FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

AUTHORIZATION:

Water Resources Development Act of 1988, Section 7, Public Law 100-676, 33 U.S.C. 2313.

To facilitate productivity-improving research and development and application of advanced construction technologies through collaborative research and development, field demonstration, licensing agreements, and other means of commercialization and technology transfer.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Projects are based on ideas from the U.S. construction industry on how to improve productivity. Industry partners must agree to substantially produce and market products domestically. Corps laboratory must perform a significant portion of each project.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Any U.S. private firm, including corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships and industrial development organizations; public and private foundations; nonprofit organizations; units of State and local governments; academic institutions; and others who have interest in and the capability to address CPAR objectives.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Beneficiaries of CPAR products will include the U.S. construction industry (builder/contractor/developer, engineer/architect, construction equipment/material suppliers) profit and nonprofit business organizations, the general public, and Federal, State and local government agencies.

Credentials/Documentation:   Representations, certifications and other statements of proposers disclosure of lobbing activities are required.

Pre-application Coordination:   Informal discussions with a Corps laboratory is required. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Written proposal to the Corps laboratory must be submitted.

Award Procedure:   Proposals recommended by the Corps laboratories are evaluated and prioritized by the CPAR Executive Committee in Corps headquarters. Proposals are funded in descending priority order until available funds are exhausted.

Deadlines:   Time for submission of proposals varies, set annually.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 90 to 120 days.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   None.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Industry partner must provide at least 50 percent of the total project costs. At least 5 percent of the partner share must be paid in cash for services and supplies that do not originate within the partner organization.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Variable.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Technical report/product data sheets are required at the end of the project.

Audits:   None.

Records:   None.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   96-9921-0-2-999.

Obligations:   (Cooperative Agreement) FY 01 $4,660,000; FY 02 est $5,306,000; and FY 03 est $6,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$200,000 to $900,000. Average: $400,000.

Seventy-six projects covering a wide range of technologies have been funded at a total investment of over $70 million. The Corps has provided over $32 million and the construction industry partners have contributed over $38 million.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

CPAR Guidelines for Participation, published annually.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Corps research and development laboratories.

Headquarters Office:   Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CERD-C, 20 Massachusetts Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20314-1000, David B. Mathis, General Manager. Telephone: (202) 272-1846.

Web Site Address:   http://www.usace.army.mil/business.html

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Projects have been funded in the areas on construction planning and design improvement, improved construction site productivity and advanced materials.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Potential impact on U.S. construction industry productivity; potential impact on the Corps of Engineers; commercialization/technology transfer; ease of adoption; probability of achieving projected productivity and effectiveness enhancement; project duration; and research and development investment.