Environmental Management R&D and Validation Testing on High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters

The Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management funds research and development and validation testing on high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and related defense waste treatment technologies through CFDA 81.139, with the most recent grant award disbursed on January 20, 2015—over a decade ago. The program has issued only two Cooperative Agreements totaling $14.9 million in combined federal obligations since 2013. No recent grant opportunities are currently posted, and the absence of awards after 2015 indicates the program is not actively soliciting new applications.

The program funds evaluation and validation of HEPA filters and complementary technologies designed to enhance nuclear safety and improve processing efficiencies in the defense waste complex, specifically addressing technological gaps in radioactive liquid and solid waste treatment. Both historical awards were Cooperative Agreements, which represented 100 percent of the assistance-type mix in the portfolio. The Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management issued the larger award of $13.9 million (January 2015, Cooperative Agreement DEEM0003163) for evaluation of HEPA filters and other technologies to enhance nuclear safety in the defense waste complex, with a completion date of August 31, 2021. An earlier award of $1 million (January 2013, Cooperative Agreement DEEM0002163) funded advanced technologies for improving processing efficiencies and nuclear safety in the defense waste complex, completing September 30, 2015.

Funding concentration was split between the Office of Environmental Management (93 percent of federal dollars) and the parent Department of Energy entity (7 percent). Given the stalled award activity for over a decade and the absence of posted opportunities, this program does not present a near-term pursuit opportunity. Organizations monitoring environmental remediation and nuclear waste treatment R&D should confirm whether the program remains active with the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management before investing in development of a proposal.