete the project. All evaluation factors are of equal importance. SUBMISSION OF WHITE PAPERS The procedures for submitting a white paper are as follows: 1) only electronic submissions will be accepted; and, 2) prior to submitting a White Paper, each organization must first complete (electronically) a Registration Form which is available at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/matrix/RfpInfo14.rdm . Additional instructions regarding the preparation and electronic submission of the White Papers along with individual questions and answers are available on the website identified above. White Papers must be uploaded by 5:00 P.M. EDT, Friday, April 14, 2006. Submitted white papers remain the property of PHMSA.