U.S. DOT FY 2026 Phase I Pre-Solicitation Q&A
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229 results found
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Oxalate/formate-based mineral recovery chemistry within scope for 26-PH1?
For topic 26-PH1, would a chemical process focused on improving recovery of rare earth / critical minerals from end-of-life lithium-ion battery materials be considered responsive if it uses low-carbon oxalate/formate-based precipitation chemistry?
Specifically, we are considering a Phase I concept to demonstrate selective precipitation/recovery of representative critical minerals from battery-recycling streams, benchmarked against conventional oxalic acid/oxalate routes, with attention to safer handling and improved recovery economics.
Or is this topic primarily focused on residual-energy removal / battery de-energizing technologies rather than downstream mineral recovery chemistry?
2 votes -
2 votes
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What catch basin localities are we going to perform operation on?
Is it going to be Freeways, Streets, Residential Communities, Commercial Communities, Local Roads, Parking Lots?
2 votes -
Do we need to build a new vehicle with a crash attenuator equipped with the detection array?
Or should we develop a modular detection system that mounts onto existing freeway crash attenuator vehicles?
2 votes -
Will a traffic management crew be deployed alongside the inspection platform?
Will a crew be deployed during field operations, including personnel responsible for setting up cones, lane dividers, road work signage, dynamic message displays, and lane closure coordination?
2 votes -
Is the agency interested in roadside truck disablements as predictive corridor safety risks?
Many existing corridor intelligence systems focus primarily on traffic flow after disruptions occur. Is the agency interested in approaches that instead predict and prevent the operational events themselves — such as commercial vehicle failures, thermal derating, or unsafe roadside disablements — before they cascade into broader freight corridor congestion and highway safety impacts?
1 vote -
2 votes
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Auditable validation record
Would an auditable validation record, including scenario inputs, baseline behavior, V2X enabled behavior, timing changes, system outputs, and a tamper evident integrity digest, be considered a valuable deliverable under Topic 26 FH1?
1 vote -
live field data vs applicants use controlled, reproducible corridor scenarios supported by real roadway
Does the topic require live field data during Phase I, or can applicants use controlled, reproducible corridor scenarios supported by real roadway geometry and clearly documented assumptions?
1 vote -
metrics primarily around travel time reduction, or window reduction
Should applicants frame success metrics primarily around travel time reduction, or may they also include conflict window reduction, queue clearance timing, signal phase responsiveness, emergency response delay reduction, and reproducible validation records?
1 vote -
1 vote
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1 vote
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AI decision logic only vs a system that validates, compares, and documents edge AI V2X behavior across baseline
Does the topic prioritize development of new roadside edge AI decision logic only, or would it also consider a system that validates, compares, and documents edge AI V2X behavior across baseline and V2X enabled corridor conditions?
1 vote -
V2X validation platform
Would a corridor level V2X validation platform be considered responsive if the Phase I work focuses on proving how edge based V2X decision logic can reduce congestion related conflict exposure, emergency vehicle delay, queue formation, and signal timing failure conditions before infrastructure deployment?
1 vote -
dedicated rail propulsion battery architectures? What is the anticipated energy capacity range of the rail battery systems involved (kWh or
What type of propulsion BESS systems are expected to be supported? Are these conventional UPS-style systems or dedicated rail propulsion battery architectures?
What is the anticipated energy capacity range of the rail battery systems involved (kWh or MWh)?
What is the intended operational goal after de-energization? Is recovered energy expected to be stored and reused through secondary BESS or grid integration methodologies?
Is the expectation to develop a fully integrated all-in-one mobile discharge platform, or a modular deployable system architecture?1 vote -
26-FH1
Would a solution that incorporates AI-powered diagnostics and fault detection for traffic signal cabinets to ensure continuous uptime of the edge computing nodes required by the Edge AI-V2X system fall within the scope of this topic?
2 votes -
Wastewater/byproducts
Are there environmental constraints on the discharge method, specifically, are chemical byproducts or wastewater acceptable in the proposed solution?
2 votes -
Scale
Should the Phase I prototype demonstrate discharge on individual cells, battery modules, or full battery packs?
2 votes -
Definition of success
What specific metrics define a successful proof of concept for Phase I is there a target residual voltage threshold, discharge time requirement, or safety standard we should design around?
2 votes -
Benchmark performance
What current discharge times and methods are considered the baseline benchmark that Phase I solutions should improve upon?
2 votes