About Emerging Technologies
The Emerging Technologies Branch (ETB) identifies, develops, and incorporates those existing, new, or emerging technologies with the potential to address and mitigate safety issues which support the Offshore Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978 (OCSLA) directive along America's Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
While assessing existing and new technologies, the ETB considers how relevant technologies may be applied and integrated into BSEE’s regulatory programs to promote safety, conserve resources, and protect the environment. Additionally, the ETB performs necessary technology or equipment reviews to assess impact on existing regulations. Technology assessments may be necessary because of the development of a new regulation, the modification of an existing requirement, the development and subsequent incorporation of a consensus-based standard, the issuance of a Notice to Lessees, or changes to permit conditions or approvals. Assessments may be utilized in determining fitness of service or/and the root causes of incidents or near-miss events involving critical equipment or systems.
Research is used to support technology reviews and assessment activities. ETB identifies, procures funds, and administers research contracts that assess safety-related technologies, and perform applied research in support of BSEE’s regulatory programs.
Information gained in these technology assessments and research may be integrated into regulatory programs and initiatives.
Safety Topics
When BSEE determines a piece of equipment or system does not perform safely offshore and failure could lead to a process safety incident, technical staff from the Systems Reliability Section (SRS) collaborate with operators, industry professionals, and subject-matter experts to conduct and/or oversee challenging technical equipment evaluations. The section assesses fitness for service, or/and investigates the root causes of incidents and near-miss events for targeted equipment or systems.. Upon completion of the root cause analysis of a technological failure or near miss, the findings may result in recommendations for further action or alert BSEE officials of critical safety issues that may require immediate action such as a safety alert.
Together, these efforts support BSEE’s regional offices and headquarters, as part of the Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
BAST develops and implements a nationally recognized process for implementing provisions of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act for the use of BAST.
SRS observes and oversees the quality-assurance and quality-control testing of targeted offshore equipment. The section assesses equipment and systems for fitness of service or/and to determine the root causes of incidents or near-miss events.
Section Highlights
Submitting Research Proposals
-
The Emerging Technologies Branch (ETB) advances BSEE’s regulatory objectives by leveraging contracts against applied research projects. The ETB identifies, funds, and administers (as Contracting Officer Representatives) contracts to assess safety-related technologies and perform applied research in support of Bureau’s Offshore programs.
The recommendations and findings impact the BSEE Regulatory Program, other Federal Regulatory Agencies, and OCS oil and gas and renewable industries and in turn, impacts public safety through the development of risk assessment methodologies, interpretations, and recommendations.
-
Interested parties may submit proposals in response to publicly posted (beta.SAM.gov or other federal sites) BSEE solicitations, Broad Agency Announcements, Small Business Innovation Research topics, Small Business Technology Transfer Research topics, Program Research and Development Announcements, or other government-initiated solicitation or program to BSEE for consideration.
-
It is the policy of the Government to encourage the submission of new and innovative ideas in response to Broad Agency Announcements, Small Business Innovation Research topics, Small Business Technology Transfer Research topics, Program Research and Development Announcements, or any other Government-initiated solicitation or program.
When the new and innovative ideas do not fall under topic areas publicized under these programs or techniques, the ideas may be submitted as unsolicited proposals and can only be accepted it is aligned with the Agency’s mission and meets the requirements stipulated Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Part 15.6.
Unsolicited Proposals should be submitted to Chrischanda Smith directly, via email, at chrischanda.smith@bsee.gov, or by mail to:
Chrischanda Smith, Chief, Acquisition Policy & Financial Assistance Branch
U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
Acquisition Management Division, VAE-AMD
45600 Woodland Road, VA-AMD
Sterling, VA 20166