Addressing Construction Needs for Ultra-High Performance (UHPC) Structural Elements

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for research initiatives supporting next-generation structural materials and systems. This BAA, 693JJ3-24-BAA-0003_A0001, seeks white papers and proposals for research in structural steel, concrete, geotechnical structures, and bridge hydraulics. The process involves a two-phase evaluation: initial white paper submissions, followed by formal proposals from selected offerors. Awards are anticipated to range from $50,000 to $250,000, subject to funding availability. All deliverables must comply with Section 508 accessibility standards. Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov and address intellectual property rights, including patents and proprietary data. The government retains unlimited rights to all produced materials. Proposals will be evaluated on technical merit, importance to FHWA programs, and cost reasonableness, with a separate pass/fail evaluation for small business subcontracting plans for proposals exceeding $900,000.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) No. 693JJ3-24-BAA-0003, Call 003, focusing on “Addressing Construction Needs for Ultra-High Performance (UHPC) Structural Elements.” This initiative seeks research proposals to accelerate the adoption of UHPC in highway construction by developing standardized construction guidelines and addressing key challenges. The program aims to streamline construction, overcome industry hurdles, ensure design integrity, and standardize guidance for UHPC structural elements, particularly for bridge superstructure and/or substructure components. Proposals should align with AASHTO Guide Specification for Structural Design with UHPC and include plans for fresh property and acceptance testing, as well as qualification for compressive and uniaxial tensile properties. The FHWA anticipates making two to three awards with a ceiling of $900,000 total and a performance period of no longer than 30 months. Key dates include a White Paper Due Date of February 5, 2026, and an anticipated award date of May 2026.

The document addresses questions and answers related to Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 693JJ3-24-BAA-0003 and its amendment. A contractor inquired about the missing BAA Section 5 – Application and Submission Information. The government clarified that proposals should be submitted in accordance with BAA Section 4 – Project Proposals, and Call No. 003 was revised in Amendment 001. Another question concerned the absence of Appendix A, which was referenced in Section 3.2.5 for instructions and examples. The government responded that Appendix A is listed under the attachments of the BAA and provided a link to the BAA posting on sam.gov. The document's purpose is to provide clarifications and corrections regarding the BAA to potential offerors.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued Broad Agency Announcement 693JJ3-24-BAA-0003, Call 003, seeking research proposals for "Addressing Construction Needs for Ultra-High Performance (UHPC) Structural Elements." The goal is to accelerate the adoption of UHPC in highway structural elements by developing standardized construction guidelines and overcoming industry hurdles. Proposals should focus on facilitating broader adoption, identifying and correcting industry issues, ensuring design integrity, and standardizing construction guidance for UHPC. Key dates include a White Paper Due Date of February 5, 2026, and an anticipated Proposal Due Date to be determined. The FHWA anticipates making two to three awards, with an estimated ceiling of $900,000 and a performance period not exceeding 30 months. Awards are expected by May 2026. Questions are due by December 17, 2025, and must be submitted via email.