Decarbonized Bio-Infrastructure Materials

Overview

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) seeks to identify engineered wood, mass timber, and related renewable materials that are commercially available and supported by industry knowledge and expertise. Down-selected parties will demonstrate the general application of their bio-infrastructure building solution and may be considered for possible funding support. 

Problem Statement

DOD building codes have been outpaced by the rapidly expanding engineered wood, mass timber and sustainable building materials industries. These bio-based, renewable infrastructure materials require a fraction of the energy to produce and insulate as compared to nonrenewable materials, but there is a lack of demonstration, standardization, and guidance on the use of these biomaterials in Department of Defense (DOD) Military Construction (MILCON). 

Project Manager

Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

Background

Structural building materials derived from nonrenewable, unsustainable resources are damaging the planet via energy-intensive manufacturing processes and lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Bio-based building materials are organic resources derived primarily from plants and various byproducts of the agricultural industry. Unlike metals, minerals, and fossil fuels, bio-based products are renewable, meaning the rate at which they are naturally and/or sustainably replenished outpaces the rate at which they are consumed.

Technology areas of interest include engineered wood, mass timber, bio-insulations, bio-adhesives, bio-coatings, chemical and physical treatments, green building, LEED, re-deployable fasteners, prefab panels, GHG reduction, modular building components, hybrid structures, building envelope, sustainable biomaterials, renewable natural fibers, mycelium, R-value, heat flux, energy savings, rigid board, fire resistance, rot resistance.

Sustainability (carbon emissions), design, cost, transportation, labor, and construction metrics will be vital for resulting comparative Life Cycle Analyses (LCAs), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and UFC/UFGS criteria updates.

Objectives

• Understand applicable criteria and standards to develop criteria change requests (CCRs), ensuring the long-term use of selected biomaterials in MILCON
• Demonstrate the innovative use of commercially available biomaterials for full-scale, occupiable DoD infrastructure components and/or systems in place of traditional materials
• Assess the durability of proposed solution through changing geographic environments (sun, water, temperature) and for the protection against outside forces (insects, fungi)
• Attain comparative building envelope and life cycle cost metrics for the proposed solution
• Advance biomaterial strategic sourcing selection, design, and construction to minimize the overall environmental impact (GHG emissions) of a building at a competitive cost as compared to traditional materials

Requirements

ERDC invites pre-proposals that introduce commercially available bio-based building technologies that have the potential to reduce the embodied carbon and improve building efficiency in MILCON. Submitting parties are encouraged to provide evidence of how the innovation has performed in a demonstration at full scale. Design/build experience and/or success in manufacturing building components and full-scale, occupiable structures is of particular interest. Proposed solutions should involve/suggest a demonstration or advancement to existing technologies that are qualified for IBC Type III, IV, and V construction. All potential solutions will be considered against the following program and technology readiness requirements.

The sustainable bio-infrastructure solution must meet the following requirements:

• Comprised of standard-compliant prefabricated modular components or structural insulated panels designed for hand-tool minimization with re-deployable connections
• Evidence of avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, building envelope performance, and carbon cost benefits via EPDs and LCA/LCCAs
• Improved constructability metrics related to schedule, transportation, labor demands, productivity, traffic, and waste
• Require no more than 10% additional SF/ft³ compared to a traditional structure/component
• Understanding of UFC/UFGS documentation and ability to influence applicable Criteria Change Requests (CCRs)

Not required, but highly desired:

• Evidence of energy absorption performance (seismic, blast, ballistics)
• Mass timber building panels (UFGS Section 06 17 & 06 18 Cross-Laminated Timber and Glued-Laminated Construction, respectively)
• Raw material and/or process optimization
• At or below first cost of traditional materials

Applicants must be registered on SAM.gov. 

Note: Submissions should NOT include confidential or proprietary details. Submissions may be shared with other ERDC teams if there is an apparent fit with other ERDC projects. 

Estimated Government Funding Profile 

Phase I: Downselect by ERDC

Phase II: $200-600K

Phase III option: $300-700K

*Multiple solutions may be awarded in both phases

Estimated Period of Performance

9-12 months after award date for Phase II awards; To be determined for Phase III awards

Desired End State

Phase I: Down-selected parties will demonstrate the general application of their bio-infrastructure building solution in a relevant environment and will be considered for possible funding support in Phase II.

Phase II: Material or modular building component development and qualification testing. Successful completion of Phase II may lead to continued Phase III funding.

Phase III: Entire system development, comparative analyses (cost, feasibility, LCA), specification guidance, and reporting.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Technical Merit – Feasibility and applicability of proposed solution to the requirements and objectives detailed in this Individual Program Requirement (IPR)
• Cost/Schedule – Preparedness and appropriateness of cost and schedule details (Phase II and III only)
• Business Viability – Organizational capacity, years in operation, relevant specialties, and capabilities
• Prototype/Demo – Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6-7 and availability of this solution for demonstration

Phase I submissions must be formatted as prescribed in the CERL CSO Solicitation document, Section B, Volume I – Technical. Submissions will be evaluated by ERDC and USACE subject matter experts and may be shared as appropriate with other ERDC parties.

Notional Project Schedule

Proposed project milestones include:

November 21, 2023	Submissions Open
January 12, 2024	Question Period Ends
January 19, 2024	Submissions Close
January 22-February 2, 2024	ERDC Evaluation Period
February 2, 2024	Selected Participants Notified by ERDC of Request for Full Proposal
February 5-16, 2024	Full Proposal and Virtual Pitch Period
February 16, 2024	Full Proposal Deadline
February 19-March 1, 2024	Full Proposal Evaluation Period
May 2024	Phase II Awards 9-12 Month Contract(s)
Anticipated to occur in FY 2025	Phase III Awards

*If needed; dates may vary to accommodate project team and participant availability.

Project Security Classification

Unclassified