SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- WHITE PAPERS SOUGHT FOR PROPOSED FY 2004 RESEARCH TO SUPPORT THE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT AND RESEARCH PROGRAM CONCERNING THE AREA OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE RESEARCH
- Notice Date
- 1/7/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Minerals Management Service Procurement Operations Branch 381 Elden Street, MS 2500 Herndon VA 20170
- ZIP Code
- 20170
- Solicitation Number
- 0104RP33212
- Response Due
- 2/18/2004
- Archive Date
- 1/6/2005
- Point of Contact
- Richard P. Bolick Contract Specialist 7037871395 richard.bolick@mms.gov;
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Point of Contact above, or if none listed, contact the IDEAS EC HELP DESK for assistance
(EC_helpdesk@NBC.GOV)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 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 www.mms.gov/tarphome. Interested parties are encouraged to view the information presented on the site when considering submitting white papers. BACKGROUND: Oil Spill Response Research sponsored by the Minerals Management Service 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 chemical dispersants, in situ burning 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 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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 - The MMS is seeking new technologies that will facilitate the containment and recovery 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 (crude oil as well as fuel oil) and emulsions from the sea surface. MMS seeks opportunities to performance test and evaluate 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) Innovative Oil Spill Containment and Recovery Technologies for Broken Ice Conditions - Increased offshore and onshore development is planned for the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas in Alaska. Effective cleanup of oil spills in broken ice conditions is still a considerable challenge. MMS is seeking new technologies that will facilitate the containment and recovery of spilled oil (both light and heavy) in broken ice. MMS seeks opportunities to performance test and evaluate full-scale prototype, non-commercially available technologies, and/or adaptations of existing technologies to contain and recover oil in a range of broken ice conditions. Focus should be on the types of broken ice typically found in the nearshore areas of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, where oil exploration activities are currently taking place or are planned. Tests could be conducted at Ohmsett; ASTM testing standards will be used, as applicable, in these evaluations. 3) Technology for the Separation of Oil and Ice - New and/or innovative technologies that will facilitate the separation of oil, ice and water when responding to oil spills in ice-infested waters. MMS seeks opportunities to performance test and evaluate new or innovative technologies for the separation of oil, ice and water related to oil spill response in ice-infested waters. Tests could be conducted at Ohmsett; ASTM testing standards will be used, as applicable, in these evaluations. 4) Technology for the Recovery and Pumping of High Density and Viscous Oils - New or innovative technologies that will facilitate the recovery and pumping of heavy and viscous oils. Recent spill events in the U.S and Europe have raised the awareness of the limitations of present-day mechanical recovery equipment in removing heavy oils and emulsions from the sea surface, their subsequent temporary storage and transfer operations. MMS seeks opportunities that will address improvements in the state of the art for this equipment and 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; ASTM testing standards will be used, as applicable, in these evaluations. White Papers are also requested to address the need for a high density, viscous oil, standardized testing methodology, which does not presently exist. The methodology could contain quantitative and qualitative components. 5) Detection and Tracking of Spilled Oil on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) - Increased offshore exploration, development and production is planned for deepwater (5,000 feet and greater) in Gulf of Mexico and for the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas in Alaska. MMS is seeking new and innovative technology, equipment and methods for the remote sensing and surveillance of spilled oil on the OCS. This equipment must be able to locate and accurately map the location of the spilled oil and be able to fax a geo-referenced map of the slick to responders while airborne. 6) Detection and Tracking of Spilled Oil Under Ice - MMS is seeking new and innovative equipment and technologies for the remote sensing and surveillance of oil in and under ice. This equipment shall be able to locate and accurately map the location of the oil. MMS seeks opportunities to test and evaluate these technologies through a series of field tests conducted in Arctic environments. 7) Chemical Dispersant Research - White Papers are requested that will serve to facilitate the intelligent use of dispersants in U.S. OCS waters. Of particular interest is the use of methods to assess dispersant effectiveness realistically, as a function of several factors including dispersant type, oil type and weathered state, dispersant-to-oil ratio, spill characteristics, sea state, and environmental conditions. Also of interest are concepts for the use of dispersants in response to deep-water blowouts and on viscous oil spills, improved methods for applying dispersants, and monitoring their effectiveness in the field. 8) Testing Novel Oil Spill Dispersant Delivery Methods and Systems at Ohmsett - The National Oil Spill Response Test Facility - Chemical dispersants have traditionally been applied to oil spills either via aircraft or outrigger spray boom mounted on vessels. One of the major drawbacks of vessel-based application has been the cumbersome support arms used to mount multiple spray nozzles out from the vessels sides to achieve a reasonable spray swath. The small discharge nozzles used in these systems are also prone to blockage and require on-going maintenance to ensure proper operation in emergency situations. MMS is seeking White Papers that address improved methods for the delivery of dispersants by vessels. 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 issues related to the offshore operations. Multi-year funding of projects is acceptable. HOW TO RESPOND: White Papers, not more than five (5) pages in length, an original, five (5) hard copies and one (1) electronic copy 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 3:00 PM, EST FEBRUARY 18, 2004. WHITE PAPERS SENT THROUGH EMAIL AND FAXES WILL NOT BE 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. QUESTIONS shall be E-mail addressed to richard.bolick@mms.gov or faxed to 703-787-1041. The RFP number (1435-01-04-RP-33212) 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 3:00 P.M. EST February 18, 2004. 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.
- Web Link
-
Please click here to view more details.
(http://ideasec.nbc.gov/ecprod/owa/ec$cbd.sypfirstcount?P_SERVER_ID3=MM143501&P_OBJ_ID1=137090)
- Record
- SN00499919-W 20040109/040107212101 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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