Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR DO 16 021
Apply for BOR DO 16 021
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NOI - Characterization of Fluorine-Substituted Thin Film Composite Reverse Osmosis Membranes for the Bureau of Reclamation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 13, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 27, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $110,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
This opportunity is a Notice of Intent to Award (NOI) from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, focused on research and development work to better understand a new type of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. The project centers on fluorine-substituted (fluorine-modified) thin film composite RO membranes that were developed and patented by the Bureau of Reclamation. Rather than funding broad exploratory work, the NOI signals a planned award to a specific institution, the Colorado School of Mines, to conduct specialized characterization that Reclamation wants but has not yet obtained at the level of detail needed.
The technical goal is to perform chemical and microstructural analysis of these fluorine-modified thin film composite membranes. In practical terms, that means using advanced materials characterization tools to identify what the membrane is made of at the chemical level and how its structure is organized at micro- and potentially nano-scales, including features that influence performance such as the selective layer morphology, polymer network structure, surface chemistry, and how modifications like fluorine substitution might change properties relevant to desalination and water treatment. Reclamation notes that the membrane has already undergone some testing, but not the kind of deep characterization and microstructural analysis that aligns with the Colorado School of Mines' expertise. The intent is to fill that gap with a more rigorous, research-grade dataset.
A key part of the work is benchmarking and contextual comparison. The characterization results from the fluorine-modified membrane are to be compared against the industry standard DOW FilmTec FT-30 composite membrane, which is a widely referenced commercial thin film composite RO membrane. In addition to that head-to-head comparison, the resulting data are also expected to be evaluated alongside information from the technical literature on similar membrane types. That framing matters because it positions the project not only as an internal evaluation of a government-developed material, but as a study meant to place the new membrane within the broader field of RO membrane science, helping determine what is genuinely novel, what performance or durability advantages might be plausible, and how it differs structurally from established products.
The broader purpose is strongly tied to technology transition and commercialization. Reclamation describes the fluorine-modified membrane as a new membrane that does not currently exist in the market. By generating higher-confidence chemical and microstructural characterization, the project is meant to produce evidence that can guide how the technology could be used, what application niches might make sense, and what claims can be supported when approaching industry. In other words, the research is intended to reduce uncertainty for downstream decision-makers, including potential private sector partners, by providing credible data that helps bridge the gap between a patented government-lab invention and a product that could be adopted, manufactured, or further developed commercially.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, which typically indicates the agency expects to have substantial involvement during the project rather than acting purely as a pass-through funder. The opportunity sits under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.560. The Funding Opportunity Number is BOR DO 16 021. The posting indicates an expected single award, reinforcing that this is a targeted NOI rather than an open competition. The award ceiling is listed at $110,000, with the original posting created on August 13, 2016 and an original closing date of August 27, 2016. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full posting, but the notice text itself makes clear the intended recipient is the Colorado School of Mines.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a focused, time-bounded R&D award designed to generate high-quality characterization data for a specific Bureau of Reclamation membrane technology. The deliverable value is not just scientific insight, but actionable evidence to support future use cases and potential commercialization pathways by making the membrane's chemistry and structure clearer relative to an industry baseline and published research norms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is a Notice of Intent to Award (NOI) from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. It describes a planned research and development award focused on advanced characterization of a specific reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology developed by Reclamation.
Is this an open, competitive funding opportunity?
No. Based on the notice, this is a targeted NOI that signals Reclamation's intent to make a single award to a specific institution rather than soliciting proposals broadly.
Who is the intended award recipient?
The notice indicates the intended recipient is the Colorado School of Mines, selected to perform specialized membrane characterization aligned with its expertise.
What agency is offering the award?
The award is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.
What is the focus of the project?
The project focuses on chemical and microstructural analysis of a fluorine-substituted (fluorine-modified) thin film composite RO membrane that was developed and patented by the Bureau of Reclamation.
What type of membrane is being studied?
The membrane is a fluorine-modified thin film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis membrane developed and patented by the Bureau of Reclamation. Reclamation describes it as a new membrane type that does not currently exist in the market.
What does "fluorine-modified" mean in this context?
In this opportunity, "fluorine-modified" refers to fluorine substitution within the thin film composite membrane materials. The project aims to understand how that modification affects the membrane's chemistry, structure, and properties relevant to desalination and water treatment.
What research work will be performed under this award?
The work involves advanced materials characterization to identify the membrane's chemical composition and microstructural organization. The notice describes a need for deeper, research-grade characterization than what Reclamation has already obtained.
What kinds of membrane characteristics are expected to be analyzed?
The notice points to chemical and microstructural features that influence performance, including selective layer morphology, polymer network structure, surface chemistry, and how fluorine substitution may change properties relevant to RO desalination and water treatment.
Why is this characterization needed if the membrane has already been tested?
Reclamation notes the membrane has undergone some testing, but not the level of deep chemical and microstructural analysis needed. The purpose is to fill that gap with a more rigorous dataset.
What is the benchmarking or comparison requirement?
The characterization results for the fluorine-modified membrane are expected to be compared directly against the industry standard DOW FilmTec FT-30 composite membrane.
Why is the DOW FilmTec FT-30 membrane used as a comparison?
The notice describes FT-30 as a widely referenced commercial thin film composite RO membrane, making it a practical industry baseline for head-to-head comparison.
Will results be compared only to the FT-30 membrane?
No. In addition to the FT-30 comparison, the data are expected to be evaluated alongside technical literature on similar membrane types to position the new membrane within the broader RO membrane science field.
What is the broader purpose of the project beyond generating scientific data?
The broader purpose is technology transition and commercialization support. The characterization is intended to reduce uncertainty and provide credible evidence that can guide future use cases, application niches, and industry discussions around the patented Reclamation membrane technology.
How does this project support commercialization?
By producing high-confidence chemical and microstructural characterization, the project is meant to clarify how the membrane differs from established products and what advantages might be plausible, helping downstream decision-makers and potential private sector partners evaluate adoption and further development.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for agency involvement?
The notice indicates that a cooperative agreement typically means the agency expects substantial involvement during the project, rather than acting only as a pass-through funder.
How is this opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and sits under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.560.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BOR DO 16 021.
How many awards are expected?
The posting indicates an expected single award, consistent with the NOI being a targeted planned award rather than an open competition.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $110,000.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the closing date?
The original posting was created on August 13, 2016, with an original closing date of August 27, 2016.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full posting. However, the notice text itself makes clear the intended recipient is the Colorado School of Mines.
What are the expected deliverables or outcomes?
Based on the notice, the key outcome is a high-quality, research-grade dataset describing the membrane's chemistry and microstructure, including benchmarking against FT-30 and context from technical literature, intended to support future technology use and commercialization pathways.
What makes this membrane technology notable according to the notice?
Reclamation describes it as a newly developed and patented fluorine-modified thin film composite RO membrane that does not currently exist in the market, and the project aims to clarify what is novel about it relative to industry standards and published research.
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