Baffled Bioreactor (BBR) Prototype

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis (IAW FAR 13.106-1(b) with Frontier Environmental Technology, LLC, 12687 Cinnamon CT, Rolla, Missouri 65401-8702 a contract for a baffled bioreactor (BBR)-based low energy closed-loop greywater reuse prototype.

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Environmental Laboratory (EL) has a requirement for the design, fabrication, testing, installation, and startup for a full functional demonstration of a baffled bioreactor (BBR)-based low energy closed-loop greywater reuse prototype.

Freshwater is essential for military base operations. In the case of FOB scenario, freshwater is either delivered to the base from outside, or produced on-site using energy-intensive reverse osmoses (RO) technology. In 2007, the casualties related to freshwater deliveries in both Iraq and Afghanistan accounted for 20% of the total casualties, and those associated with fuel deliveries accounted for 50% of the total casualties – a significant portion of the fuel was used to produce freshwater using RO technology. Therefore, it is undeniable that reducing freshwater and fuel inputs to the base through technology innovation can reduce the human and monetary costs during an array of operations.

Greywater is mostly from shower system and washing machines. One person in a force provider produces roughly 35 gallons of wastewater per day, and 85% of it is greywater. Therefore, an effective closed-loop greywater reuse system can reduce the freshwater demand and wastewater production by at least 80%.

Existing greywater reuse systems use multiple steps of physical filtration methods, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and RO, to remove various contaminants. While these systems are very compact and quick to set up, they are also very energy intensive and complex to operate. Their freshwater recovery rate is only 75%, meaning that 25% of the greywater becomes wastewater that must be disposed of. These disadvantages make them not practical in many sites that are short on energy and technical personnel. The high energy demand also makes them not practical for large, fixed installations.

A greywater reuse prototype shall be designed and fabricated using technology developed in Year 1 of BAA contract W912HZ21C0021 with Frontier Environmental Technology. 

This acquisition is being conducted under FAR 13.106-1(b). There are no set-aside restrictions for this requirement.  The intended procurement will be classified under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) with a Small Business Size Standard of 1,000 employees. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation document exists for this requirement.  However, parties interested in responding to this notice shall submit technical data, including price, sufficient to determine capability in providing the same or similar items.  All capability statements received by the closing date of the publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Capability statements shall be submitted only by e-mail as a Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel, or Adobe PDF attachment to crystal.e.north@usace.army.mil. Statements are due by 1130 (11:30am) Eastern Time 11 May 2023.  No phone calls will be accepted. 

Point of Contact

Crystal North, Contract Specialist, Email crystal.e.north@usace.army.mil

Place of Performance

Address:        12687 CINNAMON CT

                      ROLLA, MISSOURI

Postal Code:  65401-8702

Country:        UNITED STATES