The U.S. Joint Improvised Explosives Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) has issued an announcement seeking proposals on how to fight buried improvised explosive devices (IED) and person- and vehicle-borne IEDs employed against U.S. or coalition forces anywhere in the world, but particularly in Afghanistan. JIEDDO notes that the manufacture and transport of homemade explosives (HME) and their precursor chemicals, which include ammonium nitrate, enables these IEDs.
JIEDDO is seeking focused, short-term (3-6 month) studies that will define the signatures and available observables for these various IEDs and HMEs, as well as aid in the development of capabilities to counter these threats. Proposals must address one of the following requirements:
A. New formulations of ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer that decrease detonability and explosive output.
B. Additives and methods to disrupt or discourage HME manufacturing from fertilizer precursors.
C. Additives and methods for increased detection and identification of HMEs and precursors during transport, manufacture, and IED emplacement.
D. Enabling ground truth studies.
JIEDDO says reformulating existing AN-based fertilizers is a straightforward method to reduce HME effectiveness. However, it says reformulation is a non-trivial challenge, because a variety of requirements must be met to preserve the safety and effectiveness for agricultural use. New formulations must: not be toxic to flora or fauna; provide nearly the same agronomic value as existing fertilizer formulations; and not be easily separable such that HME manufacture is simplified or promoted.
JIEDDO said reformulation methodologies should also consider the regional availability of raw materials. To date, JIEDDO has been very concerned about explosives in Afghanistan originating from AN produced in Pakistan.
In the near term, JIEDDO said new fertilizer formulations may consist of AN-inclusive mixtures, altered prill processing, AN layering techniques, or development of AN desensitizers. In the long-term, novel formulations that reduce region-specific dependence of AN-based fertilizers will be considered. Solutions involving the development of renewable or microbial-based fertilizers and methods of increasing the regional availability of biomass will also be considered. It said regardless of the method, an assessment of agronomic trade-offs must be clearly stated (e.g., reduced explosive effectiveness due to lower nitrate content and a subsequent decrease in unit cost to the end-user to offset the need for more fertilizer).
During Phase I, JIEDDO will evaluate proposal quad charts and white papers. Phase 2 will consist of technical meetings and more detailed presentations and submissions.
Proposals are due by 1600 hours March 2, 2012, Eastern Standard Time. The research number is BAA JIEDDO-12-01-HME. Classified proposals shall be delivered to Joint IED Defeat Organization, 2521 South Clarke St., 12th Floor, Attn: CAC/TDD (BIDS), Arlington, Va. 22202. For more information, contact https://www.jieddo.dod.mil/rr.aspx. Contractors must also register in the Department of Defense database; see http:www.ccr.gov, or call 1-888-227-2423.