SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Evaluating Applications of Field Spectroscopy Devices to Fingerprint Commonly Used Construction Materials
- Notice Date
- 7/29/2008
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- The National Academies, Transportation Research Board, Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2), 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
- ZIP Code
- 20001
- Solicitation Number
- SHRP2R06B
- Archive Date
- 9/24/2008
- Point of Contact
- Monica A. Starnes,, Phone: 202-334-1894, Linda Mason,, Phone: 202-334-3241
- E-Mail Address
-
mstarnes@nas.edu, lmason@nas.edu
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SHRP 2 Request for Proposals Focus Area: Renewal Project Number: R06-B Project Title: Evaluating Applications of Field Spectroscopy Devices to Fingerprint Commonly Used Construction Materials Date Posted: July 29, 2008 SHRP 2 Background To address the challenges of moving people and goods efficiently and safely on the nation's highways, Congress has created the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2). SHRP 2 is a targeted, short-term research program carried out through competitively awarded contracts to qualified researchers in the academic, private, and public sectors. SHRP 2 addresses four strategic focus areas: the role of human behavior in highway safety (Safety); rapid highway renewal (Renewal); congestion reduction through improved travel time reliability (Reliability); and transportation planning that better integrates community, economic, and environmental considerations into new highway capacity (Capacity). Under current legislative provisions, SHRP 2 will receive approximately $150 million with total program duration of 7 years. Renewal Focus Area The U.S. highway system is aging and must be rebuilt while we are driving on it and living next to it. Research in the SHRP 2 Renewal focus area therefore addresses the need to develop a consistent, systematic approach to completing highway projects quickly, with minimal disruption to the community, and producing facilities that are long-lasting. Identifying new technologies for locating underground utilities; developing procedures to speed the evaluation of designs and the inspection of construction; and applying new methods and materials for preserving, rehabilitating, and reconstructing roadways and bridges are among the goals for this focus area. Alternative strategies for contracting, financing and managing projects, and mitigating institutional barriers also are part of the emphasis on rapid renewal. The renewal scope applies to all classes of roads. Project Background Several DOTs have reported quality control issues with many of the materials routinely used in highway construction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray florescence (XRF), and Raman technologies have recently been used for transportation materials on a limited basis, particularly for "fingerprinting" or identifying materials such as deicing compounds or anti-strip agents, and occasionally for quantitative analyses such as polymer content in asphalt and sulfate content of soils. There is the potential for much broader use of these technologies for other quality assurance tests, for example in testing cements, paints, thermoplastics, epoxies, asphalt emulsions and possibly many others. Using these new technologies, rather than traditional chemical tests, for such applications can allow faster, more accurate measurements. Recently, many advances have been made in the equipment area. The chemical composition of typical materials requires developing acceptable spectra with laboratory based equipment. Very recently, however, low cost (around $20K) field hand-held devices have become available for validating that the delivered materials have similar chemical spectra to those obtained in the lab. These are point-and-shoot applications that could potentially be used by field technicians. If this technology is proven to be successful, individual deliveries of project materials can be tested prior to or during their use. The new equipment has become more available due to the lower cost of the devices and to software applications that allow easy interpretation of the results. Therefore, the potential use of these devices for a wider range of applications has become much more practical. Objectives The purpose of this project is to identify and evaluate practical hand-held equipment such as XRF, FTIR or Raman-spectroscopy for quantitative analyses of applications such as: • quantity of anti-stripping agent(s) in asphalt concrete • quantification of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) content (oxidation of pavement) • quality and uniformity of asphalt emulsions and neat binders • polymer content in asphalt binders • quality and uniformity of curing compounds • quality and uniformity of epoxy materials used for concrete spall repair • quality and uniformity of cement and/or concrete. An additional objective is to develop relatively simple and easy-to-use NDT procedures and protocols that inspectors and front-line personnel could use in the field to ensure quality construction. The results from the new methods should be easy to interpret. For each application the research team will demonstrate in the laboratory how these technologies can capture the basic fingerprint of the material. It will also be necessary to determine the feasibility of using these technologies in the field on construction projects. The technologies and applications that appear most promising for implementation will be field tested. Tasks Task descriptions are intended to provide a framework for conducting the research. SHRP 2 is seeking the insights of proposers on how best to achieve the research objectives. Proposers are expected to describe research plans that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and contract time. Proposals must present the proposers' current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to meeting the research objectives. Phase I Task 1: Conduct an international literature review to identify and document practical applications and research in progress of laboratory and hand-held spectroscopic techniques such as XRF, FTIR and/or Raman for material evaluation and fingerprinting. The literature review should focus on applications relevant to highway transportation. (See Note 1) Task 2: Identify and rank the most promising techniques in terms of applications for quality control/assurance of materials as applied to highway renewal. The most promising techniques should require minimum interpretation on the part of the operator and should be based on the techniques' potential sensitivity, accuracy, and reliability. Task 3: Propose for SHRP 2 approval an independent panel of experts to review the practicality and applicability (accuracy, precision, reliability, reproducibility, and ease of use, etc.) of the proposed techniques. A minimum of 5 volunteers is suggested for this independent panel, which should include experts in materials and construction from both industry and transportation agencies. Upon SHRP 2 approval of panel membership, conduct a working session with the independent panel to review the practicality and applicability of the techniques. Task 4: Recommend the technology(ies) and applications to be evaluated in the subsequent tasks and prepare a work plan for Phase II. Wait for SHRP 2 approval prior to proceeding to Phase II. Task 5: Prepare a Phase I Report documenting Tasks 1-4. Wait for SHRP 2 approval prior to proceeding to Phase II. Phase II After approval of the Phase I Report, and on receipt of direction to proceed, conduct the following tasks: Task 6: Conduct experimental testing as proof-of-concept for each of the proposed technologies and applications. As needed, refine the procedures for each NDT test to improve accuracy, precision, reliability, reproducibility, and ease of use. Task 7: Recommend which techniques/applications should be field tested. Develop and submit to SHRP 2 for approval a Phase II Report including a plan for field testing the promising techniques/applications. Phase III After approval of the Phase II Report, and on receipt of direction to proceed, conduct the following tasks: Task 8: Conduct field testing to demonstrate that the techniques recommended in Task 7 can be transferred to field application. Task 9: Document all test procedures and protocols for the successful techniques/applications. Recommend reasonable modifications to the equipment for improved implementation of the technologies. Task 10: Prepare and submit a Final Report documenting Tasks 1 through 8 and a plan for implementation. The report should also include recommendations on equipment availability, cost, and capabilities. Additionally, suggestions on what equipment modifications and/or future research are needed to develop promising technologies that were not field tested should be discussed. Deliverables • Phase I report documenting Tasks 1 through 4 • Phase II report documenting Tasks 6 and 7 • Final report documenting the entire project • Quarterly progress reports • Three (3) interim meetings with SHRP 2 staff: One (1) in Washington, DC and two (2) at the contractor's facility • Telephone conference calls, as needed • One (1) interim meeting with the Technical Coordinating Committee in Washington DC; Irvine, CA; or Woods Hole, MA. Funds Available: Not to exceed $400,000 for the entire project. Contract Period: Twenty-four (24) months for the entire project Responsible Staff: Dr. Monica A. Starnes, mstarnes@nas.edu, 202-334-1894 Authorization to Begin Work: January 2009, anticipated Special Note: The upcoming project NCHRP Synthesis 20-05(40-01) "Properties and Applications of Recycled Materials and Byproducts for Use as Construction Materials" will, among other tasks, identify and review available test procedures for assessing physical and chemical characterization of recycled materials. The contractor for project R06-B is encouraged to collaborate with the future contractor for NCHRP Synthesis 20-05(40-01) to exchange information related to applicable test procedures for these materials. Proposals (20 single-bound copies) are due not later than 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on September 9, 2008 This is a firm deadline, and extensions simply are not granted. In order to be considered, all 20 copies of the agency's proposal accompanied by the executed, unmodified Liability Statement must be in our offices not later than the deadline shown, or they will be rejected. Liability Statement The signature of an authorized representative of the proposing agency is required on the unaltered statement in order for SHRP 2 to accept the agency's proposal for consideration. Proposals submitted without this executed and unaltered statement by the proposal deadline will be summarily rejected. An executed, unaltered statement indicates the agency's intent and ability to execute a contract that includes the provisions in the statement. The Liability Statement is Figure 1 in the Manual for Conducting Research and Preparing Proposals for SHRP 2 ( http://trb.org/shrp2/SHRPII_Instructions.asp ) (see General Note 4). Here is a printable version of the SHRP 2 Liability Statement ( http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/shrp2/LiabilityStatement.pdf ). A free copy of the Adobe Acrobat PDF reader is available at http://www.adobe.com. Delivery Address PROPOSAL-SHRP 2 ATTN: Neil F. Hawks Director, Strategic Highway Research Program 2 Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 Phone: 202-334-1430 General Notes 1. Proposals will be evaluated by SHRP 2 staff and Expert Task Groups (ETGs) consisting of individuals collectively very knowledgeable in the problem area. Selection of an agency is made by the SHRP 2 Oversight Committee, based on the recommendation from SHRP 2 staff and the ETG. The following factors are considered: (1) the proposer's demonstrated understanding of the problem; (2) the merit of the proposed research approach and experimental design; (3) the experience, qualifications, and objectivity of the research team in the same or closely related problem area; (4) the proposer's plan for participation by disadvantaged business enterprises-small firms owned and controlled by minorities or women; and (5) the adequacy of facilities. 2. Any clarifications regarding this RFP will be posted on the SHRP 2 Web site ( www.TBR.org/SHRP2 ). Announcements of such clarifications will be posted on the front page and, when possible, will be noted in the TRB e-newsletter. Proposers are advised to check the Web site frequently until August 26, 2008, when no further comments will be posted. 3. According to the provisions of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21, which relates to nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs, all parties are hereby notified that the contract entered into pursuant to this announcement will be awarded without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability. 4. The essential features required in a proposal for research are detailed in the Manual for Conducting Research and Preparing Proposals for SHRP 2 ( http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/shrp2/PreparingSHRP2Reports.pdf ). Proposals must be prepared according to this document, and attention is directed specifically to Section IV for mandatory requirements. Proposals that do not conform to these requirements will be rejected. 5. The total funds available are made known in the project statement and line items of the budget are examined to determine the reasonableness of the allocation of funds to the various tasks. If the proposed total cost exceeds the funds available, the proposal is rejected. 6. All proposals become the property of the Transportation Research Board. Final disposition will be made according to the policies thereof, including the right to reject all proposals. IMPORTANT NOTICE Potential proposers should understand that the research project described herein is tentative. The final content of the program depends on the level of funding made available. Nevertheless, to be prepared to execute research contracts as soon as possible after sponsors' approvals, the Strategic Highway Research Program is assuming that the tentative program will become official in its entirety and is proceeding with requests for proposals and selections of research agencies.
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