SITE CHARACTERIZATION TECHNOLOGIES VERIFICATION PROGRAM Due 081696. Contact Point, EPA, NERL, PO Box 93478 Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478, Eric Koglin, 702-798-2432. The Consortium for Site Characterization (CSCT) is in the process of identifying technologies for the next series of demonstration and verification studies under the site characterization and monitoring technology verification pilot. This announcement seeks potential candidates for the 1996 cycle of the CSCT verification program. The goal of the CSCT is to speed adoption and routine use of field analytical technologies for assessment, characterization, and remediation of contaminated sites. These technologies have the potential to save money and to expedite site cleanup. This pilot program is operating under the auspices of the Environmental Technology Verification Program (ETV) and is supported by funding from the EPA's Environmental Technology Initiative and the DoD's Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. Background-The CSCT was established to identify, evaluate, demonstrate, verify, and transfer information about innovative and alternative monitoring, measurement, and site characterization technologies to developers, users, and regulators. The CSCT fulfills the need for independent evaluation of monitoring and site characterization technology performance. The CSCT brings together the interests of Federal and state regulators and potential end users of these technologies to facilitate independent verification of technology performance. Customers, investors, and regulators alike will judge a technology on its merits, backed by quality data. The public/private partnership encourages development of new technology and develops markets for field characterization technology. Scope-The CSCT is interested in demonstrating and verifying technologies that meet the following needs: 1. In situ, real-time monitoring devices for measuring metals, radionuclides, VOC's, PCB's, semi-volatiles, pesticides, and dense non-aqueous phase liquids in soil, soil gas, and water. We are also interested in devices that can be used to monitor the progress and effectiveness of in situ remediation. 2. Innovative technologies for sampling soil, soil gas, and groundwater (in the saturated and unsaturated zones). Through this request, the CSCT is only seeking information on the technologies meeting the above-mentioned criteria. The CSCT is primarily interested in technologies that provide cost-effective, faster, safer, and/or better methods (compared to conventional methods) for producing real-time or near-real-time data. Selection Criteria-We have defined three levels of technology maturity: Level 1-Early laboratory prototype-little or no field experience/research application stage; Level 2-Pre-production prototype-documented field experience/needs a rigorous evaluation; Level 3-Commercial production unit-documented field experience/needs performance verification for acceptance by regulators. The demonstration/verification process applies only to those technologies that fit into Level 3. However, we are interested in hearing from technology developers who have technologies that fit in Levels 1 and 2. We feel that it is important for us to be aware of and to nurture emerging technologies as well as those in or near commercial production. We will evaluate the information that you send to determine the level of maturity of the technology. Selecting Technologies for Demonstration - We will evaluate each of the submittals to determine the maturity level of the technologies. After we develop the list of potential technologies, the CSCT staff will determine the minimum performance characteristics for the technologies that will be eligible for demonstration. These characteristics are based on the current market status of technologies and information supplied by the developers. The technology characteristics will include the following: Innovation (representing a new method or application for solving technical problems); Analytical attributes (such a sensitivity, linear dynamic range, target contaminants, and applicability for a variety of media); Physical attributes (such as portability and power requirements). Once the CSCT determines the technology performance attributes, it will announce a location and time for a vendor meeting. The meeting will give the developers an opportunity to find out more details of the upcoming demonstration and to ask questions. After the meeting, the developers will submit a simple proposal to the CSCT. The proposal will include the topics presented in the meeting (a brief description of their technology's technical capabilities, maturity, and previous field experience) as well as operation cost data. The CSCT will use the proposals to determine the potential number of technologies that will be participating in the demonstration and the administrative requirements to successfully complete the demonstration. The CSCT will review the proposals to determine which technologies will participate in the demonstration. Ideally, we would like to include all interested developers, but resource limits may require further prioritization and selection. What's Involved in Participation? The CSCT collaborates with the technology developer to conduct the demonstration. The CSCT independently verifies the performance. The CSCT does not provide funding to the developer to participate in this program. The developer is expected to be able to contribute time and money to the demonstration. Specifically, the developer should plan to cover the costs and/or labor for the following: Attending a developer's briefing to obtain site and program information; Preparing the demonstration plan; Mobilizing the technology to the field and operating it for two weeks; Providing a portion of the confirmatory analytical costs (shared among the participating developers); Reviewing and evaluating the data; Reviewing and commenting on the technology evaluation report. A minimum of one field demonstration will be required, and in most cases two field demonstrations (at different sites) will be part of the verification process. These demonstrations will be conducted at existing, well characterized hazardous waste sites. The CSCT is responsible for: Assisting the developer in the preparation of a demonstration plan; Assisting in locating appropriate field sites; Approving the demonstration plan; Participating in the field exercise; Evaluating and verifying the data; Preparing a technology evaluation report; Disseminating information to users, regulators, and the public. The verification process is considered complete when the technology evaluation report has been approved by all parties. It will take about 12 months from the first meeting with the developer to complete the process. Why Should You Participate? The CSCT will prepare and distribute a statement, under EPA signature, which verifies that the technology met its performance goals as part of the technology evaluation report. (This only applies to Level 3 technologies); You will be working with EPA Regional and Laboratory staff in all aspects of the demonstration; Your staff will gain valuable insights into the needs of your customer; You will see first hand the challenges presented by operating equipment and generating data in the field; The CSCT has an aggressive information distribution program. Results of the demonstration will be distributed to all applicable user groups and regulators to increase their awareness of the technology. This assures the maximum exposure and visibility of the results of the demonstration; Participation will maximize your marketing resources. A demonstration conducted under the auspices of the CSCT should alleviate the need of doing ad hoc demonstrations at the behest of each potential user or customer; The CSCT includes representation from Federal and state regulatory agencies who will provide input on the development of the evaluation. Naturally this will enhance the acceptance of the verified technology. Response format. Information, not a proposal, is requested. If a proposal is received in response to this request for information, it will be forwarded to the EPA Grants Administration Division without review by the receiving office, in accordance with Agency policy concerning unsolicited proposals. This request for information is designed only to determine those technologies that may be candidates for demonstration and verification. As appropriate, confidential or proprietary information should be so indicated on the submission. It is recommended that this type of information be kept to a minimum. The CSCT requests the following information be included in the response (where applicable): Name(s), address, phone and fax numbers, and electronic mail of the developer; Name of the device; Type of environmental media to which the technology is applicable; Toxic or hazardous chemicals detected, measured, or sampled with the technology; Brief description of the theory of operation; Type, amount, and availability of existing performance data; Examples of previous experience such as successful application(s) of the technology (in the laboratory and/or the field); Detection limits (upper and lower); Known interferences; Accuracy, precision, dynamic range, and bias of method; Advantages and cost effectiveness of the method versus conventional method(s) (include either hardware costs or per sample analytical costs, as appropriate); Time to get result or sample compared to conventional method(s); Volume or weight of sample required to make measurement; Size, weight, and requirements (e.g., power, gases, etc.) of equipment; Amount of training required by operator; Standard operating procedure(s) or method for the generation of data of know quality; Where applicable, equipment decontamination method; Pertinent reference in the literature or other documentation; Ability of the developer to commercialize or secure commercial interest in the technology.

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0450 19960604\SP-0001.MSC)