693JJ3-22-BAA-0001 FAQ 1 -19_11-2-22.pdf

693JJ3-22-BAA-0001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 1 through 19

11/2/22

Question #1: Are technical questions permitted or only administrative questions?

Answer #1: Technical and administrative questions are welcome.

Question #2: The proposal transmission states the following format: Topic #,XYZ University-FHWA EAR BAA 2022. Does this imply this opportunity is restricted to universities?

Answer #2: This opportunity is not restricted to universities.

Question #3: The solicitation states the following: "The second thrust is the use of primary materials for highway infrastructure – cement, asphalt, aggregates, or steel (reinforcement) -- that can provide lower levels of embedded carbon from extraction through production, transportation, construction, lifecycle, and potential re-use." My team is working on developing fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites with reduced embodied carbon.

Would a proposal focusing on fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites be eligible for funding under this BAA?

Answer #3: Proposals are not limited to the list of materials noted in the announcement – cement, asphalt, aggregates, or steel (reinforcement). The objective is to reduce embodied carbon, from extraction through production, transportation, construction, lifecycle, and potential re-use. This could include use of another material or materials as a substitution that substantially reduces embodied carbon in highway infrastructure.

Question #4: What would be the project duration? We saw the budget should be made for 12 months. Is the project a 12-month project?

Answer #4: The budget amount and the period of performance should reflect the proposed scope of work necessary for transformational research in the topic area. FHWA anticipates making between four and six awards totaling $4 million. Proposals should break down cost information by 12-month increments (or a portion of 12 months, for example, were a proposal for 30 total months, two 12-month periods and a six-month period).

Question #5: The total amount of available funding for the whole program is $4M. What would be an appropriate budget for one project?

Answer #5: The budget amount and the period of performance should reflect the proposed scope of work necessary for transformational research in the topic area. FHWA anticipates making between four and six awards totaling $4 million. Proposals should break down cost information by 12-month increments (or a portion of 12 months, for example, were a proposal for 30 total months, two 12-month periods and a six-month period).

11/2/22

Question #6: Is there an expected project duration, e.g., 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, etc.?

Answer #6: The budget amount and the period of performance should reflect the proposed scope of work necessary for transformational research in the topic area. FHWA anticipates making between four and six awards totaling $4 million. Proposals should break down cost information by 12-month increments (or a portion of 12 months, for example, were a proposal for 30 total months, two 12-month periods and a six-month period).

Question #7: Is there a budget limit for each project?

Answer #7: The budget amount and the period of performance should reflect the proposed scope of work necessary for transformational research in the topic area. FHWA anticipates making between four and six awards totaling $4 million. Proposals should break down cost information by 12-month increments (or a portion of 12 months, for example, were a proposal for 30 total months, two 12-month periods and a six-month period).

Question #8: Our team consists of three universities. If our proposal is selected, is the contract or agreement signed with the lead institution or separately with each institution?

Answer #8: The contract or cooperative agreement would need to be signed by the prime contractor or prime recipient of the lead institution.

Question #9: We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services. If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

Answer #9: The announcement will result in new awards. There are no incumbent research teams.

Question #10: Could you please let me know if there is a specific amount of years we should plan for on this proposal or a limitation on how long the project can go?

Answer #10: The budget amount and the period of performance should reflect the proposed scope of work necessary for transformational research in the topic area. FHWA anticipates making between four and six awards totaling $4 million. Proposals should break down cost information by 12-month increments (or a portion of 12 months, for example, were a proposal for 30 total months, two 12-month periods and a six-month period).

Question #11: What duration would projects be funded for by this program?

Answer #11: The budget amount and the period of performance should reflect the proposed scope of work necessary for transformational research in the topic area. FHWA anticipates making between four and six awards totaling $4 million. Proposals should break down cost

11/2/22 information by 12-month increments (or a portion of 12 months, for example, were a proposal for 30 total months, two 12-month periods and a six-month period).

Question #12: What is the suggested project duration (3 years or 4 years)?

Answer #12: The budget amount and the period of performance should reflect the proposed scope of work necessary for transformational research in the topic area. FHWA anticipates making between four and six awards totaling $4 million. Proposals should break down cost information by 12-month increments (or a portion of 12 months, for example, were a proposal for 30 total months, two 12-month periods and a six-month period).

Question #13: For Topic 2 (reducing embodied carbon), we see there are several thrusts under this topic category. Should we address all the thrusts mentioned in the BAA or we can focus on a specific one for our proposal?

Answer #13: Please refer to Page 9 of the BAA which cites the following:

Note: FHWA anticipates proposals/applications shall:

i. Address one or the other thrust in Topic 2 – either the ability to quantify and predict impacts of embodied carbon from infrastructure considering the full lifecycle and at multiple scales or use of primary materials for highway infrastructure that can provide lower levels of embedded carbon from extraction through production, transportation, construction, lifecycle, and potential re-use – and not attempt to cover both.

Question #14: We have a team of researchers from multiple different universities, should there be a lead institution and the rest institutions receive subawards from the lead institution?

Answer #14: A prime contractor or prime recipient must be designated.

Question #15: Are there specific eligibility requirements?

Answer #15: The announcement is open to all sources.

Question #16: As a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), would DoT consider an interagency agreement or would it be a strict collaboration agreement (as referenced in the solicitation)?

Answer #16: In accordance with the BAA, FHWA may award contracts and/or cooperative agreements as a result of this BAA.

Question #17: I have a question regarding Topic 2: New Approaches to Reduce Embodied Carbon from Infrastructure Construction, Maintenance, and Operations. The solicitation states that the areas of interest are: “use of primary materials for highway infrastructure that

11/2/22 can provide lower levels of embedded carbon from extraction through production, transportation, construction, lifecycle, and potential re-use”.

The solicitation lists four different past projects relating to supplementary and advanced cementitious materials and has stated that FHWA is not seeking new research that is similar to or building on recent and ongoing funded projects. Most of the ongoing research on carbon reduction as applied to concretes deal with reducing the clinker content using a variety of cement replacement materials. However, since that is not FHWA’s priority, and given that the most impactful means of reducing embodied carbon from concretes is through advances in carbon-neutral production of portland cement, would FHWA be interested in a proposal that develops novel carbon-neutral cement production methods coupled with upcycling of waste materials into reactive cementing materials, which will lead to yet-unheard-of carbon benefits in concrete?

Answer #17: FHWA is interested in potential supplementary or alternative cementitious materials that could reduce embedded carbon from extraction through production, transportation, construction, lifecycle, and potential re-use. FHWA noted recent and currently funded research. FHWA does not intend funding work that duplicates existing research. Rather, FHWA is seeking novel, promising approaches that substantially could reduce or eliminate the carbon embodied in highway transportation infrastructure.

Question #18: Could you please clarify ‘Vulnerable Road Users’ further? Specifically, would drivers in rural areas, subject to adverse, seasonal weather (snow, ice, etc.) be considered vulnerable road users?

Answer #18: Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, bicyclists, and others who are not traveling in motor vehicles including private automobiles and buses that include protective safety equipment.

Question #19: Is there a technical POC available to discuss the alignment of a proposed technical approach to EAR program priorities? Or perhaps, someone available to discuss this outside the auspices of this solicitation? As a small business largely funded by DoD/public safety, we are attempting to better understand the FHWA project landscape prior to diving into an extensive proposal effort.

Answer #19: Feel free to e-mail your technical and administrative questions.