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COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF MARCH 4,1999 PSA#2295Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Procurement
Operations Branch, MS2500, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia
20170-4817 B -- WHITE PAPERS SOUGHT IN SUPPORT OF THE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT &
RESEARCH (TA&R) PROGRAM IN THE AREA OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE RESEARCH SOL
1435-01-99-RP-3999 DUE 093099 POC J.S. Callas, Contracting Officer and
L. Donley, Procurement Assistant to the Contracting Officer both can be
reached at (703) 787-1354. WEB: Minerals Management Home Page and links
to TA&R and, http://www.mms.gov/ and http://www.mms.gov/tarp and
http://www.mms.gov/tarp/os4.htm and www.ohmsett.com. E-MAIL:
Contracting Officer and Procurement Assistant, Jaci.Callas@mms.gov and
Lane.Donley@mms.gov. This announcement is issued to solicit White
Papers no more than 5 pages in length for specific areas of interest to
the Minerals Management Service (MMS) TA&R Programs Oil Spill Response
Research. (Note that cost estimates are not to be included. The White
Papers will be evaluated only on technical merits.) This annoucement
shall remain open until September 30, 1999 (specific details are
provided below). The areas of interest are as follows: (1) Innovative
Oil Spill Containment and Recovery Technologies -- The MMS is seeking
technologies that will facilitate the containment and recovery of
spilled oil in the open ocean. The MMS seeks to test and evaluate
full-scale prototype and noncommercially available technologies at
Ohmsett -- The National Oil Spill Response Test Facility, located in
Leonardo, New Jersey. MMS will use American Society of Testing and
Materials (ASTM) testing standards as applicable in their evaluations.
(2) Detection and Tracking of Oil Under Ice -- Increased offshore
exploration, development and production are planned for the Beaufort
and Chukchi Sea's. Methods of detecting and tracking oil in and under
ice should be investigated. MMS is seeking new and innovative methods
and equipment for the remote sensing and surveillance of spilled oil in
and under the ice in the Arctic. This equipment must be able to locate
and accurately map the location of the submerged oil. (3) Detection
and Tracking of Oil in Deepwater on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
-- Increased offshore exploration, development and production are
planned for deepwater (5,000 feet and greater) in Gulf of Mexico. MMS
is seeking new and innovative methods and equipment for the remote
sensing and surveillance of spilled oil from subsea releases. The
equipment should detect and track surface signatures of subsea spills
from deepwater systems, including flowlines/risers, umbilicals, and
seafloor pipelines. Also, the equipment must be able to locate and
accurately map the submerged oil. (4) Risk Assessment of Systems Used
to Detect Spills from Deepwater Production Systems on the OCS -- MMS
needs an assessment of the accuracy of the systems and equipment used
to detect if a spill occurs from deepwater seafloor pipelines, multi
phase flowlines, and risers. The research will suggest improvements to
the spill-detection systems and equipment, as necessary. (5) Thickness
Measurement of Oil Slicks on the Open Ocean -- At present there is no
reliable method for accurately measuring the actual (not relative)
thickness of an oil slick on water and transmitting this information to
responders. MMS is seeking a reliable oil airborne oil slick thickness
sensor that will allow spill countermeasures to be directed to the
thicker portions of the slick. This equipment must be able to locate
and accurately map the actual thickness of the oil slick and be able to
fax a geo-referenced map of the slick to responders while airborne.
This sensor could also be used to determine dispersant effectiveness
during actual spill response. (6) Mechanical Cleanup in Ice Infested
Waters -- Increased offshore and onshore development is planned for the
Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (Northstar and Liberty). The State of Alaska
currently does not recognize non-mechanical response techniques. MMS
is seeking new and innovative designs for skimmers operating in ice
infested waters. (7) Dispersant Use from MMS Regulated Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Facilities -- The U.S. Coast Guard has
authorized the use of dispersant several times in the past year as a
response to oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. MMS is seeking
technologies that will facilitate the use of dispersants from OSC
facilities and support response vessels. MMS is interested in a
technology assessment of the operational factors (including risk) of
the use of dispersants from OSC facilities and support response vessels
to response to oil spills. (8) Emulsion Formation, Stability and
Properties -- There is a lack of knowledge of emulsion formation
process at sea. Much has been learned in the laboratory about emulsion
formation and properties of water-in-oil emulsions, and some at-seas
trials in Europe have been conducted. However, conducting repeatable
tests at sea is challenging and data interpretation is difficult. MMS
is seeking proposals to conduct basic research on emulsion formation
(with crude oils produced on the OCS) at Ohmsett -- The National Oil
Spill Response Test Facility in Leonardo, New Jersey. Properties to
address are: physical properties of emulsions formed by full-scale
waves, effects of mixing energy related to emulsification rates and
their physical properties, do laboratory scale predictions of
emulsification tendency and stability apply in real conditions, do
emulsions created by artificial means (gear pumps, mixers, etc.)
compare with emulsions formed in waves. (9) Test Burns at Ohmsett --
The National Oil Spill Response Test Facility with Low Sooting Fuels --
Two fireboom test protocols have been evaluated. The USCG/MMS Mobile
test protocol that used diesel fuel and air-injected propane test
protocol used at Ohmsett. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Another possibility for testing in situ burning equipment at Ohmsett is
the use of low-sooting fuels. MMS is seeking a technology assessment on
the feasibility of using low-sooting fuels for in situ burn tests at
Ohmsett. This technology assessment must include small and mid-scale
comparison experiments. (10) Fire Resistant Boom Burn Testing and
Evaluation at Ohmsett -- There has been a lot of effort in the past two
years on the performance testing of new fire resistant booms and
prototypes. Little is know about the performance of fire resistant
booms presently stockpiled for in situ burning operations. MMS is
seeking to obtain sections of different firebooms purchased by various
response organizations (U.S. Coast Guard, Oil Spill Response
Organizations, States, etc.) and subject them to the full air-injected
propane fire test protocol (including pre-burn stress testing and
post-burn low-viscosity oil containment testing). (11) Long-term
Weathering of Spilled Oil from Deepwater Operations -- Of concern is
the fact that large volume spills resulting from subsea releases of
oil, might be continuous. Oil from these spills will not weather as
quickly as oil from spills of short duration because there is a
continuous source of unweathered oil. Substantial quantities of oil may
be transported by winds and currents and vectored over large areas of
open water. The ability to predict the physical and chemical changes
(weathering) that occur in spilled oil resulting from subsea releases
in deepwater for greater than 30 days is required. Proposed model must
be calibrated with laboratory or field observational data. FURTHER
INFORMATION: The MMS is interested in research initiatives relative to
the subject areas noted above. As a result of the White Papers,
selected proposals will be sought and evaluated for funding under the
direction of the TA&R Program, and only efforts directly relevant to
the technical issues listed above will be considered under this
request. The MMS anticipates a $600,000 total budget for these projects
(combined total for fiscal years (FY) 1999 and 2000) and/or a one-third
to one man-year level of effort for each project selected. Offerors
should bear this in mind when responding to this request for White
Papers. Multi-year funding of projects is acceptable. HOW TO RESPOND:
White papers must reference the area of interest under which it is to
be considered and an ORIGINAL PLUS TEN copies submitted to the above
address. To be considered for award in fiscal year 1999, White Papers
MUST be received and accepted ON OR BEFORE APRIL 26, 1999 by 12:00 P.M
(Eastern Daylight Time) to our Herndon, Virginia office. Any
additional White Papers received and accepted from APRIL 27, 1999 BUT
BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 1999, by 12:00 P.M (Eastern Daylight Time) to our
Herndon, Virginia office will be considered for funding in fiscal year
2000. ELECTRONIC COPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED (e.g. via e-mail
attachments, telefaxes, etc.). White papers should define the proposed
research scope to include the level of effort. Note that cost
estimates ARE NOT to be included. The White Papers will be evaluated
only on technical merits. If selected, a proposal will be requested and
the costs evaluated at that time. Projects will be selected for funding
from all or part of the technical issues listed depending on the
interest and scope of White Papers received. The MMS will evaluate the
responses, and 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
Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. The Government will
solicit those firms meeting the screening criteria in this synopsis.
Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation or
the information submitted. Responses shall be evaluated on the
following criteria in order of importance: (1) Innovative or creative
approaches or solutions; (2) feasibility of the approach or solution;
(3) the offerors understanding of the technical issues being presented
for consideration; (4) the offerors ability to implement the proposed
approach as determined by adequate detailed analysis and supported by
specific accomplishments in the technical field to be studied; (5) the
offeror's record of past performance with similar efforts; (6) the
availability of qualified personnel with the requisite expertise to
accomplish the study as proposed; and, (7) the participation and/or
funding by the oil and gas industry or other groups in the research
effort (may be conducted as a joint industry project (JIP) if
significant industry interest exists). Questions should be faxed or
Emailed as soon as possible to (703) 787-1387 or Email addressed to
BOTH Jaci.Callas@mms.gov AND Lane.Donley@mms.gov. The RFP number MUST
be in the subject line of the Email. All questions should additionally
include your full name and title, RFP number, your organization,
complete address, and telephone and fax numbers. Telephone inquires
WILL NOT be accepted. Written inquires should be sent to the above
office. A separate White Paper shall be submitted for each study the
offeror wishes to propose. The White Paper shall identify clearly the
offeror's company/organization, point of contact, and telephone number
as well as addresses. Responses will be accepted ONLY through
SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 (12:00p.m. EDT -- refer to the separation of the
fiscal year commitments discussed above). If offerors desire to hand
deliver their capability statements, then they are informed that this
is a secure office complex and MUST NOT enter the building beyond the
lobby. There is a courtesy telephone near the elevators to which you
must call extension 1354 for a procurement official to pick-up your
submittal. Posted 03/02/99 (W-SN303733). (0061) Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0020 19990304\B-0006.SOL)
B - Special Studies and Analyses - Not R&D Index Page
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