ESTCP Strategy
The Program’s goal is to identify and demonstrate the most promising innovative and cost-effective technologies and methods that address DoD’s high-priority environmental, resilience, and installation energy and water requirements. Projects conduct formal demonstrations at DoD facilities and sites in operational settings to document and validate improved performance and cost savings. To ensure the demonstrated technologies have a real impact, ESTCP collaborates with end users and regulators throughout the development and execution of each demonstration. Transition challenges are overcome with rigorous and well-documented demonstrations that provide the information needed by all stakeholders for acceptance of the technology.
ESTCP Process
ESTCP issues an annual solicitation for proposals from the Federal government, academia, and industry and employs a competitive selection process to ensure that ESTCP funds high-quality demonstrations. ESTCP requires each project to develop a formal test and evaluation plan. Demonstration results are subject to rigorous technical reviews to ensure that the conclusions are accurate and well supported by data. As program goals and funding levels change, supplemental solicitations are occasionally necessary; these are announced on the web site and through the SERDP and ESTCP listserve.
Management Structure
ESTCP Directors and Staff – ESTCP is managed by a director and deputy director, five program managers, and a financial officer. The ESTCP office is co-located with SERDP in Alexandria, VA.
ESTCP Technical Committees – For each of the five technology program areas, an ESTCP Technical Committee (ETC) assists in identifying solicitation topics, reviews technical proposals, and formulates and recommends the annual program plan. Each committee conducts technical reviews of the ongoing projects and facilitates technology transfer according to the needs of the users in the field. ETC members represent the Services and service engineering centers. They bring a wealth of understanding of the needs of their organizations and also knowledge of related completed or ongoing research efforts. This knowledge helps ESTCP avoid duplication of effort and promotes joint and cooperative funding of projects. Many members of the ETC are also members of the SERDP Technical Committees. This relationship fosters communication between the Programs and promotes technology transfer.
ESTCP Program Areas – ESTCP projects are managed within five Program Areas. Those Program Areas are listed below.
Environmental Restoration
The Environmental Restoration program area focuses on cleaning and managing contaminated lands on current and former military installations. It supports the development and demonstration of innovative technologies to characterize, remediate, and scientifically manage contaminants in soil, sediments, and ground, surface and waste water.
Natural Hazards Adaptation
The DoD enhances operational resilience and mission readiness by addressing environmental and energy challenges, including extreme weather and natural hazards. The Natural Hazards Adaptation program area supports this effort by identifying, demonstrating, and validating technologies that strengthen DoD infrastructure against these hazards. Key objectives include assessing risks to installation infrastructure and supporting resilient infrastructure projects.
Installation Energy and Water
The Installation Energy and Water program area supports the demonstration of innovative technologies to enhance energy resilience, improve operational efficiency, and optimize water use across DoD installations.
Munitions Response
The Munitions Response program area supports the development and demonstration of innovative technologies that can characterize, remediate, and scientifically manage sites affected by military munitions.
Resource Conservation and Resilience
The Resource Conservation and Resilience program area supports the development of the science, technologies, and methods needed to manage DoD’s installation infrastructure with the goal of maximizing the number of training days and mission readiness. Areas of investment include managing threatened, endangered, at-risk, and invasive species; improved wild land and beneficial fire management for test and training ranges, and enhancing the resilience of DoD infrastructure.
Weapons Systems and Platforms
The Weapons Systems and Platforms program area supports the development and demonstration of innovative technologies that enhance sustainment, improve operational efficiency, and reduce reliance on hazardous materials in production and maintenance. These advancements streamline maintenance processes, minimize waste, and ensure that alternative technologies and materials meet operational requirements — helping to accelerate the deployment of weapons and platforms to the field.
