ESTCP requests proposals on the topic of “Innovation in Climate Adaptation Technologies for DoD Key Geographies” to quickly address climate adaptation needs in response to rapid changes affecting built and natural infrastructure across geographic regions where Department of Defense (DoD) assets are concentrated. These “key geographies” include Alaska, California, Sonoran Desert, Southeast United States, and Pacific Islands. This topic area targets innovation in climate adaptation technologies, repurposing past investments for new adaptation application, and rapid transition of technology to DoD end user communities and partners. This solicitation is specifically intended to leverage the Innovation Landscapes Network program: https://serdp-estcp.mil/ILN. 

The overall objective of this Topic is to demonstrate, evaluate, and refine existing data/tools/technology that leverage prior successfully funded research or technology from ESTCP or other Federally funded programs (e.g., National Science Foundation, Joint Fire Science Program, REPI Sentinel Landscapes) for a new, innovative DoD purpose in a DoD Key Geography. Proposers must consider the following in the development of their proposal:

• Reference either the current development state of the project technology (current projects) OR the state of the project technology at project completion (past projects) and the additional investment needed to transfer from the prototype phase to operational.
• Describe the novel application of the data/tool/technology and the justification for DoD investment (return on investment, increased efficacy or accuracy, etc.).
• Demonstrate the applicability/demonstration at a DoD key geography, such as the ones identified above.
• Demonstrate connection to and awareness of the end-user community’s (i.e., Installation-level natural resource managers) needs and application for proposed technology. Clearly identify partners in each end-user community for co-leading demonstration and evaluation, or a plan for engaging with the end-user community throughout the project as appropriate.
• Proposals which leverage and integrate existing data and data systems will be a priority. Proposals that leverage Earth observation data and sensors are a priority, including spaceborne and airborne remote sensing data (from NASA and other sources). 
• If the proposal is based on an current or completed federally-funded program, including SERDP or ESTCP, project numbers should be referenced in the proposal.

Proposals should also consider the following information for specific sections of the proposal:

• In the Technical Approach section, provide a detailed description of the technical approach, including the availability of data to determine tool, strategy, or technology performance. Proposers should clearly state expected deliverables and provide sufficient detail so that the technical approach can be clearly understood by reviewers. Proposals must indicate the technology readiness level (TRL) of their proposed effort at project initiation and expected TRL at project completion. 
• In the Expected Benefits section, a qualitative and semi-quantitative description of the expected benefit to DoD and broader impacts of a successful project should be included.
• The Technology Transfer section should discuss activities, including the key elements of science and technology translation that will be followed, needed to engage with key stakeholders and translate this technology into operations. This section should be detailed, accounting for the inherent need to communicate to, translate to, and gather information from the end-user community of installation planners, engineers, and natural resource managers. 

Funded efforts will result in promising technologies moving into operations after product development. This will ensure interoperability and scaling of products to rapidly address emerging needs and the ability to apply developed technology to new environments to ultimately support accelerated adoption of climate adaptation practices. Co-production with DoD end-users to translate technology into operations is key to sustaining the mission and supporting installation managers across DoD’s 27 million acres. 

The DoD manages more than 27 million acres of land containing its built and natural infrastructure assets, which directly supports its test and training missions and meets its stewardship requirements. Many geographic regions where these DoD assets are concentrated are already experiencing rapid ecological changes that challenge both the built and natural infrastructure. Affected regions include Alaska and the Arctic/sub-Arctic environment, Hawaii and island territories in the Pacific, the southeastern U.S., coastal areas of California and the eastern seaboard, and the southwestern U.S. These regions are at risk of mission degradation due to various combinations of threats, including hydrologic alterations, permafrost degradation, wildfire, rising sea levels, and non-native invasive species. The science solutions, technology transfer and adoption, and ultimately adaptation are not keeping pace with these landscape transformations. ESTCP looks to increase the pace of climate adaptation at DoD sites/assets by leveraging previous and ongoing projects to develop new, innovative solutions. The need is to accelerate the pace of technology transfer into operations for climate adaptation practices.

Kevin Hiers
Program Manager for Climate Resilience 
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) 
3500 Defense Pentagon, RM 5C646
Washington, DC 20301-3500
E-Mail: john.k.hiers.civ@mail.mil

For proposal submission due dates, instructions, and additional solicitation information, visit the ESTCP website.

Submissions should be full proposals only (no pre-proposal stage), with a maximum of 10 pages. No selection briefings will be required from Principal Investigators; the Technical Committee will make selections from full proposals only.