This is a service / maintenance or supply contract in Orono, Maine. Contact the soliciting agency for additional information.

Notification is hereby given to the public of the intent of the University of Maine, with partial funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the United States Department of Commerce (DOC), to construct a new building to house the Green Engineering And Materials Factory Of The Future. The new building is an addition to the University of Maine ASCC (Advanced Structures and Composites Center). In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an EA (Environmental Assessment) has been prepared to assess the potential impacts of the proposed action on the human environment. This EA is available for agency and public review and comment for a period of thirty (30) days. The Environmental Assessment is accessible online. Comments, which will become part of the official project record, may be emailed to cppmquestions@maine.edu until May 20, 2024. This environmental assessment has been conducted to assess any potential environmental impacts from the proposed construction and operation of a Green Engineering and Materials addition to the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) housing the Factory of the Future. This is the preferred alternative for this assessment; other alternatives are considered, including no action. The addition is proposed to expand southward from the ASCC in an open grassy field. Adverse environmental impacts associated with the GEM project include land use, stormwater management, and wetland filling. These impacts are mitigated. o The GEM project will convert 1.2 acres of vegetated area into impervious (pavement and building). o The site proposed for the Project has three emergent, old-field wetland areas. The Project's will impact these wetlands filling a total of 26,496 sf for the whole project (20,143 for Phase 1 and 6,353 for Phase 2). o All runoff from the site will be treated and the excess stormwater treatment BMP capacity will improve the quality of stormwater runoff from the site from existing conditions. o Construction disturbance can cause erosion and sedimentation, but these impacts will be mitigated through the implementation of BMPs approved by the MeDEP. Long term benefits from the project include innovative research on large-scale, bio-based hybrid manufacturing, supporting key goals in the State of Maine's 10-Year Economic Development Plan. It will provide active learning spaces for the Maine College of Engineering and Computing where students can interact with and program equipment in a safe and controlled manner and thus develop critical skills to improve Maine's workforce. Mitigation measures are identified for the projected adverse environmental impacts of the preferred alternative University of Maine's Advanced Structures & Composites Center (ASCC) proposes a 46,970 SF expansion called the Green Engineering & Materials (GEM) Factory of the Future (FoF). The Purpose of this project is to provide workforce training and manufacturing equipment demonstration for additive manufacturing using wood-derived biomaterials, with the goal of demonstrating scalability and replicability for use elsewhere in the state. Additive manufacturing is a process to construct objects via a computer-driven manufacturing equipment that deposits material by layers. The process results in significantly less waste than traditional construction processes and can be produced more quickly. The need and broader goal is to stimulate economic recovery and improve diversification in economies that have been hurt by mill closures, job loss, population flight and other demographic and economic challenges. This state-of-the-art, Industry 4.0 inspired R&D factory will allow for innovative research primarily on largescale, bio-based hybrid manufacturing, supporting key goals in the State of Maine's 10-Year Economic Development Plan. It will provide active learning spaces for the Maine College of Engineering and Computing where students can interact with and program equipment in a safe and controlled manner and thus develop critical skills to improve Maine's workforce.