Author: rjb
DoD Communities of Interest: COVID-Response
Subject: Clean Sweep - COVID Decon
Due Date: 14 June 2020
Government Organization: DIU
Description: Project Description
The current COVID-19 crisis highlights the need for rapid decontamination/disinfection of rooms and enclosed spaces in shipboard and other mission-ready environments to mitigate the spread of disease or infection. Decontamination/disinfection, and subsequently reduced spread of respiratory disease, promote continuity of military operations, mission readiness, and individual warfighter survivability.
The US Government seeks solutions to leveraging technology or automated hardware solution, allowing the servicemember to focus on mission-essential tasks and minimizing collateral decontaminating/disinfecting duties. Solutions must highlight how capabilities are advancing existing decontamination/disinfection approaches and methods, in order to be considered for award.
Specifically, this prototype should advance the following needs:
- Significantly reduce the potential for spread of infectious disease through rapid decontamination/disinfection of a variety of different surfaces and enclosed spaces, to include shipboard spaces, aircraft ready-rooms, well-decks, and staging locations;
- Serve as a repeatable, automated, industrial solution, capable of being stationed onboard a ship, in port or on base, or other mission-ready environments;
- Utilize technologies that will not damage infrastructure, electronics, or porous materials, and state decontamination/disinfection ranges given temperature, power, material, organics, and other shipboard specifications; and
- Demonstrate ability for use and efficacy in tailored spaces, such as sleeping quarters, mess decks, or surgical suites; major controlling stations (information and navigation centers), ready-rooms, or supply storerooms; transit spaces, including stairwell railings and hatch/door touchpoints; and previously segmented (isolated) COVID-treatment areas.
Of particular interest is the ability of the prototype to work in specific conditions and settings. Solution briefs should include:
- Measurements regarding prototype size, method of mobility, power source, and power use rate;
- Pre-cleaning and terminal cleaning needs, if applicable, with associated resource requirements;
- Equipment use cycle (per square foot area) with start-up and run time, degree of surfaces covered, and the quality rating of decontamination/disinfection of the space. If applicable, include wait time until the space is able to be re-inhabited;
- Disposal and estimated amounts of used materials or filters, if applicable; and
- Any associated safety considerations to personnel, including requirements on personal protective equipment (PPE) for use or “in the vicinity of” use (and effective radius).
Solutions also must also be able to describe impact to mission, in both qualitative and quantitative terms. Examples might include:
- Qualitative: method/level of manual supervision
- Qualitative: impact to mission, especially in spaces that are typically manned 24-hours
- Quantitative: time to disinfect/decontaminate, in terms of time/sqft, per type of sqft
- Quantitative: quality (grade) of disinfection (ppm)
- Quantitative: refresh rate of disinfection, to maintain quality (grade) of disinfection
Successful solutions will also take a series of technical specifications into account, including:
-Reference considerations in publicly available, military standard documents, including MIL-STD-167-1, MIL-STD 461, MIL-STD 810, MIL-STD-1399, and MIL-DTL-917 (sections 3.2 and 3.3);
- Reference relevant U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals and clearances;
- Reference any previously published, specific guidance on military-grade materials (including stainless steel and copper alloys); and
- Reference relevant security protection measures.
Solutions should be readily available, have commercial viability, and currently maintain or show a path to FDA approval or clearance. With adaptations, the solution must be ready to enter the FDA review process within 6-12 months of award.
If an automated solution is suggested, the solution should maintain industry-leading security protocols as well as tag and appropriately mask all data relating to ship design, based on space sensitivity.
Additional CSO process notes:
Companies selected for follow-on pitch will need to provide examples and/or demo videos of their technology. The Government may facilitate teaming arrangements among submissions offering complementary capabilities to achieve the desired effect. Companies are also welcome to present their own teaming arrangements in their solution briefs.
Website: https://www.diu.mil/work-with-us/submit-solution/PROJ01285
Questions or assistance, contact:
North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office (DEFTECH)
Dennis Lewis
703-217-3127
Bob Burton
910-824-9609
