ESTCP Strategy
The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) demonstrates and validates novel technologies at military installations. Projects conduct formal demonstrations at DoD facilities and sites in operational settings to document and validate improved performance and cost savings. To ensure the demonstrated technologies have a real impact, ESTCP collaborates with end users and regulators throughout the development and execution of each demonstration. Transition challenges are overcome with rigorous and well-documented demonstrations that provide the information needed by all DoD partners for technology transition and adoption.
ESTCP Process
ESTCP issues solicitations for proposals from the Federal government, academia, and industry and employs a competitive selection process to ensure high-quality demonstrations. ESTCP requires each project to develop a formal test and evaluation plan. Demonstration results are subject to rigorous technical reviews to ensure that the conclusions are accurate and well supported by data. More information about solicitations and the ESTCP funding process is available at the Work With Us page on the SERDP and ESTCP website.
Management Structure
ESTCP Directors and Staff – ESTCP is managed by a director and deputy director, five program managers, and a financial officer.
ESTCP Technical Committees – For each of the six technology program areas, an ESTCP Technical Committee (ETC) assists in identifying solicitation topics, reviews technical proposals, and formulates and recommends the annual program plan. Each committee conducts technical reviews of the ongoing projects and facilitates technology transfer according to the needs of the users in the field. ETC members represent the Services and service engineering centers. They bring a wealth of understanding of the needs of their organizations and also knowledge of related completed or ongoing research efforts. This knowledge helps ESTCP avoid duplication of effort and promotes joint and cooperative funding of projects. Many members of the ETC are also members of the SERDP Technical Committees. This relationship fosters communication between the Programs and promotes technology transfer.
ESTCP Program Areas – ESTCP projects are managed within six Program Areas. Those Program Areas are listed below.
Installation Energy and Water
Preserving access to installation energy is critical to DoD mission readiness, with the performance of everything from operations centers and barracks to data centers and maintenance depots reliant on stable access to power. The Installation Energy and Water program area supports the demonstration of innovative technologies to enhance energy and water resilience and improve operational efficiency.
Weapons Systems and Platforms
The Weapons Systems and Platforms program area supports the development and demonstration of innovative technologies that enhance sustainment, improve operational efficiency, and reduce reliance on chemicals and materials with supply chain risks. These advancements streamline maintenance processes and ensure that alternative technologies and materials meet operational requirements — helping to accelerate the deployment of weapons systems and platforms to the field.
Munitions Response
The Munitions Response program area supports the development and demonstration of innovative technologies that can characterize, remediate, and scientifically manage sites affected by military munitions. SERDP and ESTCP have developed technologies that advance remediation of UXO-impacted sites, allowing safe travel through waterways while preserving access to sites for DoD testing, training, and operational purposes. Funded technologies enable faster, cost-reducing, and more accurate performance across each stage of underwater UXO remediation.
Environmental Restoration
The Environmental Restoration program area focuses on cleaning and managing lands impacted by chemicals of concern on current and former military installations. It supports the development and demonstration of innovative technologies to characterize, remediate, and scientifically manage contaminants in soil, sediments, and ground, surface and waste water. Through this program area, SERDP and ESTCP have invested in groundbreaking work to solve per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impacts on DoD installations. Funded technologies have created a viable path to remediating 500+ impacted installations while saving billions of dollars in remediation costs.
Natural Hazards Adaptation
The DoD enhances operational resilience and mission readiness by addressing environmental and energy challenges, including extreme weather and natural hazards. The Natural Hazards Adaptation program area supports this effort by identifying, demonstrating, and validating technologies that strengthen DoD infrastructure against these hazards. Key objectives include assessing risks to installation infrastructure and supporting resilient infrastructure projects.
Resource Conservation and Resilience
The Resource Conservation and Resilience program area supports the development of the science, technologies, and methods needed to manage DoD’s installation infrastructure with the goal of maximizing the number of training days and mission readiness. Areas of investment include managing threatened, endangered, at-risk, and invasive species; improved wildland fire management for test and training ranges; and enhancing the resilience of DoD built and natural infrastructure.
