TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Ground/Sea Vehicles, Materials/Processes

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: DD(X)

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the project is to develop and implement innovations that will allow the shipyard to monitor and take measures to control critical by-products of its operation. By developing a system of reliable and cost-effective, detection and monitoring technology, the shipyard will be able to act quickly to reduce unacceptable emissions and to have proof that it complies with local environmental standards.

DESCRIPTION: The Navy's Program Executive Office for Ships is leveraging the National Research Program (NSRP) to effect change across the non-nuclear surface shipbuilding, modernization and repair enterprise by coordinating with U. S. shipbuilders to adapt and implement "World Class" commercial best manufacturing practices. The U.S. shipbuilding industry lags behind the global shipbuilding market significantly in adapting new technologies to long-standing inefficient manufacturing processes and improvement is this area is key to closing this gap.

This topic seeks innovative scientific and engineering solutions to detect, evaluate and control known pollutants from industrial wastewater discharges and pollutants that may enter the stormwater run-off and result in concentrations that exceed local environmental discharge limits. Shipyards conduct numerous industrial operations that result in surface contamination. Technologies that could be combined into a system that is economical, could autonomously monitor the presence of these contaminants and provide an early warning alert of the condition, is the goal of this topic.

Efforts cited within each research area are illustrative only and proposals dealing with other efforts within the describe area of interest are also solicited. The industrial and stormwater research areas include:
- Sensors and sampling equipment that can detect, characterize and quantify industrial wastewater and stormwater contaminants
- Software solutions that can alert facility managers, in real time, of water quality conditions approaching or exceeding NPDES permit limits
- Rapidly deployable water treatment methods that can mitigate water quality conditions that violate regional standards
- Monitoring systems that can collect pertinent water quality data and maintain a record to assist facility managers in addressing current and future regulatory requirements

Of particular interest are initiatives with a clear business case. Proposal should specifically describe the technology that will be applied to solve the problem, how it will be developed, what the specific benefit will be and how it might be transitioned into the shipbuilding industry. While NSRP members are available to provide guidance and assistance in the preparation of proposals and in the execution of efforts awarded from this solicitation, teaming or consulting with the shipbuilder and repair industry (both public and private yards) is not required and will not be a factor in proposal selection.

PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility for improvements being developed and also identify impact upon shipbuilding affordability. Include a first order Return-On-Investment (ROI) analysis for industry implementation and estimate potential Total Ownership Cost (TOC) reduction. Establish Phase II performance goals and key developmental milestones.

PHASE II: Finalize the design, as appropriate, and demonstrate a working prototype of the proposed system. Perform laboratory tests to validate the performance characteristics established in Phase I. Develop a detailed plan and method of implementation into a full-scale application.

PHASE III: Implement the Phase III plan developed in Phase II in coordination with the shipbuilding and repair industry.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The technology developed under this topic shall be directly applicable to current military and commercial shipbuilding operation and repair practices. The products developed should find wide use in most heavy industrial plant/processing facilities such as the power industry and will be marketable to the shipbuilding and repair industry.

REFERENCES:
1. NSRP ASE Strategic Investment Plan, available on line at http://www.nsrp.org
2. Shipbuilding and Repair Industry Contacts are available at http://www.usashipbuilding.com
3. US Naval Shipyard information is available at http://www.shipyards.navy.mil
4. Federal Clean Water Act 40 CFR Part 122.
5. OPNAVINST 5090.1B, Chapter 7, Paragraph 4.2 (d) and 7-5.1 (b) and (c).

KEYWORDS: environmental quality; stormwater; pollution abatement; water treatment

TPOC: William Palko
Phone: (202)781-1732
Fax: (202)781-4570
Email: [email protected]
2nd TPOC: Mary Bieberich
Phone: (301)227-4978
Fax:
Email: [email protected]

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between May 1, 2006 and June 13, 2006, you may talk directly with the Topic Author(s) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting June 14, 2006 , when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (06.2 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 06.2 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.