Research for Additive Manufacturing Program University Partnerships (RAMP-UP) The Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office announces an opportunity for university professors and their students to engage in cutting edge research in Additive Manufacturing with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Through the Research for Additive Manufacturing Program - University Partnerships (RAMP-UP), the staff of DOE's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) at ORNL will engage in collaborative research projects with university teams to address fundamental challenges related to Additive Manufacturing. The RAMP-UP program will support up to 10 research teams to conduct research that compliments and aligns with the core research interests and projects at the MDF. UT-Battelle, LLC, acting under its Prime Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the management and operation of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, conducts research and development in support of the DOE Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO). AMO's mission is to develop and demonstrate new energy efficient manufacturing and materials technologies at a scale adequate to prove their value to manufacturers. The mission includes technology deployment that promotes use of advanced technologies and better energy management to capture U.S. competitive advantage. Description Oak Ridge National Laboratory has a long history of working closely with academic institutions and industry partners to address both fundamental challenges and pressing needs in the marketplace. ORNL's world-leading capabilities in materials development, characterization, and processing combine with expertise in modeling and simulation to create an unmatched environment for breakthroughs and innovation. Participants in the RAMP-UP program will have the opportunity to work alongside ORNL research staff within the MDF, which offers comprehensive Additive Manufacturing capabilities in a 40,000 ft 2 research facility near Knoxville, TN. Attributes that align with the MDF's core research activities in Additive Manufacturing and contribute to the technology development, include: • Expanding current build volumes • Optimizing build parameters to increase mechanical properties and deposition rates • Integrating smarter in situ process controls for rapid certification and quality control • Developing new materials and technologies for improved material properties • Investigating alternate low-cost feedstock materials • Increasing performance enhancements for materials, material combinations, and functionality of components Research funded under the RAMP-UP program will also leverage existing capabilities and expertise at the participating university to promote a collaborative effort between organizations. Research teams will be led by a university professor and include 1-2 students each. The RAMP-UP program will also support research staff for collaborative efforts within the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. The duration of research projects will be one year with an expected deliverable of 1-3 research publications. Funding for the RAMP-UP program may cover the following expenses: • University Research Subcontract: $100,000 (including overhead) for expenses such as professor salary, student support, travel • ORAU Summer Internship: $15,000 (1-2 students) • ORNL staff support and materials: $30,000 Note: This is not a procurement request. Proposal Evaluation Selection of winning proposals will be at the discretion of ORNL in cooperation with the DOE Advanced Manufacturing Office. ORNL reserves the right to select all, a portion of, or none of the submitted proposals. Submissions will be evaluated according the following equally-weighted criteria: • Alignment to MDF - degree to which the proposed research aligns with and compliments the primary research thrusts of the MDF • Impact - the potential impact of the proposed research on the U.S. manufacturing industry • Technical Merit - degree to which the proposed research is technically feasible • Technology Development - the degree to which the proposed research improves the capabilities of AM Eligibility Eligible students for RAMP-UP may include undergraduates, graduates, or post-graduate students over the age of 18 that will attend the same university as the supervising professor. It is recommended that at least one student from each team apply for a summer internship at the MDF through the ORAU HERE program ( http://www.orau.org/science-education/internships-scholarships-fellowships/undergraduates.aspx ). Proposal Timeline and Submission The Department of Energy anticipates making up to 10 awards under this program for a total funding amount of $1.5 million. This solicitation will remain open for a period of six months from the initial date of release and contingent upon FY15 funding. Completed proposals must be submitted in PDF file format by email to
[email protected] . The subject line should read: RAMP-UP proposal . Point of Contact All questions relating to this announcement should be directed to Dr. Bill Peter by email,
[email protected] , or by phone, (865) 241-8113.