Funding-Methods
for Utilizing Seawater to Create Liquid Fuels; October 5, 2009
Agency
Other
Defense Agencies
Description
The
Defense Sciences Office (DSO) of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
is seeking ideas to utilize the abundance of carbon and hydrogen sources in
ocean water to create liquid fuels. The objectives are to: (1) identify a novel
catalytic route for converting seawater to liquid fuels or intermediates in a
known liquid fuel pathway, and (2) improve conversion efficiency and conversion
rate, as well as increase the process scale beyond the bench top. Submissions
may focus on harvesting carbon dioxide from the ocean or using the primary form
of dissolved carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, directly. Ideas should emphasize
unique opportunities for novel catalyst development to facilitate the overall
reaction in a minimum number of reaction steps. Significant advances in current
density and reaction rate are of particular interest.
Ideas based entirely on pre-existing processes and technologies and incremental
advances of current technologies should not be submitted.
REQUESTED INFORMATION
DARPA appreciates responses from all capable and qualified sources including,
but not limited to, universities, university affiliated research centers, and
private or public companies. To ensure that all technically relevant aspects of
the RFI are fully addressed, submissions should carefully consider the
following criteria:
1. Novelty: Of particular interest are novel ideas for a reaction pathway to
convert seawater to liquid fuels. A significant component of any resulting
DARPA program will focus on catalyst development, and as such the proposed
pathway is encouraged to include reaction steps for which an efficient catalyst
does not currently exist.
2. Resiliency: To function efficiently the proposed process must either contain
methods for purifying contaminants from seawater or include catalytic processes
that will not be affected by variations in pH, ionic strength, ion types
present in solution.
3. Scalability: Any resulting system should be capable of scaling to multiple
levels with increasing size and complexity for varied military needs.
4. Key challenges: Each novel step of the proposed process should include an
evaluation of the key technical challenges and limitations associated, as well
as a comparison with current state of the art (if applicable).
FORMAT
Responses should adhere to the following formatting and outline instructions:
1. Format specifications include 12-point font, single spaced, and 8.5 x 11 in.
paper, with 1-inch margins. All submissions should be electronic, adhere to the
format described below and use either Adobe Acrobat PDF or Microsoft Word.
2. Cover Page (1 page)
a. Title
b. Organization
c. Responder’s technical and administrative points of contact (names,
addresses, phone and fax numbers, and email addresses)
3. Technical Description (5 pages maximum)
a. A technical description of the proposed catalytic route for converting
seawater to liquid fuels or intermediates in a known liquid fuel pathway
b. Discussion of key technical challenges and limiting factors in the current
state of the art
c. A top level description including size, scale, and
complexity for the envisioned resulting liquid fuel generation system.
SUBMISSION
Responses to this RFI should be submitted to DARPA-SN-09-66@darpa.mil. Please refer
to “SEAWATER FUELS RFI” in all correspondence. All technical and administrative
correspondence questions regarding this announcement should also be submitted
to the same email address.
DISCLAIMERS AND IMPORTANT NOTES
This is an RFI issued solely for information and new
program planning purposes; it does not constitute a formal solicitation for
proposals. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not
offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.
Submission is voluntary and is not required to propose to a subsequent Broad
Agency Announcement (BAA) (if any) or other research solicitation (if any) on
this topic. DARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in
responding to this RFI. NO PROPRIETARY OR CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THE RFI RESPONSE. Respondents are advised that DARPA is under no
obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide
feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this
RFI.
In the event of a subsequent BAA or other solicitation, all information
submitted in response to this RFI will be considered public information and
will be provided on a public website. It is the responder's responsibility to
ensure that the submitted material has been approved for public release by the
organization that funded the research.
Announcement
Number: DARPA-SN-09-66
Closing
Date: Oct 05, 2009 4:00
pm Eastern
Link
to Full Announcement
Contact
Information
Khine Latt,