The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) is to develop advanced performance coatings (APC) to meet the requirements of MIL-PRF-32239A and MIL-PRF-85285 Type IV including achieving the high weathering durability and cleanability performance of APC coatings for DoW aircraft. Proposals will also be considered for (1) radome coatings of any military coating type that shed water and oils effectively to minimize communication and sensing attenuation under all conditions and (2) weather-resistant architectural coatings for infrastructure.  Proposals should address the following considerations: 

• Provide the hypotheses to support how the alternative technology will increase weather durability and reduce adhesion of dirt and oils.  Provide theoretical rationale, literature findings, or prior work to justify the hypothesis. 
• Fluoropolymers or fluorochemical modifications must not be used. 
• Proposed technologies should minimize or eliminate the use of TSCA-restricted chemicals and minimize use of CERCLA hazardous substances.¹   
• Proposed technologies should meet hazardous air pollutant (HAP) and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions for these coatings. 
• Alternative methods should be safe, scalable, relatively cost effective. 
• Outline the expected process to transition this technology to the DoW and identify the steps that will be taken during the proposed project. 

Proposals should include a plan to conduct a preliminary Life Cycle Analysis² (LCA) to help indicate the life cycle cost benefit associated with the proposed coating relative to current processes. Proposals should establish a life cycle framework that can mature as the technology or process advances through the development and acquisition processes. This tiered approach aims to develop and document a minimum data set at each stage of research and development that can be used to make informed decisions and streamline transition to an acquisition program. The LCA may include varying depths of data and information that can inform: the goal and scope of an analysis; the identity and quantity of relevant inputs and outputs to the system; and the estimation of life cycle impacts and costs. A preliminary LCA would help indicate the cost benefit associated with the proposed process relative to current processes. Any proposals that do not include an LCA should provide a reason for exclusion. 

Coatings that meet MIL-PRF-85285 Type IV and MIL-PRF-32239A are of significant benefit to Naval and Air Force aviation systems to reduce weathering, maintenance, and the annual cost of corrosion for the Department of War.  Advanced omniphobic radome coatings should increase communication and sensing ranges for our weapons and platforms, thereby improving lethality and survivability.  Industrial and architectural coatings with improved weatherability and omniphobicity should reduce corrosion costs for upkeep of military infrastructure.   

MIL-PRF-85285 Type IV is the specification for the advanced performance topcoats used on Naval and Air Force aerospace platforms.  MIL-PRF-32239A is the advanced performance coating system specification including the topcoat, primer, and pretreatment.   

The annual cost of corrosion for the Department of War is over $20 billion.  A portion of these costs are due to topcoat weathering and degradation due to interactions with dirt and chemicals in the environment.  With respect to radomes, water and oils attenuate electromagnetic radiation and decrease communication and sensing ranges.  Methods to shed water and oils increase communication and sensing ranges. Fluoropolymers and fluoropolymer modifications are known as excellent methodologies to reduce weathering and reduce adhesion and absorption of chemicals and soil.  However, the chemical availability associated with fluorochemicals is at risk due to specific current perfluorochemical regulations and European pending regulations on a wide class of perfluorochemicals and polymers.  Various types of superhydrophobic technologies are well known as well.  However, many of these technologies rely on microstructure that is not durable over the expected lifetime of a coating, and their extent of hydrophobicity decreases with time.  There are no known effective and durable omniphobic technologies that shed both water and oil that do not rely on fluorochemicals. 

The cost and time to meet the requirements of this SON are at the discretion of the proposer. Two options are available:  

Standard Proposals: These proposals describe a complete research effort. The proposer should incorporate the appropriate time, schedule, and cost requirements to accomplish the scope of work proposed. SERDP projects normally run from two to five years in length and vary considerably in cost consistent with the scope of the effort. It is expected that most proposals will fall into this category.   

Limited Scope Proposals: Proposers with innovative approaches to the SON that entail high technical risk or have minimal supporting data may submit a Limited Scope Proposal for funding up to $350,000 and approximately one year in duration. Such proposals may be eligible for follow-on funding if they result in a successful initial project. The objective of these proposals should be to acquire the data necessary to demonstrate proof-of-concept or reduction of risk that will lead to development of a future Standard Proposal. Proposers should submit Limited Scope Proposals in accordance with the SERDP Core Solicitation instructions and deadlines. 

John La Scala, Ph.D.  

SERDP & ESTCP Program Manager 

Weapons Systems and Platforms  

Email: john.j.lascala.civ@army.mil