Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF JULY 31, 2004 FBO #0978
SOURCES SOUGHT

A -- FUEL CELL AND/OR SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS

Notice Date

7/29/2004
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

NAICS

541710 — Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
 

Contracting Office

RDECOM Acquisition Center - Adelphi, ATTN: AMSSB-ACA, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20783-1197
 

ZIP Code

20783-1197
 

Solicitation Number

W911QX-RFI-04-0001
 

Response Due

8/20/2004
 

Archive Date

10/19/2004
 

Point of Contact

Christi Winkler, 301-394-3385
 

E-Mail Address

Email your questions to RDECOM Acquisition Center - Adelphi
(cwinkler@arl.army.mil)
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

This Request for Information (RFI) W911QX-RFI-04-0001 is issued by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) to solicit information from potential sources in industry to assist in the Armys goal of providing one or more fue l cell and/or solar power systems for selected soldier power applications in support of ongoing operations within the next two years. Toward that goal, the Government is requesting industry's input with respect to applicable specifications, and suggested test & evaluation (T&E) procedures for units that are presently fully-engineered and packaged or will be in such a state by 1 October 2004. RDECOM will have a multi-service team review the information obtained and their findings will be used as a basis fo r future issuance of requirements and a T&E plan for sample power sources that companies may submit to RDECOM for evaluation at one or more Government facilities. Tentatively a Prototype Demonstration Announcement utilizing the information gathered under t his RFI is planned to be released during the first quarter of fiscal year 2005 presenting the opportunity to participate in a Prototype Demonstration tentatively planned for second quarter fiscal year 2005. RDECOM intends to provide demonstration particip ants test data results (non-attributable). This is an aggressive schedule proposed to meet the Army goal of providing support to ongoing operations within the next two years. The power sources of interest must be capable of supplying steady power anywhere in the range 8 to 500 watts. Quality considerations include ability to start and operate over the widest range of temperatures (military limits are -40 to 70 degree C), ability for rapid startup, good throttling, minimal power transients, long unattended service, orientation-insensitivity, resistance to shock, environmental pollutants, etc. The key focus of these quality considerations will be the capability to operate reliably in a middle-eastern type environment to support current operations. The T&E plan to be submitted in response to this RFI should address how the Army can validate operating and performance specifications for the system. The following or other relevant items should be addressed: Performance criteria to be specified; How the source will be tested and used, i.e. configuration, stand alone/hybrid (with/without an internal/external battery supplying test load); Load voltage, current, power (average, peak, duty cycles); Minimum energy density (mass and volume); Minimum power dens ity (mass and volume); Minimum system power (hybrid) (average and peak); Minimum power generated by source (without internal/external battery); Maximum power generated by source (without internal/external battery); Minimum efficiency; Environmental testing : temperature range, humidity, filtering; Activation/shutdown: Startup time, shutdown/ cycling; Signatures: Acoustic, thermal, EM; Lab and operational system/load testing (using typical operational load cycle); Testing runtimes with/without refueling/reloc ation; continuous or start/stop; Electrical control and instrumentation of the unit and system: data acquisition, monitoring regimen, temperatures control, load control (ramping, peaks, etc); User safety, including vulnerability to shock, puncture, etc.. For consideration, please provide your input to both the criteria and T&E process to the below listed contracting officer. Information obtained as a result of this posting may be used in the development of a Statement of Objectives for a solicitation. Thi s RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a request for proposal (RFP) or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RF I or otherwise pay for the information solicited. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges will arise as a result of submission of responses to this RFI and the Government's use of such information. Based on the initial submissions, the Government may request additional information/details be provided. The fuel cell evaluation team is formulating requirements for the development of a Statement of Objectives to acquire, test and validate small fuel cell power sources to operate over the full military temperature range and in a battlefield environment. The Government desires commercially available (COTS) fuel cell power sources as well as any new technologies or state-of-the-art fuel cell power sources. RDECOM desires maximum alternatives and choices to review as well as recommendations. The Government encourages significant participation from the full range of small business concerns. After the p erformance criteria have been established, a subsequent request for industry samples and/or an RFP may be issued. The Government prefers that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in response to this RFI; however, responses to this RFI that indicate that the information therein is proprietary or represents confidential business information will be received and held in confidence for U.S. Government use only. RDECOM's intent is to develop a statement of objectives from the aggregate of th e information provided from industry as a whole. It is requested that responses be brief, to the point, and no more than 10 pages long (the 10 pages can be exceeded if necessary to clarify your data). Questions/concerns regarding this RFI and requests to b e included on the mailing list shall be sent, in writing, via e-mail to the Contracting Officer at RDECOMAC-Adelphi@arl.army.mil. Responses to this RFI are to be submitted and addressed to Mr. Lee Hess, Contracting Officer, at the above referenced email ad dress, no later than 20 August 2004. Responses should cite the RFI number in the subject line of the email and should include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with government representa tives. All correspondence concerning this RFI should refer to RDECOM RFI number W911QX-RFI-04-0001
 

Place of Performance

Address: RDECOM Acquisition Center - Adelphi ATTN: AMSRD-ACA, 2800 Powder Mill Road Adelphi MD

Zip Code: 20783-1197

Country: US
 

Record

SN00633080-W 20040731/040729212442 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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