Bridging the Use, Innovation, Life, and Durability of Concrete (BUILD Concrete)

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Call 002, titled "Bridging the Use, Innovation, Life, and Durability of Concrete (BUILD Concrete)", issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Infrastructure Research and Development (HRDI). It seeks research initiatives to accelerate the implementation of next-generation binder technologies into engineering practice for concrete used in infrastructure, ensuring proper durability and improved integrity. The focus is on market-ready binders that can be benchmarked against a standard Class A concrete.

• Benchmarking of innovative binder technologies against a standard Class A concrete (4000 psi 28-day compressive strength).

• Performance evaluation based on limit states for reinforced concrete elements, including strength and service limit states.

• Assessment of codified characteristic behaviors and material properties such as compressive strength development, modulus of rupture, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, coefficient of thermal expansion, creep, and shrinkage.

• Technologies of interest include geopolymers, chemical-based strength enhancers, recycled/reclaimed waste products, novel binder chemistries, and novel synthesis/production methods.

• Proposals should specify the basis for technology specification (e.g., AASHTO M85, M240, M295, or ASTM C618-23).

• Multiple awards are anticipated.

• Period of Performance: No longer than 24 months.

• Award Type: See BAA Section 4.3.6 for Recommended Pricing Arrangement.

• Anticipated Award Dates: April 2026 (subject to change).

• White Papers Due: January 22, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET.

• Proposal Due Date: TBD (will be specified in an amendment after white paper notifications).

• Questions Due: December 8, 2025.

• Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria in BAA Section 6.

• Submission instructions for white papers and proposals are detailed in BAA Sections 3 and 5, respectively.

Not specified in this document; refer to the main BAA.

• This solicitation is an amendment (dated March 6, 2026) to the original BAA.
• Submission of this solicitation does not guarantee an award.
• Questions must be submitted via email to the Contract Specialist by the specified due date.
• A table of attachments (A, B, C, D) is listed but not detailed.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Call 002, titled "Bridging the Use, Innovation, Life, and Durability of Concrete (BUILD Concrete)", issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Infrastructure Research and Development (HRDI). It seeks research initiatives to accelerate the implementation of next-generation binder technologies into engineering practice for concrete, aiming to improve infrastructure integrity and durability. The FHWA is looking for market-ready binders to be benchmarked against standard concrete, with a focus on solutions that have achieved a suitable technology readiness level for industrial trials.

• Proposals should focus on innovative materials and technologies that can enhance concrete performance, durability, and supply chain stability.

• Benchmarking performance must be limit-state based, considering strength and service limit states for reinforced concrete elements as defined by AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications.

• Preference will be given to proposals including data from structural testing on reinforced concrete elements.

• Technologies of interest include, but are not limited to, geopolymers, chemical-based strength enhancers, recycled/reclaimed waste products, novel binder chemistries, and novel synthesis or production methods.

• Proposals must include the basis for technology specification (e.g., AASHTO M85, M240, AASHTO M295, or ASTM C618-23).

• Multiple awards are anticipated.

• Period of Performance: Anticipated to be no longer than 24 months.

• Anticipated Ceiling: Refer to BAA Section 2.6.

• Award Type: Refer to BAA Section 4.3.6.

• White Papers are due by January 22, 2026, 4:00 PM ET.

• Proposals are due by a date to be announced via amendment after white paper notifications.

• Questions are due by December 8, 2025.

• Proposals will be evaluated according to criteria in BAA Section 6.

• All questions must be submitted via email to Raven.Merchant@dot.gov and HCFA-22sri@dot.gov.

Not specified in this document; refer to the main BAA.

• This is Call 002 under BAA 693JJ3-24-BAA-0003.
• Anticipated date for advisory notifications: February 9, 2026.
• Anticipated award dates: April 2026, subject to change.
• The document references several AASHTO LRFD Bridge Construction Specifications and Design Specifications.