Grantee Research Project Results

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM PHASE I SOLICITATION

68HERC19R0052

ISSUE DATE: June 13, 2019

CLOSING DATE: July 31, 2019

*CAUTION - See Section 0., Paragraph J. (j)(c)(3), Instructions to Offerors, Concerning Late Proposals and Modifications. And Section 0., Paragraph J. (j)(d), offeror expiration date. Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation will be valid for 300 days.

Your proposal (including all appendices) shall be submitted in Portable Document Format (PDF) and shall be received via FedConnect by 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Standard Time (EST) on July 31, 2019. Your entire proposal (including appendices) shall be submitted through FedConnect as ONE document in PDF. Only proposals received via FedConnect as ONE PDF by the deadline identified above will be considered for award.

Please read this entire solicitation carefully prior to submitting your proposal.

Proposals shall be submitted via the FedConnect web portal (www.fedconnect.net). In order to submit proposals, offerors must register in FedConnect at www.fedconnect.net, see main page of FedConnect website for registration instructions. For assistance in registering or for other FedConnect technical questions please call the FedConnect Help Desk at (800) 899-6665 or email at support@fedconnect.net.

IMPORTANT:

Please note Section VI., Paragraph J. j, Federal Acquisition Regulation Clause 52.215-1(c)(3), “Instructions to Offerors – Competitive Acquisitions” concerning Late Proposals, Modification of Proposals and Withdrawal of Proposals.

It is the responsibility of Offerors to submit proposals in FedConnect with sufficient time to ensure they are received by the date and time specified. Only proposals received by the date and time specified via FedConnect will be considered for award.

SBIR Program Description
1. Purpose of EPA’s SBIR Program
  1. Importance of Commercialization
  2. Importance of Considering Life Cycle Impacts
2. Phase I
3. Performance Benchmark Requirements for Phase I Eligibility
4. 2019-20 SBIR Phase I Research Topics
  1. CLEAN AND SAFE WATER
  2. AIR QUALITY
  3. LAND REVITALIZATION
  4. HOMELAND SECURITY
  5. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
  6. SAFER CHEMICALS
5. Phase II
  1. Process
  2. Evaluation
  3. Phase II Technical Criteria
  4. Phase II Commercialization Criteria
  5. Phase II Programmatic Review Criteria
6. Phase III
7. Guidelines
8. Inquiries
9. Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

Definitions
1. Research or Research and Development (R/R&D)
2. Funding Agreement
3. Subcontract
4. Small Business Concern
5. Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Small Business Concern
6. Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual
7. Woman-Owned Small Business Concern
8. Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)
9. Primary Employment
10. United States
11. Commercialization
12. SBIR Technical Data
13. SBIR Technical Data Rights

Certifications
Proposal Preparation Instructions and Requirements
1. Proposal Page Limit and Cover Sheet
2. Project Summary
3. Technical and Commercial Content: Phase I Proposal
  1. Technical Requirements
  2. Commercialization Requirements
  3. Other Requirements
4. Attachment 1: Phase I Quality Assurance (QAS)
5. Attachment 2: Phase I Cost Breakdown/Proposed Budget
6. Attachment 3: Representations and Certifications
Method of Selection and Evaluation Criteria
1. 1. External Peer Review
    1. Phase I Evaluation Criteria
    2. Phase I Technical Criteria
    3. Phase I Commercialization Criteria
  2. EPA Programmatic Relevancy Review
    1. Phase I Internal Programmatic Relevancy Review Criteria
  3. Company Registry Requirements
Considerations
1. 1. Awards
  2. Phase I Contract Reporting Requirements
  3. Payment Schedule
  4. Innovations, Inventions, and Patents
  5. Cost Sharing
  6. Profit or Fee
  7. Joint Ventures or Limited Partnership
  8. Research and Analytical Work
  9. Contractor Commitments
  10. Additional Information
Submission of Proposals
Scientific and Technical Information Sources
Submission Forms and Certifications

Appendix 1 – Proposal Cover Sheet

Appendix 2 – Project Summary

Appendix 3 – SBIR Proposal Summary Budget

Appenix 4

4.1 52.204-8 — Annual Representations and Certifications. (Jan 2018)
4.2 Representation by Corporations Regarding Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction under any Federal Law. (FAR 52.209-11) (FEB 2016)
4.3 Organizational Conflict of Interest Certification (EPAAR 1552.209-72) (Apr 1984)
4.4 Social Security Numbers of Consultants and Certain Sole Proprietors and Privacy Act Statement (EPAAR 1552.224‑70) (Apr 1984)
4.5 Signature Block
4.6 Congressional District/Dun and Bradstreet Number
4.7 SBIR Funding Agreement Lifecycle Certification

PHASE I SOLICITATION FOR SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH

SBIR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
1. Purpose of EPA’s SBIR Program
  
  Every Federal agency with an extramural research and development (R&D) budget over $100 million is required by law to have a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. For the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the SBIR program provides one way it can directly award R&D funding to small businesses. The goal of EPA’s SBIR Program is to support commercialization of innovative technologies that help support EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment. Each agency implements the program in a phased manner that follows the technology development continuum: research, development, demonstration, commercialization, and utilization. The number of phases an agency supports depends on its program needs and budget. Generally, there are two phases: the first is for proof of concept, and the second is intended to move the technology as far as possible toward full-scale commercialization. The objective of Phase III, where appropriate, is for the small business to pursue commercialization objectives resulting from the Phase I/II R/R&D activities. The SBIR program does not fund Phase III.
  1. Importance of Commercialization‌
    
    For EPA, success of its SBIR program means that the technologies it supports will in fact be used to solve the problems for which they are being developed; therefore, from the outset of the selection process, EPA will consider commercialization potential to be as important as technical potential, and it will evaluate proposals accordingly (see evaluation criteria in section V).
    Successful commercialization usually results from reversing the technology development continuum. That is, first identifying a need that can be addressed by technology, then assessing whether that need provides a viable market opportunity, and, after that, identifying or inventing a technology that can be developed and commercialized to meet that need in a profitable manner. An offeror is encouraged to conduct market research before submitting their proposal to this solicitation to demonstrate that there is a viable market opportunity.
  2. Importance of Considering Life Cycle Impacts
    
    In order to support the Agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment, the lifecycle environmental impacts of the technology, including (if applicable) minimizing resource use, minimizing toxicity of materials, efficient use of water and energy, minimizing pollution, and minimizing the impacts of disposal should be considered. A formal Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is not required.
2. Phase I
  
  The EPA anticipates making approximately twenty (20) Phase I awards, each in the amount up to $100,000 and not to exceed a six (6) month term of performance. It is anticipated that these contracts will be awarded with a contract start date of April 1, 2020 The Phase I effort is for “proof of concept” of the proposed technology. All companies that successfully complete Phase I are eligible to compete for Phase II which is to further develop and commercialize the technology.
3. Performance Benchmark Requirements for Phase I Eligibility
  
  Companies with multiple SBIR/STTR awards must meet minimum performance requirements to be eligible to apply for a new Phase I or Direct-to-Phase II award. The purpose of these requirements is to ensure that Phase I applicants that have won multiple prior SBIR/STTR awards are making progress towards commercializing the work done under those awards. The Phase I to Phase II Transition Rate addresses the extent to which an awardee progresses a project from Phase I to Phase II. The Commercialization Benchmark addresses the extent to which an awardee has moved past Phase II work towards commercialization. All offerors for an SBIR or STTR award must be registered on www.SBIR.gov. Offerors should be sure to update their information on the Company Registry at least once per year. To open or update an SBIR/STTR Company Registry account, go to www.sbir.gov/user and register as a Small Business User. After the registration is complete, the SBA will issue your company a unique SBC Control ID and .pdf file to be attached to this application.
  
  Descriptions of these rates, and consequences of failure to meet these rates can be found on SBA’s website at: https://www.sbir.gov/performance-benchmarks.
4. 2019-20 SBIR Phase I Research Topics
  
  Given EPA’s broad mission of protecting human health and the environment, it faces a broad range of problems that need solution and for which innovative technologies could help provide solutions. Each year EPA’s SBIR program selects from this broad range of problems a number of specific topics to include in its Phase I solicitation. The highest priority needs are identified and then the topics are written to address those needs. Many of the topics address more than one need – e.g., water and homeland security. Agency strategy documents, multi-year plans, peer-reviewed research needs assessment and other materials are used in identifying the highest needs and in crafting the topics.
  
  For this solicitation, the EPA’s needs are being expressed through a variety of very specific topics. Offerors must directly address and select just one of the specific topics described below.
  
  The topics for this solicitation are:
  
  Chemicals can be found in many of the products we use in our everyday lives. Some chemicals pose risks to humans and the environment. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Pollution Prevention Act, EPA evaluates potential risks from new and existing chemicals and finds ways to prevent or reduce pollution before it gets into the environment. https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/chemicals-and-toxics-topics
  
  Commercial and Consumer Paint and Coating Removal Products
  
  Paint and coating removal products that contain methylene chloride and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) are widely available in retail stores for consumers and workers. There are health risks to workers and consumers who use methylene chloride and N-methylpyrrolidone-containing products, and to bystanders in workplaces and residences where methylene chloride and NMP are used. For methylene chloride, effects of short-term (acute) exposures to workers and consumers, including bystanders, can result in harm to the central nervous system, or neurotoxicity, which can lead to sensory impairment, dizziness, incapacitation, loss of consciousness, heart failure, and death. Effects of longer periods of exposure (chronic) for workers includes liver toxicity, liver cancer, and lung cancer. For NMP, EPA identified risks to pregnant women and women of childbearing age, who have high exposure to NMP through paint or coating removal. Effective May 28, 2019, EPA prohibits the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of methylene chloride for consumer paint and coating removal, including distribution to and by retailers. For these reasons, EPA is interested in the following topic:
  1. CLEAN AND SAFE WATER
    
    The United States is facing serious challenges to its water resources, including deteriorating infrastructure, continued population growth and development, impacts of climate change, emerging contaminants, widespread nutrient pollution and strains on water supply. We need to discover new ways forward to meet today’s demands and tomorrow’s challenges. Accelerating innovation and technology will help address the complex challenges facing America’s water resources. Technology innovation presents opportunities to achieve greater progress toward clean and safe water substantially faster with significantly less cost and energy consumption. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-04/documents/blueprintv1.pdf
    
    Microplastics
    
    Microplastics or plastic fragments (broadly defined as plastic particles less than 5mm in diameter) originate from a variety of sources either from degradation and fragmentation of larger plastics or by direct release into the environment. https://www.epa.gov/trash-free-waters/epa-reports . Microplastics may impact human health as they may be directly consumed from drinking water or ingested in fish and other marine life which accumulate these fragments. As the production of plastics continues to grow, EPA is looking for innovative technologies to efficiently detect and quantify microplastics in multiple media.
    
    Topic 1A: Novel sampling devices for microplastics. Novel devices to collect and quantify microplastics in surface, drinking water, sludges/biosolids and discharges from wastewater treatment systems. Parameters that need characterizing include microplastics’ size, shape and chemical composition. This could include devices that measure microplastics produced from consumer product use and wear, agricultural practices, and waste management processes.
    
    Water Infrastructure
    
    According to ASCE, there are an estimated 240,000 water main breaks in the U.S. each year. Water delivery systems need to be both expanded and maintained to meet existing demand. (https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/cat-item/drinking-water/). Replacement of aging water infrastructure is costly, time intensive and disruptive to public water use. Renewal of pipes can be accomplished not only through replacement but also through repair and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation methods include internal coatings, sealants and linings which extend the operational life and restore much or all of the pipes hydraulic capacity and improve water quality. Other rehabilitation methods restore structural functionality. As a result, EPA is interested in the following topic.
    
    Topic 1B: Novel technologies for the rehabilitation of water infrastructure. Innovative technologies that can be used to repair and rehabilitate aging infrastructure as an alternative to traditional pipe replacement. Technologies should be non-toxic, easy to apply as retro-fits, applicable to any size pipe, long-lasting, and cost efficient.
    
    PFAS
    
    Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of man-made, globally-distributed chemicals. They include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). PFAS have been widely used in consumer products such as non-stick cookware, carpets and carpet treatment products, food packaging, aqueous firefighting foams, metal plating operations and in the defense, aerospace, automotive, construction, and electronics industries.
    
    Once released into the environment, some PFAS are not easily broken down when exposed to air, water, or sunlight. Thus, people can be exposed to PFAS that were manufactured months or years in the past. PFAS can travel long distances in the air and water with the result that people may be exposed to PFAS many miles from their point of release. Human exposure can also occur through contact with products containing PFAS.
    
    Water resources (i.e., surface water and groundwater) are susceptible to contamination by PFAS release from manufacturing sites, industrial use, aircraft fire and emergency response training areas, and industrial or municipal waste sites where products are disposed of or applied.
    
    To provide Americans with a margin of protection from a lifetime of exposure to PFOA and PFOS from drinking water, EPA has established the health advisory levels at 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for combined PFOA/PFOS. https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/drinking-water-health-advisories-pfoa-and-pfos. For these reasons, EPA is looking for technologies as described here.
    
    Topic 1C: Novel technologies for the destruction of PFAS in water and wastewater. Technologies should be field ready and should be able to destroy (rather than just remove) PFAS in drinking water, groundwater, surface water and/or wastewater. Ideally, technologies could operate at high flow rates.
    
    Pathogen Treatment
    
    Background: Waterborne pathogens, including species of Legionella, are a public health threat. As a result, home owners and building managers are choosing to install treatment systems to prevent or mitigate pathogen growth in their premise plumbing systems. Point-of-use (POU) devices have been certified for removal of protozoa, bacteria and viruses in general, but only through using surrogate microorganisms as challenge organisms during testing and evaluation. No POU device has been certified specifically for removal of Legionella or other waterborne pathogen.
    
    For more information, see: Two ANSI standards exist for certification of POU devices used for removal of microbial contaminants: Standard 53 (Drinking Water Treatment Units – Health Effects) and Standard 58 (Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems). Lists of POU certified by independent, accredited laboratories to meet these standards are available from Underwriters Laboratories (www.ul.com), NSF International (www.nsf.org/certified/dwtu) and the Water Quality Association (www.wqa.org).
    
    2016 EPA document EPA 810-R-16-001: Technologies for Legionella Control in Premise Plumbing Systems: Scientific Literature Review
    
    For these reasons, EPA is interested in the following topic:
    
    Topic 1D: POU treatment for opportunistic pathogens. Innovative, affordable technologies that can remove opportunistic waterborne pathogens such as Legionella and mycobacteria from drinking water. Preferably, technologies can function at small scale POU applications and with widely varying drinking water qualities (especially poor water quality). Technologies should fit on standard faucet/shower plumbing and be able to provide information to consumers on when they need to be replaced. Premise plumbing can include plumbing within homes and large buildings, such as hotels, hospitals, schools and other buildings with complex plumbing infrastructure.
    
    Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
    
    Contaminants of emerging concern present a challenge to the protection of water resources because their impacts are not fully understood. Antibiotic resistance is a major health issue, and wastewater is considered to be the main source of entry of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) into the environment. EPA is looking for innovative technology to address emerging concerns such as ARB.
    
    Topic 1E: Innovative technologies for the rapid detection and treatment of antibiotic resistant bacteria in wastewater. Technologies should be low cost and able to be employed onsite at a wastewater treatment plant. Detection technologies should be rapid (ideally real time, but no more than 24 hours) and identify the antibiotic being resisted and type of bacteria that exhibit resistance.
    
    HABs
    
    Harmful algal blooms (HABs)are a major environmental problem in all 50 states. Red tides, and excessive concentrations of cyanobacteria are examples of harmful algal blooms that can have severe impacts on human health, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy. https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/harmful-algal-blooms
    
    While the best way to prevent HABs is to reduce the amount of nutrients that enter the water body in the first place, there are a number of control methods available to both prevent cyanobacteria from proliferating and to reduce the chance of toxins reaching consumers’ drinking water taps. While large drinking water providers have the resources to continuously monitor for cyanobacteria and toxins in their source and finished waters, small communities and private households often do not. This situation can be especially acute in recreational areas where property owners have historically drawn water from the source directly into their homes with minimal or no treatment.
    
    For these reasons, EPA is interested in the following topic:
    
    Topic 1F: Innovative treatment for cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in drinking water at the household scale. Technologies should be affordable and reliable and should ideally have the following characteristics:
    - Have the capability to remove both cells and toxins
    - Have the capability to reduce influent concentrations of total microcystins (as measured by EPA Method 546) from ≤ 10 µg/L to < 0.3 µg/L (Current EPA health advisory level for children pre-school age and younger)
    - Achieve the specified microcystin removal while processing up to 400 gallons/day for 90 days
      Resource Recovery for Decentralized Wastewater Systems
      Nutrient pollution is one of America’s most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems impacting water quality. Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus in our waters can lead to a variety of problems including eutrophication and harmful algal blooms, with impacts on drinking water, recreation and aquatic life. A wide range of human activities can contribute to nutrient pollution including stormwater runoff, agriculture, and wastewater discharges. New treatment technologies are needed to reduce nutrient pollution at substantially less cost and with reduced carbon footprint and to move away from just treatment of waste towards recovery of potentially valuable resources. Emerging technology can even recover nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, from wastewater for use elsewhere. Wastewater treatment facilities can be large energy consumers. Energy recovery holds significant promise for reducing energy consumption and treatment costs.
      
      For these reasons, EPA is interest in the following topic:
      Topic 1G: Resource Recovery for Decentralized Wastewater Systems. Innovative technologies that can cost-effectively treat wastewater while recovering resources such as nutrients and energy. The technologies should recover potentially valuable resources from wastewater and sewage sludge, such as nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and/or phosphorus, micronutrients, etc.), and/or produce energy from treating the wastewater and sewage sludge. For this topic, EPA is particularly interested in smaller wastewater systems including community-scale systems, buildings, or individual public or private properties.
  2. AIR QUALITY\
    
    Innovation in Ambient Air Monitoring Technology
    
    Innovation in air monitoring technologies can significantly reduce monitoring costs, provide more detailed and timely information on ambient air quality, and provide opportunities for industry to address leaks and emissions before they become serious problems. Additionally, higher time resolution and more portable measurements can be useful for screening applications. The development and evaluation of advanced next-generation air monitoring technologies is an important priority for EPA and is emphasized in the Air, Climate and Energy Strategic Research Action Plan https://www.epa.gov/research/air-climate-and-energy-strategic-research-action-plan-2016-2019.
    
    For these reasons, EPA is interested in the following topics:
    
    Ethylene Oxide (EtO)
    
    EtO is a flammable, colorless gas used to make other chemicals that are used in making a range of products, including antifreeze, textiles, plastics, detergents and adhesives. It is also used to sterilize equipment and plastic devices that cannot be sterilized by steam, such as medical equipment. It is one of 187 pollutants known as “air toxics” that EPA regulates under the Clean Air Act.
    
    The National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), issued August 2018, identified several areas as potentially having elevated cancer risks from long-term exposure (70 years) to EtO based on data from the 2014 National Emissions Inventory and the latest scientific information on air toxics and health. This is due to the revision of an EPA value known as a “unit risk estimate” that was updated in late 2016.
    
    Topic 2A: Air monitoring technology for Ethylene Oxide (EtO). New technology that can identify and quantify EtO at levels at or below concentrations indicative of long-term risk at the 10-4 risk level. This level is 11 PPT or 0.02 micrograms per cubic meter. Additionally, new technology must be able to distinguish EtO from interfering compounds such as trans-2-butene or acetaldehyde that can be confounding during GC/MS analyses. Ideally, new technology would be capable of providing time resolved measurements on the order of minutes to hours.
    
    Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
    
    Sulfur dioxide is a gas-phase pollutant that is regulated under the EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). There already exist instrumentation routinely used in national regulatory monitoring networks, meeting the measurement performance requirements affiliated with designation as a Federal Equivalent Method (FEM) or Federal Reference Method (FRM). The common FEM measurement approach detects SO2 via UV fluorescence and are capable of often sub-ppb detection limits. These regulatory-grade monitors are typically higher cost systems that are not easily portable and are typically operated in permanent air monitoring shelters that provide land power as well as air conditioning. While FEM/FRM instrumentation will continue to be required for regulatory purposes, there is a dearth of SO2 instrumentation that would support supplemental ambient monitoring needs in the United States. For example, supplemental monitoring applications may include short-term measurements at multiple locations to understand spatial variability of SO2 concentrations, exploratory monitoring to determine siting of an air monitoring shelter, or temporary monitoring in response to a citizen concern. For these types of applications, an accurate measurement of SO2 is still needed, however other design factors such as portability, miniaturization, and options for battery or solar-power are desirable.
    Topic 2B: Air monitoring technology for Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). Innovative technologies that would increase the portability of SO2 instrumentation, nominally without increasing the cost compared to typical regulatory monitors. The desired measurement performance would be “near-FEM”, with selectivity for SO2 in a typical urban pollution mixture, with a suggested lower detection limit at or below 5 ppb and linearity over the typical ambient concentration range in the United States (e.g., the 2017 10th to 99th percentile concentration range was 3.8 to 29 ppb, https://www.epa.gov/air-trends/sulfur-dioxide-trends).
  3. LAND REVITALIZATION
    
    Mining
    
    EPA is one of several agencies involved in regulating the mining industry which includes mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector. Mining activities can have adverse environmental impacts involving water, soil and waste. For more information, see:
    https://www.epa.gov/smartsectors/mining-sector-information
    https://www.epa.gov/regulatory-information-sector/mining-except-oil-and-gas-sector-naics-212
    https://clu-in.org/development/
    
    For these reasons, EPA is interested in the following topic:
    Topic 3A: Mining-site characterization and remediation technologies. Innovative field-ready instruments and tools that assist with rapid sampling and analytical and real-time data analysis of metals in soils, chemical contamination and characteristics of surface and ground water, and characterization of geological and hydrogeological conditions. Technologies for contaminant source control and for treatment of water, soil, and waste materials resulting from mining activities. Particular areas of interest are source control such as tunnel plugging, mining-influenced water such as mine pools, and in situ treatment such as soil amendments to reduce contaminant exposure and bioavailability.
  4. HOMELAND SECURITY
    
    The Bioterrorism Act of 2002 and associated Presidential Directives and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and other EPA authorizing legislation give EPA responsibility for remediating indoor and outdoor areas that are chemically, biologically, or radiologically contaminated due to disasters and terrorist acts. EPA is interested in developing and commercializing innovative technologies that can help reduce the risk of and remediate such contamination once it has occurred. Such technologies should perform far more effectively and affordably than currently available technologies.
    
    Decontamination
    
    Cleaning up of radiological incidents, particularly inside buildings, can be significantly simplified if the contamination can be mapped in three-dimensions, so that hot spots can be identified, and entries of people and equipment can be optimized, both in terms of prioritization of cleanup activities, and in terms of determining ingress and egress of responders to minimize worker exposure. For these reasons, EPA is interested in the following topic:
    
    Topic 4A: 3-D Gamma Camera to Map Radiological Contamination. Technologies which combine contaminant visualization using a Gamma Imaging camera, and a LIDAR 3-D point cloud mapping system. The initial embodiment of this concept could involve personnel walking through a contaminated area carrying this detection/mapping system. Further embodiments could involve mounting such apparatus on unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to perform the mapping activity without exposing workers to any radiation.
    
    Water Security Monitoring
    EPA has been designated as the lead homeland security agency for water and is responsible for protecting water systems (https://www.epa.gov/waterresilience). Monitoring technologies are essential for the security and resiliency of drinking water and stormwater systems. To achieve this goal EPA is interested in:
    Topic 4B: Novel water distribution and stormwater system sensors. Small, inexpensive, on line or real time sensors that could be widely deployed in water distribution and stormwater systems via water meters, hydrants, water fountains, faucets, etc., and that can provide real time water quality and hydraulic data for such parameters as chlorine residual, total organic carbon (TOC), flow and pressure as well as pH, conductivity, and/or turbidity. Data from the sensors could be used to create an Internet of Things network and coupled with existing event detection algorithms help detect changes or trends in water quality that might indicate an issue within a water system. In stormwater systems, they could be used to detect street level flooding and predict contaminant transport. Ideally sensors would be reagent-less and would be capable of wireless data transmission for use by the municipality or other end user.
  5. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
    
    Materials Market Development for Industrial Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials
    Sustainable materials management (SMM) is a systemic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycles (https://www.epa.gov/smm). It represents a change in how our society thinks about the use of natural resources and environmental protection. By looking at a product’s entire life cycle, new opportunities exist to reduce environmental impacts, conserve resources and reduce costs.
    The EPA SMM Program Strategic Plan https://www.epa.gov/smm/epa-sustainable-materials-management-program-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2017-2022 identifies built environment as a strategic priority for SMM efforts over the next few years. This Built Environment strategic area emphasizes advancing SMM in the construction, maintenance, and end-of-life management of our nation’s roads, buildings, and other structures to conserve materials and resources. The maintenance and growth of our built environment will result in both the discarding and consumption of billions of tons of materials in the coming decades, potentially resulting in significant environmental impacts and unnecessary costs. Increasing the recovery of industrial non-hazardous secondary materials, can help reduce overall consumption of virgin and raw materials, reduce landfilling rates and meet the construction material needs of the future. EPA is interested in identifying new appropriate next-use applications and developing new markets for incorporation of certain industrial non-hazardous secondary materials types, such as construction and demolition (C&D) materials.
    Topic 5A: New Applications for Industrial Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials. New materials/technologies that safely incorporate industrial non-hazardous secondary materials as functional replacement for virgin materials. Material types of interest include, but are not limited to, recycled concrete aggregate (RCA); construction and demolition (C&D) brick, asphalt shingles, drywall and window glass; C&D fines; and, rubber tires. The new materials should have properties (e.g., strength and durability) and costs comparable to currently used analogous materials but lower lifecycle impacts than the analogous materials.
    Preventing Food Waste
    Over one-third of the food produced in the U.S. is never eaten, wasting the energy and water used to produce it, filling landfills, and leading to methane emissions from landfills and water impacts from pesticide and fertilizer use. The EPA, USDA, and FDA are working together through the “Winning on Reducing Food Waste“ initiative to help the US meet its goal of reducing food loss and waste by 50 percent by 2030. Guided by EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy, EPA is seeking innovative technologies to prevent post-harvest food waste (i.e., waste that occurs after food leaves the farm). Prevention of waste creates more benefits for the environment, society, and the economy than waste management methods.
    
    Topic 5B: Preventing Food Waste. Innovative technologies that may prevent food waste in a wide variety of ways, including but not limited to extending the shelf life of perishables (e.g., through improved design of food packaging, food storage, or refrigerators), aiding in inventory management, or quantifying and characterizing waste streams (e.g., through photo recognition) to identify prevention opportunities. Technologies may be intended for use by any part of the post-harvest supply chain – including distributors, processers, food service providers, retailers, or households.
  6. SAFER CHEMICALS
  7. Topic 6A: Novel, safer paint and coating removal products. New products that work quickly (ASTM Designation D6189-97 (Reapproved 2014) Standard) on a variety of coatings including latex, epoxy and lacquer, without causing damage to wood, metal, and synthetic substrates. The lifecycle of these removal products should be considered so that they do not introduce new environmental issues.
    Phase II
    
    (THIS SOLICITATION IS FOR PHASE I PROPOSALS ONLY)
    
    Process
    
    Upon completion of their Phase I project, Phase I awardees are eligible to submit for follow-on Phase II funding. Phase II offerors should have made significant progress in their commercialization planning and implementation during their Phase I project.
    Phase II is the principal R&D effort. It should be completed in 24 months. It has two objectives. The first is to continue the R&D initiated under Phase I and take it at least through full-scale testing of the technology. The second is to work with partners, investors, and customers to fully commercialize the technology and obtain widespread utilization.
    The EPA recognizes that a full demonstration of a technology’s capability and full-scale commercialization may require, in effect, a Phase III that utilizes non-EPA Federal and/or private sector funds; therefore, Phase II projects should work to establish strategic partners necessary to commercialize their technology.
    The EPA anticipates making approximately six (6) Phase II awards, each in the amount of $400,000 with a 24-month term of performance. In Phase II, the EPA is also offering a commercialization option of $100,000 to companies that can secure third-party investment of $100,000 or more for the commercialization of their technology. To implement this, the Agency requires a “Commercialization Option” under which Phase II offerors shall submit a proposal for up to $100,000 of additional EPA funding.
    The small business concern shall document the receipt of these latter funds from one or more third-party investors, such as a venture capital firm, an individual “angel” investor, a state or local funding source, another company under a partnership, licensing, or joint venture arrangement, or any combination of third parties. The EPA funds must be designated solely for support of the R&D-related elements of the project. The entire Phase II proposal, including the commercialization option, will be evaluated together.
    The EPA anticipates issuing the follow-on Phase II Solicitation about September 2020, with proposals due about November 2020.
    Evaluation
    
    For Phase II, EPA will use similar criteria to that used for Phase I that include the technical, commercial and programmatic criteria shown below. In addition, EPA may use programmatic balance, and available funding in making final funding decisions.
    
    Phase II Technical Criteria‌
    1. Innovation – Degree to which the proposed technology is innovative and solves the environmental issue stated in the topic.
    2. Technical Approach – Degree to which proposal presents a sound approach to proving the technical feasibility of the proposed concept and how to assess success; and adequacy of Quality Assurance Statement.
    3. Technical Challenges – Degree to which proposal addresses technical challenges, including cost, competition, competitive advantage, and a lifecycle approach to solving the problem.
  Phase II Commercialization Criteria
  1. Market Opportunity - Degree to which proposed technology addresses a significant market opportunity.
  2. Company/Team – Degree to which proposing company/team (including Principle Investigator (PI)) have the essential elements, including expertise and experience that would lead to successful commercialization.
  3. Commercialization Approach – Degree to which proposal presents a convincing commercialization approach/business model that can successfully take the technology to market.
  Phase II Internal Programmatic Relevancy Review Criteria
  1. The potential of the technology to meet Agency program priorities.
  2. The potential of the technology to advance sustainability, including environmental, economic, and societal benefits.
  3. The potential of the technology to be widely used, have broad application, and/or to impact large segments of the population.
    
    Phase III
(THIS SOLICITATION IS FOR PHASE I PROPOSALS ONLY)

The EPA strongly encourages Phase II awardees who do not think they will be able to achieve full-scale commercialization by the end of Phase II to diligently plan for and pursue during Phase II non-EPA SBIR sources of funding to achieve full-scale commercialization and utilization of their technology. That third phase could be funded by:
1. 1. Non-Federal sources of capital—including investors, commercial partners, licensing, etc.
  2. Federal non-SBIR sources that support any necessary continued R&D and product development.
  3. Federal non-SBIR funds for purchasing and/or domestic and international marketing of the technology.
The objective of Phase III, where appropriate, is for the small business to pursue commercialization objectives resulting from the Phase I/II R/R&D activities. The SBIR program does not fund Phase III.
1. Guidelines
  
  Each offeror submitting a Phase I proposal must qualify as a small business for research or R&D purposes at the time of award of the Phase I and Phase II funding agreements. In addition, the primary employment of the principal investigator must be with the small business firm, both at the time of contract award and during the conduct of the proposed research. Principal investigators who appear to be employed by a university must submit a letter from the university stating that the principal investigator, if awarded a SBIR contract, will become a less-than-half-time employee of the university.
  Also, a principal investigator who appears to be a staff member of both the offeror and a second employer must submit a letter from the second employer stating that, if awarded a SBIR contract, s/he will become a less than half-time employee of the second employer. Letters demonstrating that these requirements have been fulfilled shall be included in the offeror’s proposal. Failure to do so may jeopardize award. Also, for Phase I, the research or R&D work must be performed in the United States. (For the definition of the “United States”, see Section 0. J.)
2. Inquiries
  
  All inquiries concerning this solicitation shall be submitted to the EPA Contracting Officers Matthew Growney and Lisa Mitchell-Flinn at the following e-mail addresses growney.matthew@epa.gov and mitchell-flinn.lisa@epa.gov.
3. Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
To report fraud, waste, or abuse in EPA programs, contact the OIG Hotline by:

E-mail: OIG_Hotline@epa.gov

Postal Mail:
EPA Inspector General Hotline
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Mail code 2431T

Phone: 1-888-546-8740
Fax: 1-202-566-2599
DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this solicitation, the following definitions apply:
1. Research or Research and Development (R/R&D)
  
  Any Activity that is:
  1. A systematic, intensive study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the subject studied;
  2. A systematic study directed specifically toward applying new knowledge to meet a recognized need; or
  3. A systematic application of knowledge toward the production of useful materials, devices, and systems or methods, including design, development, and improvement of prototypes and new processes to meet specific requirements.
2. Funding Agreement
  
  Any contract, grant, or cooperative agreement entered into between any Federal Agency and any small business concern for the performance of experimental, developmental, or research work, including products or services, funded in whole or in part by the Federal Government.
3. Subcontract
  
  Any agreement, other than one involving an employer-employee relationship, entered into by an awardee of a funding agreement for purpose of obtaining supplies or services for the performance of the original funding agreement.
4. Small Business Concern
  
  A small business concern is one that, at the time of award of Phase I and Phase II contracts, meets all of the following criteria:
  1. Is registered in System for Award (SAM) under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code
    541715.
  2. Is organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States;
  3. Is more than 50 percent owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are citizens of, or permanent resident aliens in, the United States, or by another for-profit business concern that is more than 50% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are citizens of, or permanent resident aliens in, the United States; and
  4. Has no more than 500 employees, including affiliates;
  5. Is in the legal form of an individual proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, association, trust, or cooperative, except that, where the form is a joint venture, there can be no more than 49 percent participation by business entities in the joint venture.
5. Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Small Business Concern
  
  A socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern is one that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, or an Indian tribe, including Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs), a Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO), or a Community Development Corporation (CDC). Control includes both the strategic planning (as that exercised by boards of directors) and the day-to-day management and administration of business operations. See 13 CFR 124.109, 124.110, and 124.111 for special rules pertaining to concerns owned by Indian tribes (including ANCs), NHOs, or CDCs, respectively.
6. Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual
  
  A member of any of the following groups:
  1. Black Americans;
  2. Hispanic Americans;
  3. Native Americans (American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, or Native Hawaiians);
  4. Asian-Pacific Americans (persons with origins from Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Japan, China (including Hong Kong), Taiwan, Laos, Cambodia (Kampuchea), Vietnam, Korea, The Philippines, U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Republic of Palau), Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Samoa, Macao, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, or Nauru);
  5. Subcontinent Asian Americans (persons with origins from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives Islands, or Nepal); and
  6. Other groups designated from time to time by SBA pursuant to Section 124.103(d) of the 13 CFR Ch.1 (1- 1-02 Edition).
7. Woman-Owned Small Business Concern
  
  A small business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by and controlled by a woman or women. Control includes both the strategic planning (as that exercised by boards of directors) and the day-to-day management and administration of business operations.
8. Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)
  
  A small business concern meeting the following requirements:
  1. It must be a small business by SBA standards;
  2. It must be owned and controlled at least 51% by U.S. citizens, or a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, or an Indian tribe;
  3. Its principal office must be located within a “Historically Underutilized Business Zone,” which includes lands considered “Indian Country” and military facilities closed by the Base Realignment and Closure Act;
  4. At least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUBZone.
9. Primary Employment
  
  More than one-half of the principal investigator's time is spent in the employ of the small business concern.
10. United States
  
  The 50 States, the Territories and possessions of the Federal Government, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
11. Commercialization
  
  The process of developing marketable products or services and producing and delivering products or services for sale (whether by the originating party or by others) to Government or commercial markets.
12. SBIR Technical Data
  
  All data generated during the performance of a SBIR award.
13. SBIR Technical Data Rights
The rights a small business concern obtains in data generated during the performance of any SBIR Phase I, Phase II, or Phase III award that an awardee delivers to the Government during or upon completion of a Federally-funded project, and to which the Government receives a license.
CERTIFICATIONS

The Section K Representations and Certifications are located in Appendix 4. Refer to IV., Proposal Preparation Instructions
and Requirements, Section F. Attachment 3: Representations and Certifications for instructions on proposal preparation.

Please Note: Majority Ownership in Part by Multiple Venture Capital, Hedge Fund, and Private Equity Firms. For this EPA SBIR FY 2018 solicitation, the EPA’s SBIR Program will not accept proposals from or make awards to small business concerns that are owned in majority part by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms. Small business concerns with such ownership will not be considered for award under this solicitation.
PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
1. Proposal Page Limit and Cover Sheet
  
  Proposals shall be submitted in Portable Document Form (PDF) in response to this Phase I solicitation. Proposals shall not exceed a total of 25 pages, one side only. The 25 pages shall include the cover page, budget, and all enclosures or attachments. Pages (including enclosures or attachments such as letters of recommendation) should be of standard size (8 ½ in x 11 in; 21.6 cm x 27.9 cm) with 2.5 cm margins and type no smaller than 10-point font size. All pages shall be consecutively numbered. Any additional attachments, appendices, or references beyond the 25-page limitation (unless specifically requested in this solicitation) shall result in the proposal not being considered for review or award. A letter of transmittal is not necessary. If a letter of transmittal is attached it will be counted as page 1 of the proposal.
  
  Proposals in excess of the 25-page limitation shall not be considered for review or award. Your entire proposal (including appendices) shall be submitted through FedConnect as ONE document in PDF. Only proposals received via FedConnect as ONE PDF by the deadline identified above will be considered for award.
  
  The offeror shall complete the Proposal Cover Sheet (Appendix 1) of this solicitation which has the relevant solicitation number and applicable research topic code and corresponding topic title and use it as page 1 of the proposal. The offeror shall select one (and only one) research topic code and the corresponding topic title on the cover sheet. It is the complete responsibility of offerors to select and identify the best research topic code and the corresponding topic title for their proposal. No other cover sheet shall be permitted. Do not use cover sheets from previous years’ solicitations; they include obsolete research topics and corresponding topic codes. When downloading the solicitation from the Internet, Appendix 1 may print on no more than two pages, but Appendix 1 will only count as one page. If Appendix 1 exceeds two pages, any additional pages will count toward the 25-page limitation. Offerors may reformat the forms to correct spacing and pagination errors; however, identical information shall be provided.
  
  The cover sheet shall contain the signatures of the principal investigator and the corporate/business official authorized to sign the proposal. The total costs requested on Appendix 1 (Proposal Cover Sheet) must match the total costs proposed on Appendix 3 (SBIR Proposal Summary Budget). The amount must not exceed $100,000 on Appendix 1 and 3. If your firm intends to incur any additional costs beyond the budget limit of $100,000, please provide a statement indicating that your firm will be responsible for any additional cost beyond the budget limits.
  Offerors should prepare their technical proposal as succinctly as possible. Quality of information is more important than quantity. Elaborate brochures or other presentations beyond those which are sufficient to present a complete and effective proposal are neither necessary nor desired and will not be read. Clarity, brevity and logical organization should be emphasized during proposal preparation.
2. Project Summary
  
  Each proposal must include a Project Summary which will be an important document for all stages of the review process. The offeror shall complete the Project Summary form (Appendix 2) and use it as page 2 of their proposal.
  
  Offerors shall properly enter their Phase I Research Topic Code and Topic Title on both their Proposal Cover Sheet (Appendix 1) and Project Summary (Appendix 2).
  
  The Project Summary shall be limited to one page and not to exceed 200 words. The Project Summary shall include the following information (must be publishable, i.e., not proprietary): The specific need for the technology, what the technology would do to meet that need, technical feasibility, application(s), end users, evidence of willing buyers, size of the potential market, performance compared to current technologies and potential for environmental benefits.
  
  In summarizing anticipated results, the implications of the approach and the potential commercial applications of the research shall be stated. THE PROJECT SUMMARY IS USED EXTENSIVELY DURING THE EXTERNAL PEER REVIEW AND INTERNAL PROGRAMMATIC REVIEW. The project summary and proposal title from Appendix 2 of the successful proposals will be published by EPA and, therefore, shall not contain proprietary information. No changes shall be allowed.
  
  When downloading the solicitation from the Internet, Appendix 2 may print on no more than two pages, but Appendix 2 will only count as one page. Offerors may reformat the forms to correct spacing and pagination errors; however, identical information shall be provided. If Appendix 2 exceeds two pages, any additional pages will count toward the 25-page limitation.
3. Technical and Commercial Content: Phase I Proposal
  
  The Phase I technical proposal requirement is described in this section. Begin the main body of the Phase I technical proposal on page 3, after the proposal cover sheet and project summary. Note that there are FOUR attachments required as part of the complete Phase I proposal as follows:
  
  Attachment 1: Commercialization Plan (See Section D);
  
  Attachment 2: Phase I Quality Assurance Statement (See Section E);
  
  Attachment 3: Cost Breakdown/Proposed Budget (See Section F);
  
  The main body of the technical proposal shall contain sections that, at a minimum, respond to each of the following nine (9) requirements:
  
  (a) Describe the innovation in sufficient technical depth for a knowledgeable reviewer to understand why it is innovative and how it could benefit the target customers 21
  
  (b) Describe the technology’s current stage of development—bench/pilot/field—and what must be done to reach the next stage
  
  (c) Describe the demonstrations you will carry out to help move the technology to the next stage—including scale, facilities, partners, other resource needs and availability, etc.
  
  (d) Describe the key technical challenges for bringing the technology to market and how you will overcome them
  
  (e) Describe the current and planned intellectual property associated with this project and how you plan to protect it
  1. The Innovation
  2. Technical Approach
    
    (a) What questions must be answered to determine the technical feasibility of the proposed concept?
    
    (b) What are the key objectives you plan to accomplish during Phase I to answer those questions?
    
    (c) Describe the technical milestones you plan to meet to achieve each objective
    
    (d) Provide a visual timeline projecting the planned achievement of these objectives and milestones during the project
  3. Technical Challenges
  
  (a) Describe the key performance characteristics, including costs, necessary to meet customer needs
  
  (b) Describe how competing technologies—both in the marketp

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

Grantee Research Project Results

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM PHASE I SOLICITATION

68HERC19R0052

ISSUE DATE: June 13, 2019

CLOSING DATE: July 31, 2019

Please read this entire solicitation carefully prior to submitting your proposal.

IMPORTANT:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PHASE I SOLICITATION FOR SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH

SBIR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Purpose of EPA’s SBIR Program

Importance of Commercialization‌

Importance of Considering Life Cycle Impacts

Phase I

Performance Benchmark Requirements for Phase I Eligibility

2019-20 SBIR Phase I Research Topics

CLEAN AND SAFE WATER

AIR QUALITY\

LAND REVITALIZATION

HOMELAND SECURITY

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

Phase II

(THIS SOLICITATION IS FOR PHASE I PROPOSALS ONLY)

Process

Evaluation

Phase II Technical Criteria‌

Phase II Internal Programmatic Relevancy Review Criteria

Phase III

(THIS SOLICITATION IS FOR PHASE I PROPOSALS ONLY)

Guidelines

Inquiries

Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

DEFINITIONS

Research or Research and Development (R/R&D)

Funding Agreement

Subcontract

Small Business Concern

Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Small Business Concern

Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual

Woman-Owned Small Business Concern

Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)

Primary Employment

United States

Commercialization

SBIR Technical Data

SBIR Technical Data Rights

CERTIFICATIONS

PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Proposal Page Limit and Cover Sheet

Project Summary

Technical and Commercial Content: Phase I Proposal

The Innovation

Technical Approach

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