TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Extremely Light Foam (ELF)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is offering a Technology Licensing Opportunity for Extremely Light Foam (ELF), a novel structural foam that is significantly lighter and stronger than current alternatives. This Special Notice invites companies to explore licensing agreements for this patent-pending technology. Interested parties should contact LANL by March 12, 2026.
Technology Overview
ELF is a new structural foam process developed at LANL that uses common epoxy materials mixed with tiny hollow particles and a temporary liquid. This liquid evaporates during curing, leaving a well-organized network of empty space, resulting in a foam that is mostly air but highly resistant to crushing and pressure. It can be up to twice as strong at the same weight as conventional foams, while being easy to pour, mold, and manufacture at scale using safe, commercially available ingredients.
Key Advantages
- Exceptionally low weight with high structural integrity.
- High resistance to crushing and compression.
- Simple, low-cost manufacturing using standard equipment.
- Easy to cast and mold into complex shapes.
- Safe and non-hazardous materials.
- Multifunctional performance (structural support, thermal insulation, impact absorption).
Market Applications
ELF is well-suited for commercial applications in:
- Marine & Offshore (buoyancy, pressure-tolerant structures)
- Aerospace (weight-saving cores, insulation)
- Defense & Security (lightweight components, energy-absorbing materials)
- Transportation & Mobility (mass reduction, impact mitigation)
- Advanced Composites & Manufacturing (core materials)
- Energy & Industrial Systems (structural insulation, protective housings)
- Thermal & Acoustic Solutions (insulation panels, noise damping)
Licensing & Contact
LANL's licensing program aims to move inventions to commercial innovations. Patented and patent-pending inventions, like ELF (TRL 3, US Patent pending), are available through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. This is not a call for external services for technology development. For specific discussions, contact Satya Srinivasan or Lindsay Augustyn at licensing@lanl.gov.
Contract & Timeline
- Opportunity Type: Special Notice (Technology Licensing Opportunity)
- Set-Aside: None specified (Not applicable for licensing)
- Response Date: March 12, 2026, 23:00 UTC
- Published Date: February 20, 2026