Bureau of Reclamation, Acquisition Operations Group, Code D-7810, Denver Federal Center, PO Box 25007, Denver CO 80225

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR APPLIED RESEARCH -- WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM DUE 011597 POC Stephanie Bartlett, (303) 236-8040,ext.241, Grants and Cooperative Agreements Officer WEB: Acquistion Operations Group Solicitation Page, http://www.usbr.gov/aamsden/aamssol.html. E-MAIL: Grants and Cooperative Agreements Officer, sgbartlett@do.usbr.gov. Requests for this pre-proposal solicitation package shall be made in writing to the above address, or by facsimile to (303) 236-8630, or by E-Mail to sgbartlett@do.usbr.gov, reference Water Treatment Technology Program Pre-Proposal. Telephone requests will not be honored. Pre-proposals shall not exceed four pages in length and are due 1/15/97. The U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), is requesting pre-proposals for research activities sponsored by the Water Treatment Technology Program (WTTP). Through this program, Reclamation is forming partnerships with private industry, universities, and local communities to address a broad range of water treatment needs. The overall objective of the program is to reduce the cost of water treatment technologies in the United States. For fiscal year 1997, four different research areas of interest are soliciting pre-proposals for projects of 12 months duration or less (follow-on funding may be available for successful projects). Any responsible source, to include individuals, educational institutions, commercial or industrial organizations, private entities, public entities (including state and local), or Indian Tribal Governments, may submit a pre-proposal which shall be considered by Reclamation. Federal agencies are not eligible to apply. The award amount varies according to the area of interest. Offerors must be willing to cost share at least 50% of the project cost through cash, in-kind, or third party contributions. Federal funding from other agencies may be used as a portion of your cost sharing if permitted by the authorizing legislation of that funding source. Patent rights for any developments will be retained by the research partner. Offerors proposing to provide more than a 50% cost-share will be given greater consideration. Pre-proposals will be reviewed for overall scientific and/or technical merit; potential contributions to Reclamation's WTTP objectives; qualifications of the proposer and reasonableness of the estimated costs. Meritorious pre-proposers will be encouraged to submit a full proposal. These solicitation packages will be issued on approximately 2/15/97, with a due date of approximately 4/10/97. A brief description of each area of interest and the respective funding share is listed below. A list of generic examples of the types of research and development opportunities that will be considered are listed with each area of interest. These examples will not necessarily be given preferential consideration over unspecified research that also meets the goals of the program. AREA 1-MEMBRANE PROCESS DEVELOPMENT -- The primary objective of the Membrane Process Development research task is to reduce the cost and increase the ease of operation of membrane-based desalting and water treatment systems. In fiscal year 1997, Reclamation expects to make two or more awards in the amount of $75,000 each for this task. Examples of these projects include (1) Development of membranes with improved properties; (2) Development of ion- or component-specific membranes; (3) Quality improvements in membrane element manufacture; and (4) Overall membrane process improvements, including pretreatment. AREA 2-INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS -- The primary objective of this task is to stimulate interest in innovative and non-conventional water treatment alternatives which offer technological improvements and cost improvements or improvements in environmental compatibility. A principal, but not exclusive goal of this task is the formation of working combinations between a water utility having a defined, persistent problem and a research entity with practical ideas for resolution of that problem. In fiscal year 1997, Reclamation expects to make two or more awards in the amount of $25,000 each for this task. Examples of these projects include (1) Development of new water treatment processes or improvements in existing treatment systems; (2) Resolution of small persistent operational problems in existing water treatment plants; and (3) Significantreduction in use of energy or chemicals in pretreatment, separation processes, post-treatment, or sludge or concentrate disposal. AREA 3-MEMBRANE SEPARATION PROCESSES FOR WASTEWATER RECLAMATION -- The primary objective of this task is to further the development and application of membrane separation technologies for the treatment of waters contaminated with toxic or otherwise deleterious substances from industrial processes, municipal treatment, or from irrigation drainages. In fiscal year 1997, Reclamation expects to make three or more awards in the amount of $45,000 each for this task. Examples of these projects include (1) Recycling and reuse of industrial process/rinse waters; (2) Recovery/recycling process materials, i.e. chemicals, plating solutions, catalysts; (3) Removal of toxic substances, i.e. pesticides, heavy metals, radioactive elements; and (4) Improvement of membrane polymers for waste treatment applications. AREA 4-WESTERN WATER PROJECTS -- The primary objective of this task is to cost-share preliminary research studies and desalting/water treatment pilot plant investigations for specific applications at specific sites in order to reduce the costs and increase the efficiency of systems to provide more useable water in the western United States. In fiscal year 1997, Reclamation is requesting pre-proposals only for preliminary research studies, which could lead to one- to two-year pilot plant investigations in fiscal years 1998 and 1999. During fiscal year 1997, Reclamation expects to make three or more awards in the amount of $50,000 each for these preliminary research studies. Follow-on funding for pilot testing would be in amounts up to $270,000 for each pilot project. Examples of these projects, which must be related to a specific site in the western United States, include (1) Reduction in energy requirements; (2) Innovations in pretreatment needs or costs; (3) Development of novel or improved water treatment or desalting processes; (4) Methods to recover water treatment by-products to reduce costs; and (5) Development of improved concentrate disposal alternatives. See Numbered Note 26. (0340)

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