DTPH5616RA00001_Q A.pdf

DTPH5616RA00001

Pipeline Safety Research and Development

Research Announcement #DTPH5616RA00001

Innovation with Inspecting Unpiggable Natural Gas Pipelines

Q1. Robotic platform development is sufficient for the proposal? or

Q2. Should we include sensor development as well? or

Q3. Should we have robot development with existing sensors?

A1-3.We would like to suggest one answer for these first grouped questions. PHMSA is soliciting for a complete system to be launched/received into/out of an unpiggable natural gas line. That system must be capable of operating in that environment so that it can inspect the entire pipe wall from inside the pipe. Sensors must be deployed by some platform to identify any know integrity threats toward that pipeline. You can choose what sensor to employ as long as you describe what threat(s) that sensor is capable of detecting. You are not expected to detect all threats via one sensor type. You can build a proposal to achieve all or some of the components of such a system.

Q4. If conference and annual meeting are required, could we present our project only in so far as our patent application is protected, i.e., presenting proprietary results only after the patent application is filed?

A4. The parties agree to take appropriate measures to protect proprietary, privileged or otherwise confidential information that may come into their possession as a result of awarded Agreements. The

Government will handle all requests for information under this Agreement in accordance with the

Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. §552. You are not expected to share any proprietary information publically in any presentation or in reporting. Further details will be provided if you are recommended for award.

Q5. The overall budget for multiple awards is $ 2M/year? How much do you expect to award to each team approximately? What is the period of the award, ex) 1 year, 2 years?

Q5. It is expected that total funding for awards resulting from this Research Announcement is estimated up to $2M.

Q6. If awarded, how soon can we receive the funding?

A6. We estimate an early July award timeframe. The number of applications for review and recommended for award will influence the ultimate award date.

Q7. What level of TRL do you expect for this proposal?

A7. PHMSA does not utilize TRLs as generally used by the government. However and qualitatively, we would consider our program one that is addressing higher level TRLs since we are a program of

DTPH5616RA00001

demonstration and deployment. You may also want to visit the following link to see a custom context understanding of what this may mean for your application:

https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/performance_technology.htm

Q8. Can we submit an application to both this FOA and another FOA win both?

A8. You can consider applying to any opportunity solicited by the government if you meet the eligibility requirements, the performance elements, and the terms and conditions outlined in each of the FOAs. Note that if you do, we ask for you to disclose this in your application.

Q9. Can we propose an inspection robot for unpiggable Gas/oil pipelines, such as multi-phase crude OIL pipeline? Or it is not a scope of this FOA?

A9. No. The solicited topic clearly states solutions for natural gas systems.

Q10. Scientific Merit Description: Since there is no mention of protection of Proprietary information, would it be sufficient to describe the benefit and impact of our technology without going into technical details?

A10. Your application will not be made public. The only individuals who will have specific access to your application are members of the Technical Evaluation Team and the Acquisition Services Division all of whom sign Non-Disclosure Agreements.

https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/rd/performance_technology.htm