B -- WHITE PAPERS SOUGHT FOR PROPOSED RESEARCH TO SUPPORT THE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT AND RESEARCH PROGRAM CONCERNING THE AREA OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE RESEARCH.

This announcement solicits White Papers, of not more than five (5) pages in length, for specific areas of interest to the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Technology Assessment and Research (TA&R) Program, Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR). The MMS web site has descriptions of OSRR activities, the scope of MMS interests, and past projects. The web site address is http://www.mms.gov/tarp/. We encourage interested parties to view the information presented on the site when considering submitting white papers. BACKGROUND: Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR) sponsored by the Minerals Management Service (MMS) through the Technology Research and Assessment Program is directly integrated into MMS's offshore operations and is used in making regulatory decisions pertaining to permit and plan approvals, safety and pollution inspections, enforcement actions, and training requirements. MMS proposes to expand its existing OSRR program consistent with our statutory responsibility and the provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. As oil and gas industry activities increase in the deep water of Gulf of Mexico and the and ice-infested Beaufort Sea of Alaska, research must be broadened to address unknown factors concerning mechanical equipment performance and reliability as well as alternative countermeasures, including in situ burning, chemical dispersants and viscous oil pumping. The principal objective of this request for White Papers is to address innovative or technological advancements among several general topics of current interest to MMS. As a result of the White Papers submitted in accordance with the terms of this announcement, selected proposals shall be requested. Projects selected for eventual funding by MMS shall receive funding from FY 2003 funds. The MMS anticipates a total of $300,000 to $500,000 may be available for the initiation of new research proposals addressing OSRR topics in FY 2003 with projects being identified through this announcement and additional avenues. Typical projects envisioned to address the topics set forth below may require one quarter to one man-year effort, and prospective offerors shall bear this in mind when responding to this request. OBJECTIVES: The proposed objectives for the FY 2003 OSRR activities include, but are not limited to, research related to the following: 1)Innovative Oil Spill Containment and Recovery Technologies for the Open Ocean - new technologies that will facilitate the cleanup of spilled oil (both light and high density) in the open ocean. A subject of particular interest is response techniques and equipment for removing heavy oils and emulsions from the sea surface. MMS seeks proposals to performance test and evaluate these full-scale prototypes and non-commercially available technologies at Ohmsett - the National Oil Spill Response Test Facility, located in Leonardo, New Jersey. American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) testing standards will be used, as applicable, in these evaluations. 2)Development of New Testing Capabilities for Ohmsett. Over the past several years the testing capabilities have been expanded by: developing tests to evaluate fire-resistant oil spill containment booms in waves and flames; testing chemical dispersants; and testing equipment in cold water and broken ice. MMS is seeking proposals to expand and develop additional oil spill response test capabilities at Ohmsett. 3)Innovative Oil Spill Containment and Recovery Technologies in Broken Ice -new technologies that will facilitate the cleanup of spilled oil in broken ice. MMS seeks proposals to performance test and evaluate these full-scale prototype, non-commercially available technologies, and/or adaptations of existing technologies to contain and /or recover oil in a range of broken ice conditions, focusing on the types of broken ice typically found in the nearshore areas of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea where oil exploration activities are taking place or are planned. Tests would be conducted at Ohmsett. ASTM testing standards will be used, as applicable, in these evaluations. 4)Develop New Technology for Separation of Oil, Ice and Water - MMS is seeking proposals to develop new technology for the separation of oil, ice and water related to oil spill response in broken ice and ice infested waters, focusing on the types of broken ice typically found in the nearshore areas of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea where oil exploration activities are taking place or are planned. 5)Testing and Evaluation of Equipment for the Recovery and Pumping of High Density and Viscous Oils - new technologies that will facilitate the recovery and pumping of heavy and viscous oils. MMS seeks proposals to performance test and evaluate these full-scale prototype, non-commercially available technologies, and/or adaptations of existing technologies to recover and pump heavy and viscous oils. Tests could be conducted at Ohmsett. 6)Surface Blowout Oil Droplet Size Distribution Experiments - At present, computer models are used to predict the oil droplet size distribution generated by surface and sub-sea oil well blowouts. Oil droplet size distribution and evaporation of the oil droplets are two factors that strongly influence the pattern of surface oiling downwind of these blowouts. There are two different regimes for gas-driven atomization, based on orifice diameter. For the smaller orifice regime, equations used are based on experimental data that cover the range of gas-to-liquid ratios of interest to blowout studies. There are no experimental data for large orifices (in the size range of interest in blowouts) in the gas-to-liquid range of interest. MMS is seeking proposals to address this data gap and improve the state-of-the-art. 7)Oil Spill Drill Evaluation Methodology -- MMS conducts approximately 50 oil spill drills per year. Evaluations are generally based on the National Preparedness for Response and Exercise Program (PREP) guidelines. Through statistical analysis, inferences on the impacts of training, company size, spill management team size, drill scenario complexity, duration of drill, and/or any other number of variables could be made in order to improve operator preparedness. MMS is seeking proposals to develop a standardized, quantitative based, spill drill evaluation methodology that would allow MMS to conduct quantitative analysis of the resultant data. Development of the drill methodology would serve as the foundation for new policies to be used in determining timeliness and effectiveness of actions taken by an operator during a spill event. 8)Oil Spill Alarms and Monitors - MMS is seeking proposals to conduct a state-of-the-art assessment of alarms and monitors for the detection of spilled hydrocarbons on the water's surface. 9)Estimation of Spill Size from a Blowout - In accordance with MMS regulations, each operator is required to determine a worst case volume for their facilities. There are major differences regarding how each operator now makes this determination. MMS is seeking proposals to develop a methodology for predicting worst case release volumes from offshore facilities during a blowout. We envision development of a standardized process similar to the model MMS developed for pipelines that would provide consistency to this process. Those intending to submit white papers on this topic should contact the MMS POC to obtain documentation for the pipeline model. 10)Effectiveness of Sorbents for the Removal of Residue Remaining from the In Situ Burning of Oil on Water - Following a successful in situ burn operation, a small amount of residue remains on the water. Manuals and guidelines on in situ burning indicate that sorbents should be used to remove this residue. Little experimental research has been conducted on the effectiveness of this method using actual burn residues. MMS is seeking proposals to evaluate the effectiveness of various sorbent products for the recovery of residues from burns of a wide range of crude oil viscosities. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The MMS is interested in research initiatives relative to oil spill response, safety and pollution practices related to offshore operations. As a result of the White Papers, selected proposals will be sought and evaluated for funding. Efforts to be considered should be to the above stated issues and/or other related issues to the offshore operations. Multi-year funding of project is acceptable. HOW TO RESPOND: White Papers, not more than five (5) pages in length, an original plus five (5) copies and one (1) electronic copy to be submitted concurrently in pdf format on CD or standard 3 - inch diskette shall be submitted to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE, 381 ELDEN STREET, HERNDON, VIRGINIA 20170-4817, not later 4:00 PM, EST November 26, 2002. WHITE PAPERS SENT THROUGH EMAIL AND FAXES WILL NOT ACCEPTED. White Papers should define the proposed research scope and include the level of effort. NOTE: COST ESTIMATES ARE NOT TO BE INCLUDED. The White Papers will be evaluated only on technical merits. If your white paper is selected for further evaluation, a proposal will be requested and you must also submit a cost proposal at that time. Projects will be selected from some or all of the technical issues listed, depending on the interest and scope of White Papers received. The MMS will evaluate the responses, and the offerors of those deemed to have merit will be furnished information to assist in the preparation of a complete proposal. This constitutes a Request For Proposal (RFP), but does not constitute commitment by the Government to award, nor does it restrict the solicitation to those firms meeting the screening criteria in this synopsis. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation or the information submitted. WHITE PAPERS WILL BE EVALUATED USING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: (1)feasibility of the approach or solution; (2)the offeror's understanding of the technical issues; (3)the offeror's ability to implement the proposed approach; (4)innovative or creative approaches or solutions, including the participation and/or funding by the oil and gas industry or other groups in the research industry where interest exists, (where appropriate); (5)past performance. SMALL DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS (SDB) REGULATORY CHANGE NOTICE: The Federal Acquisition Regulation authorizes the use of price and evaluation credits in industries where SDB prime contractors and subcontractors have been underutilized. We ask that you inform your SDB subcontractors that they should contact SBA's Office of Certification and Eligibility at +1 (555) 000-0000 to obtain an application, or to log on to SBA's Website (www.sba.gov/sdb). If you are an SDB prime contractor who is not SBA-certified, we also ask that you apply for certification. Effective October 1, 1999, certified SDB prime contractors were eligible for a price credit when bidding on Federal prime contracts. Effective January 1, 1999, prime contractors who subcontract with SBA-certified or self-certified SDBs are eligible for evaluation credits. Please note that prime contractors may continue to rely on self-certification of their SDB subcontractors through June 30, 1999. For solicitations issued on or after July 1, 1999, prime contractors must use SBA-certified SDB subcontractors in order to be eligible for evaluation credits. QUESTIONS shall be E-mail addressed to contact@example.gov or faxed to +1 (555) 000-0000. The RFP number MUST be in the subject line of the E-mail. All questions should include your full name and title, RFP number, your organization, complete address, and telephone and fax numbers. Telephone inquires WILL NOT be accepted. A separate White Paper shall be submitted for each study on which the offeror wishes to propose. The White Paper shall identify clearly the offeror company/organization, point of contact, address, telephone and facsimile numbers. Responses will be accepted ONLY until 4:00 P.M. EST November 26, 2002. If offerors desire to hand deliver their White Papers, they are informed that MMS is a secure office complex and they MUST NOT enter the building beyond the lobby. There is a courtesy telephone near the elevators from which you must call extension 1354 for a procurement official to pick up your submittal.