Commercialization & Contracts

Jump to

Spreading the Word
Contracting
Export Assistance

Once it has been demonstrated that a technology is capable of achieving its stated objectives and is in compliance with all environmental laws and regulations, the technology is ready for commercialization—the process of deploying it in the marketplace. This process entails refining the marketing plan to identify specific potential opportunities for applying the technology, advertising, and contracting. Information and sources on general advertising and market analysis are provided in the first two sections of this website focus area (Market Analysis and Business Planning and Funding). The sources below can help a technology developer get the word out to the general remediation community as well as find specific contracting opportunities.

Return to top

Spreading the Word

How can awareness of the technology be promoted to potential partners and customers? Whether the strategy is to license it, partner with an established vendor or contractor, or sell it directly, technology developers can use a variety of methods to get the word out to the general remediation community. In addition to news releases, information can be disseminated via the following avenues:

Developer/contractor website: Post technology brochures, white papers, and case studies.
Social media, e.g.:

Introduce the technology to an existing blogger or start a blog.
Post a video that demonstrates the technology on a video-sharing site, such as YouTube.
Create and maintain a presence on marketing channels, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and join relevant groups and professional discussions.

For international markets, ensure that websites will be effective and tasteful in other cultures and languages. Have a separate link for international sales inquiries, a separate page for international sales information, and consider operations of international search engines, such as Baida, Yendex, and Naver.
Technical and professional society meetings: Give presentations and join panels.
Conferences, trade shows, and venture fairs: Submit a paper, give a presentation, or set up an information booth.
Journals and trade publications: Submit case studies and white papers.
Submit case studies to trade websites and vendor or case study databases, such as those listed below.

If the technology's performance has been formally documented via third-party technology demonstration or verification, the documentation should be highlighted in papers and presentations.

EPA Project Profiles
EPA maintains searchable databases of collected "project profiles" (i.e., case studies) that describe the implementation or use of innovative remediation and characterization technologies. Each database offers a mechanism for technology developers to submit and update profiles, which are then accessible to cleanup contractors, other researchers and the general public. These databases are a valuable tool for making information about a technology available to the remediation community.

Some of the databases are specific to a type of technology and others to a type of site. The Remediation Technology Demonstrations database includes new technologies or new applications of existing technologies that are under development and are being tested at the demonstration or field scale prior to use in full-scale cleanups. The project profiles provide varying levels of detail, depending on the data and information available when each profile was developed. Examples of the data are available at the following links:

Technology Innovation News Survey (TINS)
EPA publishes this online monthly to provide limited information about technology demonstrations, feasibility studies, market and commercialization, cleanup, research, and general topics.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Library of Accepted Technologies
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has created the Innovative Technology Acceptance program. This program is limited to petroleum-contaminated sites and related technologies, products, and processes. The purpose of the program is to provide a mechanism to recognize innovative technologies as viable alternatives to be considered for the cleanup of contaminated sites. Recognition by FDEP that technologies are considered viable will provide a degree of exposure and credibility that may result in consideration and use of these cleanup techniques at a greater number of contaminated sites. Recognized technologies are posted in the Library of Accepted Technologies. Although FDEP acceptance suggests that agency experts believe a proposed technology has the potential to be effective in a specific application, it does not imply commercial endorsement or recommendation for use.

Return to top

Contracting

The links in this section are to organizations that contract for site cleanup and remediation services or information about procurements. These sources include descriptions of contracting practices and plans as well as specific procurements.

Federal Business Opportunities
Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) lists all federal government procurement opportunities over $25,000. It allows government buyers to post their business opportunities and enables vendors to search all the opportunities in the federal community.

Related Links:

View recent Hazardous Waste-Related FedBizOpps Opportunities

Doing Business with EPA, U.S. EPA Office of Acquisition Management (OAM)
This website provides Current Business Announcements with EPA, the "Who Buys for Whom" list, and the Forecast Database for future EPA procurement opportunities as well as the Acquisition Guide for Executives, contracting policies, EPA's list of active contracts, small business guidance and other resources.

Large Business Partnerships
This website provides information on how large businesses may participate in the Small Business Innovative Research program commercialization effort.

U.S. DOD Office of Small Business Programs
The Office of Small Business Programs' mission is to:

Advise the Secretary of Defense on all matters related to small business.
Represent the Secretary of Defense on major small business matters addressed at the OSD level.
Develop DOD-wide small business policy and provide oversight to ensure compliance by all military departments and defense agencies.
Provide Military Departments, Defense Agencies, and Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) with training and tools to foster an environment that encourages small business participation in defense acquisition.

Related Links:

Air Force Civil Engineer Center
The Air Force Civil Engineer Center, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is a 1,600-person field operating agency of the Air Force Civil Engineer. The center is responsible for providing responsive, flexible full-spectrum installation engineering services. The center's missions include facility investment planning, design and construction, operations support, real property management, energy support, environmental compliance and restoration, and acquisition and program management at more than 75 locations worldwide.

Related Links:

Business Opportunities

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Programs Contracting Opportunities
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) specializes in study, design, remedial action (construction), project management, research, development, and technology transfer. It has an aggressive innovative technology program and is continually developing innovative contract vehicles.

The Corps supports the following environmental programs: the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS), Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), Army Installation Restoration Program (IRP), Air Force IRP, Defense Logistics Agency IRP, Environmental Quality (compliance, pollution prevention and conservation), and EPA Superfund.

Department of Energy Office of Acquisition Management
The Department of Energy (DOE) expends approximately 90% of its budget through a variety of contracts and financial assistance agreements, making it one of the largest civilian departments in the federal government. Through these expenditures, DOE impacts a variety of industries and individuals across the nation. The majority of DOE contract dollars are expended through a relatively small number of large Management and Operating (M&O) contracts (including Federally Funded Research and Development Centers) as well as large site and facility environmental cleanup contracts.

Related Links:

Doing Business with DOE's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

Return to top

Export Assistance

The links in this section are to programs that promote the exchange of information, contacts, advice, and events that foster international trade in environmental technology. Sources that address export market funding are listed in the Business Planning and Funding section of this website area.

U.S. Commercial Service
The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals in over 100 U.S. cities and in more than 75 countries help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets. The U.S. Commercial Service uses Export.gov, the U.S. Government's export portal, as its main online resource for market intelligence, practical advice and business tools to help provide international market research, trade events, trade leads, and information on how to export..

Related Links:

International Buyer Program, U.S. Department of Commerce
The International Buyer Program recruits foreign end-users and distributors to visit top U.S. trade shows. It helps organize meetings and provide matchmaking services and business counseling to help U.S. companies generate sales. The program brings thousands of international buyers each year to meet with U.S. companies at major trade shows in the United States. These activities provide opportunities to meet with potential sales representatives and strategic partners without ever leaving the country. Each year the U.S. Commercial Service selects and promotes trade shows representing leading industrial sectors: The International Buyer Program is a component of the U.S. Commercial Service.

Market Access and Compliance On-Line, U.S. Department of Commerce
Market Access and Compliance (MAC) is a service maintained by the Department of Commerce to help American companies and workers obtain market access and achieve full compliance by foreign nations with trade agreements they sign with the U.S.

U.S. exporters sometimes encounter trade barriers. For instance, a country may only allow products to enter the most inconvenient port or treat imported goods differently than domestic goods. MAC receives calls from businesses, associations, and international U.S. commercial offices, and develops a plan to solve the problem. MAC also addresses compliance problems related to the over 250 trade agreements to which the U.S. is a party. Once a problem is identified, MAC organizes a team to outline and implement a solution.

The MAC team is divided into country and regional experts and staff specializing in specific trade agreements. The website maintains a series of sites that act as information resources for those interested a variety of topics, including:

Office of International Trade, U.S. Small Business Administration
Finding overseas markets, dealing with the initial complexities of exporting, and financing export sales are some of the challenges facing smaller firms seeking to participate in international trade. To help meet these challenges, the U.S. Small Business Administration offers aid to current and potential small exporters through two major programs: business development assistance and financial assistance. These programs are provided through a network of field offices around the country.

Global Trade and Technology Network
The Global Trade & Technology Network (GTN), formerly part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), facilitates international trade and technology transfer. GTN offers several programs and a network of trade specialists to help U.S. business to locate foreign markets and buyers, establish workable business relationships, identify financing sources, simplify shipping & customs, provide marketing advice, and in general make the international sales effort as simple as possible. Today GTN provides these services through the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

U.S. Export Assistance Center
This center provides export assistance information, international trade news, networking, export services, and links that access U.S. Government and commercial export resources. The center is sponsored by the Minnesota District Export Council, a private, non-profit organization that brings together experienced international business people who provide guidance and assistance in international markets.

Export.gov
Export.gov helps U.S. companies plan, develop and execute international sales strategies necessary to succeed in today's global marketplace. Developed by international trade specialists and economists, the website offers market intelligence, practical advice, and business tools that explain how to export, connect with foreign buyers, and expand operations in new markets. The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration collaborates with 19 U.S. Government agencies to support Export.gov. The goal is to help users navigate the maze of government offices, get answers to questions, and provide a single source for tools, assistance, and expert knowledge to expand U.S. company international sales.

Return to top