The Federal Highway Administration awarded a $248,531 definitive contract to the University of Arkansas for research on calcium sulfoaluminate belite cements for highway structures on September 28, 2026, under a firm fixed price arrangement with no set-aside.
The originating Broad Agency Announcement Call 002 solicits research proposals to benchmark next-generation binder technologies for concrete construction, including geopolymers, chemical-based strength enhancers, recycled waste products, and novel binder chemistries. The primary objective is to accelerate implementation of innovative cement and supplementary materials into engineering practice while ensuring durability and improved infrastructure integrity. Proposals must benchmark performance against industrially produced Class A concrete with a 28-day compressive strength target of 4,000 psi, with evaluation focusing on strength and service limit states including flexure, axial loading, shear, fatigue, deflection, and durability characteristics such as corrosion resistance, freeze-thaw resistance, and sulfate resistance. The BAA particularly encourages proposals that include structural testing data on reinforced concrete elements.
Place of performance is Fayetteville, AR 72701. The ultimate completion date is September 27, 2028. The solicitation was posted November 14, 2025, with a full proposal due date of April 6, 2026, and white paper submission date of January 22, 2026; it was amended on March 6, 2026.