Deep Underground Science and Engineering Program Planning and Technical Requirements

This solicitation invites proposals to develop the scientific and engineering objectives and technical requirements for any areas of science and engineering that require the special characteristics of a deep underground environment. The separate Elements (experiments) should be grouped in Modules (groups of experiments that share basic infrastructural requirements) for a possible deep underground science and engineering laboratory. The primary purpose of this solicitation is to establish the site-independent scientific and engineering benchmarks against which the capabilities of the candidate sites for an underground laboratory will be measured. The Elements within each Module may be grouped by required depth, required space, by scientific or engineering area, or by other unifying features. Potential spatial or other infrastructural incompatibilities between individual elements should also be identified.