A--BAA Research on Oil Spill Response Operations on the U.S. OCS

Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Number E14PS00054 for Proposed Research on Oil Spill Response Operations on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf DESCRIPTION: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) solicits White Papers of not more than five (5) pages in length, for specific areas of interest to the BSEE Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR) Program on Oil Spill Response Operations on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). When appropriate, the research shall be conducted consistent with prior research. For a summary of research previously completed and recently performed, visit http://www.bsee.gov/Research-and-Training/Oil-Spill-Response-Research/Master-List-of-Oil-Spill-Response-Research/. Interested parties are encouraged to view the information presented on the site when considering submitting white papers. BACKGROUND: The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Oil Spill Response Research (OSRR) Program is requesting White Papers be submitted in accordance with the terms of this announcement. After review by BSEE, authors of selected White Papers will be requested to submit full proposals for further consideration. Proposals selected for funding by BSEE shall receive funding via FY 2014 allocations. The BSEE anticipates that $5,000,000 may be available for the initiation of new research and/or studies addressing topics identified through this announcement. The BSEE does not anticipate any one award exceeding $900,000. NOTICE: The BSEE may share the White Papers with other organizations for review. Potential contractors shall notify the BSEE if they do not want their White Papers/proposals shared outside of BSEE. The BSEE anticipates awards resultant to this announcement will be made on a Firm Fixed-Price (FFP) basis. OBJECTIVES: Responses to the FY 2014 OSRR projects under this announcement must be limited to the following topics: 1. Emergency Response Exercise Best Practices. Identify, review, document, analyze and/or develop innovative exercise design concepts and evaluation techniques to improve the quality of exercises and after action reports intended to meet the exercise requirements described in the National Preparedness for Response and Preparedness (NPREP) guidelines. All exercise types should be considered including announced and unannounced table top, equipment deployment, and notification. This project may include an initial assessment of industries and organizations which have well-organized emergency response exercise programs. The final product will identify the best practices, new ideas and recommendations for exercise design, conduct, and evaluation and describe how these practices might be incorporated into exercises intended to improve preparedness to respond to a marine oil spill. 2. Comparing and Ranking Worst Case Discharge Scenarios. Each oil spill in the offshore environment is unique based upon the type, rate, and volume of oil spilled, location of the spill source in relation to environmental and economic resources, predicated trajectory of the spill, identified sensitive resources in the path of the spill, and other factors. Considering these factors, develop a set of methodologies and algorithms, and a computer model for the comparison and ranking of different spill scenarios to determine which one has the greater potential for damage to the environment or result in other significant impacts, and should be classified as the worst case discharge scenario. System should be capable of comparing up to five spill scenarios at a time. 3. Separation of Oil from Slush or Frazil Ice. Current mechanical recovery methods for removing oil from the surface of the water are severely challenged with the presence of slush or frazil ice. Planned oil exploration and/or production activities in the Alaskan Arctic could necessitate an oil spill response conducted under these conditions. Identify/develop technologies and methods which could be used for the removal of spilled oil from slush or frazil ice. 4. Effectiveness of Dispersants in Slush and Broken Ice Conditions. Design and perform a series of meso-scale tests to investigate the effectiveness of dispersants on Arctic oils in slush and broken ice conditions. Tests should closely replicate real world condition such as natural or induced mixing energy, oil and water temperatures, and other environmental variables. 5. Geo-Referencing Identification (GRID) Tag. Develop a small, inexpensive technology package which can automatically inventory all response equipment in real time and can indicate location during storage and deployment. Technology package should maximize the use of commercial off-the-shelf parts and be compatible with the marine environment. Possible attributes to consider include satellite communications for global coverage, vibration power generator for increased functionality during equipment deployment, and real time updating of inventory database among others. The project should include an assessment, including cost, of all currently available off-the-shelf technologies that could meet the defined needs. 6. In-Situ Disposal of Decanted Oil-Water Mix from Commercial Skimmer Operations in the Arctic. Logistical constraints in the Alaskan Arctic make disposal of recovered oil very challenging. Develop a safe, low-emissions, in-situ method to expeditiously separate the oil and water recovered from a skimming system, and utilize or burn off the recovered oil. 7. Minimizing Risk to Spill Response Personnel via Remote Control Technology. Develop capabilities to remotely operate spill response technologies (booming/skimming operations, dispersant application, and in-situ burning) that reduce the need for, and number of, personnel on deck handling and operating response equipment in all environments, especially arctic conditions. 8. Tagging of Oil under Ice for Future Recovery. Develop a radio/GPS marking device that can be left on or under an ice floe to mark the location of spilled oil after detection by a human observer, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) or remotely operated vehicle (ROV), and then track the movement of the floe and entrapped oil for a period of up to nine months. Determine how this design can be adapted for short term use by responders (3-5 days) or for long term use (6-9 months) for longer monitoring. Approach should also describe how this device might be remotely deployable by UAV/UUV/ROV. HOW TO RESPOND: White Papers of not more than five (5) pages in length, an ORIGINAL PLUS three (3) copies and one (1) electronic copy in PDF format, on a CD, shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Acquisition Operations Branch, 381 Elden St., Herndon, VA 20170-4817, ATTN: Mr. Ankur Patel, not later than 2:00 PM, Eastern Time on Monday, April 10, 2014. WHITE PAPERS SENT THROUGH EMAIL AND FAXES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. White Papers shall define the proposed research scope and include the level of effort. NOTE THAT COST ESTIMATES ARE NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE WHITE PAPER. The White Papers shall be evaluated only on technical merits. IF YOUR WHITE PAPER IS SELECTED FOR FURTHER EVALUATION, A TECHNICAL AND COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL WILL BE REQUESTED FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION BY THE CONTRACTING SPECIALIST. Projects shall be selected from all or part of the technical issues listed depending on the interest and scope of White Papers received. BSEE shall evaluate the responses, and those deemed to have merit shall be furnished information to assist in the preparation of the complete proposal. This announcement constitutes a Request for White Papers, but does not obligate the Government to consummate award. Respondents WILL NOT be notified of the results of the evaluation on the information submitted. WHITE PAPERS SHALL BE EVALUATED USING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: (1) feasibility of the approach or solution; (2) the Offerors understanding of the technical issues; (3) the Offerors ability to implement the proposed approach; (4) innovative or creative approaches or solutions including the participation and/or funding by the oil and gas industry or other groups in the research industry, where appropriate; and (5) past performance. IF ANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ARE NOT MET, THE WHITE PAPER WILL NOT BE EVALUATED. Questions shall be e-mailed to [email protected] not later than 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time on Friday March 28, 2014. The Solicitation number E14PS00054 MUST be referenced in the subject line of the email. All questions shall include the Solicitation number E14PS00054, your full name and title, your organization, complete address, and telephone and fax numbers. Telephone inquiries WILL NOT be accepted. A separate White Paper shall be submitted for each topic on which the offeror wishes to propose. The White Paper shall identify clearly the offerors company/organization, point of contact, address, telephone and fax numbers. If offerors desire to hand deliver their White Paper, they are advised that the BSEE facility is a secure office complex and offerors MUST NOT enter the building beyond the lobby. There is a courtesy telephone at the guard station to which you must call extension 7-1559 for Mr. Patel to meet and receive your submittal. You MUST contact Mr. Ankur Patel at 703-787-1559 and set up an appointment 24 hours in advance of dropping off your White Paper. POINT OF CONTACT: Mr. Ankur Patel, Contract Specialist, phone: 703-787-1559 email: [email protected].