The Department of Defense, specifically the United States Air Force, is seeking proposals for the development of a fully integrated, self-contained field portable fuels/propellant test and analysis system. This system must be capable of analyzing jet fuel, diesel fuel, or rocket/missile propellant samples in real-time to determine a comprehensive range of chemical properties, ensuring suitability for use in Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations. The importance of this procurement lies in its potential to enhance operational efficiency by eliminating delays associated with current fuel testing methods, which can take 2-10 days. Interested parties should note that the solicitation is set to open on January 8, 2025, with proposals due by February 5, 2025, and further details can be found at the provided source link.

## Description

As part of future fuel/propellant support related ACE operations, the ability to produce sustainable aviation fuel/propellant (for both jet/diesel fuel/propellant applications) on-site or to process locally available high sulfur fuel inventories into an ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel alternative at expeditionary or isolated locations will be a reality. Producing or processing of any fuel/propellant at expeditionary locations will require the ability to perform suitability for use analysis on the fuel/propellant product to ensure that it meets all fuel/propellant quality assurance requirements. Failure to ensure suitability for use of a produced or processed fuel/propellant could compromise safety of flight standards and potentially cause ground support equipment or vehicle engine failures.Current Air Force deployable fuels/propellant quality control testing kits or systems are limited in fuel/propellant property testing capabilities, and are unable to perform the level of suitability for use conformance testing required, to support aviation, space, or ground operations. Current practice requires fuel/propellant samples be collected and sent to a regional laboratory where suitability for use conformance analysis would be performed on the sample. This process can demand 2-10 days depending on location, transportation, international customs, and lab technician availability. Delays dramatically impact ACE operations regarding either fuels/propellant production or fuel desulfurization at expeditionary locations.To address this logistics support gap, a fully integrated self-contained field portable fuels/propellant test and analysis system housed within a single person portable case no larger than 24&quot; X 18&quot; X 8&quot; capable of analyzing a single jet/propellant or diesel fuel sample in real time to determine a comprehensive range of defined suitable for use chemical properties, including fuel cleanliness and free water, is needed. For fuels/propellant quality assurance acceptance, the system would be required to be supported by either a new or existing ASTM International test method.Fuel/propellant suitable for use chemical property determination would need to be made through a combination of direct measurement or property extrapolation via chemometric or chemical property characterization modeling leveraging alternative test methods including multivariate spectroscopy, optical imaging, and cascading lasers.To be able to meet the fuels/propellant analysis objective of this topic, the following fuel/propellant chemical properties ideally would need to be measured to be able to ensure product suitability for use of any produced fuel/propellant or processed fuel.- Total Acid Number- Total Sulfur Content- Mercaptan Sulfur Content- Cetane Number / Derived Cetane Number- Cetane Index- Distillation Fractions (IBP, T10, T50, , T90, FBP, Residue, Loss)- Viscosity @ 40&deg;C- Density @15&deg;C- Aromatics Content- FAME Content- Freezing Point- Flash Point- Smoke Point- Cloud Point- Hydrogen Content- Net Heat of Combustion- Viscosity @-20&deg;C- Micro-Separometer (MSEP) Rating- Copper Strip Corrosion- (Thermal) Oxidation Stability- Fuels System Icing Inhibitor Content- Electrical Conductivity- Existent Gum Content- Fuel Cleanliness; Particulate Matter/Particle Count- Fuel Cleanliness; Free Water Content - Fuel Lubricity- Carbon Residue- Ash ContentThe system needs to be able to be operated by a minimally trained fuels laboratory technician and contain all required training manuals or incorporated computer based training capabilities. The system would need to either be self calibrating or have the ability for the operator to be able to perform calibration using available standards. The system needs to be capable of being stored and operated in conditions ranging from -25 degrees F to +135 degrees F and have the ability to operate on AC, rechargeable battery or a 12-DC volt sources with the use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) to the fullest extent possible. The system would minimize to the greatest extent possible any hazardous waste and require minimum consumables. The integrated system must be able to operate in a hazardous environment meeting all National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) or ATmosphere EXplosibles (ATEX) requirements for the operating environment. The system would need to be ruggedized and be able to meet testing requirements of MIL-STD-810.The topic is expected to deliver the number of fully functioning prototypes meeting a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 8 required to fully support any and all ASTM International test method development and Inter-Laboratory-Study (ILS) testing requirements to meet the topic's objective.

## Objective

The objective of this topic is to develop a fully integrated self-contained field portable fuels/propellant test and analysis system housed within a single person portable case targeted at being no larger than 24&quot; X 18&quot; X 8&quot; and capable of analyzing a single jet fuel, diesel fuel, or rocket/missile propellant sample in real time to determine a comprehensive range of defined specification chemical properties, including fuel cleanliness and free water. The primary focus for this capability would be in support of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations including on-site jet fuel/propellant production and/or desulfurization, with secondary support capabilities for rocket/missile propellant analysis. The portable system would also be required to be supported via an approved ASTM International test method or conformance to an existing approved ASTM test method.

## Phase I

This topic is intended for technology proven ready to move directly into a Phase II. Therefore, a Phase I award is not required. The offeror is required to provide detail and documentation in the Direct to Phase II proposal which demonstrates accomplishment of a &ldquo;Phase I-type&rdquo; effort, including a feasibility study. This includes determining, insofar as possible, the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of ideas appearing to have commercial potential. It must have validated the product-market fit between the proposed solution and a potential AF stakeholder. The offeror should have defined a clear, immediately actionable plan with the proposed solution and the AF customer. The feasibility study should have;<ul><li> Identified the prime potential Department of the Air Force end user(s) for the non-</li></ul>Defense commercial offering to solve the AF need, i.e., how it has been modified;<ul><li> Described integration cost and feasibility with current mission-specific products;</li><li> Described if/how the demonstration can be used by other DoD or Governmental customers.</li></ul>

## Phase II

Eligibility for D2P2 is predicated on the offeror having performed a &ldquo;Phase I-like&rdquo; effort predominantly separate from the SBIR Programs. Under the Phase II effort, the offeror shall sufficiently develop the technical approach, product, and process in order to be able to perform a full suitable for use sample analysis for identified fuel/propellant properties and report results, develop an ASTM test method, conduct operational field trials under various environmental conditions, and perform required testing in support of an initial ASTM ILS. Identification of manufacturing/production issues and or business model modifications required to further improve product or processes relevance to improved sustainment costs, availability, or safety, should be documented. These Phase II awards are intended to provide a path to field a TRL 8 instrument with ASTM accreditation via an approved ASTM test method or conformance to an existing ASTM test method and commercialization. The successful Phase II effort will build on integration of emerging analytical and artificial intelligent technologies including but not limited to Raman spectroscopy, Near Infrared spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Ultra-Violet spectroscopy, Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy, optical imaging, laser light obscuration, cascading lasers, multivariate spectroscopy calibration modeling, and chemometric/chemical property characterization modeling to demonstrate integrated functionality towards a portable fuels analysis system capable of performing fuel/propellant suitable for use conformance testing within the defined form, fit, and function requirements of this effort. The system must be capable of establishing performance-based qualification of vibrational spectroscopic analyzer systems intended to be used to predict the test result of a fuel property that would be produced by a Primary Test Method (PTM) if the same fuel is tested by the PTM. A methodology must be developed to establish the lower/upper prediction limits associated with the Predicted Primary Test Method Result (PPTMR) with a specified degree of confidence that would contain the PTM result (if tested by the PTM). The prediction limits must be able to be used to estimate the confidence that fuel released using the analyzer system based on a PPTMR that meets PTM-based specification limits will meet PTM-based specification limits when tested by a PTM. The Phase II awardee will build on the current state of the art to advance the Technology Readiness Level to deliver a fully integrated system capable of meeting the objective requirements for the defined fuels properties. The awardee will coordinate with the Department of the Air Force technical point of contact (TPOC) via regular information exchange meetings and technical reports. The final deliverable will consist of delivering the number of fully functioning prototypes meeting a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 8 required to fully support any and all ASTM International test method development and Inter-Laboratory-Study (ILS) testing requirements and an ASTM test method. Performance parameters to consider are: Performance in a field environment, Time required for analysis of the fuel,Cost to analyze the fuel, Accuracy / Precision of the analysis, Safety for the operator to conduct the analysis.Calibration, How? Who? Where? Cost?Repair ability, How? Who? Where? Mean time between failures (MTBF): Transportability/drop ability: How does the devices handle transportation and accidental dropping?The prototypes should be a TRL 8 or greater per Department of Defense Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA) Guidebook, June 2023, and Technology Readiness Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Evaluating the Readiness of Technology for Use in Acquisition Programs and Projects, January 2020.

## Phase III: Dual Use Applications

The contractor will pursue commercialization of the various technologies developed in Phase II for transitioning expanded mission capability to a broad range of potential government and civilian users and alternate mission applications. Direct access with end users and government customers will be provided with opportunities to receive Phase III awards for providing the government additional research &amp; development, or direct procurement of products and services developed in coordination with the program.

Field Level Fuels/Propellant Analysis in a Case

SBIR Opportunity Analysis

SBIR Documents

Related SBIR/STTR Opportunities

Opportunity Snapshot

Key Dates