Submit a Suggestion

Submit to the Federal Government

The federal governments interagency group, called the Interagency Alternative Technology Assessment Program (IATAP) workgroup, was established by the National Incident Commander to provide a well-defined, documented, systematic, and fair government-managed process to solicit, screen, and evaluate all suggested technologies in support of ongoing response activities related to the Deepwater Horizon spill. The IATAP, which involves multiple federal agencies, is reviewing new ideas as well as adaptations of existing technologies for the spill response.

On June 4, the IATAP workgroup issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to collect and review submittals (referred to as White Papers) in five distinct areas:

1. Oil sensing improvements to response and detection;
2. Oil wellhead control and submerged oil response;
3. Traditional oil spill response technologies;
4. Alternative oil spill response technologies; or
5. Oil spill damage assessment and restoration.

The BAA contains detailed information on the steps necessary to submit a technology idea to the IATAP workgroup, including format and content requirements. As the BAA may occasionally be updated, it is important to check Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps), solicitation number HSCG32-10-R-R00019, for the latest amendments. Amendments are identified by both number and date.

Basic steps for submission are provided below. You can also download a PDF of instructions with screenshots.

1. After reviewing the latest BAA and determining you are ready to submit your White Paper to the IATAP workgroup, go to http://homeport.uscg.mil/RDC-BAA-DHR. This link will bring you to a form titled "RDC BAA White Paper Submission Form."
2. Fill out the RDC BAA White Paper Submission Form. All items noted with an asterisk (*) are required. The "White Paper Title" is a title that you choose to identify your White Paper.
3. Select one of the five distinct areas that you think is most appropriate for your White Paper.
4. Once you have filled out the form, you must attach your White Paper. The White Paper format and content requirements are listed in the latest BAA. If your submission does not follow format requirements, it may delay timely review.
5. Once your White Paper is attached, click on the "SUBMIT" button once. It may take a few moments to be processed.

How will I know if my White Paper has been received, and how do I check on the status of my submittal?

Submitters receive confirmation that their White Paper has been received by the IATAP workgroup. An automatically generated e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address provided in the White Paper Submission Form confirming receipt and providing a unique tracking number, which can be used to track submission status online. Instructions for tracking are contained in the e-mail.

How will my White Paper be evaluated?

Technology ideas submitted to the IATAP workgroup are initially screened for overall scientific and technical merit, feasibility, the availability of the proposed solution and a rough order of magnitude cost. The initial screening will result in one of three determinations:

1. The idea has potential for immediate benefit to the oil spill response effort;
2. The submission needs more detailed investigation or evaluation by the appropriate government agency; or
3. The submission does not support a response to this incident.

Every submitter will be notified of the determination made by the IATAP workgroup on their technology idea. See page 4, paragraph 2, of the BAA for details on next steps if the idea has potential for immediate benefit. See page 4, paragraph 3, of the BAA for details on next steps if the idea needs further investigation.

I’ve submitted a technology idea to BP. Should I submit one to the IATAP workgroup too?

Those who have already submitted their idea to BP are also encouraged to submit their idea separately to the IATAP workgroup if they want it to be evaluated independently by the federal government.

I have a question. Who should I contact?

All contractual and technical questions regarding the BAA must be submitted in writing to RDC-BAA-DHR@uscg.mil. Informational questions and associated answers (i.e., FAQs) will be periodically posted at http://homeport.uscg.mil/RDC-BAA-DHR-FAQ.

Submit to BP

Thousands of people have submitted possible ideas on how to stop or contain the oil in the Gulf of Mexico.

More than 20,000 ideas on how to stop the flow of oil or contain the oil spill have been sent to BP since the Gulf of Mexico incident. These ideas have flooded in from people across the world, ranging from ordinary members of the public to oil industry professionals, and in many languages from Arabic to Russian.
BP has implemented a process to review and evaluate all of these suggestions.

There are two ways to submit a suggestion in this option:

1. Call the Houston suggestion line at (281) 366-5511
2. Fill out the online suggestion form at
   http://www.horizonedocs.com/artform.php

Each caller to the Houston suggestion line has their details entered into the Horizon Call Center database. The database then automatically generates and sends the caller a simple form, termed the Alternative Response Technologies form, for them to set out the details of their idea.

Alternatively, the online form is a valuable tool in helping the team to systematically review the technical merits of the idea, as it allows the caller to describe the materials, equipment and skills needed for it to work.

After the caller completes and submits the form, it is sent for triage by a team of 30 technical and operational personnel who will review its technical feasibility and application. Given the quantity of the proposals and the detail in which the team investigates each idea, the technical review can take some time. Each idea is sorted into one of three categories:

• Not possible or not feasible in these conditions;
• Already considered/ planned or;
• Feasible.

The feasible ideas are then escalated for a more detailed review, potential testing and field application. So far, around 100 ideas are under further review.

Each submitter receives a reply informing them of the outcome. Those whose ideas are considered feasible will be contacted by BP if, and when, their support is needed.

Unified Command thanks each submitter for their interest and willingness to share their ideas.