The objective of this Statement of Need was to seek applied research to develop cost-effective in situ or ex situ remedial technologies for groundwater contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) resulting from the use of aqueous film forming foam formulations by the Department of Defense. Proposed efforts focused on the following objectives:

• Develop cost effective, in situ or ex situ remedial approaches for treating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance contaminated groundwater, including consideration of the impact of common co-contaminants on the remedial process given these compounds were commonly utilized at sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and possibly chlorinated solvents (e.g., historical fire training sites).
• Develop treatment train approaches that cost-effectively treat PFASs and facilitate treatment of co-contaminants. Include the justification for a treatment train approach over a single technology.

Proposals clearly stated which specific PFAS would be included in the pre- and post-treatment analytical testing. Although the emphasis should have been on PFOA and PFOS, consideration should have been given to including other commonly occurring, high priority, PFAS compounds (e.g., PFNA, and PFHxS). Justification should have been provided for which PFAS compounds would be included in the laboratory studies.

Research and development activities at laboratory-, bench-, and field-scale were considered, although work did not necessarily have to culminate in a field-scale effort. In situ technologies and approaches should not have been applicable to a variety of hydrogeologic settings. Proposers should have been cognizant of previous SERDP-funded research that focused on developing a better understanding of fate and transport properties of PFAS in groundwater, and of the mechanisms involved in contaminant destruction as well as previously funded research that focused on developing in situ technologies.

Funded projects will appear below as project overviews are posted to the website.