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DEVELOPING AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY The Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) is a “requirements driven” program that responds directly to Department of Defense (DoD) user requirements generated by the Services and sanctioned by the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations and Environment). SERDP identifies high-priority DoD science and technology needs or investment opportunities that address these requirements. By compiling information from the military Services and multiple other sources, SERDP develops focused Statements of Need (SON) that serve as the basis for an annual competitive solicitation attracting world class researchers from academia, industry, and government organizations.
Sources of information include:
By analyzing past and ongoing research and technologies in specific scientific or technical areas, the SERDP Program Office staff identify where research and investment opportunities exist to address DoD environmental requirements. | Military Services User Requirements
The individual military services periodically compile and formally document environmental requirements. The Office of the Secretary of Defense aggregates these Service requirements into a comprehensive list of requirements. This process is used to assign priorities to guide future investments. | SERDP Technical Committees (STC)
SERDP was established in 1991 as a partnership among the Department of Defense, Department of Energy (DOE), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). SERDP relies on the technical skills offered by the participating Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), DOE, and EPA to manage its research investments and identify future research opportunities. The STCs consist of members from each of these organizations for each of the four science and technology focus areas: Environmental Restoration, Munitions Management, Sustainable Infrastructure, and Weapons Systems and Platforms. STC members are selected by the Services and partnering Agencies and bring a wealth of understanding of the needs of their organizations and knowledge of ongoing environmental research efforts, ensuring that SERDP avoids duplication of effort, is strategic in what it addresses, and promotes cooperative funding of projects.
SERDP facilitates strategy sessions with each of the STCs to obtain current information to address high priority user requirements. Occasionally these groups require technical assistance to identify specific needs for research and development to address the requirements. To gain a better understanding of a particular need, its scope, and the spectrum of relevant technical research already available, SERDP conducts workshops and special studies. | SERDP Workshops
SERDP conducts or otherwise sponsors two to five workshops each year to explore research opportunities in specific technical areas. These workshops may involve collaboration with other DoD programs or partnering Agencies. Workshop participants are carefully chosen and typically include members of the Services who represent the user community; science and technology experts from academia, industry, government, and non- governmental organizations; and federal, state, or local environmental regulators. Workshop attendees assess the current state-of-the-science and state of DoD practice in specific technical areas such as threatened, endangered, and at-risk species management; DNAPL source zone remediation; detection and discrimination of underwater munitions; and environmentally benign approaches to metal surface finishing. They then use this assessment to identify key science and technology gaps and to make recommendations for those areas in which investments can have the greatest positive impact on DoD's mission. Workshop results are published in technical reports and usually lead to multiple research solicitations. | Sponsored Special Studies
SERDP commissions special studies to assess science or technology issues of a narrow or focused scope. Conclusions from a special study may lead to the development of a research solicitation or the need to convene a workshop to further investigate research opportunities. The results from such studies are made publicly available through the SERDP web site. | DoD Environmental Committees and Work Groups
The DoD has a number of work groups to assess and address environmental policy and management issues of concern to DoD. The objectives of the work groups are to cultivate cross-service input and feedback as well as to collaborate when possible on addressing issues of concern. SERDP looks to these groups to help identify emerging needs and current gaps in technology that research can address. | Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and Technical Advisory Committees (TAC)
The SERDP SAB and TACs assure that SERDP maintains a clear focus on technical quality. SERDP works with the SAB at each of four annual meetings to keep abreast of emerging environmental issues identified by the science and engineering community that could significantly impact military operations in the future. TACs oversee the technical progress of suites of SERDP research projects addressing related issues. Given their expertise and positions in their respective technical fields, SAB and TAC members often have unique perspectives and knowledge of emerging scientific issues and help ensure that SERDP continues to be out in front of environmental issues that potentially may be of concern to the DoD. | Science and Engineering Conferences
Every year, SERDP staff attends a number of scientific and engineering conferences throughout the nation. Together with the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), SERDP also holds an annual Symposium & Workshop that convenes more than 1,000 of the best and brightest scientists as well as representatives from the military, stakeholder groups, and the government. Through this constant contact with researchers and decision-makers, SERDP keeps abreast of emerging issues and potential areas of investment. |
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