Methods for Utilizing Seawater to Create Liquid Fuels RFI; DARPA-SN-09-66. 

Responses Due: Monday, October 5, 2009. Technical POC: Ms. Khine Latt, DARPA Program Manager, Email: DARPA-SN-09-66@darpa.mil

Research and development sources sought for utilizing carbon and hydrogen sources in ocean water to create liquid fuels.

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.

Primary Point of Contact:
Ms. Khine Latt, DARPA Program Manager;
Email: DARPA-SN-09-66@darpa.mil

Contracting Office Address:
3701 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22203-1714

Primary Point of Contact:
Ms. Khine Latt
DARPA-SN-09-06@darpa.mil
Phone: 000-000-0000
Fax: 000-000-0000