POSIDON launched in 2019 its PCP Call for Tender, a pre commercial public procurement that is a competitive multiple-sourcing procedure, for procuring applied research and technological development services for soil decontaminations solutions. This PCP involved different suppliers competing in parallel through different phases of development:
• solution design (phase 1)
• prototype development and lab validation (phase 2)
• original development of (at least) 2 prototypes (per each bidder) to be field-tested in 2 diverse sites (Trieste and Bilbao), with different urbanistic provisions that foresee future land uses (phase 3).
Evaluations after each phase progressively identified the solutions that offered the best value for money and met the customers’ needs. This phased approach allowed successful contractors to improve their offers for the next phase based on lessons learnt and feedback from procurers in the previous phase. Using a phased approach with gradually growing contract sizes per phase also made it easier for smaller companies to participate in the PCP and enables SMEs to grow their business step-by-step with each phase.
POSIDON PCP involved 13 different suppliers (organized in Consortia of enterprises and research centers) competing in parallel through different phases of development: 6 awardees were engaged in the solution design, 4 in the prototype development, and 2 in the original development of 2 prototypes field-tested in 2 diverse sites in Trieste (Italy) and in Bilbao (Spain).
The finalist solutions were SOIL-OMIC® process with BIOflushing® technology from TESECO Consortium and ERASE (ElectRode-Aided Soil rEmediation) from HPC Italia Consortium, promoted and presented at European level to different stakeholders, governments, soil owners and managers.
Soil-Omic® is a process based on the application of advanced sequencing tools, metagenome analysis of environmental matrices and chemometric analysis, for the definition of site-specific protocols and formulations for the degradation of organic contaminants and the removal of inorganic contaminants. The solution operates with BIOflushing®, an in situ biological remediation technology that uses original plants and specialized hydraulic systems for biostimulation, bioaugmentation and chemical flushing of saturated and unsaturated soil. The achieved TRL is 8, and the innovation is in the commercialization stage, with end of 2023 as time to market.
ERASE is an electrode-based remediation approach to integrate physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms for the clean-up of contaminated sites. The solution is a total in situ approach thought to address complex polluted environments, different soil textures and various organic and inorganic pollutants at the same time. According to the design and operative conditions, it is possible to trigger different phenomena and removal mechanisms and to establish the optimal conditions for the treatment of the contaminants of concern at the polluted site dealing with. The modularity of the technology allows operation on contaminated sources of different extensions and depths. As with any totally in situ approach, no significant excavation/ disposal of soil is required. Furthermore, the estimated limited requirements of materials and equipment, in comparison to other established technologies, make this solution an innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective approach. The achieved TRL is 7, and the innovation is in still under development, with a time to market expected within 2026.
