Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS ST 16 065 FR07
Apply for DHS ST 16 065 FR07
- The DHS-OPO in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Self-Decontaminating PPE Fabric" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.108.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 06, 2016 and posted on Jun 06, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 01, 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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Self-Decontaminating PPE Fabric grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DHS ST 16 065 FR07) is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS-OPO) research and development effort focused on creating a new fabric technology that can be built into a standard duty-uniform-style garment. The core goal is to move beyond fabrics that only resist or repel contamination and instead support real-time, on-garment initial decontamination immediately after an exposure event. In practical terms, DHS is looking for a material system that actively reduces chemical contamination on the fabric itself, which could lower secondary exposure risks for the wearer and reduce the chance of spreading hazardous chemicals to vehicles, stations, or other personnel.
A central technical requirement is demonstrated performance against chemical exposures drawn from a specified list, and the fabric must provide initial decontamination for at least two chemicals from that list at the vendor-provided challenge level. The listed chemicals span both common industrial solvents and highly corrosive agents, and the testing must include both liquid and vapor challenges. The chemicals named are acetone, ethyl acetate, sodium hydroxide at 50 percent weight/weight, sulfuric acid at 93.1 percent weight/weight, toluene, dimethylformamide (DMF), and nitrobenzene. Because the solicitation explicitly calls out both liquid and vapor exposures, proposed solutions would need to address more than surface wetting; they would also need to contend with volatile compounds and diffusion into/through textile structures, as well as the different ways acids, bases, and organics interact with fibers and finishes.
Another major emphasis is operational robustness. The technology is required to function under extreme weather conditions, including variability in temperature, humidity, and precipitation. That means the decontamination mechanism should not depend on narrow environmental conditions to work, and it should remain effective if the uniform is worn in hot, cold, wet, or highly humid settings. The notice also signals a preference for fire resistance, indicating DHS would like the end fabric to be compatible with environments where flash, flame, or heat hazards may be present, even if fire resistance is framed as an ideal attribute rather than the sole gating requirement.
In addition to chemical performance, the fabric must satisfy key protective and comfort-related thresholds aligned with NFPA 1975, which is a standard commonly associated with station/work uniforms and covers aspects such as flame resistance and related durability expectations. At a minimum, the material must meet NFPA 1975 thresholds for total heat loss (THL), thermal stability, flame resistance, and resistance to heat and thermal shrinkage. Importantly, these performance characteristics must be maintained not only when new, but also after laundering, specifically after 1, 5, and 10 wash cycles. This wash-cycle requirement underscores that DHS is not seeking a fragile lab demonstration; it wants a treatment or fabric architecture that remains functional and compliant after repeated real-world care and use.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, the award was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement under a DHS science and technology R&D activity category, with CFDA number 97.108. The funding opportunity was posted June 6, 2016, with a closing date of July 1, 2016. The anticipated award ceiling was $250,000, and DHS expected to make one award, which suggests a targeted, early-stage development effort or a focused proof-of-concept leading toward prototyping and validation against the specified chemical and NFPA-related benchmarks. Eligibility was broad and included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses, indicating DHS was open to solutions from academia, industry, and the nonprofit sector.
Overall, the opportunity is best read as a challenge to develop a uniform-compatible textile that can actively and quickly neutralize or otherwise reduce hazardous chemical contamination (for at least two representative chemicals, in both liquid and vapor forms), while still behaving like a practical duty-uniform fabric: breathable enough to meet THL requirements, stable and flame resistant per NFPA 1975, durable through multiple wash cycles, and reliable across harsh and changing environmental conditions.
Self-Decontaminating PPE Fabric Grant (DHS ST 16 065 FR07) FAQs
What is the Self-Decontaminating PPE Fabric grant opportunity?
It is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS-OPO) research and development grant focused on creating a new fabric technology that can be integrated into a standard duty-uniform-style garment. The key objective is a fabric that does more than resist or repel contamination by providing real-time, on-garment initial decontamination immediately after a chemical exposure event.
What is the main goal of the project?
The main goal is to develop a material system that actively reduces chemical contamination on the fabric itself right after exposure. This is intended to lower secondary exposure risks to the wearer and reduce the likelihood of spreading hazardous chemicals to vehicles, stations, or other personnel through contact with contaminated clothing.
How is this different from conventional chemical-resistant fabrics?
Conventional approaches often focus on resisting, repelling, or delaying penetration of chemicals. This opportunity emphasizes active, initial decontamination on the garment itself, meaning the fabric should reduce the chemical contamination present on the textile after an exposure event rather than only limiting uptake.
What types of chemical threats does the solicitation require the fabric to address?
The solicitation specifies performance against chemical exposures drawn from a defined list that includes common industrial solvents and highly corrosive agents. The listed chemicals are acetone, ethyl acetate, sodium hydroxide (50 percent w/w), sulfuric acid (93.1 percent w/w), toluene, dimethylformamide (DMF), and nitrobenzene.
How many chemicals must the fabric demonstrate initial decontamination against?
The fabric must provide initial decontamination for at least two chemicals from the specified list, at the vendor-provided challenge level.
Does testing need to include both liquid and vapor exposures?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly calls out both liquid and vapor challenges, so proposed solutions are expected to address both forms of exposure.
Why does the opportunity emphasize both liquid and vapor testing?
Because chemicals can contaminate garments in different ways. Liquids can wet and soak into textiles, while vapors can diffuse into and through fabric structures. The opportunity notes that solutions need to contend with volatility, diffusion, and the different interactions that acids, bases, and organic solvents have with fibers and finishes.
What is meant by "vendor-provided challenge level"?
It means the proposer (vendor) provides the specific challenge level used for testing, and the fabric must demonstrate initial decontamination performance for at least two listed chemicals at that stated challenge level.
What environmental or weather conditions must the technology operate under?
The technology is required to function under extreme weather conditions, including variability in temperature, humidity, and precipitation. The decontamination mechanism should not rely on narrow environmental conditions and should remain effective in hot, cold, wet, and highly humid settings.
Is fire resistance required?
Fire resistance is identified as a preferred attribute. DHS signals a preference for compatibility with environments where flash, flame, or heat hazards may be present, even if fire resistance is framed as an ideal attribute rather than the only gating requirement.
What standard must the fabric align with for protective and comfort-related performance?
The fabric must satisfy key protective and comfort-related thresholds aligned with NFPA 1975, which is commonly associated with station/work uniforms and includes flame resistance and related durability expectations.
Which NFPA 1975 thresholds are specifically called out as minimum requirements?
At a minimum, the material must meet NFPA 1975 thresholds for total heat loss (THL), thermal stability, flame resistance, and resistance to heat and thermal shrinkage.
Do the NFPA 1975-related performance requirements need to be maintained after laundering?
Yes. The opportunity requires that the performance characteristics be maintained not only when the fabric is new but also after laundering, specifically after 1, 5, and 10 wash cycles.
Why is the wash-cycle requirement important in this opportunity?
It indicates DHS is not looking for a fragile lab-only demonstration. The fabric treatment or architecture is expected to remain functional and compliant after repeated real-world care and use.
What type of award instrument is used for this opportunity?
The award was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement under a DHS science and technology research and development activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 97.108.
When was the funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on June 6, 2016, and had a closing date of July 1, 2016.
What was the anticipated funding ceiling for the award?
The anticipated award ceiling was $250,000.
How many awards did DHS expect to make?
DHS expected to make one award, suggesting a targeted effort such as early-stage development, proof-of-concept, or focused prototyping and validation against the stated benchmarks.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses.
What kinds of organizations does the eligibility language suggest DHS wanted to attract?
The eligibility categories indicate DHS was open to solutions from academia, industry, and the nonprofit sector, including both small businesses and other for-profit entities.
What does "uniform-compatible" imply for the fabric solution?
It implies the technology should be able to be built into a standard duty-uniform-style garment and still behave like a practical duty-uniform fabric, including meeting breathability/comfort expectations (through THL requirements) and durability expectations (including performance after multiple wash cycles).
What is the overall expected outcome of the funded work?
A textile suitable for duty uniforms that can actively and quickly reduce hazardous chemical contamination (for at least two specified chemicals and in both liquid and vapor challenges), while meeting NFPA 1975-related thresholds (including THL, thermal stability, flame resistance, and resistance to heat and thermal shrinkage) and maintaining these characteristics through at least 10 wash cycles, with reliable performance across harsh environmental conditions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DHS ST 16 065 FR07.
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